usmarine0905

Good question, I have a 98 silverado, ext cab c2500 long bed, with the 5.7 Vortec. It is strong and has a posi rear in it when needed, with the BIG auto trans. It has 225,000 miles on it burns no oil. I just replaced the flexplate and waterpump, that is the only major work done. Brakes, shocks, bulbs,tune up were replaced this year, she a great truck..

bwhitt86

The best pickups are the new ones 07 and up. If your not in that price range, I wouldnt get anything under 03. 88-94 range are ones I would stay away from. Dont get me wrong their nice pickups but the interior falls apart. The 95-98 range are alright but the interior is still inferior. The doors on the 88-98 ones are horrible. Their way too heave and your gonna have problems most likely. The pins ware out real easy. The 95-98 interior handles just plain snap off. The interior is better. The 03-06 are better, but the interior on the nbs are way better made. Ive worked on a lot of them and they are major bitches because everythings so tight but thats a good thing. Thats the problem with any ones before 07, interior was loose and has rattles alot of the time. Thats my take on just the fit and finish. Alot more work goes into the interior nowadays. But overall I would stay away from 88-98 mainly

wellmax

rocket:
I have a 2000 model 2500 with 350, 4l80e, 3.73 ratio differential

350's are not so bullet proof, mine had to have intake manifold gaskets at 60K, it had been leaking for sometime before that. I should have known if you are having to add water to coolant reservoir then there is a problem, but I never saw a leak.

4l80e transmission when south at 75K needed a new torque converter.
fuel pump is a when issue, mine when at 45K
AC compressors are weak, that is a $600 fix

my son had a company truck 06 2500 with 6.0 liter is was a good truck but rode rough, got about 11 mpg around town and 13-14 on the road.

then he got a 09 1500 with the new 5.3, 300+hp rides much better and can tow 9000. gets much better mileage with the new energy management system.

bwhitt86

I agree 100%. Funny you should mention the intake manifold gasket. I had the exact problem. It seems to be very common. My 98 with the 350 vortec was leakin antifreeze like none other had to fill it up every day almost. And right after i fixed that my fuel pump went out. I actually dropped the tank and took it out and ten it started working again so i figured maybe a bad connection on the harness. Dumbly put it back together and broke down a week later. Truth is, that delco stuff is garbage. Im not a mechanic i just do car electronics like decks, remote starts, video, etc. But droppin a tank on a 12 year old pickup that's never had that done was a bitch. I really do love my old 98 but its a fact they ain't bulletproof. Tearing apart doors and dashes for a living looking at wiring and such you can really tell where they cut corners. And in my opinion the nbs are some of the toughest clips i've ever worked with. Really tough puttin some aftermarket stuff in. I can put a complete navigation system in an 03-06 silverado in 30 minutes or less. These new ones are really slick lookin and well built inside. Plus i think the interior looks alot better than any other pickup yet. Like i was sayin though, that's just me n