1996 Chevrolet C1500 Silverado 5.7 litre gasoline
Summary:
A cost-competitive alternative to expensive new diesel trucks
Faults:
Has needed a new alternator and battery.
General Comments:
Good reliable truck for hauling. Cruises nicely on long trips.
Mine is single cab with long (8 foot) bed and canopy. Has the 350 small block Chev engine - surely one of the greatest engines ever made. Lovely exhaust note and very reliable. Maintenance cheap, parts available even here in New Zealand.
The 1996 Vortec engines are a noticeable improvement on the earlier TBI engines, such as the one I had in my '84 GMC C1500.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 6th January, 2024
24th Mar 2026, 07:10
Update: I sold this truck last year (2025) reluctantly as I didn't have garage space for it. My earlier truck was a '94 GMC, not an '84 model. I also have a 2000 Chev Silverado 4.8 litre pickup truck. The '96 C1500 was probably the best truck I've owned as that 350 engine was indestructible.