What did I look at...

[babyburb]

I was driving home last night and the wife said "I like that truck!" It was a Chevy instead of the Jeep that she wants so now I am researching it. The prob is it was a drive by so I will tell you what I saw and was wondering if someone could narrow down my search.

single cab step side, IFS, wasn't square like the 70s 80s but wasn't the newest either. This one had what looked to me like 33s with a 6" lift or something. Rancho I believe. Looked very nice.

Not to familiar with all of the body styles of pickups.
Any help with pics would be nice. I have been looking through some archives but haven't seen one yet.

 

[BulldogK5]

Sounds like an '88 - '98. First year for IFS 4x4 was in '88.

 

[mr.smartass]

So we've narrowed it down to the years of 1988-2006... hmm... I'll see what I can find as far as pics go.

 

[vortec]

So we've narrowed it down to the years of 1988-2006... hmm...

i don't hate the 99+ trucks or anything, but i think 94-98 were the best looking years. i'm a little biased since i own a 94. appearance changes in those years were subtle. the grille in this pic is from 88-93. in 94, the grille became more rounded (much better, imo) and a third brake light was added to meet regulations. the 95s got sleeker mirrors and new interiors (though i prefer the old ones, on both counts). 93 or 94 was the first year of the 4l60e, the electronic version of the 4l60. 94 had a more powerful vortec v6 and 96 brought the vortec v8, taking hp from 210 to 255, in the 350. that's the very basic stuff off the top of my head.

these aren't mine, btw

 

[babyburb]

that looks about right. If anything, the front was a little more rounded off but still looks about right.
Thanks voertec for the year break down and pic.

 

[dhcomp]

If more rounded grill bars, you are looking at a 94-99.

 

[divorced]

.



1996 model year....

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

93 or 94 was the first year of the 4l60e, the electronic version of the 4l60.

We had a 4L60E in our '91 K5 suburban. I have had tons of people argue that they didn't come out until later but I guarantee that 4L60E's could have been found as early as '91.

 

[dremu]

We had a 4L60E in our '91 K5 suburban. I have had tons of people argue that they didn't come out until later but I guarantee that 4L60E's could have been found as early as '91.

Umm, '91 3/4 Burbs would have a *4L80E*. 1/2 tons would have had the TH700R4, which is remarkably like a 4L60.

Not real sure what a K5 Suburban is either.

-- A

 

[neverendingproject]

Yeah 4l80e came out in 91 in 454SS and one ton and 3/4 ton trucks. 4l60 came out in 89ish and 4l60e came out in 94.

 

[vortec]

We had a 4L60E in our '91 K5 suburban. I have had tons of people argue that they didn't come out until later but I guarantee that 4L60E's could have been found as early as '91.

i'd believe it. i haven't seen a 4l60e in a pre-94, personally, but gm had plenty of half-year and early-introduction stuff in the early 90s. the 4.3L is a perfect example. they started dropping upgraded versions into things and not advertising it much. some s10 blazers got the "w" code 4.3, and some full-size trucks had an upgraded LB4, but i never saw any advertising for either upgrade.

since the trucks' appearance stayed so similar for so many years (even into the early 2000s for work trucks and "classics"), swapping new-version parts onto older trucks is extremely common. i prefer the old straight 6-spoke 4x4 wheels to the slanted 5-spoke. the grille isn't too hard, but there's more involved than most people expect. tailgate had some badging changes. mine has a huge chrome and black "chevrolet" across it, where some had a big chevrolet decal on the back or just little stick-on badges, depending on year and trim. mirror swap is common, too.