Looking to buy 02... a few questions

[bennylava]

Looking to buy an 02 Chevrolet truck. So here's a few questions.

1. I want the extended cab... maybe the 4 door? I'm afraid I'm not sure what the difference is. Was there an extended cab 2 door?

2.Also, I'm not sure if I'm looking for an 02, or an 03. What was the last year of the horizontal headlights? I'm not a huge fan of the slanted eyes look. But I can't remember if the last year of of the headlights I want was 02, or 03.

3. Is there anything in particular that I should watch out for when buying one? Factory defects, commonly known flaws, etc.

4. What were all the colors available? I think I've seen red, white, black, and tan. This would be chevy colors only, as I'm not looking to buy a GMC truck.

5. What was the highest options package? Want to make sure I get that.

6. Was there much of a difference in the engines? All I know is that the 5.3L was available. Did they have the 6.0L back then, or was it something else? And when it comes to modding it a gas mileage, what would be the differences in the engines? I'd like to give it a power bump but I don't want to get 10mpg.

Thanks in advance! I'm sure I'll pop back in here with more questions.

[95 S_Trucker]

#1. The standard ext cab had 3 doors. There was an option for the fourth door.

#2. 03 was the first year for angry eyes.

#3. Brake lines and fuel lines rust out in areas where road salt is used. Nothing else out of the ordinary.

#5. Lt was the highest trim level on a Chevy.

#6. 5.3 was the biggest motor you could get in a Chevy 1500. The gmc c3/Denali had the 6.0.

[bennylava]

Thanks! Anyone have the quick and dirty on power mods for the 5.3L, that won't hurt mpg? Exhaust obviously, maybe some kind of mild cam? Even something like better rocker arms? A tune? What's everything I can do that would boost power but not hurt MPG?

[Killer Bee]

early 5.3l heads had thin castings in areas proned to cracking.. my '02 was drinking a gallon a week through both heads..

due to family hookup, cheaper to repower.. made the swap around 145k miles 12 yo..

knock sensors were a pita but knocked them out in the driveway on a Sunday afternoon..

oil pressure sender went geyser on me, year after having intake off, if only I had known

plastic heater hose connection blew a mile from work, easy fix but depends where/when it goes..

water pump, trans job, one tune up, couple of batteries and sets of tires, that's about it.. original brakes made it almost 140k miles!

I'll admit though, I work it hard and it doesn't even know it's only a half ton

if I had known what I would eventually use it for, would have bought a bigger truck..

but I don't regret it, been a great truck for all the heavy jobs and 185k miles and plenty more in it..

having smog checks in CA I've only installed k&n kit and single flow master, plenty of power for chores and looks good doing them

good luck!

[truckdude239]

instrument clusters, knock sensor, intake gaskets, rear main seals leak, sometime the pump in the transfer case rubs though the case housing, other then that not much, i have a 2002 burb with 225k ive had 4 years i only done the intake gaskets knock sensors, vavle cover, and valley pan gasket, water pump, i just rebuilt the front end on it with all new ball joints upper control arms gear box inner and outter tie rods, pit and idler arm and schocks all the way around what a differance it made

now i was given in january a 2000 thaoe with 5.3 had 369k miles on it with orginal motor and trans it was leaking like crazy from everywhere and trans was shot idid a motor and trans swap with 150k used units and now it purring again

[95 S_Trucker]

Instrument clustars are only common on the 03+ trucks. Not so much the 99-02.

The rest of the stuff isn't common, just some peoples experiences.

[mountie]

If by chance you are looking for a truck, I found this MINT, 2000 SLT w/ an ARE topper painted to match. One owner ( retired) & garaged. I REALLY considered this, when I was deciding on my (just bought), 2005 Yukon XL , SLT.

Sarasota, Fl. truck.... I could call him if he still wants to sell it ($6,600?) .. I think it has only 98,000 or 110,000 miles.... ( somewhere around that)

[bennylava]

I wonder what the difference between the LT, and the SLT was. Does anyone know the differences between all the various packages?

[mountie]

Originally Posted by bennylava

I wonder what the difference between the LT, and the SLT was. Does anyone know the differences between all the various packages?

SLT has more, or all of the luxury options. ( My Yukon XL SLT is 98% Denali widgets)

[95 S_Trucker]

Originally Posted by bennylava

I wonder what the difference between the LT, and the SLT was. Does anyone know the differences between all the various packages?

LT is Chevy and SLT is GMC.

[mountie]

I stand corrected.... ( hard to keep up with those letters)...

[68Gold/white]

Killer Bee,
So you replaced your 706 heads? What heads did you use for replacements???
Thanks.

[Killer Bee]

^ repowered with complete long block, not sure p/n but was a stock GM reman with national warranty..

new heads are 862 which I believe are very similar to 706

this was a widely known issue, google this TSB, there's chat on lots of forums about it..

#06-06-01-019B

I was guesstimating my timeline above, engine swap was July 2015 157k miles..

probably drinking coolant since 2013 or so.. water pump was replaced in 2014 for very minor leak while at my buddy's garage for other work..

I was 99% sure the tiny little dribble not reaching the ground wasn't the cause of the volume of coolant it was losing..

but had him replace the water pump anyway with high hopes it wasn't the heads..

less than a month later the factory new GM water pump was leaking, tube fitting to cast b/o, ended up replacing that one myself

year later it was up to a gallon a week or more.. at the end, stopped three times to refill expansion tank getting it to Henderson for repower..


problem with being a professional mechanic for a company where you can't work on your own vehicles..

often have to rely on other garages and friends to handle jobs you don't have time for in your driveway..

timing always seems to be lousy for breakdowns.. knock sensors, fuel pump etc. I did because they went b/o when I had time..

good luck!

[bennylava]

What were the best heads for the 5.3L?

Are the stock heads worth fixing up? Or would it be better to go with some aftermarket set? (again not too aggressive so as to not harm MPG much)

[bennylava]

Also how do you identify an LT truck? I don't remember seeing LT badges on the side of any of these trucks.

[95 S_Trucker]

There are badges at the bottom of the C pillar(B pillar if its a regular cab).

[bennylava]

Originally Posted by 95 S_Trucker

There are badges at the bottom of the C pillar(B pillar if its a regular cab).

Thanks! I'll look there to make sure its the right trim level. Anyone happen to know what the real differences were between the LT and the other trim levels? Better sound system, automatic windows, stuff like that?

[mountie]

Originally Posted by bennylava

Thanks! I'll look there to make sure its the right trim level. Anyone happen to know what the real differences were between the LT and the other trim levels? Better sound system, automatic windows, stuff like that?

Yes... stuff like that. ( Buying used, you are beholden to what options the original buyer requested)

I could assume, you see if the seats are power, then there will be more options.

[bennylava]

I was hoping the LT was just a package that you either bought, or you didn't, and it came with a set number of options. But some cars are that way and some aren't.

[Killer Bee]

not sure but I believe the Chevy and GMC option packages are slightly different..

my GMC SLE has most of what was available but leather, including left and right 6-way power buckets..

this may be a more accurate comparison;
https://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/top...t-differences/

if you're looking at actual ads that list options, soon you'll have a pretty good idea what was available..

good luck!

[NoStopN]

1) You would need the '02 front fenders, bumper, hood, & all of the lenses (headlights & park lights). You could get lucky & find a donor '99-'02 or buy replacement parts & would pay more that way.

2) Funny thing, they had extended cabs with 5.5', 6.5', & 8' beds. The 8' beds are less plentiful & ext. cab/5.5' beds are the rarest. But those were just during the '03-'07 Classic body (angry eyes).

[bennylava]

Originally Posted by NoStopN

2) Funny thing, they had extended cabs with 5.5', 6.5', & 8' beds. The 8' beds are less plentiful & ext. cab/5.5' beds are the rarest. But those were just during the '03-'07 Classic body (angry eyes).

So for the 02, your options would just be the 5.5' and 6.5' beds? I'd probably better go with the 6.5' bed if I get an 02 then. 5.5' might be a little short.

[NoStopN]

I might have confused you. In '02, you only had the 6.5' or 8' bed. The weird 5.5' bed didn't come out until '05.

[bennylava]

Thank you for the clarification.

When it comes to the exhaust manifolds that would be on an 02, are shorty headers really any improvement? The factory exhaust manifolds on the LS look like they already are shorty headers. So I question whether a good set like kooks would actually be worth the money. I'm not really into long tubes, as I don't like losing the work space.

[NoStopN]

I would imagine headers by themselves wouldn't yield a noticeable difference in power, no matter if they are shorties or long tubes. Most people I have seen on forums that have headers use long tubes. But those people also have more mods (heads, cam, supercharger, etc.) & get the combination tuned.