strutaeng

So my brother's inlaw's is wanting a truck and was asking about the older GM trucks. He's a young kid, early 20s and doesn't know anything about mechanics. He's got a limited budget. We've got a few GMT400s in the family and I own a few GMT800s (99 Silverado 1500 an 06 Suburban 2500) and a 00 OBS K3500. My brother has been sending me truck sales ads, and there's some really clean GMT800s with around 150k miles in great condition for around $5-6k, but they sell quick. OTOH, folks GMT400s with higher mileage and worse condition are asking for more money, around $7-8k. I don't know if they actually sell for that. I've done comparisons, and the GMT800s just better in pretty much every aspect I can think of. Yeah, I know not a fair comparison because one lineup is obviously much older, but it seems the GMT800s just hold up better in the transition years where they were making both truck series. Sure, you can do an LS swap on the older trucks, but that's just so involved, expensive and a ton of work. 4.8/5.3 to 6.0 is plug-and-play on the later trucks, even V6 to V8..

I get folks have nostalgia for older vehicles and stuff, but from a practical standpoint for someone just trying to get into an older, reliable truck with a budget, I don't see getting the older trucks for more money and less reliability.

silentbravo

iTrader: (1)

Well if you're finding newer trucks for less money and in better shape, that's kind of a no brainer choice.

Parts are plentiful for both and GMT400 is actually pretty solid, so it depends on what he needs the truck for I guess. Just a first/starter vehicle?

I never see 150k mile or less GMT800 for less than 8-10k it seems like. That's pretty much "low mileage" for them and they are usually in nice shape.

shakenfake

GMT-800 all the way. I will consider an OBS if it is a 3500 4wd SRW. Perfect duramax/cummins swap candidate for a daily driver lol

arthursc2

iTrader: (5)

-800 all the way

while I love to hate on the -400, the later ones have really nice interiors, parts are freaking everywhere and ppl love that Vortec that stops making power at 2800rpm.....

I still say -800. No engine in history is easier to mod, every single problem has an easy fix, and manufacturers are putting out parts for them on the daily it seems

adriver

iTrader: (1)

I might be bias, but GMT800 definitely. If he's willing to learn, the NBS is going to be much cheaper to fix and maintain based on one thing: Go to the junkyard/pnp yard. Mine gets in 5-10 800s for every 400. If it was 5 years ago, that might be different. It just seems like 400s are already getting antique plates and good ones are being held on to. More power, better mileage. There are a LOT of easy / factory mods that should keep him busy for years, if he wants to. Used parts, and used aftermarket parts are easier to come by for a GMT800.

That seems pretty high for what I see GMT800s going for. I think the market still hasn't stocked up on inventory and the older stuff is still at a slight premium.

www.hibid.com Is where I always search for stuff. Might be able to get a deal from here.

If you go to ebay, and search for what you are looking for, you can click on COMPLETED LISTINGS. This is the ONLY way I know of to see what vehicles are actually selling for, what TWO people were willing to pay for it.

strutaeng

Yeah, I think the 96-00 GMT400 interiors are kinda close to the 99-02 GMT800s.

I even did a little comparison table, hehe. My biggest complain with OBS is the ancient distributer system, the doors sagging and the busted up dashes. There are other little annoying things. The 3 times the 4.3 Vortec in my 1999 Silverado left me stranded were: 1. failed ICM, 2. failed distributor and 3. crank-no-fire on wet weather that I gave up on, in spite of testing, checking and parts swapping, cussing in English AND Spanish (probably also distributer). I'm much, much happier with the 5.3 that I swapped into it now.

My K3500 has the 5.7 SBC Vortec, which is okay. Spider injector system also was not GM's best idea; I had to replace that on that truck when when I had just bought it due to a lean code. I don't daily drive that truck though. I much prefer the LS engine family than the SBC for reliability, diagnostics and maintenance.


This guy is just wanting a truck, I don't think he really "needs" a truck. We are steering him towards the GMT800s, because we are his experts, LOL. :-)

arthursc2

iTrader: (5)

We def know best 😎

aslack99

After having several of both models, I would definitely go GMT800. Easier to find parts and if wanted modifications in the future, plus probably less wear and tear.
Owned :
1990 RCSB, 1990 454SS, Two 1995 Ex Cab Z71s, 1997 Ex Cab 2WD.
2002 CC SB 2500HD, 2003 RCSB 2WD.

someotherguy

It's hard to argue GMT800 > GMT400, but 400's are still way more "special" to me than 800's. To me they're the first truly modern pickups GM offered, and I remember being in my early 20's noticing all the brand new ones on the streets and thinking I'd own one some day. So I guess it's a nostalgia thing for me. Now over the years I've owned, built, repaired, parted more 400's than I can count.. let them all go.. and for nearly 8 years have had a pair of 800's in the driveway.

And guess what?

Picked up another GMT400 anyway. Already done a lot to it, still plenty more to do, and if I can ever make enough time to get this POS to daily driver status, my Intimidator is going up for sale..





Richard

shakenfake

That's so hawt, no build thread? ;(