Hey Everyone.

Lets start this out with some personal info, im 17 years old, and im heading to college next year (Wyotech in Pennsylvania). Im currently driving my '89 IROC-Z but i intend to sell that in teh spring.

Question here is about picking a truck.

I would like a truck to take with me to school. I love the feel of driving them, and the mod's tot my camaro are nothing but headaches.

Ive got 2 different options here. My dad has offered me his '97 Sierra 1500 (5.7L vortec, Ext. cab, Shortbox), or i can look around for a 99-02 Silverado/sierra.

Now, it seems a simple decision, but not so much.

The truck my dad has offered me (free of course) has lived a rough life (know everything its been through). Its got 272500km's (approx 180k miles). Its been bashed up, door was ripped off it at on point by a cement truck (repaired), it went into a ditch last year, and its littered with dents. The brakes are soft, and constantly cause issues (basically need to be re-done). The body has rust, cab corners are gone, the tailgate mount peices, that he gate moves on litterately rusted apart, so the tail gate doesnt open. The framing itself seems to be in decent shape, it needs an idle arm, which we have here. Its somewhat suffering from the "damp, no start" illness. the pan is rusting, its leaking a bit of oil.

What im trying to determine is whether its easier for me to fix the issues with this truck, or just use the money i get from my camaro and look for a 99-02 Silverado/sierra.

Also will make a note we have a '04 LM9 5.3 here on an engine stand with full harness + ECM. Dont know if that would be worth droppign into the truck.

Anywho.

Thanks for any help

Sheldon

 

from this info alone, the decision is easy IMO

hands down get the 99-02 gm truck

IMO, and from my experiences, the NBS(99-06), when compared to the OBS(88-98), are much nicer on the inside, better fuel efficient, easier to mod, etc.

your mods will produce better results to the NBS than the OBS too.

 

Id really like a 5.3/4.8 Ext. cab/short box. Think that would be best for school.

Is it reasonable to look for one under $8000?

 

in real good condition, in my area, no it wont happen. but the prices may be different in your area, though.

might try just lookin for a 4.8 and then swap in the 5.3 when you get it, would be cheaper

 

I dont mind the 4.8. Ive seen a few on ebay. Theirs a nice one in my area here for $5500cad. But its a standard cab. Id really like an ext. cab for school. thats the reason my camaro is going.

Like i said, we have a 04 5.3 here, so if its a 4.8 that i get, its no issue swapping the motor.

 

Do they make v6 ext. cabs??

Find a high milage, but decent shape 99-02 excab and swap in the 5.3L

 

v6 to v8 swap is harder than a v8 to v8, v6 ecsb will probably be hard to find, not very many made, but they did make them, W/T models only i think

 

and if you don't swap anything, but rather stay with the stock engine, the 4.8s and 5.3s get better MPG than the V6s i've heard.

 

that is true, the v6 doesnt have enough hp/tq to move around a fullsize truck efficiently.

i had a v6 and got worse mileage than my 4.8 did, same style trucks reg cab short bed

 

Id prefer a V8 forsure. Milage isnt as important due to the extra motor. I really just want one in good shape. Ext. cab/short box is my 100% preference.

The K1500 has seen better days. I took another look at the oil pan, and its lookign like its bumping the edge of its life time.