Faults:

Has needed a new alternator and battery.

General Comments:

Good reliable truck for hauling. Cruises nicely on long trips.

Mine is single cab with long (8 foot) bed and canopy. Has the 350 small block Chev engine - surely one of the greatest engines ever made. Lovely exhaust note and very reliable. Maintenance cheap, parts available even here in New Zealand.

The 1996 Vortec engines are a noticeable improvement on the earlier TBI engines, such as the one I had in my '84 GMC C1500.

Faults:

Nothing has gone wrong with this truck so far, and I'm just waiting for something to go, because I drive it hard and haul huge loads of materials on the farm.

General Comments:

This truck has the most comfortable cab that I've ever been in, and I love having the extended cab to throw all my junk in when I'm going camping or taking clothes on a trip.

This truck handles extremely well at all speeds, plus it has 33's, which usually makes that harder to accomplish. It hauls loads with great ease, and pulls like a dream.

I just love the beauty of this truck, and hope it holds up like my grandpas '88 GMC with almost 300,000 miles on it.

It's just an all around great truck, and I think everyone that needs a truck should have a Chevy Z71, because it gets the job done right every time!

Faults:

Intake gaskets began leaking at 237000. I replaced intake gaskets and valve cover gaskets at the same time.

Transmission lost 2nd gear at 239000. I completely rebuilt it from top to bottom.

Fuel pump quit at 242500. I replaced with new factory unit.

Has developed minor surface rust, but this is typical for my area.

Interior is in surprisingly good condition with only minor wear on seat and rubber floor mat.

General Comments:

This particular Chevy is definitly not a dragster with it's 4.3L V6 engine, but it has just enough power to get the job done and it is very reliable at the same time. For those who know, the 4.3 is a tried and trusted GM power plant.

It is still on the original engine and all that has been needed to be replaced on the motor except for the preventative maintenance items was the intake gaskets and valve cover gaskets.

Note to all those who own Chevrolet's with Vortec engines. Keep your eye on the coolant level. GM Dexcool orange coolant attacks the material that the intake gaskets are made of and it will cause them to leak. It will cause either antifreeze to dump into the oil or it will make antifreeze drip down the back of the engine.

The transmission made it all the way to 239000 miles before it needed to be gone through which is almost unheard of today.

The fuel pump duked it out all the way to 242500 which is extremely rare. Usually Chevrolet fuel pumps go out around 90k or so.

The body has held up extremely well and it only has some minor surface rust and minor paint fade. Interior is also in very good shape with only minor wear in seat and floor, but everything else is excellent.

This particular truck was my father's before I got my hands on it and he bought it new so I know this has been a very good vehicle. I have only had to do preventative maintenance on it up until recently.

It was definitly not built for pulling a backhoe or four wheeling, but if you need a truck that is reliable and will get the light duty job done then this is the truck for you.

Faults:

Have had no major problem to speak of.

There are little leaks on driveway, but cannot find leak.

Catalytic converter @102000

Leather buckets are starting to show some wear. etc.. little tears, burns.

Track for passenger seat is either bent or there is a bolt coming loose.

General Comments:

Has enough power to snap your neck

Some getting used to if coming off driving something smaller and doesnt have 33 inch tires

Faults:

30000 KM intake gaskets leaking.

32000 KM valve cover gaskets leaking.

40000 KM rear differential blew up. Replaced with a new unit.

45000 KM automatic transmission torque converter seized up. Replaced torque converter.

49000 KM engine developed a knocking sound. Had to replace main bearings.

53000 KM brakes wore out. Replaced pads and rotors.

55000 KM rear differential developed a howling noise. Had to replace gears and bearings.

68000 KM engine seized up. Replaced engine.

70000 Km transmission started to slip, had to replace unit.

74000 KM engine again developed knock noise. Had to replace pistons.

79000 Km rear differential again blew up. Had to replace whole unit.

General Comments:

This truck was the biggest piece of junk I ever owned. Fortunately I had warranty coverage to 80,000 KM. After replaeing the rear differential at 79,000 Km, I traded the truck in at the local GM dealer and bought a used Mazda truck off the lot.