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Vortec 350 / 5 speed mileage?

Russell

Russell

3/4 ton status
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Anyone here know what kind of mileage a 97 Vortec 350 / NV4500 in a regular cab long box 3/4 ton 4x4 would get?

I found one locally at an incredibly good price, and in light of all the problems my 96 has given me lately, I think I'd like to make the switch to a new daily driver soon...

The 96 averages around 22 - 25 mpg highway if I drive it nice, and around 16 - 18ish in town. Can a Vortec 350 come reasonably close to those kind of mileage numbers? Aka, can I get at least 18 highway, and 14 or so city?

The new truck has 185k on it, and is base model like my 96. Visually identical (regular cab long box, white in color, blue interior work truck front end), cept it has fender flares, and a big winch bumper + a 10 000lb winch.

Asking only $2500... Tells me he has driven it daily for the last 3 years, but upgraded to a new crewcab. Says it needs a brake job (shoes and pads included), but otherwise is good to go.

Despite the issues it has had, my 96 has been a good truck, particularly for daily driving, but I have always been disappointed with how gutless it is if you put any kind of a load into it. If this truck didn't have the 5 speed, I wouldn't even be considering it...
 
Isn't the 96 a vortec too? So basically you are getting a 3/4 ton , w/ a stick. Am i missing other differences? Those miles number for your 96 sound awesome, are you looking to do better, or hoping for same ballpark?
 
I don't mind doing a bit worse to get a far more gutsy engine. The new truck has the Vortec 350 with 185k miles.

My 96 has a 4.3L and 105k miles on it. Both are 5 speed trucks, the 97 has an NV4500, my truck has an NV3500. Since both trucks are pretty much identical, I can move most if not all of the nicer stuff that the 96 has over to the 97, then sell the 96.
 
I'd def get it, its a steal at that price, as long as its not a beat work truck, I wouldn't sell the winch or bumper, never know when they might come in handy, I know the tbi 350 in my truck gets great mpg for a 350, so i'm sure the vortec is a little better, and with a 5 speed i'm sure it can be made to get even better. I say go for it!
 
I'm thinkin so too. I'll go look at it tommorrow if I can catch a ride. My 96 is broken down, like usual.
 
Most folks I know with stock Vortec 350 K2500 get around 16 on the highway. 10- 14 city. Depending on how you drive. Pretty similar MPG as the TBI.
185K is a lot of miles. There will prolly be some things wrong or worn that will affect gas milage
 
my 99 yukon gets a steady 18 on the highway at 120km/h. 15 in town in the winter. that should get around the same or a little less, seeing as it has so many miles. then again its vortec.
 
Hmm, good enough mileage for me, better than my old GMC ever used to get...

I'll hitch a ride over there and take a good close look, maybe ask to do a mechanical inspection on it, know exactly what I'm getting into before I go for it.
 
3.73 - 4.10s would make a difference too.

We had a truck with that combo where I used to work and I think it got around 12-14 course it was rare that it ever went a whole tank without getting worked hard at some point.
 
I drive my trucks pretty nicely. Most of my shifts are done around 3500 rpm unless I am getting onto the highway. I imagine it would be even less with a V8 under the hood. I am not a race car driver anymore, lol
 
Yep, like I said, its great as a DD, plenty of power empty, but when it comes to putting a quad or something in the back, it really lacks the torque needed to accelerate / get reasonable mileage.
 
Well, I just got back from taking a look at this truck / test driving it, and at 2500, I'd be a fool not to buy it! That truck is in incredibly good shape for it's mileage and obviously well taken care of! I'm surprised it isn't listed for closer to 7 - 8000.

Fired right up in -30C with a pretty much dead battery that barely turned the engine over, ticked slightly for about 5 seconds then ran beautifully! My 4.3L ticks loudly for a good 10 minutes, and ticks louder than this 350 did at all times otherwise. Only issues I spotted was that the heater control was tough to turn, the ABS light is on, the doors need new pins / bushings, and the interior lights don't come on when the door is opened.

I took it for a drive and very quickly discovered it has a locked rear differential, guessing a Detroit based on it's behavior. Rowed through all 5 gears very nicely, has a crapload more power than my 4.3L has, lol

Rear diff is a full floating 14 bolt, truck has 3.73 gears, NV4500 5 speed, and the 350. Should be good for around 18 mpg on the freeway if its anything like my other 350s.

I'm gonna go pick it up tomorrow night and daily drive it for a few weeks. If nothing comes up, I'll be selling my 96 after swapping the new parts I put into it over. If it winds up that it isn't looking to be a reliable truck as a DD, I'll turn around and re-list it for twice I'll have paid for it.
 
I get around 15 city with my 87 TBI + sm465 and thats on 36 swampers.

You should do great with that setup. Errrr NV4500 envy :D
 
my old 99 Z56 Police tahoe which was 350vortec, 4l60E with 2300 stall, and a 10 bolt with 3.08 G80 limited slip. It was one hell of a quick truck but even when trying to get good mpg I got like 15, normally I got like 10.
 
Eh, if it means I go from 200 bucks a month to 300, big deal, lol I'd rather the power anyways :) I mean, going from 22 highway to 10 highway would be a problem, but 22 highway to around 17 - 18 highway is good enough for me! I can see myself getting the extra mileage too, cause the truck is a standard and doesn't have the police package (higher output)
 
Well mine is a 97 half ton extended cab short bed z71 5.7 votec and light duty 5 speed and 3.73 gears. I dont realy separate highway and city miles but im getting around 16-18mpg average all around and it has 35" tires on it. Plenty of power and seams to be real close to the same MPG as my brothers 04 witch is basicaly the same truck exept his has a 5.3 and automatic and 265x75x16 tires.

My truck has ALOT of miles on it over 220,000 so its a little worn but still has no engine noise after its warmed up. It does tic for 3-5 minutes after start up. but then it goes away.
 
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