Yes or no on this used truck purchase?...

[Toonces]

I need just a simple work truck and I'm looking at a 99 Silverado 2500 for sale with 218k miles. It's got a little body rust, but they're only asking $2700 so I'm good with it. I'll make sure to check for excessive frame rust before handing over any cash. It's got a 6.0L 8-cyl engine with 4x4 and auto transmission. I'm familiar with the 1500 series and engines, but I don't know anything about the 2500s. Is this truck thought to be as reliable as the 1500s up to 2006? Or does it have some kind of fatal flaw where I want to avoid it? Thanks.

[richard wysong]

^6.0 is pretty bullet proof but not very good on gas, probably a 4L80e trans which should be fine as long as it wasn't plowed or abused, frame rot and cracks would be 1 concern, check the ball joints, they tend to wear out regularly, look at the rear spring hangers and the rear cab mounts

[CamGTP]

Being a 1999, those used cast iron cylinder heads with what I recall were some sort of fiber/paper headgasket. The later years got aluminum cylinder heads and MLS headgaskets. The early trucks were more prone to headgasket failure from what I remember. Not the end of the world but would be nice to know there were any history records on the truck.

 

If you're lucky, maybe someone already swapped in a new engine in the 26 years that thing has been around. 

 

Transmissions are strong being a 4L80e, but like said they can die from lack of fluid changes or it was a plow truck/pulled heavy trailers everyday. Frame rot is a big killer in the salt states. Always check that first.