Anyone have a Full size GM truck? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 04-22-2002, 09:07 PM

Ok we found they no longer make the s10 long bed so to the big trucks we go. Started looking at GMC and Chevy 4.3 V6s and was wondering does anyone know of any problems or good things about?
thanks

#2 04-22-2002, 09:17 PM

would you consider it under powered at all?
Watch for changes in my sig soon

Ashman · #3 04-22-2002, 10:14 PM

A friend had his 95 blazer stolen out of his driveway.

He's getting a brand new 2003 Chevy Z71? I think its a Z71 maybe its a Z72. Pretty bad ass truck.

When buying a truck I always intend on towing my 5500 LB Boat that is 5000 lbs for the boat, 500 for the trailer. so I always go for the biggest most powerful truck I can afford that has the capacity to pull that sucker nicely. I hate doing 35 mph in the hills when takign it to the lake.

My brothers 4.2 range rover tows the boat excellently.

In fact it towed my car on a trailer today for estimates without so much as a hiccup.

Is he hard set on a GM truck? I know the smaller ford pickups are nice,a friend had a 1995 ranger that was very nice and fast too.

Has he thought of a toyota long bed or something along those lines. The new toyota trucks actaully look quite nice.

But I still go by the you can't beat an american truck. for durability over the long haul.

My 1983 GMC Jimmy K-5 was a blast, and held up very well, apart from having a hole in a piston, it was still a beast.

The 1976 chevy blazer k-5 we had was also a beast and ran like a bat outta hell.

If he's a hard set GM man, he should look at those Z series, they are very nice.

That new silverado is also nice.

Alon

#4 04-22-2002, 10:34 PM

I had a 94 Chevy C1500 W/T. Being the base model, it had the 4.3V6 and 5 speed manual. Engine and tranny were great. It had plenty of power empty, and got about 23 miles to the gallon if I kept my speeds down. Pulling a load, you felt the weight though. No big deal, just don't be in a hurry.

Unfortunately for me, this was about all that was good with the truck. I was wrought with electrical problems, poor assembly problems (rattles). The final straw for that truck was when several welds started to fail on the truck, causing expensive structural repairs to be necessary. I dumped it at the Dodge dealership at that point. The truck was never wrecked.

joegolden · #5 04-22-2002, 10:56 PM

Stay away from that new GM 5.3! I know several people that have nightmare stories about that motor. I also know some that would not have anything else! I would still shy away.

The 4 people I know that had horror stories was the same problem. Loud tapping noise at start up and would not go away until fully warmed. Sounds like oil not getting to the top-end. One of these guys went and bought a new Tundra, parked the 2000 Z-71 and stripped all the running boards,toolbox,etc and called GM to come get it. They considered the problem as "not unusual". he was so pissed he let em repo it! Dumb I think but I do not know. I might do the same if I felt trapped. This guy owns a Semi-truck tire store and maintains everything to a T. I doubt the problem was due to neglect.

later,

#6 04-23-2002, 04:22 PM

I remeber my dads 350 5.7 GMC had trouble with the head being alluminum and the iron block but thats pretty much all I remeber other than us grounding it out in the snow.

william rogers · #7 04-23-2002, 08:48 PM

I built from ground up a full sized K5 2wd Blazer(will attach photo of sometime) that I drug out of weeds. Put in warmed up 454 Eledbrock ect. 400 th tranny ,I double shocked the front . It will pull a heavly loaded trailer with ease up steep OR. grades. May sell the old girl as
looks like My newly aquired 500 SE will satisfy my creaky old 50's hot rod bones......
William Rogers......

irianjim · #8 04-24-2002, 01:36 AM

I've got a 2001 1500 HD Chevy LS with the Vortec 6.0 liter engine. It's only got 5,000 miles so it is still new but I have been very pleased with it so far. I do some towing of a good sized trailer fully loaded and the truck doesn't even know it is there. Strong truck if you do hauling and towing. Only downside is that is seems pretty thirsty (13 mpg), more so than my 2000 Silverado with the 5.3 was.......

Overall I am pleased, but the 81 300D is still the better value!

Jim

Ken300D · #9 04-30-2002, 07:22 AM

Here's an option for you:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1825321260

That's an extra-cab with the short bed - and a Mercedes 240D engine and transmission transplant!

Now we know what to do with all those 240Ds (and 300Ds for that matter) when the car rusts away from a still-running engine!

If someone would actually MAKE these, who would buy anything else in a small pickup?

Ken300D

#10 04-30-2002, 10:12 PM

Well we got it. my uncle drove it to work the next day and encountered a hail storm which wasn't to nice.

#11 05-04-2002, 06:53 PM

Finally got the digital to work again here are some real quick pics.
www.e28.homestead.com/gmc.html

mbtjc · #12 05-05-2002, 01:17 AM

As far as V8s go, the most reliable one in my opinion is the throttle body (TBI) 350 Chevy (87-95). 96 they came out with the Vortec...more power, more electronic crap, more problems, especially intake gaskets. The old TBI has less power, but still a low-end torquer...it'll snap quite hard if you punch the gas from idle. It's sick on the top end, but not what it was built for. It is just a good ol' fashioned iron 350 with a glorified or computerized carb on it. I drove one for 2 years (age 16-18!), rodded this sh** out of it, 4 wheeled it, topped it out....hummed perfectly when my dad sold it. The 95 is the best year...old motor, new interior. Edelbrock makes a bolt on Mulit Port EFI kit for it to replace the TBI, looks neat, aluminum intake, exposed fuel rails, get more power, more mileage...worthwhile upgrade. Add a chrome air filter assembly, chrome valve covers and some headers, and you've got a slick motor. The 4.3s are solid, reliable and proven motors, but they are a bit unrefined and underpowered. And you can't get the flowmaster V8 rumble out of em!!!

#13 05-05-2002, 03:17 PM

So, did your uncle end up getting a 4.3 liter V6 truck, or one of the V-8s?

BTW, where are these 5.3 liter V8 problems documented on the web? I know a couple people who own trucks and 'Burbans with that engine who might like to see some info on that....

-Sam

#14 05-05-2002, 08:55 PM

We got the basic 4.3 am/fm rubber floor etc. nothing specail just a work truck.

Ken300D · #15 05-06-2002, 07:44 AM

This has been a good thread because I had no idea about the problems with the 5.3-liter engine. The 4.3-liter is time proven, and I think you made the right choice.

Did you get any damage from the hailstorm? My S-10 was in a bad hailstorm a few years back - golfball sized stones. Over time, with lots of heating and cooling temperature cycles, most of the dents have popped out.

So if the damage is not too bad, it can resolve itself in certain cases over time.

I also have to say that I prefer the rubber floor on a truck. That has usually been an option even on trucks with higher trim packages. Much more durable.

Ken300D