Tons Of Questions/advice Needed (90 Silverado C-1500)

[putty]

Hi all! I am new here, and I am in quite a predicament. First let me introduce myself. I have a 90 Chevy Silverado Stepside C-1500 with a 5.7L 350 V8 engine in it. I have personally owned the vehicle for a little more than 6 years. When I purchased the vehicle it had about 150k miles on it. It currently has around 207k miles on it. I purchased this vehicle for $4,000 when I was 16. I worked for 10 months and saved virtually every penny I made and paid for it all myself with no outside money. My truck really is an extension of me - it's who I am. It's representative of more than just a vehicle to me - to me it represents the American Dream. Hard-work, discipline, and little luck and anything is attainable. I couldn't imagine getting rid of it. I would love to eventually be able to fix it up and have my yet-to-be-born son or daughter drive it when they get old enough.

 

Anyway, the reason I am around these parts is that I have recently got a well-paying job and realize that my truck isn't going to last forever. I really have never had any major problems with it. About a year after I got it the starter went out, and then a crack in the radiator that I believe was caused by my incorrect flushing. A few years ago the battery went out and then the heating core. So pretty minor stuff.

 

 

Well, in the past three months I have had a few problems. The starter went out again. I hear this is pretty typical since it's been about 6 years since it last went out. The radiator got another crack. Not so bad in itself as it was still under warranty from when I purchased it several years ago, but each time the labor to fix these problems has been a few hundred bucks. I know virtually nothing about what goes on under the hood so I can't just fix these problems myself. Fortunately I have a terrific uncle who is more than willing to give me a hand when I need it, but he was few hundred miles away so this really wasn't practical. While I was getting this fixed at the Chevy dealer they told me that my intake gasket was leaking coolant/oil and that eventually my engine was going to blow if I didn't get it fixed. They said it would be around $700 to fix. This is really the first major problem I have had.

 

Besides this there are tons of minor problems like my windshield wipers inexplicably won't turn off when I turn them on sometimes! Makes for interesting driving. Also my locks are no longer locks - they can be opened with a butter knife or small coin. My ignition turns over with no key. My tachometer no longer works, and the guage that tells you whether you are in Park, Neutral, etc doesn't work anymore and hasn't for quite some time. The door panels are coming detached from the door and the cloth is coming apart. The glove box hinge is broke. I also have bench seats and would really like to put bucket seats with a console. The audio needs a major upgrade as I am currently operating on a > 6 year old CD player and some factory speakers. I am in need of some new tires - probably $400 - $450. Basically the things that happen to any 17 year old 200k+ mile truck.

 

Anyway, my problem is that I feel that I am at the turning point on this truck. There's no way I can imagine selling it, but I feel like I am going to need something more reliable and would like something a little nicer. I am torn between fixing what I have and just getting something newer. There's no way I would get brand new - too much depreciation for me. If I got a new (to me) vehicle I would like to spend less than $15,000. I just don't know if I should spend around half this much and fix up what I have or if I should just go with something newer. I know I would eventually fix this truck up anyways once I become financially more secure. Would anyone like to offer opinions on this?

 

A few more pointed questions:

 

1. If I decided to fix what I have I would like to get a rebuilt or new engine put in. Same thing with a transmission. How much would this likely cost?

 

2. I would do some exterior work too like new side mirrors (<$100), paint, and possibly a roll pan. No idea how much this would cost.

 

3. I would love to completely redo the interior as far as dumping my bench seats and going with buck seats with a middle console. How much would something like this run me?

 

4. I would like to change my interior (namely the dashboard) out with the newest model that will fit in it. Do the newer ones like '98s fit in? If so, how much would this cost and can a "smart" person with no other real interior work perform this by using some brains or does a professional really need to do this?

 

5. Fix the door locks and ignition. I am pretty sure this can be done for a few hundred dollars or less. My uncle has said he knows how to do this.

 

In conclusion, is it a better investment to fix up what I have or just go with something newer and more reliable? Thanks.

[dietz4ibanez]

Get a new truck man!!! You will love the next one just as much!!!! You can get like a 98 or even a 99 classic with low low miles for under $15g's! If it was just the head gasket I think that I would fix it... But you need alot to get it as good as when you got it!

[superbee]

I have done the type of thing you're talking about several times with various vehicles, it really doesn't make sense. Look for the truck you want and take your time, don't settle for something close. If your truck is a runner right now, use it until you find the one you want. You'll never get your money back out of your old truck, and you'll end up spending close to the same money as a new to you truck. Just my $.02.

[Guardian3]

I'll second the advice you've already gotten above. However, if you decide to rebuild your current truck, the only advice I can offer you is to NOT GET AN ATK ENGINE!! Those engines are fantastic boat anchors, but not too great as what I would call a dependable engine. ATK sells their engines based on this wonderful 3-year warranty that is as worthless as their quality control. I've heard Jasper engines are good, but can't validate that. Just don't get an ATK rebuild!!

[mini1]

You are talking about putting way too much money into something that really has minimal to no value to anyone else. Lets face it, no one really wants to buy any vehicle with over 200,000 miles. Sell it while it still work and get a newer truck. If you like the GMT-800's then get a used 2000-02. Those were nice, reliable rides. They should be in your price range. There were a LOT made. If you can afford a newer truck (after the face-lift in 03) then go for that. Look for something with low milage. That way you can actually put money into it and not be throwing it all into the trash.

[GMSea97]

I don't think fixing your old truck is throwing money away...maybe a bit impratical for a daily driver but not a waste. I say keep the old one and maybe look for a newer truck too. Make your 90' a project truck/ learning experience. Jasper engines and trannies are great, that is all my buddies shop will put in. If there is a problem with them they honor there warrenties. I bet for cheaper then Jasper engine would be, you could pull yours and have a shop (not a dealer) rebuild it, add a cam, bore it out. Look at how many 80's trucks people are sucking up now, they are becoming customizers favorites, the 90's models are next in-line for that. On another note: the only way to learn to work on trucks is to just do it. Make notes as you take things apart so you can put it back together. Plus you can alway come on here for advise if you get stuck, or you said you have an uncle that is pretty good maybe he could talk you through things. I wish I would have kept my first truck, it could have been pretty close to finished by now.

 

Now about fixing your stuff. I would go to a junk yard, the ones near me keep cars/trucks younger then 15yrs old so there would be lots of your style trucks.

 

The interior you could most likely get away with $250 or so from a junk yard. (bucket seat and consol) 88-98 cab was the same so with slight modding it all fits fine. The gear indicator is a stupid little string, they break and are easy to fix.

 

I think to have your tranny rebuilt is like $600-$700 plus at this point you could add a shift kit. To rebuild your engine should be less then 2grand depending on the quality of parts you put in.(ie: cams, ignition systems, rings, pistons, an entire gasket kit is like $200)

 

Heck while your at it, get a newer style grill to update your truck too. Yet again check the junk yards.

Roll pans vary in cost (bolt on roll pans/ weld on roll pans many options)

 

Get an LMC magazine they have every part possible for your truck, I think with patience you could do just about all of the stuff yourself. And find a reliable mechanic that doesn't work at a dealership, dealers are way expensive.

[ZZ327]

look for a newer used one in good shape, and use the old one as a fixer upper/ spare. Thats what I did. I did a lot of fixing on my 88 with 198K miles and still ended up buying newer, because of a weak brake pedal problem.

[putty]

Get a new truck man!!! You will love the next one just as much!!!! You can get like a 98 or even a 99 classic with low low miles for under $15g's! If it was just the head gasket I think that I would fix it... But you need alot to get it as good as when you got it!

 

It's funny because after typing that I pretty much made my mind up. What I want to do to this truck is basically make it a new truck! It doesn't make any sense to put this much work into it as a daily driver.

 

 

I have done the type of thing you're talking about several times with various vehicles, it really doesn't make sense. Look for the truck you want and take your time, don't settle for something close. If your truck is a runner right now, use it until you find the one you want. You'll never get your money back out of your old truck, and you'll end up spending close to the same money as a new to you truck. Just my $.02.

 

Yeah, my truck actually runs fine right now. There are just small signs of impending doom. I think I will look around and find one that I really want and go armed into a dealer with info. For giggles I went to one today. They had a sharp 2004 Silverado extended cab 4x4 with a 5.3L V8. Black leather and black exterior with 33k miles on it. After practically fighting them to give me their asking price they finally told me $26,995. Another one I was looking at was a 2003 white Silverado 4x4 extended cab with 88k miles on it. They told me they wanted $24,995. The lst one I really looked at was a 2004 GMC Sierra 4x4 extended or crew cab I can't remember with 68k miles and they wanted $22,995. I had to fight them to get these. Here's our conversation:

 

Me: Can you tell me how much you are asking for this vehicle?

Salesguy: How much do you want to pay?

Me: Taken aback. I am not worried about that. Just tell me how much you are asking for it.

Saleguy: What kind of vehicle do you want? How do you plan to pay for it?

Me: Cash with very little financing.

 

Finally he takes me to the back and some other pretty boy financing guy comes in asking my name and crap. I gave him a fake one. When he started asking me questions I was like "I jsut want to know how much this costs. Wal-Mart has a ticket on their TVs telling me how much they cost. Why can't you just tell me?" He replied with, "You can't expect me to give out all the information can you!?" I should have told him that he apparently didn't want to make a sale and left, but I basically told him to just give me the estimate. He then kept wanting to know how long it was going to be before I would be purchasing it, etc. It was ridiculous. I felt that they overpriced the hell out of the vehicles. At least I don't think they are worth that much especially when I just saw at the Dodge dealership brand new 1500 Rams for less than they wanted for these seriously used ones. The only way I will go back there is when I finally ge the cash on hand. I will walk in with $15,000 or so (or on a credit card) and tell that I want this vehicle to drive home today, including all financing fees for $15k. If you want a sale you will do it, otherwise I will go down the road and find someone who will. I am beginning to wonder if it may be in my best interests to have my uncle look around for private dealers who may be selling something and see about getting one that way.

 

 

I'll second the advice you've already gotten above. However, if you decide to rebuild your current truck, the only advice I can offer you is to NOT GET AN ATK ENGINE!! Those engines are fantastic boat anchors, but not too great as what I would call a dependable engine. ATK sells their engines based on this wonderful 3-year warranty that is as worthless as their quality control. I've heard Jasper engines are good, but can't validate that. Just don't get an ATK rebuild!!

 

Thanks for the advice! I know nothing about engines and would probably consult you guys or my uncle before doing anything drastic, but this is still good information to have.

 

 

You are talking about putting way too much money into something that really has minimal to no value to anyone else. Lets face it, no one really wants to buy any vehicle with over 200,000 miles. Sell it while it still work and get a newer truck. If you like the GMT-800's then get a used 2000-02. Those were nice, reliable rides. They should be in your price range. There were a LOT made. If you can afford a newer truck (after the face-lift in 03) then go for that. Look for something with low milage. That way you can actually put money into it and not be throwing it all into the trash.

 

I agree with it having little value to anyone but m, but I still don't think I will sell it. I could afford to go up to $25k or more if I was getting somethig significantly better than the 15k range, but I am just a little cheap and am hesitant to do so. Is it really worth it to get a brand new or very new model over something 3 or 4 years old? My plan was to see about getting something later this fall when many of the 2008s are in and they really need to get rid of the 2007s.

 

 

I don't think fixing your old truck is throwing money away...maybe a bit impratical for a daily driver but not a waste. I say keep the old one and maybe look for a newer truck too.

 

Thanks for your advice too! I actually have the 94 to 98 style grill and side mirrors on the truck now so from the exterior you can't really tell what model it is. In fact, I will post a picture of it in the pics section. I'll link to it here when I get it up.

 

[edit]Here's the link: http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=64161