Single Cab Pickups : Forbidden Fruit

[Corbic]

So I need a new truck. Looking to dump the Taco and pick up a full size.

Here's the irony, I want a full size, V8 and better towing then the V6 Taco. Truck needs to be off road capable.

So naturally I keep looking at Single Cab OBS and Squarebody Chevys. So roughly smaller cabs with zero storage, 200hp V8's with only 7k towing. Essentially inferior on paper in every aspect.

OBS also has zero off road support, the SB is SFA, which while cool, kinda sucks for anything other then rock crawling.

 

[nxhappy]

best year silverado was 98-03 IMO and most of them are beat to **** with 200k miles. Are you looking for a newer truck ? Why not get a Hemi Ram or ecoboost F150 ?

 

[Corbic]

best year silverado was 98-03 IMO and most of them are beat to **** with 200k miles. Are you looking for a newer truck ? Why not get a Hemi Ram or ecoboost F150 ?

Beauty of living in AZ is rust is a no issue and everything is easy and cheap on these old buckets.

OBS, brand new door cards are $80!!

I do like the Classic Silverado, but the 5.3 is a dog compared to the Vortec 5.7 (partly due to gearing). I don't understand the infatuation with the CatEyes.

As for Ram, Gen 1 and 2 are inferior (parts, looks) to the equivalent GMs. The Gen 3 is a POS and Gen 4's are still over $10k.

Ford, similar story, OBS is bleh and anything later has a Mod Engines which is No Bueno. Ecoboost is a hard **** no.


If I'm spending $15k+ then it's a battle of Dirtymax vs Tunderp with entertainment of Ram.

My budget is cash and under $9k however. Lower the better so I can do some mods and snag a trailer for the Cobra and future UTV (hence the tow concerns).

I'd have bought this turd had it been a 4x4.

That's dirt, not rust.


Check out this read from a '92. *mindblown*

Or this' 78 Suburban

 

[SSSSSSSSSSSSVT]

More doors more .......

https://www.svtperformance.com/threads/fs-1993-f350-crew-cab-4x4-7-5l.1187660/#post-16460168

 

[gimmie11s]

5.3 is a dog compared to 5.7? What kind of crack are you smoking holmes?

I’ve owned a truck or suburban with every engine Chevy has made since the 80’s and I can promise you the 5.3 is NO dog.

I love me some vortec 5.7 but it simply doesn’t compare to any LS based motor including the 4.8.

If I was you I’d find a clean 88-98 with a tbi or vortec 350 (do not buy a 1995–injectors were smaller/motor is a turd) and call it a day.

You can get them all day long for under $5k

Shit... $5k will buy you a 99-02.


Also... it’s best to buy a 3/4 ton. You’ll never have to worry about the trans that way. If you buy a 1/2 ton, buy a manual. If you buy a 1/2 ton auto (700r/4l60) you WILL have to replace it at some point.


Sent from my iPhone using svtperformance.com

 

[gimmie11s]

Drive to SoCal and I’ll sell you this turd.

Sent from my iPhone using svtperformance.com

 

[nxhappy]

9 grand damn ....for that i would go for a 00-04 ram hemi or 99-03 f150 5.4

 

[nxhappy]

side note, are you in AZ now?

 

[BlksvtCobra01]

5.3 is a dog compared to 5.7? What kind of crack are you smoking holmes?

I’ve owned a truck or suburban with every engine Chevy has made since the 80’s and I can promise you the 5.3 is NO dog.

I love me some vortec 5.7 but it simply doesn’t compare to any LS based motor including the 4.8.

If I was you I’d find a clean 88-98 with a tbi or vortec 350 (do not buy a 1995–injectors were smaller/motor is a turd) and call it a day.

You can get them all day long for under $5k

Shit... $5k will buy you a 99-02.


Also... it’s best to buy a 3/4 ton. You’ll never have to worry about the trans that way. If you buy a 1/2 ton, buy a manual. If you buy a 1/2 ton auto (700r/4l60) you WILL have to replace it at some point.


Sent from my iPhone using svtperformance.com

Exactly what went thru my head lol.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BlksvtCobra01]

9 grand damn ....for that i would go for a 00-04 ram hemi or 99-03 f150 5.4

Lol @ the 99-03 5.4.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jeffh81]

5.3 is a dog compared to 5.7? What kind of crack are you smoking holmes?

I’ve owned a truck or suburban with every engine Chevy has made since the 80’s and I can promise you the 5.3 is NO dog.

I love me some vortec 5.7 but it simply doesn’t compare to any LS based motor including the 4.8.

If I was you I’d find a clean 88-98 with a tbi or vortec 350 (do not buy a 1995–injectors were smaller/motor is a turd) and call it a day.

You can get them all day long for under $5k

Shit... $5k will buy you a 99-02.


Also... it’s best to buy a 3/4 ton. You’ll never have to worry about the trans that way. If you buy a 1/2 ton, buy a manual. If you buy a 1/2 ton auto (700r/4l60) you WILL have to replace it at some point.


Sent from my iPhone using svtperformance.com

For his budget he could easily pickup a regular cab 4wd 3/4 with the 6.0 and 4l80. Those are dirt cheap around here and dead reliable. For 9k I would look for the elusive 8.1 powered regular cab and allison combo.

 

[Corbic]

5.3 is a dog compared to 5.7? What kind of crack are you smoking holmes?

I’ve owned a truck or suburban with every engine Chevy has made since the 80’s and I can promise you the 5.3 is NO dog.

I love me some vortec 5.7 but it simply doesn’t compare to any LS based motor including the 4.8.

I'm surprised to see you say this. It's pretty well known on the forums that the 99-03 Silverado was slower off the line from the outgoing OBS Vortec.

While the 5.3 made more horses, it moved the power up the curve by 1000 rpm with a less flat torque curve. GM also used an overall taller final gearing. This did give the 5.3 a +2mpg increase, but overall cost it off the line and about a half second in the quarter.

If I was you I’d find a clean 88-98 with a tbi or vortec 350 (do not buy a 1995–injectors were smaller/motor is a turd) and call it a day.

You can get them all day long for under $5k

Shit... $5k will buy you a 99-02.


Also... it’s best to buy a 3/4 ton. You’ll never have to worry about the trans that way. If you buy a 1/2 ton, buy a manual. If you buy a 1/2 ton auto (700r/4l60) you WILL have to replace it at some point.

All 2500s have 4L80s? GM is bonkers with their option packages. HD 1500, Light Duty 2500, some have 8-bolt, some have 6-bolt.

 

[Corbic]

Drive to SoCal and I’ll sell you this turd.


View attachment 1653812


Sent from my iPhone using svtperformance.com

2WD Bruh

 

[Corbic]

For his budget he could easily pickup a regular cab 4wd 3/4 with the 6.0 and 4l80. Those are dirt cheap around here and dead reliable. For 9k I would look for the elusive 8.1 powered regular cab and allison combo.

I want to be well under $9k, blowing the whole budget up front leaves no $ for mods or to use toward a trailer (which will likely be $2k).

 

[Corbic]

9 grand damn ....for that i would go for a 00-04 ram hemi or 99-03 f150 5.4

Oh yell no.

5.4 is a turd. 3rd Gen Rams are turds. 9k for either is just stupid.

side note, are you in AZ now?

Si

 

[buffalosoldier]

I like the 5.7 for its longevity, the shop I used to go to made a boat load of money fixing 5.3 heads with broken studs and stripped plug holes. My DD 1991 gmc 5.7 5 speed 232k and will pull a stump.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

 

[gimmie11s]

I'm surprised to see you say this. It's pretty well known on the forums that the 99-03 Silverado was slower off the line from the outgoing OBS Vortec.

While the 5.3 made more horses, it moved the power up the curve by 1000 rpm with a less flat torque curve. GM also used an overall taller final gearing. This did give the 5.3 a +2mpg increase, but overall cost it off the line and about a half second in the quarter.

Please explain the overall taller final gearing? This is not correct. You can option an LS 5.3 with 3.73s all day long. Its RPO code GT4. Look for that in the glove box.

If you want stump pulling power, just buy a TBI 350 that made a whopping 210 crank hp. They will drag a 5.7 vortec or LS 5.3 with ease for the first 100 feet. After that first 100 feet the vortec 350 pulls away, another 100 feet the LS 5.3 makes both of them look like they found reverse.

All 2500s have 4L80s? GM is bonkers with their option packages. HD 1500, Light Duty 2500, some have 8-bolt, some have 6-bolt.

Yes. Look for a rectangular 17 bolt oil pan, but it's 100% that every 3/4 got a 4l80 unles some moron swapped it out.

GM also made a light duty 3/4 ton with 6 lug wheels... if you happen to find one of those, be sure to verify which trans it has. Ive actually never seen on in person.

2WD Bruh

Ha true.... It's diesel and manual trans so at least it has that going for it.

I like the 5.7 for its longevity, the shop I used to go to made a boat load of money fixing 5.3 heads with broken studs and stripped plug holes. My DD 1991 gmc 5.7 5 speed 232k and will pull a stump.View attachment 1653845

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Nice truck!! But your story on the 5.3 is anecdotal at best.

Trust me i love my some sbc 5.7 but it simply does not compare to any of the LS offerings. Theyre not even in the same league.

 

[CompOrange04GT]

Hope you’re short

I drive a single cab dodge at work, and I ****ing hate it and I’m barely over 6 foot.

 

[Corbic]

Hope you’re short

I drive a single cab dodge at work, and I ****ing hate it and I’m barely over 6 foot.

6'5

 

[Corbic]

Please explain the overall taller final gearing? This is not correct. You can option an LS 5.3 with 3.73s all day long. Its RPO code GT4. Look for that in the glove box.

Again, GM and their bagillion options packages. On one hand it's great, on the other it's a PITA.