Z71 trim

defyrfytr · January 26, 2006

New subscriber with a question. I have a 1988 K1500 step side. There was no decals on it when I got it. Trying to find out if the truck has the Z71 package but am running into walls. Any and all help would be great. Thanks

silverad03 · January 26, 2006

If you look in your glove box (someone correct me if they were not in the glove box in '88) there should be a sticker on the door that lists all the RPO codes for the options your truck had when it rolled off the line in '88. If you look through those codes you should find the "Z71" code if your truck was equipped.

Another way to tell would be looking under the truck for the skid plates that came as part of the package. The original Z71 package probably also included Bilstein shocks and maybe some off-road jounce bumpers.

defyrfytr · January 26, 2006

If you look in your glove box (someone correct me if they were not in the glove box in '88) there should be a sticker on the door that lists all the RPO codes for the options your truck had when it rolled off the line in '88. If you look through those codes you should find the "Z71" code if your truck was equipped.

Another way to tell would be looking under the truck for the skid plates that came as part of the package. The original Z71 package probably also included Bilstein shocks and maybe some off-road jounce bumpers.

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I have the front skid plate under the engine. The shocks are just gm shocks I believe. The truck has 250+ miles and is getting a make over as we speak(cab corners, rocker panels, drivers side bed panel{close encounter with a trailer} paint job. I will have to look when I get the truck back. Last time I looked in the glove box, most of the codes had been worn off. Thanks for the reply

XR Man · January 26, 2006

Something else to try if the RPO codes are gone...

I think the OBS Z71s all came with 265/75/16 tires? Look in the driver's door jamb and check the stock tire size.

defyrfytr · January 26, 2006

Something else to try if the RPO codes are gone...

I think the OBS Z71s all came with 265/75/16 tires? Look in the driver's door jamb and check the stock tire size.

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My truck is equipted with 265/75/16. I have not seen any signs of the package ie badging or anything. I guess if I want to make it a Z71 I can...

XR Man · January 27, 2006

I was not saying all trucks with 265s are Z71s, I was saying if it did not have them stock you could probably assume it wasn't one.

Ted_Grevers · January 27, 2006

The RPO Z71 was not offered in 1988. The Cheyenne, Scottsdale and Silverado 4x4 trucks were the only offerings at that time, in 2 and 4 Wheel Drive. There were Long Box and Short Box variations, as well as standard and extended cab options to add to the mix.

-Ted

MS3DALE · January 27, 2006

The RPO Z71 was not offered in 1988. The Cheyenne, Scottsdale and Silverado 4x4 trucks were the only offerings at that time, in 2 and 4 Wheel Drive. There were Long Box and Short Box variations, as well as standard and extended cab options to add to the mix.

-Ted

No Ted,The "Z71" package was available in '88.A friend of mine had one that he ordered.

The Cheyenne,Scottsdale and Silverado packages were trim levels,were as the Z71 was a seperate option package that for years was available on any trim level truck (Be it a Cheyenne,Scottsdale or Silverado trim level) So you could get a plain jane Cheyenne with the Z71 package if you wanted,Then starting in the mid-'90's you could only get the Z71 package with the Silverado trim level.

The Z71 "Off-Road Package" actually started out as an option on the S10 4x4's when they came out in '83,Then when GM redesigned the full-size trucks for '88 they wanted to use that code so the S10's started to use option code "ZM6" for there off-road package (This is what I had on my '91 S10 4x4)

Ted_Grevers · January 27, 2006

The RPO Z71 was not offered in 1988. The Cheyenne, Scottsdale and Silverado 4x4 trucks were the only offerings at that time, in 2 and 4 Wheel Drive. There were Long Box and Short Box variations, as well as standard and extended cab options to add to the mix.

-Ted

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No Ted,The "Z71" package was available in '88.A friend of mine had one that he ordered.

The Cheyenne,Scottsdale and Silverado packages were trim levels,were as the Z71 was a seperate option package that for years was available on any trim level truck (Be it a Cheyenne,Scottsdale or Silverado trim level) So you could get a plain jane Cheyenne with the Z71 package if you wanted,Then starting in the mid-'90's you could only get the Z71 package with the Silverado trim level.

The Z71 "Off-Road Package" actually started out as an option on the S10 4x4's when they came out in '83,Then when GM redesigned the full-size trucks for '88 they wanted to use that code so the S10's started to use option code "ZM6" for there off-road package (This is what I had on my '91 S10 4x4)

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Interesting.. I also had a new 1988 K1500, in Silverado trim.. I don't recall that RPO Z71 was an option, unless it was later in the production cycle. (I couldn't find reference to it when I went through all my literature). The standard tire size that came with my truck was 225/75/16 (Wranger AT). My silverado came with steel wheels, not alloys, although alloys were available, I think my truck was a very early build.

Do you have any reference to the Z71 being an 1988 offering? I know a lot of people made it a $24 ($12 / sticker) upgrade from the parts department.

-Ted

MS3DALE · January 27, 2006

Yea Ted,I actually still have the original '88 C/K Truck sales brochure that me and my buddy used to help spec out his (Along with a lot of other old sales brochures that are taking up space!)

Another reason I know the Z71 was out in '88 was because when we were buying our Corsica in Feb.of '88 (The one I still have with over 233,000 miles on it!!) there were quite a few '88 K1500 Z71's sitting on the lot for sale.

And your right,The standard tire size in '88 for 4x4s was 225/75R16 with 245/75R16 (In both "P" and "LT") and LT265/75R16 (load range "C") available as options.

defyrfytr · March 10, 2006

Yea Ted,I actually still have the original '88 C/K Truck sales brochure that me and my buddy used to help spec out his (Along with a lot of other old sales brochures that are taking up space!)
Another reason I know the Z71 was out in '88 was because when we were buying our Corsica in Feb.of '88 (The one I still have with over 233,000 miles on it!!) there were quite a few '88 K1500 Z71's sitting on the lot for sale.

And your right,The standard tire size in '88 for 4x4s was 225/75R16 with 245/75R16 (In both "P" and "LT") and LT265/75R16 (load range "C") available as options.

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I finally got my truck back from paint. I was able to clean up the RPO codes and did saw the z71 code. My truck came with a 5 speed manual and low back bucket seats. It also came with LT265/75R16c tires. I bought the truck 10 years ago with over 125k miles and it had no Z71 badging. It now has 218k miles fresh paint and still no badging. Don't know if I want to put the Z71 decals on or not.

Doug