The Chevro

I sold my 1993 K2500 454tbi and missed it so much. I sold it to buy a truck, but after getting rid of it I realized that having the truck bed never out-weighed the benefits of the old Burb.

So the truck is gone and I bought a 97 K2500 Burb but this time with the Vortec 350. (couldn't find vortec 454 for my $)

It seems like its got good power, but I was curious if this thing will tow as well as my old TBI?

Also, I have TONS of room for upgrades, the truck had high mileage so I got it cheap. Guy never listed the asking price on C-List so I went and looked at it figured he'd tell me the price then and he said he was asking $3k. All I had in my pocket was $1200 and he took it.......long story short its mine and I have play money too!

So I know there are a pile of upgrades out there and I'll figure that out later...I'm gonna get it tuned, intake, exhaust, maybe headers, but from what I hear the 3/4t trucks have more open pipes so we'll see.

I honestly was wondering if this truck being its not a big block has the 4l60 or 4l80?

Also are there any common issues I should look out for? With over 200k I can only assume its a fairly rock solid rig. Passed inspection and I drove it 1.5hrs to get home.....I don't think the temp gauge is correct though. It moved about a 1/4" from the dead cold mark all the way home.....

Thanks for any input guys...throw me any info you got....I usually research the hell out of my vehicles before I buy them, but this one I just threw the money on the table........can't really beat a good 350ci though.

73shark

Thermostat may be stuck partially open.

bobpur

My temp gauge in my '96 K2500 does the same thing. It'll only show coming up about a quarter of the way. Yet it still throws good heat. My Suburban has done this through two different engines each with its own thermostat.
It seems to me that I read somewhere about a resister on the back of the dash that goes bad and lets your gauges give false readings. So far it's only my temp gauge that is affected.
Both of my engines are 350's the first one may have been original and had a bad head gasket when I got it. The new engine is out of a '99 Tahoe.
Good luck.