1998 Chevrolet K2500 Silverado 5.7 350

Summary:

Snowmobile truck

Faults:

Needed tires, cab corners (common for 88-98 Chevy trucks), wheel cylinders.

Bought it with high mileage.

Has rust on it; will try to rust proof it.

Gets only 7-10 miles per gallon. My mother's Explorer is a V6 and that gets 12 MPG.

General Comments:

This truck can go through steep hills, regardless of how big a snowstorm is. You could literally pull another big pickup up a ditch with 18 inches of snow on the ground.

Love the exhaust system; sounds like a classic muscle car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd April, 2014

1998 Chevrolet K2500 Cheyenne 5.7

Summary:

Wouldn't trade for the world

Faults:

Alternator at 45000.

Wiper motor at 52000.

Alternator at 54000.

Intake manifold at 86000.

Alternator at 92000.

Brakes rotors at 100000.

Distributor at 120000.

General Comments:

The truck looks as it did when purchased!

Problems with the alternator were fixed when I installed dual batteries and a 160 amp alternator.

Replaced lower intake manifold with aftermarket version; much better than Chevy, gaskets are notorious for going out.

Installed a tuner and cool air intake, and went from 10 to 16 mpg on the highway, way more power.

Overall, will keep this truck to the end. Very reliable, even though so long in the tooth compared to new trucks.

Only run Mobil 1 for 160000 miles. No leaks, burns none, don't have to add between changes, A/C blows cold, what else is there?

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 22nd December, 2011

1990 Chevrolet K2500 5.7 liter V8

Summary:

A reliable workhorse

Faults:

Alternator.

General Comments:

Will pull anything, literally. 4x4 works great in both hi and lo. Made some minor mods to the engine for more power. The factory setup had plenty of torque, but not much get up and go on the highway. Gas mileage isn't the best, but very good for a 4x4 vehicle that weighs this much.

Wish I had not sold it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 16th March, 2011

2004 Chevrolet K2500 Gas

Summary:

Great work truck, tons of torque

Faults:

Blower relay, replaced by dealer before buying the truck.

The gas station pump will not pump fuel into the tank on very cold days, but the tank can be filled no problem above freezing. Problem not resolved yet.

Driver's seat torn on outboard edge; repaired by dealer before buying the truck.

Alternator went on the blink, replaced by dealer under warranty.

General Comments:

I love this truck. Crew cab, utility body, 8 foot bed.

Very comfortable to drive, but it is long so requires some careful maneuvering in parking lots.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd February, 2010

1990 Chevrolet K2500 Cheyenne 350 V8 LO5

Summary:

A truck that you can count on!

Faults:

Replaced leaf springs with 1 & 1/4 ton springs at 79,000 miles original ones broke (due to me overloading).

Exhaust manifolds and y-pipe cracked at 143,000 and again at 220,000 miles.

Exhaust pipes from the cat converter back rust out every three years.

Fuel tank, sending unit, fuel lines, oil cooler lines and brake lines were all replaced at 192,000 miles due to rust.

Radiator leaked and was replaced at 171,000 miles.

EGR valve rusted out and failed at 175,000 miles.

Left front wheel bearing failed at 221,000 miles. Replaced tie rod ends, ball joints, pitman and idler arm at the time to cure loose steering.

4WD actuator failed at 230,000 miles.

Cab mount bushings were replaced at 250,000 miles.

Water pump failed at 299,000 miles.

Power steering pump failed at 312,000 miles.

I have replaced the brakes, tires, alternator, starter and battery and you joints a few times since I bought the truck, but that just is regular maintenance. I replace the tune up items (plugs/wires/cap/rotor) regularly as well.

General Comments:

This has been a fantastic truck. I bought it to replace my 1988 K2500 that lasted to 330,000 miles. This one will blow it away.

I plow with this truck in the winter, and tow 8000 pounds worth of livestock with it in the summer. I have a gooseneck hitch in the bed, and I have yet to hitch to a load I couldn't pull.

The truck handles the weight of the plow well, and rides very smooth on the highway. It also rides very well with loads of stone in the bed. I've had 2 tons worth in the bed of the truck before, and it drives fine.

I have never had the heads off the engine, or the transmission, or transfer case out of the truck. The rear axle is getting noisy, but has never been repaired.

The truck rides well when loaded, and okay when unladen. The seat is comfy, but the fabric wore out. A seat cover is a low buck fix for that. The AM radio sounded bad, so I had a AM/FM cd player and new speakers installed. Plenty of room in the cab.

My only complaint is that the 3 speed transmission and 4.10 axles make the engine rev high on the highway, but without those gears, I don't think the truck could leverage such heavy loads. I wish it had overdrive.

I've worked this truck hard, and on occasion I have had to abuse it, and it has NEVER let me down. Repairs are easy and parts are cheap. For a farmer struggling to make it, this is one of the best pieces of equipment I own.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 29th November, 2009