Re: Still can\'t decide!!! Need all your truck owning wisdom.

From your criteria, I would suggest the Z71. You will get tired of the size constraints of the S10 and the 1ton is a bit of an overkill. Onto criteria #4. An early/mid 90's Z71 is the nicest date truck of the bunch, especially if it has a bench seat. The ride will not beat passangers to death and the interior is very roomy and hospitable. Continueing on, a floor mounted ratchet shifter is easily mounted to the center console if a manual transmission is not your forte.

As far as your other criteria, from experience, I can tell you that an IFS Chevy will suit your needs perfectly as a ranch truck. I can haul anything you don't need a tractor for and can usually take care of its own in avoiding stucks. For in-town driving, it is by far the most comfortable. However, as a college student (like me) a full size Chevy may put a strain on the pocket book in terms of paying for gas.

Of course, with any truck you buy, make sure you know what you are buying. There are thousands of things to look for on early IFS Chevys that the previous owner may be trying to hide from you.

Best of Luck.

Nich Kenny
'89 K1500 350/700r4

 

Re: Still can\'t decide!!! Need all your truck owning wisdom.

When you say pre-'90's, I'm assuming you are talking about the "old" body style trucks built before '88. These 3/4 or 1 tons may be the best if you hauled heavy loads or trailers and would probably be the cheapest, but the interior comfort, ride and handling is way behind either the newer ZR2 or the 1/2 ton Z71. For gas mileage, the 4.3's in the S-10's typically don't get much better mileage than a 350 in a fullsize truck.

6.2Blazer

 

Re: Still can\'t decide!!! Need all your truck owning wisdom.

i agree with desert chevy completely. go with the z71. im also a college student so i understand what you need. i tow a boat and do a good bit of work that i need the truck and 350 for, but want halfway decent /wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif gas mileage and on road comfort. the IFS will give you the best ride and comfort. the 1 ton or 3/4 ton would kill you in mpg and wouldnt compare comfort wise. one really bad thing about the zr2 is that it is a lot harder to do mods to. i liked these too, but found out the chassis and frame is completely different from regular s10s and i couldnt find a single company that made lifts for em. not even body! plus, the 350 would sure help ya in all that ranch work. overall, id say the z71 is your best best. good luck and let us know what you get!

Mike ~
/wwwthreads_images/icons/cool.gif Chevys Rule! /wwwthreads_images/icons/cool.gif

 

Re: Still can\'t decide!!! Need all your truck owning wisdom.

I would also go early to mid 90's fullsize. I don't see why you need a Z71, however. All the Z71 package really includes is a stiffer suspension, skid plates, and decals. I have a 93 1500 and I love it. Here are a few suggestions: Stay away from the 3.42 axle gears. The IFS is really expensive and time consuming to put gears in, so try to find a truck with 3.73 or if you're lucky, 4.10 gears. If you ever want to put on bigger tires get the lower gears to begin with. Try to get a 350. I have a 305, and while it has plenty of power, I'd rather have the 350. Finally, if you can get a pre-95 truck with OBD-I engine controls. They are much simpler than the later vortec models, and if you're a college student (as I soon will be) you probably do most of your repairs yourself. As far as milage is concerned, you can expect 14mpg while doing city driving, maybe less if you have a heavy foot. If you decide to go with a compact truck, my suggestion is (dare i say it) Toyota. I'm a Chevy guy to the heart, but the Toyota is the best compact pickup hands down. Finally, CHICKS DIG FULLSIZE 4X4's/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif. Hope this helps.

 

Re: Still can\'t decide!!! Need all your truck owning wisdom.

chicks dig big 4x4 trucks?!!??
where do you live i am coming for a visit
because the ones around here complain that my truck is too loud
too big and none of em are into off-roading
btw if gas mileage is a major concern
hope you can short shift and definitly stay away from the older trucks
i get 15mpg highway going rrrreeeeaaaaalllll easy
although i am a college kid i am lucky enough to have a job that pays for my fuel as long as it stays in reason (normally i get every other tank paid for)
just my 2cents
btw i have a 85 with a very modified crate 350 in it so i basically asked for bad gas mileage *shrug* oh well it is fun to have alot of ponies though

 

Re: Still can\'t decide!!! Need all your truck owning wisdom.

You just need to find the right woman...my wife loves pick-up trucks! So does her sisters, I guess they're ******** at heart! In fact, she took my truck through the mud pit last week. And the louder the better. College girls do tend to like guys in Jeeps better, but they just don't know what they're missing in a "pick-up man"!

 

Re: Still can\'t decide!!! Need all your truck owning wisdom.

come to the south dude!! all the chicks go CRAZY over my truck. they absolutely love 4x4s and will do anything you want if you just take them mudding once!!!!! damn i love the south /wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif

Mike ~
/wwwthreads_images/icons/cool.gif Chevys Rule! /wwwthreads_images/icons/cool.gif

 

Re: Still can\'t decide!!! Need all your truck owning wisdom.

any you guys ever come to S.Tx???? i can't find anyone to hang out and play trucks with......

Shorts

 

Re: Still can\'t decide!!! Need all your truck owning wisdom.

Hey shorts, I live as south as you can get in Texas. I live in Edinburg, about an hour from South Padre Island, and 15minutes from Mexico. Where do you live?

 

Re: Still can\'t decide!!! Need all your truck owning wisdom.

I would go with a 96 or newer ext cab short box with the 350... 96 and up have the vortec... if you are not pulling anything, you could get by with the 4.3 in the zr2 package--better gas mileage.

'99 MXZ 600 & '00 5.3 Silverado

 

Re: Still can\'t decide!!! Need all your truck owning wisdom.

ruben, i live in corpus

Shorts

 

Re: Still can\'t decide!!! Need all your truck owning wisdom.

I am just repeating what everyone else has said before, but here goes. Get a pre96 1/2 ton. Z71 or not is your choice. If you are ever going to lift it, all the Z71 stuff gets taken off, unless you find a Z71 with a 14 bolt in it. You actually can find regular 1/2 tons with the 14bolt. (Before everyone goes nuts like in one of Ruben's earlier posts, get a copy of the latest edition of 4x4 Power. They have a blueprinting guide for IFS Chevy's. I didn't know about it either until then.) They get decent mileage for a fullsize, and that can be increased with a K&N filter, good plugs and wires, and a cat back system. They ride nice, and you can 4x4 with them pretty well unless you need big articulation or are going gumbo mudding. You can put 285's on the stock wheels without rubbing, and they are overall pretty tough. There are lots out there for good prices, and they are reliable if you find one that wasn't used hard and put away wet by the previous owner(s). Why I would say the pre 96 non Vortech ones is this:
1)the TBI in these trucks tends to be a little more reliable
2)it actually gets a little better mpg's (go compare what a sticker said on a 98 compared to a similarily equiped 93 they're usually about 1mpg in the TBI's favor)
3)there are lots more hop-up parts for the TBI motors and they are cheaper
4)Vortech trucks are still pretty expensive
5)for the extra cost of buying a Vortech truck, you could build up the TBI motor to get the same numbers and increased mileage for cheaper(go to www.turbocity.com, look for the rebuilt TBI unit, the whole setup runs low 600's and gets you another 40hp)
I have a 92 Blazer, and the lady's like it. Mine is a Sport, so it has gunmetal grey lower and white upper body panels, and the grill, bumpers, and mirrors are black. It really makes a statement. Most girls just like it because it looks nice, but then, if a chick likes you soley for your truck, is she worth it?
If you absolutely have to have a solid axle, save money now. When you are out of college, get an Off Road Unlimited kit and put either a Dana 44 or 60 under it. I was going to put 6 inches of IFS lift, and 35's on mine, but have reconsidered. I'm going to save for a while, then in a few years, put a Dana 60 up front, 14 bolt Full Floater in the rear, and enough lift to clear 35's. By the time you can afford this resonably, you won't have to worry as much about fundage.
I'm going to finish now. One last thing, get a 350 because it makes more power for similar mpg's, and get 3.73 if it's an auto, and 4.10's if it's a stick. Hope this (my little novel) helps.

1992 Blazer Sport, 350 TBI, Gibson 3" cat back, 4L60, Rancho 2-3" lift, 285/75R16's

 

Re: Still can\'t decide!!! Need all your truck owning wisdom.

OK, I have been gone for a few days, and look at what has happened /wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif Everybody beats up on the 3/4 & 1 tons/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif. But seriously, even though I have a 1ton, you probably don't need it. I haul alot of building materials, hay(I have horses), and pull a couple different trailers/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif. However if I were you, I would find a 3/4 ton, it is SOOO much more truck than a 1/2 ton, I would stay pre 96, and you will find out that a used 3/4 ton usually sells for about the same as a 1/2 ton, there is just less of them out there, so it will take a little more time to find. Also with a 3/4ton you are most likely to get a 350 with 3.73 gears (an excellent combination) throw some 285s on there, turn your torsion bars a little, and Tada you have got much healthier a truck than any Z71./wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif Also after having 3 ex-cab trucks, I would never even consider a reg. cab, the comfort and space inside the cabs are UN-comparable. /wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif
DON'T !!! settle for a 305 you will regret it!!! (no balls)
DO !!! make sure it has 3.73 gears (you will want them for the 285's)

 

Re: Still can\'t decide!!! Need all your truck owning wisdom.

Yes, mid-90s full-size. Chicks "do" dig em and they're great for what you need a truck for as listed above.

 

Re: Still can\'t decide!!! Need all your truck owning wisdom.

If you can find one, definately go with a 3/4 or 1 ton. They really are more truck. I just looked at one the other day. Watch out however as the "big" trucks are much more likely to be beat on and abused. For the ultimate 4-wheeler (or one with more potential that can be built stronger and cheaper) nothing compares to a pre-88 truck, especially a one ton model w/ D60 ft axle.