What's the difference - GM 4x4 vs Z71

Lee Bass · September 1, 2006

Other than the obvious decal on the side of the truck, where do the GM 4x4's and Z71's differ ?

tflessner · September 1, 2006

Skid plates, heavy duty shocks and bigger standard tire size, 265's, and maybe lower standard gear ratios.........and the sticker. I think that's it?

jbunceiii · September 2, 2006

So the Skid Plates on the Normal lets say GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 are smaller than on the Z71, which cover more?

asilverblazer · September 3, 2006

There is one under the T-Case, and one under the oil pan.

Green_Monster · September 3, 2006

Other than the obvious decal on the side of the truck, where do the GM 4x4's and Z71's differ ?

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Right off of the Chevy Website:

Suspension Package, Off-Road, includes 1.81" (46 mm) shocks, off-road jounce bumpers, stabilizer bars, (B71) Wheel flares, (NZZ) Skid Plate Package, and Z71 decals on rear quarters (Z71)

(NZZ): Skid Plate Package, includes aluminum front underbody shield starting behind front bumper and running to 1st cross-member, protecting front underbody, oil pan, differential case and transfer case, frame-mounted shields (NZZ)

Should answer your questions.

patrick_tardif · July 12, 2012

can i put z71 shocks on my regular 4x4??? are the skid plates worth puting on...

hodo78 · July 12, 2012

can i put z71 shocks on my regular 4x4??? are the skid plates worth puting on...

Yes, you can mount the factory z71 shocks on your non-z71 as long as its in the same group (i.e. GMT-800 or GMT-900).

But.....unless you are getting some pull off shocks from another z71 on the cheap, you would be better off buying some aftermarket shocks. For example: Bilstein, Rancho, Pro comp, etc.....

I prefer Bilstein 5100 series personally.

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elcamino · July 12, 2012

Fwi - The NZZ skip plate option can be ordered on any 4x4 truck and it contains the same components as the Z71 would have. Z71 is basically just an upgrade to a regular 4x4.

If it were not for the Z71 decal on the side of the box, GM would probably sell very few of the Z71 option. Whom ever thought up that idea (Z71 decal) back in 1988 should be running GM today as it probably sold more trucks than anything GM ever did. Did to trucks what John Delorean did to Ponitac in 1964 with the GTO.

patrick_tardif · July 12, 2012

how do i tell if its a gmt-800 or a gmt-900... im new to 4x4's!!

kstruckcountry · July 12, 2012

Basically no real difference whatsoever. Mine is Z71 and I didn't even know it. You'd be happier with Bilstiens, trust me. Mine are great.

GMT has nothing to do with drive system, it's the platform. GMT 900 is current and GMT 800 is the previous body style. GMT 400 was the 88-98 trucks.

elcamino · July 13, 2012

There was a used car dealer around here that whenever he would get a regular GM truck he would put Z71 decals on it and he would sell the truck right away. He got found out when a guy in the local Chevy Dealer parts dept noticed there was no Z71 on the options label in the glove box of this truck he was repairing and that the decal was brand new on a 3 yr old truck. He then asked the guys in the parts dept if they sell any to this dealer and they told him, ye, he orders them all the time. He knew the owners had just purchased the truck and someone hit them.