New Body Style Vs Old

bronco2454 · October 29, 2008

I am just looking for opinions here. Are there any advatanges to the nbs over the obs. I am looking at a 98 vs 99.

MS3DALE · October 29, 2008

I thought you bought that Red GMC? That was a '97 or '98 wasn't it?

Anyway....Personally I kinda' like the '96-'98 GMT400 trucks,Also by this time all the bugs were "worked-out" of them!!

I should know,I had 3 GMT400 trucks ('93-'94-'97) and two GMT800 trucks ('99-'04)

I'm currently looking for a nice clean used RCSB as a "playtoy"...and I'm leaning towards a '96-'98,as opposed to a '99-'02.

I think the GMT400's were just a little tougher built,I know the frames were a little stronger for sure (You don't wanna' know how I know!!)

VMax2007 · October 29, 2008

I thought you bought that Red GMC? That was a '97 or '98 wasn't it?

Anyway....Personally I kinda' like the '96-'98 GMT400 trucks,Also by this time all the bugs were "worked-out" of them!!

I should know,I had 3 GMT400 trucks ('93-'94-'97) and two GMT800 trucks ('99-'04)

I'm currently looking for a nice clean used RCSB as a "playtoy"...and I'm leaning towards a '96-'98,as opposed to a '99-'02.

I think the GMT400's were just a little tougher built,I know the frames were a little stronger for sure (You don't wanna' know how I know!!)

Not sure about that. I sold my 89 to my best buddy and he had a 94 before that and he said my 89 was built much better than his 94 was and it had more HP too. (225 vs 190 IIRC). He claims they "cheapened" them out somewhat between 89 and 94. Don't recall the specifics. But they did the same thing with the GMT800's as they evolved, they lost "goodies".

bronco2454 · October 29, 2008

Yes I did get that red 98 but the guy called me the other day and told me he has a 99 that has less miles on it and asked if I would be interested in taking a look just wondering if it would be worth even looking at.

MS3DALE · October 29, 2008

I thought you bought that Red GMC? That was a '97 or '98 wasn't it?

Anyway....Personally I kinda' like the '96-'98 GMT400 trucks,Also by this time all the bugs were "worked-out" of them!!

I should know,I had 3 GMT400 trucks ('93-'94-'97) and two GMT800 trucks ('99-'04)

I'm currently looking for a nice clean used RCSB as a "playtoy"...and I'm leaning towards a '96-'98,as opposed to a '99-'02.

I think the GMT400's were just a little tougher built,I know the frames were a little stronger for sure (You don't wanna' know how I know!!)

Not sure about that. I sold my 89 to my best buddy and he had a 94 before that and he said my 89 was built much better than his 94 was and it had more HP too. (225 vs 190 IIRC). He claims they "cheapened" them out somewhat between 89 and 94. Don't recall the specifics. But they did the same thing with the GMT800's as they evolved, they lost "goodies".

Hmm....I'd have to disagree,HP in an '89 1/2-ton with a 350 was 210,HP in a '94 1/2-ton with a 350 was 200 (So it did drop 10)

But.....so much improved from '88/'89 just to '91/'92,let alone '94.....ball joints,taillamp circuit boards,dash clusters,water drainage in the bed side panels.

'95 we had the all-new interior (dash/seats/door panels) drivers side air-bag,and 4-wheel ABS (I know some guys hate it,but its there!!)

And then we all know the big improvement in '96 with the central port-injection intake and "Vortec" cylinder heads which gave the 350-V8 255 HP!!!

All in all I'd say the '96-'99 GMT400 trucks were the best GM ever built!!!

But.....Thats just my .02

VMax2007 · October 29, 2008

I thought you bought that Red GMC? That was a '97 or '98 wasn't it?

Anyway....Personally I kinda' like the '96-'98 GMT400 trucks,Also by this time all the bugs were "worked-out" of them!!

I should know,I had 3 GMT400 trucks ('93-'94-'97) and two GMT800 trucks ('99-'04)

I'm currently looking for a nice clean used RCSB as a "playtoy"...and I'm leaning towards a '96-'98,as opposed to a '99-'02.

I think the GMT400's were just a little tougher built,I know the frames were a little stronger for sure (You don't wanna' know how I know!!)

Not sure about that. I sold my 89 to my best buddy and he had a 94 before that and he said my 89 was built much better than his 94 was and it had more HP too. (225 vs 190 IIRC). He claims they "cheapened" them out somewhat between 89 and 94. Don't recall the specifics. But they did the same thing with the GMT800's as they evolved, they lost "goodies".

Hmm....I'd have to disagree,HP in an '89 1/2-ton with a 350 was 210,HP in a '94 1/2-ton with a 350 was 200 (So it did drop 10)

But.....so much improved from '88/'89 just to '91/'92,let alone '94.....ball joints,taillamp circuit boards,dash clusters,water drainage in the bed side panels.

'95 we had the all-new interior (dash/seats/door panels,etc)

And then we all know the big improvement in '96 with the central port-injection intake and "Vortec" cylinder heads which gave the 350-V8 255 HP!!!

All in all I'd say the '96-'99 GMT400 trucks were the best GM ever built!!!

But.....Thats just my .02

Could be, this was just 2 specific trucks.

You sure about those HP numbers? I could have sworn my 89 was listed at either 220 or 225. Tim also told me his 94 was 190 or 195, but he could have been wrong for all I know.

bronco2454 · October 29, 2008

Is it really worth it for a year newer truck with less than 150k on compared to my 98 with 189k on it? I think the 98 is better looking its got the nice red paint instead of a plain gold color. But if the 99 offers a stronger platform than maybe I can see working something out before I become to attached to the 98.

VMax2007 · October 29, 2008

Is it really worth it for a year newer truck with less than 150k on compared to my 98 with 189k on it? I think the 98 is better looking its got the nice red paint instead of a plain gold color. But if the 99 offers a stronger platform than maybe I can see working something out before I become to attached to the 98.

IMO, if your 98 runs good, shifts good and you are happy with it. Keep it. You never know about the 99 with 150K on it, it could be in a lot worse shape than your 98.

MS3DALE · October 29, 2008

Is it really worth it for a year newer truck with less than 150k on compared to my 98 with 189k on it? I think the 98 is better looking its got the nice red paint instead of a plain gold color. But if the 99 offers a stronger platform than maybe I can see working something out before I become to attached to the 98.

Trust me,The "platform" is stronger on your '98 than it is on that '99.

I know for a fact the frames are not as strong on the GMT800's as they were on the GMT400's.

MS3DALE · October 29, 2008

I thought you bought that Red GMC? That was a '97 or '98 wasn't it?

Anyway....Personally I kinda' like the '96-'98 GMT400 trucks,Also by this time all the bugs were "worked-out" of them!!

I should know,I had 3 GMT400 trucks ('93-'94-'97) and two GMT800 trucks ('99-'04)

I'm currently looking for a nice clean used RCSB as a "playtoy"...and I'm leaning towards a '96-'98,as opposed to a '99-'02.

I think the GMT400's were just a little tougher built,I know the frames were a little stronger for sure (You don't wanna' know how I know!!)

Not sure about that. I sold my 89 to my best buddy and he had a 94 before that and he said my 89 was built much better than his 94 was and it had more HP too. (225 vs 190 IIRC). He claims they "cheapened" them out somewhat between 89 and 94. Don't recall the specifics. But they did the same thing with the GMT800's as they evolved, they lost "goodies".

Hmm....I'd have to disagree,HP in an '89 1/2-ton with a 350 was 210,HP in a '94 1/2-ton with a 350 was 200 (So it did drop 10)

But.....so much improved from '88/'89 just to '91/'92,let alone '94.....ball joints,taillamp circuit boards,dash clusters,water drainage in the bed side panels.

'95 we had the all-new interior (dash/seats/door panels,etc)

And then we all know the big improvement in '96 with the central port-injection intake and "Vortec" cylinder heads which gave the 350-V8 255 HP!!!

All in all I'd say the '96-'99 GMT400 trucks were the best GM ever built!!!

But.....Thats just my .02

Could be, this was just 2 specific trucks.

You sure about those HP numbers? I could have sworn my 89 was listed at either 220 or 225. Tim also told me his 94 was 190 or 195, but he could have been wrong for all I know.

Yep,Positive....I just double checked the order guides from '88-'89-'90-'91-'92-'93-'94 (Oh you get the picture!!)

I still have all the old order guides from the dealership,They throw the old ones away when the new model year ones come out,Guess who grabs'em and keeps'em for "future reference"!

bronco2454 · October 29, 2008

How about performance and mpg of the 5.7 vs 5.3? I am just looking to see if it is even worth the gas to look at this. I think he had it when I went to get my 98 if he did its a gold with leather interior. I asked about it but he said it had not been checked over to see if he was going to sell it or auction it.

thecraft · October 29, 2008

I would go with the GMT-400 ('98)

HawkeyeOC · October 29, 2008

I would go with the GMT-400 ('98)

+1 '99s had first year body style issues. Stick with the '98

66nova · October 29, 2008

I love my 95! I have had it for 12 years. The only thing I would change about it is make it a 96 for the vortec. Although, with my headers, echaust, intake, TB spacer and chip it runs pretty good. I believe it came from the factory with 205hp (MSDALE can double check me). Mine has 3.07 gears and pulls my car/trailer with little effert. Now compared to my 07 vmax with 3.73's it seems like a slug, but I still love that truck.

I vote for GMT400

C. Charles Hahn · October 29, 2008

I would go with the GMT-400 ('98)

+1 '99s had first year body style issues. Stick with the '98

Agreed. I've owned "first year of a new body style" GMs twice ('98 S10 Blazer, '02 GMC Envoy) and I'll never make that mistake again. Both had some strange quirks (admittedly the '02 Envoy was still a really damn reliable truck). I haven't really had any issues to speak of so far with my '08 Sierra (aside from something rattling around above the headliner driving me nuts )

In your situation, I'd go with the '98.