14th Apr 2009, 10:30

I agree with the above comment about cleaning the tank and changing the filter. I have a 1996 Cheyenne Vortec 5.7L with 236,000mi. I also had to replace my trans at 75,000mi. My grandfather has a 98 and had to do it too. I think the factory trans must have been week. My next one lasted over 150,000 miles and that included towing trailers and my boat. I just had it rebuilt again and am hoping to get another 150,000mi out of it.

I Love this truck. She's got some wear and tear on her like you'd normally see, but the motor is just as strong as when I bought her, only had 65,000mi then.

25th Nov 2009, 17:51

My 1996 truck has a 4.3 Vortec engine. The transmission is doing some weird things! When I first start it up, it shifts good! But after a while, it seems like IT starts off in 4th gear! Now here's the weird part. I can shut it off, restart it and everything's fine. The code is p1886. I've changed the shift solenoids. Got the same problem.

21st May 2010, 00:55

My 96 has the 5.7 with a manual trans, and it has 226,000 miles and still starts like the day it was new. The only things I have replaced are the fuel pump, clutch, and starter; these were all after it had 185,000 miles on it.

30th Aug 2010, 12:01

I drive a 1996 Silverado with the 5.7L. It now has 202,600+ miles on it and no problems yet. It just sprung an intake manifold gasket leak, which I hear is pretty typical. It's a cheap fix if I can do it myself. No tranny problems. Still shifts like new, and runs like new, other than fast idle from the intake leak. I consider myself to be very lucky with this truck. I wouldn't give it up for anything.

23rd Sep 2010, 15:20

Hey, I had a Ford, but it went to crap. Looking at a 96 Chevy Silverado. Are they really good trucks??

17th Nov 2010, 01:21

I bought a 96 Chevy Silverado Z71 today used. It has 204.000 miles on it and I was warming it up for about 7 minutes or so and put it into drive and it wouldn't move, just revved up. Then I put it in park then drive again and it jumped as if I was in a higher gear.

Any answers to what would do that? I was thinking transmission...

3rd Apr 2012, 01:10

I agree. I got over 200,000 miles on our Chevy 1996 1/2 Ton with a 305 V8, and it drove tight and solid all along. Just had to replace the fuel pump and the clutch - finally.

I think it was the best truck Chevy ever made. I pulled a 5,000 lb camper trailer all over the place with it... and a standard shift to boot!

Great Truck. C.