PAThwacker
East Stroudsburg, PA
Senior Member
Joined: 07/24/2009
View Profile
 Offline
|
We have just received in an old dinasaur from the last century on trade. A 1998 Chevy Ck3500 crew cab single wheel 4x4 with 8ft bed. Fourteen years old and just over 100k. Has the typical faded paint of that generation CK that has never been able to spend a day in a garage. It has a 5.7 V8 and I'm still trying to find out if it has a 4l60E or 4l80E. Am I nuts to dump any money into this rat, get it painted, and let it sit around as primary tow vehicle/emergency use only? The 9400lb gvw has me smiling, but the rust and faded paint have me in doubts.
We are currently towing with a trailblazer 5.3 V8.
2008 Starcraft Travelstar Sport 21RBH
2008 Chevy Trailblazer V8 3.42 / 1998 Chevy K3500 5.7L CC 8ft bed 4l80E 4.10
Me, DW, DD, Ddog
|
donn0128
Pronounced Ore-gun
Senior Member
Joined: 04/21/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Even at that old it will IMHO be 150% better tow vehicle than a TB. I actually tried to tow a trailer with my TB. One trip was all it took to convince me of the foolishness of that idea. Paint it, get it safety inspected and tow away until it literally falls apart.
Donn,Lorri,Max (rescued Lab)
Saigon International Airport 1966/67
|
jerem0621
SE Tennessee
Senior Member
Joined: 05/17/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
Its totally worthless... you should never own anything that old...
You need to bring it to Tennessee and I will be happy to relive you from that problem child and happily dump money into it and tow my 95 TT with it...
lol
It sounds awesome to me.. I almost bought a SRW 97 Chevy 3500 extended cab with a 350.
I would bet that it is a 4L80e since it is in the HD truck.
Great score and if you decide to sell it, will you send me a PM.. We need a crew cab for our growing boys... see my sig.. I drive a 97 
Thanks!
TT: 1995 Layton 2910
Tow Vehicle: 1999 F-350, v10, , 2wd, Crew Cab, Dually
Hitch: Draw-Tite Trunnion WD Hitch with Reese Dual-Cam sway control
|
SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
Senior Member
Joined: 12/14/2003
View Profile
|
I'd bet it's a 4L80 too. I don't imagine GM putting the 4L60 in a 3500 crew cab. The 4L60 is usually found in the lighter 1500 series trucks and suv's.
By the way, if it's 4wd, it's a K3500. The C3500 is 2wd. There is no CK3500 model, though GM trucks are referred to as C/K trucks, when including both 2wd and 4wd models in the discussion.
I any case, your new older 3500 truck is a vast towing improvement over your Trailblazer.
The Trailblazer's newer 5.3 may have more power than the '98 Vortec 350, but the 3500 truck chassis is far better suited to towing heavy than the Trailblazer chassis is. If your 3500 truck has 4.10 gears, it should have plenty of power for towing your trailer.
With a 9400 GVWR and about 6000-6500 lb empty truck weight, your new one-ton truck has about 3000 lbs payload capacity. This also jives with the 6084 lb rear axle weight rating, with about 3000 lbs empty rear axle truck weight, so about 3000 lbs of cargo capacity available on the rear axle.
05E350 6.0PSD
97F350DRW 7.3PSD 4x4 4.10 11' flatbed
98Ranger
69Bronco ATC250R CR500
20' BigTex flatbed carhauler
Callen Camper
92F350 CrewCab 4x4 351/C6
B&W TurnoverBall, Curt Magnum V
HD Springs Bilsteins,
285/75-16E BFG AT on 16x8 Stocktons
4.56's & LockRite rear
|
PAThwacker
East Stroudsburg, PA
Senior Member
Joined: 07/24/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
Thanks for the reassuring feedback. I have been searching the archives on these and know of the abs issues, and general paint/rust issues. It will need new tires, rotors, and other
attention. Getting a paint appraisal this week and see if this beast is worth restoring or not.
|
|
|
Engineer9860
Eagle Scout dad
Senior Member
Joined: 08/10/2003
View Profile
|
4L80E for sure.
I have a 1994 with almost the same specs.
The 5.7L engine is weak by today's standards, but it will get the job done.
In Memoriam: Liberty Belle
|
dodge guy
Bartlett IL
Senior Member
Joined: 03/23/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
Take a close look at all the brake fuel lines! they like to rust out and leak! the last thing you want is a leaky fuel or brake line. otherwise have at it.
Good luck!
Wife Kim 
Son Brandon 10yrs
Daughter Marissa 9yrs
Dog Shadow 
07 Cherokee 32B
02 Excursion 4X4 V-10 4.30 gear Hellwig sway bar
Reese HP dualcam,Prodigy brake controller.
A bad day of camping is
better than a good day at work!
|
bucky
Eastern Shore of MD
Senior Member
Joined: 05/07/2003
View Profile
|
It was the next gen Silverado/Sierra that had the brake/gas line rust issues. However, I see that you live in PA. All bets are off with the salt you guys use so much of. Check it over well before you buy it. If it checks out it will make you a fine truck at a low price. Yes, it will have the 4L80E. Check the axle ratio, that will make it or break it as a tow vehicle.
99 Chev 7.4 crew dually and a Coachmen TT.
|
blt2ski
Kirkland, Wa
Moderator
Joined: 03/15/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
The 98 will have a vortec 350, a bit weak by todays stds, at IIRC 255/330 or there abouts, but still plenty powerfull if you let it rev some. I've pulled upwards of 12K lbs of trailer and around 19K gcwr with my 2000 reg cab. I was impressed the day I did that. Pulling around 12-14K gcwr is a piece of cake.
Marty
05 Chev CC D/A LS Dooley
92 Navistar dump truck, 7.3L 7 sp, 4.33 gears with a Detroit no spin
00 Chev C2500, V5700, 4L80E, 4.10, base truck, no options!
92 Red-e-haul 12K equipment trailer
3 Single axle utility trailers
Check RV.Net Blogs at: blog.rv.net
|
mudfuel07
North Florida!
Full Member
Joined: 06/29/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
I have the same vintage in a work truck, a 1999 K3500 CC, except mine has a 6.5 diesel. Never had any real issues with the body or suspension, just the engine.
08 F250 V10 FX4 4x4 Airaid Intake, 5 Star Tuned!Fab Four Full Replacement Bumper---More to come!
Pulling Dutchmen Classic 300
|
|
|
