I've decided im going to buy a Chevy pickup has to be a full size. 2wd or 4wd is fine and I'm only spending around 1500 bucks. My question is which engine to get I don't need a tow monster but would a 305 or 350 be overall a better choice than the 4.3l? If the power is so much more and the fuel mileage ain't a huge difference in a v8 is it the better choice. Reliability what's best? And how well does the 4.3l pull? Thanks for all the help .
which chevy truck should i buy?
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The 4.3 v6 in my moms blazer will get the job done, but is sluggish and doesn't accelerate too fast with a medium sized fishing boat behind it...
305 or 350 will be your best bet for towing, and overall reliability and ease of finding parts, either way, enjoy your k1500
305 or 350 will be your best bet for towing, and overall reliability and ease of finding parts, either way, enjoy your k1500
Originally Posted By: Brenden
The 4.3 v6 in my moms blazer will get the job done, but is sluggish and doesn't accelerate too fast with a medium sized fishing boat behind it...
305 or 350 will be your best bet for towing, and overall reliability and ease of finding parts, either way, enjoy your k1500
there;s no shortage or hard time finding parts for a GM 4.3.
and how many hours per year do you tow?
The 4.3 v6 in my moms blazer will get the job done, but is sluggish and doesn't accelerate too fast with a medium sized fishing boat behind it...
305 or 350 will be your best bet for towing, and overall reliability and ease of finding parts, either way, enjoy your k1500
there;s no shortage or hard time finding parts for a GM 4.3.
and how many hours per year do you tow?
Can you get a K1500 with a 4.3?
I see lots of C1500s with a 4.3, but I can't recall ever seeing a K1500 V6.
Every other "car" on the road here is a Ford or Chevrolet truck with a few GMCs and Rams thrown in for good measure. So they are not a rarity here. Maybe they just didn't sell any here.
I see lots of C1500s with a 4.3, but I can't recall ever seeing a K1500 V6.
Every other "car" on the road here is a Ford or Chevrolet truck with a few GMCs and Rams thrown in for good measure. So they are not a rarity here. Maybe they just didn't sell any here.
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Depends on where we go camping, usually 20 hrs a year in towing.
I added the first part after the second and didn't realize I left out the 4.3 for easy part finding
I added the first part after the second and didn't realize I left out the 4.3 for easy part finding
it's all good except for the 1500 dollar part. that won't buy you much.
Around here 1500 gets you a decent looking and running 2wd Chevy or Ford really. They are actually kinda cheap around here. I dint care if its scratched up or nothing as long as its been cared for maintenance wise I'm happy and I can wix anything that may go wrong so I'm not to worried that being said I don't expect a new truck. Just a decent beater that is reliable regardless of looks . I had a 90 Chevy pickup 4x4 350 it got about 12mpg id like to get better than that if I can like 16-20 would be great the 90 I had about a yr ago had 221k no problems had some rust and minor bruises but ran great and would go anywhere in 4lo. But I sold it because it was our only vehicle.this time around ill be going to school in town 1 mile away and will be giving my girlfriend the Saturn. The truck won't be the main driver so fuel mileage isn't deathly crucial but the more the better while still retaining a truck that can actually act as truck when needed. I wont tow or haul to much. Maybe some scrap here in there. It would be possible that every so often I'd haul a junk car so it would have to be capable enough for that. But that's about it.
The question has been asked by the OP on 4.3l in this thread
Originally Posted By: Spazdog
Can you get a K1500 with a 4.3?
I see lots of C1500s with a 4.3, but I can't recall ever seeing a K1500 V6.
Yes you can get a 4.3l in a 4x4 since that is what I've got and its great. Actually prefer it to my 2000 Silverado 4.8l 4x4.
Here is the post on the truck I bought and still have with photos.
$1500 will not get you much of anything these days.
Bill
Originally Posted By: Spazdog
Can you get a K1500 with a 4.3?
I see lots of C1500s with a 4.3, but I can't recall ever seeing a K1500 V6.
Yes you can get a 4.3l in a 4x4 since that is what I've got and its great. Actually prefer it to my 2000 Silverado 4.8l 4x4.
Here is the post on the truck I bought and still have with photos.
$1500 will not get you much of anything these days.
Bill
I just want an older style tbi truck. Something I don't mind getting a scratch on. I have been told that the 2wd 350 gets better mileage than they say it does but I don't know if that's true. What is the the real world mileage of a tbi 4.3 vs a 5.7 ? Id get a 305 but everyone and there brother would found me for It.
i have a 1991 c-1500 with a 4.3L and a 5 speed. i get close to 20mpg on the highway. but keep in mind the c1500 with the v-6 has a gear ratio that is better for mpg. the differential gear ratio options are plenty, depending on motor,transmission,4wd,2wd, special options etc...
Originally Posted By: caravanmike
i have a 1991 c-1500 with a 4.3L and a 5 speed. i get close to 20mpg on the highway. but keep in mind the c1500 with the v-6 has a gear ratio that is better for mpg. the differential gear ratio options are plenty, depending on motor,transmission,4wd,2wd, special options etc...
I get 25mpg in a 95S10 with 4wd. TBI with standard trans and locking diff.
3.73 gears in diff
i have a 1991 c-1500 with a 4.3L and a 5 speed. i get close to 20mpg on the highway. but keep in mind the c1500 with the v-6 has a gear ratio that is better for mpg. the differential gear ratio options are plenty, depending on motor,transmission,4wd,2wd, special options etc...
I get 25mpg in a 95S10 with 4wd. TBI with standard trans and locking diff.
3.73 gears in diff
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
I've decided im going to buy a Chevy pickup has to be a full size. 2wd or 4wd is fine and I'm only spending around 1500 bucks. My question is which engine to get I don't need a tow monster but would a 305 or 350 be overall a better choice than the 4.3l? If the power is so much more and the fuel mileage ain't a huge difference in a v8 is it the better choice. Reliability what's best? And how well does the 4.3l pull? Thanks for all the help .
You should get a Ford with a 300 6 cylinder! Hey with a name like chevyboy you had to know someone was gonna say it lol
I've decided im going to buy a Chevy pickup has to be a full size. 2wd or 4wd is fine and I'm only spending around 1500 bucks. My question is which engine to get I don't need a tow monster but would a 305 or 350 be overall a better choice than the 4.3l? If the power is so much more and the fuel mileage ain't a huge difference in a v8 is it the better choice. Reliability what's best? And how well does the 4.3l pull? Thanks for all the help .
You should get a Ford with a 300 6 cylinder! Hey with a name like chevyboy you had to know someone was gonna say it lol
Originally Posted By: cb_13
You should get a Ford with a 300 6 cylinder! Hey with a name like chevyboy you had to know someone was gonna say it lol
yuck. everybody wants someone ELSE to drive an old ford straight six
You should get a Ford with a 300 6 cylinder! Hey with a name like chevyboy you had to know someone was gonna say it lol
yuck. everybody wants someone ELSE to drive an old ford straight six
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I like the 300 i6 but I don't want to go old enough to get a carburetor . And the fuel injected fords were a confusing pain. I prefer the tbi. Also fords bumpers suck and if I have to push anything I want a bumper that'll do the job and chevys usually get better mileage.
In that price range you really aren't going to have much ability to pick and choose things like the engine. Take whatever is still running and has the least amount of rust. 305 vs 350 doesn't matter at all with $1500 trucks. A 305 that's still in decent shape might outperform some ragged out 350 that burns as much oil as it does gas. I've driven TBI 350s that were most useful as boat anchors at that point in their life.
There's no shortage of used pickups around here, but ones in the $1500 range are always either REALLY rough or they have serious mechanical problems. You really need to make mechanical condition your priority over the engine and brand if you want a half decent truck.
As for Ford's fuel injection, I've grown up with fuel injected Fords and can't remember ever having a fuel system issue. No replaced fuel pumps, no injectors, no issues ever.
There's no shortage of used pickups around here, but ones in the $1500 range are always either REALLY rough or they have serious mechanical problems. You really need to make mechanical condition your priority over the engine and brand if you want a half decent truck.
As for Ford's fuel injection, I've grown up with fuel injected Fords and can't remember ever having a fuel system issue. No replaced fuel pumps, no injectors, no issues ever.
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I mean working around all the nonsense vacuum lines and just the [censored] every where. I can find a truck for 1500 I'm not to worried about miles just what shape it is in. Finding a 1500 dollar truck wont be a big deal I post a few quick links that I randomly find on Craigslist to show you guys what I'm thinking of
http://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/2723260403.html. http://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/2712234393.html http://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/2699159540.html http://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/2721303603.html. http://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/2701530560.html these are just a few I've found real quick. Tell me what you guys think
I'd be very interested in the '86 3/4 ton. Heavier duty chassis, the new transmission has been in for 46K miles so it was probably done correctly, new tires, lower miles than the newer trucks and it looks fairly clean.
I liked that one and the last one the red silverado for 1250 but it didn't say much and pictures can be deceiving. That's the kind of trucks I can get around here in my price range
My friend in st louis just had a truck crushed cuz he couldnt get $500 for it. It was a far from mint 85 c1500 305 automatic. Cab corners and rockers were gone and it needed the carb replaced or rebuilt but if it was closer to me I would have had it sold in an afternoon for the bed alone.
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