Where is a timeline of GM truck evolution?

mongrel · February 5, 2006

Can someone point me to a website, maybe, that shows what changes were made in what years to Chevy trucks, especially 2500 3500?

I've been away from auto/truck enthusiast issues for many years.

I'd like to catch up on the changes made to the bodies, engines, and transmissions since I last had some expertise, which was about 1985! I'm shopping for a used (probably) 2500/3500, and I need to know better what I'm looking at.

Thanks.

mmmikkke · February 5, 2006

Can someone point me to a website, maybe, that shows what changes were made in what years to Chevy trucks, especially 2500 3500?

I've been away from auto/truck enthusiast issues for many years.

I'd like to catch up on the changes made to the bodies, engines, and transmissions since I last had some expertise, which was about 1985! I'm shopping for a used (probably) 2500/3500, and I need to know better what I'm looking at.

Thanks.

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Here's a start...

GM 2500/2500HD/3500 Series Milestones 1996-2005

Drivetrain

1996 TBI replaced with Vortec (direct injected) engines.

1999 NBS. First year for 4.8L, 5.3L, and 6.0L Vortec engines. Some OBS 2500/3500 trucks still built.

2000 Big block 7.4L replaced by 8.2L.

2004 Freshened sheet metal. 2500 rebadged as 1500HD. 2500HD remains as 2500HD.

Interior

2004 Radio opening enlarged from 1.5-DIN to 2-DIN.

2005 It's now impossible to disable the auto-locking feature of the power door locks.

Anybody else have something to add?

Trouttrooper · February 5, 2006

8.1 not 8.2

Any truck with the 6.0 gets the 4L80E tranny. New feature compared to pre '99 4L80E is Tow/Haul that changes what rpm the tranny will up and downshift, among some other subtle things.

Any truck with the 8.1 or D-Max gets the Allison tranny. It is a 5 speed and first couple years there was no way to manually downshift from 5th to 4th. The choices on the shifter were 1,2,3,D. They eventually incorporated the option of 4th in the button on the end of the shifter. I believe there are some aftermarket gadgets to allow you to downshift to 4th for the first couple production years. Allison also has the tow/haul as well as some "intelligence" to assist in keeping your speed in check going downhill. Basically it will downshift when it thinks your using the brakes too much.

ctfan · February 6, 2006

87 was the first year for full injection. It was also the last year for the square bodies and SFA on 3/4 and 1/2 ton trucks. 1tons, blazers and suburbans kept the look up til 91. 88 marked a complete redesign for the 1/2 tons both inside and out.

William

94redZ · February 10, 2006

You are probably looking for more updated stuff, but the book The Chevy Truck Bible by Moses Ludel is friggin awesome, and it tells about the major axle, suspension, 4x4, and other changes in the life of Chevy and GMC ( they used to be separate corporations...lol) costs about 20 bucks from summit Magazine, all kinds of history from Napco 4x4 conversions to the end of the solid axle era....from about 194? to 1995. Hope this helps, this book is indespensible if you ask me, right up there with my Haynes manual.

rob