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back to ifs.. time for another truck

supersize75k5

supersize75k5

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I tried to make a colorado fit my needs but I am just kidding myself:doah: Inreality I have used the back seat a total of 3 times, only one was memorable:D

anyways, I am disapointed witht he millage, I cant seem to hit above 19 no matter how I drive it and this is consistant every fill up. One of my big reasons for this truck was the gas milage but it is not panning out, so it cant pull more that 4k..I dont use the back seat and I am not in love with it. I cant even make it over a curb and the turning radious is worse than my truck on 42 inch tires!:mad:

so..

specs or needs on the new truck

full size chevy, new aappearance, under 100k on the miles, looking to go with the 5.3 being that I have seen numerous people claiming 15-18 mpg

Needs to tow 6500lbs with no hassel and a single cab

budget I want to spend is betwen 4500-6500.00, this keeps it payed for and hassel free with no payments.

now the towing part.. do they sell a 5.3 2500 hd? I can not find one so far and I also can not find anything stateing they dont or did not make them. Other wise I am open to air bags and upgrading to a higher load range on the tires if I have to stick with a half ton.

but do they sell the 2500 with a 5.3? I also am considering a 4x4 just for the piece of mind.
 
I won't say you couldn't buy a 2500HD with a 5.3, but the standar engine in them is the 6.0. That's gonna make it hard to find one with a 5.3 regardless. I don't see you having a problem towing 6500lb with a 1500, since my dad used to tow 7500lb witha 5.3 Tahoe no problem. I thought 1500s were rated for 7900lb towing, not sure though. Downsize trucks should get good mileage, you would think, but it never seems to work out that way. Only the 4cyl models get decent mileage, the v6s all seem to suck gas(obviously not in a Colorado since it doeesn't have v6). I'm assuming you have the 5cyl? That still seems like it's not very good mpg.
 
coughtoldyasocough...:D:wink1:


Try looking for one of the 1500HD's. The few I've seen had 8 lug axles and I believe they had the HO versions of the 5.3L's.
 
Negitive on the 1500HD being a 5.3. My dad bought an 03 a year ago. We looked at a lot of 1500HD and 2500 trucks ALL had 6.0 and 8 lugs. I really dont understand the 1500HD the ONLY differnce from a 2500 is the badge on the side. My dad and I looked into the specs and configurations all the same on both trucks. The prices were all real close to the same as well. The ONLY differnce I could find is the duramax was not offered in a 1500HD. But dad didnt want a diesel anyway.

Hell at least in the 88-98 body style the 6 lug 2500 got bigger torsion bars and a 6 lug metric 14B rear axle. 99 and newer appears to be the exact same truck from a 1500HD and 2500.

Theres a slight chance the 1500HD was available with a 5.3 but if so, its not very common, we looked at a LOT of trucks b4 he bought this one.
 
About 99% sure there was never a factory 5.3 in a 1500HD, 2500LD (light duty), or 2500HD truck.

The 1500HD and 2500LD trucks are basically the same except for the body configuration offerings. I have only ever seen a 1500HD in a crewcab/shortbed configuration while the 2500LD's had the other body styles. These were all 6.0L/4L80E/14SF(AAM 9.5)/8-lug trucks. Rumors were that it was just a marketing thing to complete with Fords F-150 crewcab until Chevy actually had the crewcab 1500 ready to go.

The 2500HD has a different (taller) frame and a full-floating rear (AAM 10.5...basically a 14FF). The standard drivetrain was the 6.0/4L80E but then you could get the 8.1 for D-Max.
 
Is there something like a 1500 Max or am I dreaming? I swear I remember something about a hopped up 1500 with a HO 5.3L.
 
the max was with the 6.0 from what I remember, same motor that was in the escalade the 6000 or the 6200 later on 367/380 were the numbers it put out in 07


I am leaning on a 03-05 5.3 extended cab I have seen them for 6500-7000 most have miles near or above 100k


Oddly enough though there are alot of 03-05 single cab 2500 hd trucks right around 5-6k, 2 of those were under 50k miles and one with 4x4. That's a deal almost to good to pass up.

I have pondered on a d-max but I am not a fan if the cost of a tranny, injectors, or injection pump. With a 1/2 ton parts are plentiful, cheap and I am familiar with them already. If I was to get a new truck I would consider a d-max with a warranty, but being I am looking to purchase soemhting out right with no payments..
 
I dont know why you try. We all know if you get another IFS youll just mod it to the point youll have to SAS it as well.:doah::haha::bow:

I figure if you got a 2wd it would soon be bagged body dropped shaved ect.ect.ect.ect.ect. as well. might as well just put more money in what you have now.
 
Ive actually fantasized about going all out and building a truck with a nascar truck racing theme, I would get the truck professionally vinyl wrapped with my business as the nascar team/sponsor on the truck and get it down to the details and authentic looking as possible.

I think it would be great advertising, awesome for customer interaction and relationships and fun to drive. To make it more enjoyable I would of course add some needed items such as a supercharger, full exhaust with electronic solenoid actuated open exhaust cut outs..cage, good year eagle tire..the whole deal.

It would be a blast
 
He's not on here much at all anymore and I can't even remember his screen name here gut Shaggy from Off-Road.com/Chevy's forums has a father in law with a truck like that. He took a 90's Chevy half ton C1500 and totally NASCAR'd it out.
 
looks like this idea just got a hell of alot easier!

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...ruck&um=1&hl=en&rlz=1T4GGLJ_enUS269US269&sa=N
www.speedwaytrucks.com/

miscthe1.jpg
 
throttleissues said:
That's bada$$! You gonna get one of those now?:D
Click to expand...

well ill have to build one, but this is the direction I am leaning now.


one major issue, I cant seem to find a 5.3 2wd single cab 2wd short bed! searched on craigslist, auto trader, cars.com, local classifieds etc. I have seriously been looking on the internet all night.
 
throttleissues said:
Nice find! One brand new and $14k+, one a year old and wrecked, and one that's just a frame and title. Hey, take your pick.:haha:
Click to expand...
Hey, I tried to give him a little variety to choose from. :D Plus I've read up on his building/fabbing skills :bow: so any of those could be good options.
 
Copasetic said:
Hey, I tried to give him a little variety to choose from. :D Plus I've read up on his building/fabbing skills :bow: so any of those could be good options.
Click to expand...


the trick is fresh paint, everything looks pretty with it..:crazy:


great choices between the 3 btw..


I notice the 5.3 singe cab short beds I am finding are the new body style, I have a hunch this would be due to them having the d.o.d. shutting them down to a 4cyl at highway and thus better fuel mileage ratings. Seems to me if Chevy was not making a lot of the 5.3 versions in the years I am looking for it could have to due with the whole fuel guzzler/ vehicle mpg ratio manufactures deal with from the government.:dunno:

another route would be to get the 6.0 3/4 ton and chop it down and place a short bed on it..lowering the rear is easy but I cant wrap my mind around how to get the nose down easily.

or getting a high mileage v6 version for cheap and swapping in the engine and tranns I want. A short bed single cab with a cammed 6.0..4l80e and a locked rear end would be a blast..and another project:doah:
 
The 5.3 wasn't thirsty before the DOD system. I know guys getting as high as 23mpg out of them in sb trucks. You know the 4.8 v8 was the base engine in those, right. The 4.8 had the same mileage rating as a v6 anyway. I think people just aren't eager to sell them right now. Also, it doesn't seem like there were that many made in the first place, since most people wanted the extra cab or crew cab. There are quite a few single cab 2500s out there cuz it's the standard work truck configuration.
I just wanna see the build thread after you buy the frame and title above. Building your own body panels would be sweet, you could make it look like anything you want.:D
 
im curious of the curb weight of a half tn, my 3/4 ton hd single cab is around 5400 if I heard right..

A 3/4 ton single cab hd with a supercharged 6.0 with heads, cam, full exhaust, tune... add a lumber rack and a 5 gallon orange water jug off to the side on the bumper would be a hell of a sleeper:haha:
 
That would be hell getting beat at the track by a truck with a rack and a water keg hanging off the side. :haha: :doah:
 
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