Z71vs regular 4x4 Silverado

[Silvz06]

I just purchased a 15 Silverado 5.3 4x4 love the truck. What are the differences with the Z71 package as far as performance? A buddy of mine bought the z71 i don't see much difference besides Ranchero shocks. Is the Drivetrain or 4x4 system different on the z71?

[Bytpat5221]

I havever been selling GMC for 3 years. There is no difference in drive train. Just rancho shocks, skid plate and hill climb decent.

[Ventilator]

In the GMC,

 

18" Bright Machined Aluminum Wheels

High Capacity Air Cleaner

Hill Descent Control

Underbody Shield

Z71 Badge

Monotube Rancho Shocks

 

In the Chevy it also includes

 

Z71 Instrument Panel (Tach)

Z71 Door Sill Plates

Z71 Bedside Decal

Aluminum look door and console trim instead of wood grain.

[Silvz06]

Wow..not as many differences as I thought. When I climb a hill I notice a "hill climb assist" comes up on my dash..

[redwngr]

Do you mean Hill Start Assist?

[scottie350]

Likely means hill start assist haha

 

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[scottie350]

Wow..not as many differences as I thought. When I climb a hill I notice a "hill climb assist" comes up on my dash..

Hill start helps it so the truck isn't rolling backwards when you take it out of park on a hill or if you let the gas off on a hill. Its easier on the drivetrain, not going sudden reverse gearing to forward

 

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[newdude]

You know what is funny about the "high capacity air filter"? Both 4x4 and Z71 4x4 use the same air box and filter...they used to use two different air filters 2013 and prior (which was the difference)...and both get the Auto 4x4 transfer case...the only differences left are grille, shocks, stickers, transfer case skid plate, hill decent control and interior trim.

[Silverado-Hareek]

In the GMC,

 

18" Bright Machined Aluminum Wheels

High Capacity Air Cleaner

Hill Descent Control

Underbody Shield

Z71 Badge

Monotube Rancho Shocks

 

In the Chevy it also includes

 

Z71 Instrument Panel (Tach)

Z71 Door Sill Plates

Z71 Bedside Decal

Aluminum look door and console trim instead of wood grain.

 

I call BS on the "high capacity air cleaner." When I went to get replacement filters for my truck it was the same part number across models and engines.

 

Also the "underbody shield" consists of a small metal plate covering the transfer case and flimsy plastic under the engine which is pretty worthless for anything worse than tall grass. One guy posted on this site a picture of his plastic shield ripped down after driving through some hardened snow. A metal plate would have never done that.

 

The Rancho shocks are garbage as well. Not much else to say about these. I've owned Bilstein, Rancho, and Tennoco over the years and Rancho are by far the worst. I'd rather have the black Tennoco's on the 4x4's than the Rancho's on the Z71's. Bilstien is the best and should be installed on any model truck.

 

In my opinion, the only things worth getting with the Z71 package are the better looking 8" rims, the hill descent control, the better looking front grille, and the better looking instrument gauge cluster in the dash.

[tnchevy]

Tennoco is the company that owns Rancho (as well as dynomax and other things). This is my 2nd Z71 silverado and I chose it over the regular 4x4 because I liked the rims better as well as the black grill and that was the only reason. The 2002 model years there was still some differences, the Z71 used longer shocks (not sure if it sat any higher though), a real aluminum skid plate on the front, a higher capacity air filter which I never understood, and some models had a deeper transmission pan but I think that had more to do with the tow package it came with. GM really needs to make a more realistic but affordable "Z71" truck that sits 2 inches taller, 17 inch rims with 32" or 33" tires, and a redesigned front that gives it a better approach angle. Taking the air dam off mine helped the approach angle tremendously, I can now go up the same woods roads I have in every other truck I have had without scraping the front on every single dip.

[Txjose]

Tennoco is the company that owns Rancho (as well as dynomax and other things). This is my 2nd Z71 silverado and I chose it over the regular 4x4 because I liked the rims better as well as the black grill and that was the only reason. The 2002 model years there was still some differences, the Z71 used longer shocks (not sure if it sat any higher though), a real aluminum skid plate on the front, a higher capacity air filter which I never understood, and some models had a deeper transmission pan but I think that had more to do with the tow package it came with. GM really needs to make a more realistic but affordable "Z71" truck that sits 2 inches taller, 17 inch rims with 32" or 33" tires, and a redesigned front that gives it a better approach angle. Taking the air dam off mine helped the approach angle tremendously, I can now go up the same woods roads I have in every other truck I have had without scraping the front on every single dip.

You..... I like you're way of thinking lol

 

When i first got mine i scrapped the front plastic at the mall and was likw wtf this is a Z71 it needs to be lifted like whi wants a stock higth 4x4??? Lol

 

 

Also to add the Z71s come with the skid plates and a G80 standard not as an option

[Silvz06]

Do you mean Hill Start Assist?

 

Likely means hill start assist haha

 

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Hill start helps it so the truck isn't rolling backwards when you take it out of park on a hill or if you let the gas off on a hill. Its easier on the drivetrain, not going sudden reverse gearing to forward

 

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Haha..yes!! Hill Start assist! Thats what I always see. Thanks for the correction

[MikeNH]

All the high capacity air cleaner means is the filter is "deeper". You see both listed in more complete part catalogs and some only make one. They're interchangeable as far as I know.

[tnchevy]

Yeah they are, I put a K&N in my 2002 and it was the same part number no matter which configuration you had.

[Silverado-Hareek]

AC Delco only had one part number from what I remember. The replacement filter matched the stock filter exactly so I know I have whatever came with the truck originally. I guess that's high capacity. I still call BS because I pulled out an STP filter and a Purolator filter when I was shopping for replacements and they seemed to be the same size as well. Maybe the stores in my area have older catalogs.