Thoughts on a new truck......or new for me

Blaze

Blaze

The Jeeper Reaper
Joined
Aug 9, 2005
Location
Wake Forest, NC
So I'm probably going to be consolidating my vehicles a bit. I currently have a 2016 Expedition that is great, but I think I need something a little better for towing and would be nice to have a bigger pickup for heavier stuff. Current pickup is a good shop truck but with it having a 3/5 drop and a T56 in it, it's pretty much just a parts hauler. Plus we'd like a better option for hauling stuff when we go camping. Bought the Expy when we needed a third row but we don't need it any more since not doing any carpool and my older son is driving. I have the 2003 F250 but really no need for a diesel with what I tow. Plus, cost of diesel and diesel repairs. I'm kind of done with diesel ownership for a while. We have a 29ft trailer that is very light, 4500# dry, and tow a 16ft car trailer with my 98 Trans Am on it occasionally.

So looking for a crew cab, shortbed truck. Yes, longbeds are better for work stuff but also a pain in the ass to have a truck that long for a driver. This will be my main car. Chevy or GMC because I know them better and can fix them easily. Not interested in any other make. All my other stuff is GM so keeping with what I've got besides my two Fords.

Ideally I'd like a 96-99 K2500 crew shortbed with a 454, but I know gas mileage sucks (I've owned a few) and they are hard to find in decent shape. A 350 truck would be fine but not sure how it would handle towing over the mountains if we want to do that. The other side would be a 00+ 200 Chevy GMC with the 6.0L in it. I've owned a couple of those and they towed great. Problem is, normal LS lifter stuff and the rockers will rust out. Don't say they won't, both of mine were southern trucks and rusted out. And my sister's Tahoe....twice.

I'm looking for something cheaper, ideally I'd find something that needs help cosmetically but super solid mechanically. I enjoy doing cosmetic stuff to make it look good.

What do you guys think? OBS or newer? I'm torn. I liked both of mine and am a huge OBS fan, but newer is obviously newer.
 
8.1 with an allison
 
LBarr2002 said:
More info on the current t56 truck šŸ¤£
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88 GMC with a 5.3L out of a 99 Suburban. T56 out of my 98 Trans Am (I swapped to a Magnum T56 in that). 3/5 drop. Currently eating a lifter and about to Amazon cheapo parts swap the dying parts since it is a junkyard engine anyway. :lol:
 
Blaze said:
View attachment 406043
88 GMC with a 5.3L out of a 99 Suburban. T56 out of my 98 Trans Am (I swapped to a Magnum T56 in that). 3/5 drop. Currently eating a lifter and about to Amazon cheapo parts swap the dying parts since it is a junkyard engine anyway. :lol:
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That's beautiful. And I have a 6.0 that would go great with it.

On your original question, I'm definitely a gmt800 fan. Not really sure what you're talking about with "normal LS lifter stuff" on non afm stuff. I've had some that tick every once in a while, but mine are currently at 160k, 195k, 200k, and 235k and I've never replaced a lifter...

Dad's is like 185k and not well maintained. It might have a lifter tick or it might just be the exhaust leak but it runs fine.

Brother has one with 200 something k on a 4.8 and it's the quietest LS I've ever heard. And has a 6.0 truck with over 300k (second engine) that has had zero oil pressure twice but no lifter problems.
 
LBarr2002 said:
That's beautiful. And I have a 6.0 that would go great with it.

On your original question, I'm definitely a gmt800 fan. Not really sure what you're talking about with "normal LS lifter stuff" on non afm stuff. I've had some that tick every once in a while, but mine are currently at 160k, 195k, 200k, and 235k and I've never replaced a lifter...

Dad's is like 185k and not well maintained. It might have a lifter tick or it might just be the exhaust leak but it runs fine.

Brother has one with 200 something k on a 4.8 and it's the quietest LS I've ever heard. And has a 6.0 truck with over 300k (second engine) that has had zero oil pressure twice but no lifter problems.
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Thanks! I love this truck. It was our old shop truck at the Jeep shop and when I sold out I kept the truck. Eventually my son and I built it into this.

AFM stuff is pretty much a guaranteed lifter failure. LS engines are known for lifter failures as well. I've had two of them now with lifter failure. Well, two non AFM and one AFM. :lol: I've had a few that were fine, too. I've had enough friends have them fail as well, although most of the ones I've seen are on performance builds. Still, more than old SBC.

Noel said:
Hawg cam time lol šŸ˜‚
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I have a BTR Stage 2 truck cam that I got at the Summit yard sale last time I was in Atlanta. All said and done I'll be like $350 in the complete lifter and cam swap. :lol: Amazon Warehouse FTW. :lol:
 
Blaze said:
Thanks! I love this truck. It was our old shop truck at the Jeep shop and when I sold out I kept the truck. Eventually my son and I built it into this.

AFM stuff is pretty much a guaranteed lifter failure. LS engines are known for lifter failures as well. I've had two of them now with lifter failure. Well, two non AFM and one AFM. :lol: I've had a few that were fine, too. I've had enough friends have them fail as well, although most of the ones I've seen are on performance builds. Still, more than old SBC.


I have a BTR Stage 2 truck cam that I got at the Summit yard sale last time I was in Atlanta. All said and done I'll be like $350 in the complete lifter and cam swap. :lol: Amazon Warehouse FTW. :lol:
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My 05 Denali needs a water pump and v/c gasketsā€¦. So somehow I got a cam and components in the cart when I ordered the other stuff.
 
Noel said:
My 05 Denali needs a water pump and v/c gasketsā€¦. So somehow I got a cam and components in the cart when I ordered the other stuff.
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Makes sense. I mean, water pump comes off and you need to drain coolant anyway. Not much more work to pull radiator, and front cover. :lol:
 
LBarr2002 said:
That's beautiful. And I have a 6.0 that would go great with it.

On your original question, I'm definitely a gmt800 fan. Not really sure what you're talking about with "normal LS lifter stuff" on non afm stuff. I've had some that tick every once in a while, but mine are currently at 160k, 195k, 200k, and 235k and I've never replaced a lifter...

Dad's is like 185k and not well maintained. It might have a lifter tick or it might just be the exhaust leak but it runs fine.

Brother has one with 200 something k on a 4.8 and it's the quietest LS I've ever heard. And has a 6.0 truck with over 300k (second engine) that has had zero oil pressure twice but no lifter problems.
Click to expand...

the 4.8 and 6.0 didn't utilze AFM nearly as much.
that explains most of your good fortune.
 
I'm biased as hell; so a nicer OBS is going to be a go to every time for me.
But if I had to get a newer truck, I'd love a 99-02 2500HD with an 8.1L
It's hard to beat the relative cheapness to buy and maintain a GMT400 though. I spent $400 a couple months ago and scored a brand used (fairly straight) bed for my K3500 and a core 454 for my K2500.
 
BNielsen said:
I'm biased as hell; so a nicer OBS is going to be a go to every time for me.
But if I had to get a newer truck, I'd love a 99-02 2500HD with an 8.1L
It's hard to beat the relative cheapness to buy and maintain a GMT400 though. I spent $400 a couple months ago and scored a brand used (fairly straight) bed for my K3500 and a core 454 for my K2500.
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You sound like me!

The more I think about it the more I think I need to stick to an OBS truck. I keep looking at these things and every single one has rusted rockers. I'll deal with replacing door pins and OBS quirks over replacing rocker panels.
 
LBarr2002 said:
Wrong. Everything I listed are gen 3s, which didn't use afm at all. That explains my good fortune.
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4.8 and 6.0 didn't use AFM even past gen 3....so I'm right . You have non AFM motors and that explains your good fortune. So I'm right. Good for you.

Everyone is so quick to try and win some internet contest these days.
 
benXJ said:
ha!

dude comes on and yells WRONG and they types basically what I said.....and I'm the ironic one.

hillarious!
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Your original comment was irrelevant. We were talking gmt400s and gmt800s and Blaze and I had already covered afm vs non afm.

Sorry for the thread derail.
 
Great looking trucks! So apparently a longbed to shortbed conversion isn't difficult at all. Watched several videos and you can do it without hacking the frame. I might expand my search for a longbed and just take a weekend to swap on a shortbed.
 
Love my 02 2500HD extended cab, long bed, 8.1/Allison... It's an awesome tow pig, and I wouldn't dream of putting a shorter bed on it, once you get used to the long bed, it's totally worth having despite the parking hassles.

1698792616683.png
 
The only short bed Iā€™d ever have is to sacrifice for a MegaCab because I donā€™t want to spend the money on a long bed MegaCab conversion. Considering you donā€™t want a Dodge I would never own a full-size truck without a long bed. Parking is just a thing you get used to. My club cab LB Dodge 2500 parks wherever I fit it. (Sometimes itā€™s out a ways but then I just post my walking distance in the ā€œwhat have you donā€™t for your healthā€ thread)

Just messing with you man!
 
CLRracer said:
I'm not a GM guy by any means, but I still think those are the best looking factory wheels ever made.

Duane
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I'm a big fan of them, I swore up and down I'd run that wheel on every 8-lug truck in my ownership.
But then I found out how good aftermarket wheels looked, so now I think the crew is going to get the bullet holes on the red truck and I'll save those PY0s for a Suburban on down the road.
Blaze said:
Great looking trucks! So apparently a longbed to shortbed conversion isn't difficult at all. Watched several videos and you can do it without hacking the frame. I might expand my search for a longbed and just take a weekend to swap on a shortbed.
Click to expand...
I love my short bed K2500, it's a fantastic truck that does everything I need to do, I've even got a B&W turnover ball to install so it can do even more.
But my K3500 is such a handy truck, a bit of a train when it comes to parking; but like @skyhighZJ said it's a win win, you get a prime work truck and you get to be healthy because the only space is at the way far end of the parking lot.

That being said, I still park way out in the lot in my K2500. Door dings be damned.
 
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