Older Truck (11yrs) Buying Advice

99silveradoz71 · October 15, 2011

I loved my 99 and would've kept it had I known I would've inherited my dad's Buick to rack up miles on.

spacoli · October 20, 2011

Well I found and bought a 99 extended cab Siverado with a 5.3L and 110,000 miles on it for $8600. Maybe slightly over priced, but from what I looked at within this price range they either had more mile or were not in as good shape.

It's in pretty good condition inside and out with only a little rust on the rockers (both sides towards the rear), rear fenders (light) and a spot on the tailgate. The truck looked great on the underside, drove and run well. I traded a 2001 Nissan Frontier and they give me $7,100. ($1,100.) more than I paid for it.

jblakeney · October 20, 2011

I loved my 99 and would've kept it had I known I would've inherited my dad's Buick to rack up miles on.

What kind of Buick did you inherit?

Jbo

ChevyTech77 · October 21, 2011

Well I found and bought a 99 extended cab Siverado with a 5.3L and 110,000 miles on it for $8600. Maybe slightly over priced, but from what I looked at within this price range they either had more mile or were not in as good shape.

It's in pretty good condition inside and out with only a little rust on the rockers (both sides towards the rear), rear fenders (light) and a spot on the tailgate. The truck looked great on the underside, drove and run well. I traded a 2001 Nissan Frontier and they give me $7,100. ($1,100.) more than I paid for it.

Those rockers and bed sides will be through and gone before long. Better get those taken care of, asap.

spacoli · October 21, 2011

Well I found and bought a 99 extended cab Siverado with a 5.3L and 110,000 miles on it for $8600. Maybe slightly over priced, but from what I looked at within this price range they either had more mile or were not in as good shape.

It's in pretty good condition inside and out with only a little rust on the rockers (both sides towards the rear), rear fenders (light) and a spot on the tailgate. The truck looked great on the underside, drove and run well. I traded a 2001 Nissan Frontier and they give me $7,100. ($1,100.) more than I paid for it.

Those rockers and bed sides will be through and gone before long. Better get those taken care of, asap.

Yep already looking into getting them fixed.

One other thing I forgot to mention. The steering column shifter was really hard to shift or move??? The dealer said he was going to get it fixed before I pick it up. Any idea what that problem may be??? He said it just needed greased, but I'm thinking it's something else?

99silveradoz71 · October 21, 2011

What kind of Buick did you inherit?

Jbo

A 99 Lesabre which had 60k on her when I took over driving it in July of 08. Now 103k and counting.

1990ss · October 21, 2011

The GMT400 trucks (88-late 99) were worlds above the GMT800 trucks (99-2007) in most every area. The 5.7R engine from '96 to '99 would out pull any 5.3 and some 6.0's anyday of the week and twice on Sunday not to mention having real sheetmetal and real suspensions.

I skipped the entire GMT800 series for a reason. My GMT400 was, and still is, twice the truck that any 800 could be and I wasn't going to give it up until I could buy the GMT900 truck that I wanted which I now have. The problem is finding a clean, well maintained example of a GMT400 around anymore. They are few and far in between these days.

How could a 5.7 out pull a 6.0? And what is different with the suspension?

ChevyTech77 · October 21, 2011

Yep already looking into getting them fixed.

One other thing I forgot to mention. The steering column shifter was really hard to shift or move??? The dealer said he was going to get it fixed before I pick it up. Any idea what that problem may be??? He said it just needed greased, but I'm thinking it's something else?

Shifter cable is probably frozen up. No big deal.

How could a 5.7 out pull a 6.0? And what is different with the suspension?

Read again, some of the 6.0's. How? Not sure but mine would out pull my buddies '99 2500 and nearly his '08 2500 both with a 6.0. I got better gas mileage than he did towing the same load and my truck never lugged enough to even downshift one gear. His were constantly downshifting just to make the same hill.

Ever seen the steering linkage on an 800 compared to a 400? How about the rear leaf springs compared between a 400 1/2 ton and an 800 1/2 ton? I'm a near 20 year vet of the front end department of large Chevy dealership in truck country. I've seen it all and then some, trust me.

1990ss · October 21, 2011

What's different with the leaf springs? Just curious.

1990ss · October 21, 2011

How do the 900's compare to them?

oldmann · October 21, 2011

Hi to all.

I'm looking to buy a 1999-2002 Sierra or Siverado 1500. I have never owned one, but it seems like GM trucks are pretty good.

What should I look for (problem areas, what engine, mileage and anything you could think of) when shopping around?

I need some hard core GM diehard advice.

Thanks

Look for rust on the rocker panels and all along the bottom. Some are just ready to burst through the paint here in the North. Even on the '05's I have seen this.

mike94silverado · October 21, 2011

The GMT400 trucks (88-late 99) were worlds above the GMT800 trucks (99-2007) in most every area. The 5.7R engine from '96 to '99 would out pull any 5.3 and some 6.0's anyday of the week and twice on Sunday not to mention having real sheetmetal and real suspensions.

I skipped the entire GMT800 series for a reason. My GMT400 was, and still is, twice the truck that any 800 could be and I wasn't going to give it up until I could buy the GMT900 truck that I wanted which I now have. The problem is finding a clean, well maintained example of a GMT400 around anymore. They are few and far in between these days.

same here although when I was done with my 94 I went to another brand instead of buying a 800 until I went back to gm with my current truck. the 900's around here are rust magnets. even more so than the older trucks.

Wires · October 23, 2011

The GMT400 trucks (88-late 99) were worlds above the GMT800 trucks (99-2007) in most every area. The 5.7R engine from '96 to '99 would out pull any 5.3 and some 6.0's anyday of the week and twice on Sunday not to mention having real sheetmetal and real suspensions.

I skipped the entire GMT800 series for a reason. My GMT400 was, and still is, twice the truck that any 800 could be and I wasn't going to give it up until I could buy the GMT900 truck that I wanted which I now have. The problem is finding a clean, well maintained example of a GMT400 around anymore. They are few and far in between these days.

How could a 5.7 out pull a 6.0? And what is different with the suspension?

Ha ha what a joke. I'm sure the GMT400's 210HP 5.7L was just a rocket. I think someone is confusing the 5.7L found in the GMT400 and the 355HP crate engine that you can buy from GM performance. The 5.3L could walk away from every GMT400....

My family has owned pretty much every late generation of GM truck (300-900). I owned a GMT800 and now a GMT900.

Personally, best built/reliable truck to date: GMT800 with the 5.3L engine. Thing is bullet proof, and will net you amazing mileage and really good power. My '00 had 275HP out of the box, later models got a jump to 295HP. The 6.0L is a gas pig, and not worth the extra power it gains. Even the interior is really nice. When I bought mine in '00, it was the only one out there that had a "car" interior, instead of that "work truck" look inside.

The GMT-900 has the nicest interior/ride/powertrains, but personally, quality has taken a step back due to the previous generation (engines that knock when cold, engines that leak oil, rust, cheap materials, etc). Thanks recesion for forcing GM to restruture, tighten belts, and ruin what could have been the best truck they've ever made.

I never had an issue with my GMT-800. I sold it with 110,000 miles on the clock, and had a Magnason supercharger on it since 30,000 miles. It was definately a trusty steed....

spacoli · October 23, 2011

The GMT400 trucks (88-late 99) were worlds above the GMT800 trucks (99-2007) in most every area. The 5.7R engine from '96 to '99 would out pull any 5.3 and some 6.0's anyday of the week and twice on Sunday not to mention having real sheetmetal and real suspensions.

I skipped the entire GMT800 series for a reason. My GMT400 was, and still is, twice the truck that any 800 could be and I wasn't going to give it up until I could buy the GMT900 truck that I wanted which I now have. The problem is finding a clean, well maintained example of a GMT400 around anymore. They are few and far in between these days.

How could a 5.7 out pull a 6.0? And what is different with the suspension?

Ha ha what a joke. I'm sure the GMT400's 210HP 5.7L was just a rocket. I think someone is confusing the 5.7L found in the GMT400 and the 355HP crate engine that you can buy from GM performance. The 5.3L could walk away from every GMT400....

My family has owned pretty much every late generation of GM truck (300-900). I owned a GMT800 and now a GMT900.

Personally, best built/reliable truck to date: GMT800 with the 5.3L engine. Thing is bullet proof, and will net you amazing mileage and really good power. My '00 had 275HP out of the box, later models got a jump to 295HP. The 6.0L is a gas pig, and not worth the extra power it gains. Even the interior is really nice. When I bought mine in '00, it was the only one out there that had a "car" interior, instead of that "work truck" look inside.

The GMT-900 has the nicest interior/ride/powertrains, but personally, quality has taken a step back due to the previous generation (engines that knock when cold, engines that leak oil, rust, cheap materials, etc). Thanks recesion for forcing GM to restruture, tighten belts, and ruin what could have been the best truck they've ever made.

I never had an issue with my GMT-800. I sold it with 110,000 miles on the clock, and had a Magnason supercharger on it since 30,000 miles. It was definately a trusty steed....

Sound very positive for my purchase.

I have filled up the tank and decided to take a little road trip to check the MPG. I mainly was on a two lane road averaging 50mph, 60 miles highway and some in town with a few start and stops. Total 130miles/ 16.6 mpg.

Since I have no idea what has been done to this truck as for maintenance, I'm planning a full tune up hoping to increase the mpg a bit.

The truck currently starts immediately with the tun of the key which I take as a good sign. The truck runs great, and straight.

I did notice a slight knocking felt though the steering wheel at the slightest turn of the wheel even at highway speeds. I'm thinking axles may be on their way out???

jblakeney · October 23, 2011

I've really never had a complaint about a GM Truck anybody in the family has owned or I have owned. Dad drove a 86 C10 for over 600k without the engine ever leaving the comforts of the motor mounts. Nothing except a water pump and the transmission was rebuilt when the reaction shell (sun shell) exploded.

My 99 has 196k on the odometer, doesn't burn or drip oil (I fill it to the top of the line on the dipstick, when I change the oil. Before I change it I usually pull the stick its and it is usually on the first X on the stick below the full line. Now I have the 3.42 gears in my 99, it is NOT A TOWING machine. And it will remind you quickly. A car hauler with a 75 Hurst/Olds will make it cry like a little baby on the mildest hill. For that fact a JD 202 diesel engine for a JD2020 tractor in the bed will you think its going to exploded the engine but it will handle it. Best mileage I ever got on the truck is when I just bought it and I was babying it a little and drove the speed limits and didn't pass in it. It got 20mpg. Now this is where I keep up with it at.

Then we have the 2001 2500 4x4 6.0, 3.73....... It main job is pulling a trailer. I've seen round bales of hay on a trailer behind that truck on a goose-neck trailer. 1500-2000lbs each. It will pull them, without fear. It will talk about it the RPM's will climb like crazy but it won't have a problem sucking the truck up to 80ish on the interstate. Hills aren't that big of a challenge either. (its in the 190's k club also, and nothing has left the frame). Now I expect this truck to burn oil. If you put something in this kinda of job ITS GOING TO BURN OIL. 2 or 3 quarts on an oil change if all the oil change mileage was towing, as they mostly are for us.

Jbo