New To Me And Gm Too!

conrad1995 · October 22, 2007

Been reading the site for a few months now. Having recently traded in my conversion van that could carry all our gear for excursions into the woods of PA (camping, backpacking, cycling and canoeing), for a car, I realized it just wasn't going to work even with a cavernous trunk and a hitch mount bike rack. SO I started doing some research here and a couple other GM forums.

The company I work for had a truck we bought up here in Cleveland, that we sent down to Florida. I remember the day we picked it up from the dealer, and I fell in love her on the lot. I used to look forward to my trips to Florida when I could drive her around. Circumstances became such that the truck became available so I bought the 2000 Silverado Extended Cab with Long Bed. 82,000 miles on it and got a hell of a deal $3,000. Got the 5.3L with 3.73 rear so she can tow just about anything I want, although the pick-up can be a little frightening at first! Suffers from the start up slap, but has been seen by the dealer repeatedly over the years and it has had no adverse effect. So I put a couple new tires on, had the oil changed and everything checked out and drove her up to Ohio from Florida.

Thanks to this site I was able to replace the blend-door actuator and the blower motor resistor no problems. Boy was I scared when I first tried the heat in Florida and it stuck on HIGH! Thankfully it reset for the ride home, and the AC was icey cold.

Had her on a couple trips before I took her to the body shop. Last time I saw it, it was sitting in pieces in a parts bin! When they said they took everything off to paint it right, they weren't kidding. But she needed it bad. Had major case of clear-coat failure but only a couple minor dings. Got to see all the under pinnings including inside the doors, pristine top to bottom. So for another $2500 I've got $5,500 in to her, plus a resistor and actuator. Not bad in my book!

I've decided to leave it all red, and won't be re-installing the moldings or emblems on the body. I like the nice clean lines, and not having to worry about waxing around "stuff". Gonna have to get a hood deflector though to protect the paint.

This is only the second GM in our family, the first being my Wife's Monza if that gives you an idea how long it's been! Won't mention any other brand, but haven't traded anything in with less than 150,000 miles so I can't complain except of course the Monza!!

Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it! Looking forward to many happy trips with Big Red! And thanks to all who share their information here for the un-initiated, it really does make a difference, or at least it did for me.

04z71steve · October 22, 2007

Welcome to the site!

sounds like you got a heck of a deal with your truck thats great! its not to often u get a deal like that tossed your way!! I'm sure you'll continue to love your truck!! there the best in my opinion, we owned Chevy's and Gmc's all our lives in my family and have never had one fail so we'll continue to stick with them!

lets see some pics of big red she sounds like a nice rig!!

Steve

pwall · October 22, 2007

Welcome to

99silveradoz71 · October 23, 2007

Welcome aboard

dietz4ibanez · October 23, 2007

Glad you made it here!

s-ten · October 23, 2007

Welcome

Good luck with the truck, sounds like it was a good.

thecraft · October 23, 2007

Circumstances became such that the truck became available so I bought the 2000 Silverado Extended Cab with Long Bed. 82,000 miles on it and got a hell of a deal $3,000.

conrad1995 · October 24, 2007

Thanks ALL for the Welcomes.

You read these forums, and you gotta figure, the people with all the problems, really are a minority of the group, they are just desperate to resolve the problem they are having with their _________ (insert choice or brand of vehicle), so they tend to be a little more vocal.

After driving her all the way home from Florida, I developed a lot of confidence in her abilities.

Best of all after having driven vans for the past 16 years, I can actually open the hood and find what I want to work on, even if it's just changing the spark plugs! Been a REAL long time since I had something I could actually work on! Even if I had to drop an engine or a tranny in her, I'd still be ahead of the game looking at resale values, but I don't see that happening for a long while, so let the mods begin!

Got a can of seafoam ready for the old girl as soon as I get her out of the paint shop! We'll both have a drink and celebrate! Can't wait to see her with all her "clothes" off!

conrad1995 · January 14, 2008

Well,

Finally got her back from the body shop afer having her re-painted.

Added a cap and a Bedrug. She has already done her first camping trip,

and this was right after her quick sponge bath. MAN it was cold!

I kind of like having all the trim and badges off!

Next is new shoes and a sound system.

I think she looks pretty good for a 2000!

Edited to change picture layout.

Dano07 · January 15, 2008

Welcome to the site.

Darkanion · January 15, 2008

Nice looking truck!

I have to say, though... That is one long-lookin' SOB! It looks good, though! I can only imagine trying to park that thing, though!

Welcome to the site!

conrad1995 · January 15, 2008

Nice looking truck!

I have to say, though... That is one long-lookin' SOB! It looks good, though! I can only imagine trying to park that thing, though!

Welcome to the site!

Well you make a good point! That's why we call her BIG Red!!

I have had vans with long wheel bases for the past many years, and this even tops those! Typically I park on the edge of a lot and hang the rear over the curb. It's easier to back into a space anyway. That or I just pull in and take two spaces in the peripheral areas of a parking lot. I thought the cap may make it a little tougher, but it hasn't made a difference.

Parking wasn't a prolbme as much as the only real downside, driving in Florida where U-turns are a requirement. Had to take some REAL wide U's. We don't do U's in Ohio so that problem is behind me for the most part!

ws6_guy · January 18, 2008

Nice looking truck, welcome to the site

Darkanion · January 18, 2008

Parking wasn't a prolbme as much as the only real downside, driving in Florida where U-turns are a requirement. Had to take some REAL wide U's. We don't do U's in Ohio so that problem is behind me for the most part!

Yikes! And I thought u-turns were bad in mine.. I can only imagine.

Nice truck!

conrad1995 · January 19, 2008

Thanks Guys!

She's one step nearer my "perfection", got the audio installed yesterday. NEVER in a million years did I expect the inside of a truck could sound so good! The most amazing part was the stock speakers that came out. They called them "upgraded", hate to think what the standards would have looked like. Of the 4 speakers, none of the cones were still attached to the frame. Not that I didn't suspect it BUT..... seeing is shocking. I understand why they install them with the plastic easy mount system, for easy replacements!

Went with Alpine Speakers front and Rear, 10" sub, Fusion 5 chanel amp and a Pioneer head unit with USB.

Now I gotta replaced the stock unit in my car, never thought I'd get that much sound out of my Ipod. Higher bit rate MP3s are just as good as CDs, and better in that I only carry 1 Ipod instead of a pile of cds!

Looking at some new shoes for her tomorrow. Not quite ready to commit, but want to get some ideas and have a couple great places nearby to see and touch them in person!