Buying Used '01-'02 2500HD - Need Help

HDCrew4x4 · February 3, 2005

New to this forum - first post!

I used to be a regular at dodgetrucks.org forums but I am about to trade in and buy my first Chevy! From what I have read this is the best and most knowledgeable forum around for the GM's!

I am looking to buy a

'01-'02

2500HD

Crew Cab

4x4

6000 or 8100 Vortec (8.1 preferred)

(Don't need the diesel, no super heavy towing and it's out of my price range)

From what I have read here the Allison tranny is preferred

Probably with higher mileage say, 50K-80K

I would like to know what to look for as far as common problems with the truck that I might not see/know about otherwise.

What points of wear, interior, exterior, engine and drivetrain should I look for and what warning signs should I avoid like the plague?

I know it's sort of a broad topic but any thoughts/general advise will help tremendously!

Pointerman · February 3, 2005

I just purcahsed a 2002 2500HD Crew cab, 4x4 with 8.1 and allison. It had 31K miles and is the LT package. Paid $25K for it My truck seems to be in perfect condition, so I am not sure what you should watch out for specifically. I would check for obvious signs of construction use and overall condition. You should be able to find a truck in really good condition if you take your time and don't buy out of a sense of urgency.

Shawn T · February 3, 2005

Welcome. As usual when buying a used truck make sure of the obvious. Don't want a fleet truck. As far as motor combo goes, the 8.1/Ally is amost unmatched. As you can see from my sig that I drive a DMax/Ally combo. There is an injector issue on the 01-02's but that is all. The 6.0 is a well engineered motor except for one detail. CSK. Cold Start Knock. It is harmless but apparent in about 80% of these motors. If you can stand the noise and the extremely high gear ratio of 1st in the 4-L80E you will be fine.

If you read around the forum you probably can't find one complaint about the 8.1. The gas mileage is comparable with the 6.0 and the power difference is very appearant. The Allison is much heavier, and better geared, than the 4-L80E. Not to mention it is a 5 speed, which means closer ratios.

I am not knocking the 6.0, it is a sleeping giant. It is very easy to wake up, but unfortunately, you have to beef up the tranny. GM knows how to protect their trannys well, unlike other brands who put a "slushbox" behind a relatively powerful motor(I am talking about the F&*d torquesh*t). They are "bad out of the box".

HDCrew4x4 · February 3, 2005

Pointerman

Sounds like a nice ride! I am trying not to buy out of urgency and I think I've kept my head so far. I made myself pass up a '01 because it had a fifth wheel and a 6.0L. I figured that engine (77K miles) was worked pretty hard with that fifth wheel so I let it go.

71GMC_3/4T · February 3, 2005

I am not knocking the 6.0, it is a sleeping giant. It is very easy to wake up, but unfortunately, you have to beef up the tranny.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Okay Timothy, I'll bite...

When you say "easy to wake up" you're talking about the Wester's or PCMforless tune, right? If I go this route, what will I have to do to beef up my 4L80E in my recently acquired '03 K2500HD Crew? You got me worried! Help?

Thanks,

Jim

HDCrew4x4 · February 3, 2005

sstimothy

Thanks for the tip on the CSK. That'll sure help come haggling time!

Yep lookin at the gear ratios on the Allison (3.1:1) versus the 4L-80E (2.48) that's a good bit of difference. The Allison is looking pretty good.

Thanks!

Shawn T · February 3, 2005

I am not knocking the 6.0, it is a sleeping giant. It is very easy to wake up, but unfortunately, you have to beef up the tranny.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Okay Timothy, I'll bite...

When you say "easy to wake up" you're talking about the Wester's or PCMforless tune, right? If I go this route, what will I have to do to beef up my 4L80E in my recently acquired '03 K2500HD Crew? You got me worried! Help?

Thanks,

Jim

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Jim,

I knew somebody would chime in on this. My buddy went with the Westers and he really liked it. I mean he got after it all of the time. It is safe to say that he limped his tranny quite a few times and eventually burnt it up. When he got it rebuilt the guy doing it had gone the same route with his 6.0, exept he beefed it up in the beginning. He just explained in detail what I mentioned in my last post. I don't know all of the details on it. I know he went with bigger clutches, pump, and valves. There is also some performance programming to firm the shifts and modify the shift points. Sorry I can't add all of the technical jargen. If you do a search on the forum you will get some immediate hits. I just don't want to BS about something I don't know a whole lot about.

Pointerman · February 4, 2005

Pointerman

Sounds like a nice ride! I am trying not to buy out of urgency and I think I've kept my head so far. I made myself pass up a '01 because it had a fifth wheel and a 6.0L. I figured that engine (77K miles) was worked pretty hard with that fifth wheel so I let it go.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

One thing I found while searching was that there are not that many 8.1s out there. A whole lot of 6.0s and since I planned on towing a boat I really didn't want the smaller motor. Most of the trucks that were under $30K and had a big block had at least 70K miles. When I found the truck I ended up purchasing I went after it with a vengeance. Good luck on the search and hang in there with the big block search. You won't regret it.

HDCrew4x4 · February 4, 2005

Pointerman

Yeah I have found one or two 8.1 Crew Cabs but none have been 4x4's yet! Most were used for heavy towing (I guess) but seemed to be in pretty good shape. I have found some great looking 1500 crew 4x4's but I really need the 3000+ lbs payload capacity.

Part of the problem is I am trying to buy from a family friend who owns a dealership, so I've either got to wait for an unkown amount of time for him to get a trade in or I can go off and find it myself possibly quicker but for more $$$, plus he wouldn't get the business. Right now I'd settle for seeing even ONE for sale with the options I want. It's going to be difficult to be as objective as I should be when I do find one. That's why I am here trying to learn more about what I'm looking for.

Thanks for the help!

Pointerman · February 4, 2005

Pointerman

Yeah I have found one or two 8.1 Crew Cabs but none have been 4x4's yet! Most were used for heavy towing (I guess) but seemed to be in pretty good shape. I have found some great looking 1500 crew 4x4's but I really need the 3000+ lbs payload capacity.

Part of the problem is I am trying to buy from a family friend who owns a dealership, so I've either got to wait for an unkown amount of time for him to get a trade in or I can go off and find it myself possibly quicker but for more $$$, plus he wouldn't get the business. Right now I'd settle for seeing even ONE for sale with the options I want. It's going to be difficult to be as objective as I should be when I do find one. That's why I am here trying to learn more about what I'm looking for.

Thanks for the help!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Your friend should be able to search other dealers databases and trade them a vehicle for the one you want. Most dealers move cars around reguarly if they have a customer looking for a certain vehicle. I would keep looking myself if I were you. If your buddy finds a car for you then fine, but if not autotrader.com has a lot of trucks.

hihosilverado · February 4, 2005

The above post is somewhat correct.......dealers (like me) usually will trade only on new vehicles. An intersting note about this.....if the dealer trades a more expensive vehicle for a cheaper one (like a Denali for a Sierra) they get to keep the hold back on the car they traded. Hold back is a percentage of MSRP, so obvioulsy there is more on teh Denali thatn the Sierra. So if you do buy a new one, try and figure out what they traded for it so you can get a better deal and cut down to invoice. Anyhow, tell your buddy to look on GMAC smart auction if you want a use one, he should be able to choose from a myriad of them. Hope this helps a bit.

Burrito · February 7, 2005

My truck fits the description of what you want. I have an '01 with 81,000. At 78,500, I had to install a new transfer case because the original had a defect which caused a crack in the case and let all of the fluid out of it. I was pretty upset about that $2100 bill, but got over it. You should not let that scare you away because that was a freak deal and happens very rarely. I've never talked to anyone else that has heard of such a prolem besides the shop that fixed my truck.

I have the 6.0L and it has the cold start knock. It goes away as soon as you drive 50 feet. My wife's favorite thing about the truck is the heated seats (LT package). Get ready for some horrible gas mileage. My average is 10-10.5 mpg, no trailer, with a decent amount of that being highway travel. The ride is firm, but that's what a 2500HD is all about. It's not a cadillac sedan.

Hope this helps.

HDCrew4x4 · February 7, 2005

Well after much debate and looking around I think I am going to go ahead and get the Duramax/Allison combo. I'm having a heck of a time finding the 8.1 and I figure I might start running into trouble in a few years with a higer mileage gas engine when my ownership starts at 80K+ miles.

Just got back from Carmax for a trade in value on my old dodge - ripoff!