Chevy Silverado - III

goodbid

by the way it is a 4 x 4

26andrew1

Just thought I would beat this into the ground. When my co-workers and myself do pdi's on NEW GM/CHEVY TRUCKS RIGHT OFF THE TRUCK, we sometimes come across a truck/sub with a gmc horn pad, or maybe one gmc door decal, or a gmc decal on the tail gait. If they were made in seperate plants I don't belive this would happen. They are exactly the same truck except for grill and and trim and things. EXACTLY. Ahhhh there. I will so no more on the subject

26andrew1

The air intake is even the same on Both trucks comes from the fender not the engine compartment. Yes it MAY run cooler but the thermostat controls how hot the engine will get. ya ya along with the fan, coolant blah blah blah

mgdvhman

Aside from Oil changes,Fuel/Solvent warnings...what else has come up on your Info Display that was of any use?

mgdvhman

..and has anybody had a good use for the Hour meter?

rwagoner

Nothing has come up on mine besides the check (battery) at start, security, and the amazingly bright LOW FUEL ... I always have to test it to see how far I can go with the light on.

Other than that, just the "Cargo Light On" when I pressed the switch. Oh, and the "Chevy Rules" message ...

Richard

vince4

My first response on this board, it's a great resource! I'm going tomorrow to order a 2500 LS 4x4 LB. Dealer quoted 2K over invoice, next day 1K, tomorrow who knows?

Anybody out there carrying a camper? Mine is about 2500lbs and I'm wondering if I should get the 4.10 axle. Can't believe Chevy doesn't offer a rear stabilizer bar.

Vince

vince4

I'm considering a Rhino spray-in lining. Does anyone have experience with them? Any problems? Price?

citroen7

the hour meter is turned on with the truck off and pushing in the reset for a couple seconds. Mine says 651 hours with 19500 miles. Can anyone tell me which rear end ratio will not kick down as often on hills. Pushing in the tow haul button helps but I'd rather have the right rear end for road trips which is what I do mostly. I have a 3.42 now. Perhaps the new 285 hp 5.3 is better.

planejane

The hour meter, for aviation buffs, like me! is just plain ol' COOL! Who cares what its for, its cool. Chevy is cool. Chevy is #1, oh, I am going nuts.

Cindy

planejane

What does the programmable locks do? What's it for?

mgdvhman

Yes..you are nuts..but that's why you fit in so good here with us!

Boats and planes use Hour meters...but why Trucks?

Whatever....

- Tim

mgdvhman

I got 2 Phone calls today on the cell phone...

First was from the Party Store telling me my 1/2 BBL. of Atwater (Block Brewery) Krausen Dunkell beer is in! Never heard of it?...it's an awesome Local brew that is a dark German style beer..but very smooth. Even Bud drinkers like it.

Any way..I thought that call would be my dealer..wrong...

The SECOND call was the dealer!

My 2000 3/4 LT SB is built!..and estimated time of delivery is 8-9 (Monday). It only has to go 25 miles from Plant to dealer...gonna be the longest weekend of my life!

....At least I got 15.5 Gallons of my favorite beer!

..."It's good to be the King" - Mel Brooks

- Tim

mgdvhman

3:73 is the best all around

3:42 kinda wimpy
4:10 nice pickup....barely noticeable MPG difference...My personal Favorite

- Tim

lrreard

I finally got my got my regular-cab, sportside Silverado last weekend. Ordered it in December of 99 and just got it. The good news is that it is a 2000 model, but the bad news is that it cost about $500 more. (After all that time, you would think Chevrolet would apologize and forego the extra bucks.)

Love that 5.3 liter engine. Got to hold it back!!

rwagoner

You ordered it in December '99?

No wonder they charged $500 more ... you got it faster than the speed of light!

jimmcd

I'm still wondering about the advantage of the heavy duty air filter. Should I order it? I cannot find out the cartrige replacement price. Any one have such information?

cdean

vince4

Get the 4.10. The new Chevy's don't seem to be paying much of a penalty (none at all, really) for getting the 4.10 rear instead of 3.73. give yourself a little more gitty up for basically no greater fuel cost, and get the 4.10.

citroen7

I personally think the 3.73 is the best rear for lots of unloaded driving. for the past 10 years, covering the past 2 generations of GM engines, the trucks with the 3.73 have gotten equivalent mileage to trucks with the 3.42, and better pulling power. Seems to be the same with the new engines. If you pull a lot or equip your truck heavy, get the 4.10.


mgdvhman
Actually, the hour meter will be VERY useful when it comes time to buy a used truck. Looking at a truck with a 100,000 miles on it? What kinda miles? highway miles, city miles, ranch miles? right now, all you can do is take the owners word. with an hour meter, you can see what the actual avg. speed of the truck was. If lifetime avg speed is around 40-45, it is probably all highway miles. If avg speed is around 20-30, probably a lot of city miles. If avg speed is around 5-10, it was a ranch truck. I've seen several ranch trucks with 100,000 miles on them, but looked and acted like they had 300,000. the hour meter basically is a tattle tale to how the truck was used, that you can't cover up.

reefer

Have a 99 Sierra with 4000 miles. Lots of problems. Current one is a gowdawful squeaking coming from the body mounts. Dealer says he has two other customers with same. Says he can't fix it. Several calls to Customer Satisfaction #. Had case opened. On second call they said my case was marked "resolved....customer satisfied." Told them this was a lie, not resolved. They said that there is pressure on them to close cases so they just mark them "resolved." GMC is jerking our chains.

mgdvhman

Hmmm...Never thought of that theory for the Hour meter. Chances are the average guy will compute that 40-45 means all City driving!

Out of 22K a year..I'd say 75-80% will be Highway for me...so I'll let ya know what mine says?...Bigger machines such as cats and Dump trucks have Hour meters to tell when maint. should be done...so Maybe Chevrolet wants to make you think you are driving one of those?...I don't object...just wondered if it was really an item worth having.

- Tim

mgdvhman

Make that 55% for Highway....I figured it out wrong.

- Tim

quadrunner500

I think you are probably right about the average person figuring that 40-45 means all city driving.

mgdvhman

I know I am...maybe if I drive 120...it will work out to be 70..and someone will believe me?

And dave....NOOOOOO..Dodge HAS to be the best!!..Take all that back about power for GM...BAD Dave!!...Dodge Rules!!...GM can't haul anything...Just ask the Dodge Pros here!!...

...(Damn....I can't even believe it when I say it!)

Chevrolet forever baby!

www.teleweb.net/mgdvhman/2000LT.wav

- Tim Bundy

vince4

Cindy mentioned a "new radio" for 2000. What's new about it?

rwagoner

I think the new radio, if it is new, has the RDS system in it that shows text info on a screen. RDS is popular in Europe, but has not been very popular here in the US. I have an article on it on my web page, http://lausd.k12.ca.us/~rwagoner. Click on PAST COLUMNS and then select July 30, 1999. (I write a column about radio for the local paper).

I have not read anything official from GM, though so I don't know if the radio is new for 2000.

I do like the '99 radio. And I was expecting to NOT like it. Go figure.

mgdvhman

I only heard about the Weather break thing. Curious to see what happens with mine now.

- Tim

rwagoner

I believe the weather break is part of RDS. RDS can also be used to switch to a stronger signal of the same station automatically ... IF the station broadcasts on more than one frequency. Apparently this is fairly common in Europe (and one reason RDS is more popular there); few stations in the USA do so.

Hey, take a look at this month's (well, September, anyway) Popular Mechanics. I have always felt their reviews are a bit more fair than others (the reviewers don't want all cars to be like a Honda Accord as with Consumer Reports). Between all the trucks, they rate the Silverado/Sierra first, Ford second, Toyota Tundra third and Dodge Ram 4th.

It may be online at www.popularmechanics.com ... I haven't checked.

Richard

rhinnc

The following is text of an e-mail I just sent to the Penda Company:

" purchased a cover from All Truck Accessories.com on Monday August 2. I received it on Thursday August 5. Today is Saturday August 7 and I just finished installing my tonneau cover.

First, what I like:
-The snapless system is great (I owned a Custom Form Tonneau for a 97 F150) and like the improvement of the snapless system.

Second, what I don't like:
-The cover does not fit the contour of the bed of my 99 Z71 4x4 SWB Reg Cab. Silverado. I had a very similar problem when Custom Form introduced the cover for the 97 F150. It simply did not fit the contour of the bed. However, after letting Custom Form know of my dissatisfaction (as well as many other 97 F150 owners) they corrected the cover and sent a new one to me. It fit like it should.

The problem with your cover is that the tailgate end is about 1/2" too wide. Basically it looks like a square cover covering the contoured bed. It does not look good at all.

-The cover for the F150 fit like a glove, on the Silverado cover there is about a 1/4" gap around the perimeter of the cover between the cover and the top of the bed. This does not look very good at all, it will also allow dirt to accumulate under this gap. The F150 cover fit snugly around the perimeter.

Other that the two issues above I am satisfied with the cover.

I do hope, however, that you will make a cover designed to fit my truck. Perhaps you will do as Custom Form did and replace my ill fitting cover with a properly fitting cover.

Thank you for you time and attention to this matter."

A couple of notes:

Custom Form was bought out by Penda. I will keep the group posted on their response. Overall the quality and workmanship of the cover is excellent, it just does not properly fit.

citroen7

So I have 20k on my truck now since April all highway, mostly at 75mph, and my hour meter says 657 hours. How do you figure the average speed?

markbuck

I race enduros with my dirt bike. Typical average speeds we need to maintain are 18 or 24 mph. My desert racing buddies laugh about it until they race an enduro and are unable to maintain these "sissy" speeds.

I am not suprized that us silverado owners are all averaging 20 to 35 mph. Spend lots of time sitting at stop lights, or on ramps or going around corners at 25.

somales1

Anybody have the 4800 engine,opinion, good, bad, ugly? Also when will GM lift ordering restriction on silverado for GM employees & family.

chevy4me

After 4000 miles my average speed is 26.45 and my average miles per gallon is 16.1 . I figure I'm doing more city than highway driving . How does this compare? 1500 extended cab 5.3l 3.42 axle

citroen7

I'm doing about the same mileage, with the 5.3 and 265 michilens I put on(the generals sucked). I do wish Bilnstein would make shocks for us. The new shocks are not near as good as the Bilnsteins. They would level out the highway undulations at 70 these new ones are like monroes a loogy ride that sways at high speed. I'm tempted to get KYBs but will hold out for the bilnsteins for a few more months. I may trade for a 2000, with 20k miles it might be better to trade now.

mledtje

Capt,

I have a 99 Silverado 4x4 with a 4.8L 5spd 3.73 drive train. I’m very happy with my engine choice. I currently have 17,500 miles on my truck. 15,000 of those miles are with a camper and running at 64-6500lbs (GVWR is 6400), We have averaged 15.5mpg with a high of 20.3. Before we installed the camper we averaged 19.6mpg.

Carrying the load I carry, I would choose the 4.10’s if I were to reorder this truck. The 3.73’s mean I have to downshift on some hills that I might not have to downshift on with 4.10’s. There may not be much (if any) mileage penalty with the lower gears because the engine doesn’t have to work any harder, and the EFI will only supply the fuel the engine needs for the load.

I’m very pleased with the power of the 4.8L engine. I was expecting less than I got. It has much more power than my old ’61 Dodge 318 truck had. It’s too heavy to be a race truck, but it has plenty of power to cruise any speed I want without difficulty. And it accelerates with today’s traffic easily.

Mike

mledtje

I talked to Bilstein and they will have shocks available for the new trucks around the 1st of September.

For 4wd the pn's are:

Front - BE5-2904 Rear - BE5-2905

Mike

citroen7

thanks for the info can't wait to get them installed and getting the highway ride I was used to.

citroen7

where can I order the bilsteins

mledtje

I would assume you can order them from any Bilstein dealer. However, since they aren't available until the first of September, they may not be able to order them yet.

My dealer is checking when he can order them, and how much they will be (probably $59.95).

Mike

bookof

I am purchasing a 2000 GMC Sierra Extended Cab Z-71 with 5.3 engine. I am planning to trade-in the OEM tires for a set of B.F. Goodrich All Terrain T/A KO 285/75R-16 tires. Will this cause my speedometer to be off by very much and if so is it expensive to get calibrated? Anyone out there have any experience with these BFGs'? Do I also need to change my spare to a 285/16 or can I run a short distance with it? I'd really appreciate any input.

Thanks,
PJ

citroen7

theres more than ponies involved. I have the 2000 book and the 4800 has 285 lb-ft torque @ 4000rpm and the 5.3 has 325 at 4k worth 8 franklins

quadrunner500

You're going to read about 7% low on your speedometer if you don't recalibrate. The automatic transmission shift points won't be quite right either. Better check with your dealer to see if they can, or will. Additionally, it's going to feel like you have 7% less torque, due to larger diameter. Possibly a consideration if you tow or haul.

somales1

I realize there's more torque, but is 285 enough or do we need 325 for a luxury liner bowtie and is 35 cubic inches worth 8 C notes. thanks.

kernick

The MSRP on the 5.3 is 8 Franklins, however the Invoice is $688. What you'll find on the dealers' lots are mainly 5.3's.
If you buy a truck on the lot you're probably going to get options you didn't want. Save money and get the benchseat and no power seat, which many trucks have. Drop these types of goodies - not the engine. These trucks still weigh over 2 tons.

rwagoner

Shift points won't be a problem, since they are more sensitive to RPM and load than speed.

vince4

If you think the 350 was a dog on the hills, why even consider the 4.8? I've found that a few extra dollars spent are forgotten quickly whereas not having what I really wanted bugs me forever. More power is always a good thing.

f220swift

I believe that your 350 was rated at 300ft. pounds of torque. The 4.8 only has 285. However, the added hp in the 4.8 will move that torque better than an older 350. Torque gives you the ability to move an object, the more torque, the heavier the object and hp dictates the speed or acceleration in which an object can be moved within its torque band.

quadrunner500

Somales, There will be enough torque with either engine to do the job, if you heed the payload and towing specs.

Rwagoner, Control of shift points of the 4L60E by the powertrain control module is based mainly on the speedometer, with lesser influence from the transmission temperature sensor, throttle position sensor, manifold pressure, air flow. At wide open throttle, the shift point is determined entirely from the speedometer input. So if it's off, the shift points at WOT will be different. This is the difference between todays electronically controlled transmission, versus the older GM vacuum/hydraulically controlled shift points.

ryanbab

Have u test drove the 5.3 L? I have only one word to describe it POWERFUL!!!!! If you can"t afford the $800 why r u even buying the truck its a truck go all out. You can light up the wheels at will with the 5.3 L V-8. I think its pretty stupid if you dont go with it. I wish the 1/2 tons came with the 6.0 L that would be a real sweet truck guess people will have to wait for the SS to come out but then it wont have 4x4. Live a little work a couple of days of overtime to pay for the 5.3 L option itll be worth it.

mledtje

Ryanbab - Why do you need all that power? To light up the tires at will?

I guess I just use my truck. And I find the 4.8L more than adequate for that. That and the fact that I can't get a 5spd with the 5.3L means I chose the 4.8L.

I think it is pretty stupid to spend and extra $1800 for the 5.3L just so you can light up the tires and impress the little kids.

rwagoner

I suppose resale value could also be a consideration in choosing the 5.3 vs. 4.8. Don't know if it would make an $800 difference at sale time 10-15 years from now anyway, though.

Did I read the prices on the 2000 LS right? From kbb.com:

ENGINES
(All Orders Must Code an Engine)

-------

L35
V6, 262", SFI (4.3 Liter)

Invoice: Std

Retail: Std.

(N/A Base & LS 2WD w/157.5" W.B., Base & LS 4WD or LT) (N/A w/Trailering Equipment-Z82) (Req's Body-E63)

-------

LR4
V8, 292", SFI (4.8 Liter) • Base & LS 2WD w/143.5" W.B.
Invoice: 597.70
Retail: 695.00
(N/A LT)

-------

LM7
V8, 317", SFI (5.3 Liter) • Base & LS 2WD w/143.5" W.B.
Invoice: 1285.70
Retail: 1495.00
(Req's Auto Trans.-M30)

-------

So if you get the 6-1/2 foot bed, it's no longer an $800 option, it's a $1300 - $1500 option! Add in the automatic, and you're looking at close to $2500 retail for the 5.3 (assuming you might have wanted a manual, not available with the 5.3).

It looks like Chevy saw all the fools buying toy trucks at $30,000 a pop and figured they could increase their prices too. Unless I'm reading things wrong.

Richard