Lesson learned - GMT900 Regret, GMT800 Reset

[all4oldchevys]

New here so I thought I’d introduce myself. I’m on my second GMT800, an 06 1500 crew cab that I bought with a bad transmission. My first was an 05 Duramax crew cab I made the mistake of trading in on a GMT900. I never really fell in love with the 900 so I think I’m back to stay on the 800 platform.

Here’s a picture of my current truck:

Since I had to put it a new transmission I decided to swap to a built 4L80 with a 2800 stall. I also have strong opinions about bent front license plates, the factory cup holder, and other things so I started designing and selling upgrades on Etsy under the shop (commercial selling site removed)





Here’s a picture of my old truck I probably never should’ve sold but I really only used that Duramax to wear out my tires.

 

[wiscosilverado87]

You made a wise choice, great to see your back in a good generation of trucks

 

[ORVietVet]

Welcome to the forum from Oregon.

Beautiful truck.

 

[4silverado]

Welcome from Kentucky. Good to see someone making gadgets for these trucks. I’ve been checking out designs on Thingyverse. There some neat things available to 3D print for the GMT800.

 

[99Sierra2500]

Welcome from Indiana, looks sharp.

 

[Cadillacmak]

Welcome from Alaska. Very nice truck! I made the same mistake, bought a 2007 Duramax and sold my 2002 8.1 K2500HD. Always wish I had that one back.

 

[stutaeng]

Welcome from Texas. I've personally never owned a GMT900, but seems like GM cheapened them out somewhat.

I've got a few GMT800s and it definitely seems like this generation is the "Golden Era" of GM trucks...

Power, reliability, fuel economy, easy/low cost repairs, high tech (but still low tech to avoid AFM) on the engine yet still feature-rich to consider it modern on the later models...and those legendary LS engines.

 

[Marky Dissod]

GMT900s are good - leased one for nearly 200,000 mostly trouble-free miles, although Engine Half@$$ led to significant oil consumption.
But it's known that the best GMT900s LACK unnecessary complexities.

GMT800s are better for everything they LACK compared to GMT900s - no unnecessary complexities. Keep it simple, keep on truckin'.
Not one GMT900 feature is so impressive so essential that anyone would try to shoehorn it into a GMT800.

By 2039 the only GMT900s left will likely be their 2500s & 3500s; most of their 1500s will have been cannibalized for parts for our GMT800s.

 

[all4oldchevys]

GMT900s are good - leased one for nearly 200,000 mostly trouble-free miles, although Engine Half@$$ led to significant oil consumption.
But it's known that the best GMT900s LACK unnecessary complexities.

GMT800s are better for everything they LACK compared to GMT900s - no unnecessary complexities. Keep it simple, keep on truckin'.
Not one GMT900 feature is so impressive so essential that anyone would try to shoehorn it into a GMT800.

By 2039 the only GMT900s left will likely be their 2500s & 3500s; most of their 1500s will have been cannibalized for parts for our GMT800s.

Yeah it wasn’t any one thing, Looking back going from a Duramax with DSP tunes to a 6.2 probably made me critical of the power levels. I had issues with the magnaride system and so I deleted it which hurt the ride quality. Other than those things it was really just my preference is the older body style, prefer the interior on a cateye.

 

[AuroraGirl]

GMT900s are good - leased one for nearly 200,000 mostly trouble-free miles, although Engine Half@$$ led to significant oil consumption.
But it's known that the best GMT900s LACK unnecessary complexities.

GMT800s are better for everything they LACK compared to GMT900s - no unnecessary complexities. Keep it simple, keep on truckin'.
Not one GMT900 feature is so impressive so essential that anyone would try to shoehorn it into a GMT800.

By 2039 the only GMT900s left will likely be their 2500s & 3500s; most of their 1500s will have been cannibalized for parts for our GMT800s.

the 180 degree door opening for an extended cab is kinda cool

I have literally nothing else to say of the gmt900 that is to its benefit. it was peak bailout GM, they spent a LOT of money engineering them to be econoboxes that allowed them to extract higher margins from buyers because while it shared a lot of frame/suspension engineering , everything else on it was cheaper for GM, so they could sell it for the same amount and make more money than already high margins trucks were becoming. I see gmt800 as the last "truck is truck" and gmt900 as "truck is accessory"

They also seem to be rusting worse than any gmt800 on the body, probably cheap steel or cheapened paints/coatings.
PRe-bailout GM Rick Wagoner (who had no hand in designing the gmt800, thankfully) was putting the companys future on the gmt900, i actually read that in a 200x state of the company pdf i found online. the company was bloated to no end and was trying to cheapen things for that higher margin. the fact they werent profitable goes to many reasons but gmt900 wasnt going to change that on its own

 

[99Sierra2500]

I have owned both, and prefer the 800 also.

 

[Marky Dissod]

the 180 degree door opening for an extended cab is kinda cool

If a Tahoe's / Suburban's doors opened the same way, that'd be even cooler.

 

[stutaeng]

The Longest-Lasting Pickup Engine Ever Made By Chevrolet

This Chevy engine powered some of the world's highest-mileage vehicles over the years, and it keeps on hauling decade after decade.

www.hotcars.com

Just sain'...

 

[Marky Dissod]

The Longest-Lasting Pickup Engine Ever Made By Chevrolet

This Chevy engine powered some of the world's highest-mileage vehicles over the years, and it keeps on hauling decade after decade.

www.hotcars.com

Just sayin'...

Just wondering why that article left out the LMF, LH8, & LH9 5.3L V8s ...
It'll be interesting to compare the Gen4 V8s' longevity to the Gen3 V8s'.
Willing to bet against engines that include Engine Half@$$ ...

 

[AuroraGirl]

Just wondering why that article left out the LMF, LH8, & LH9 5.3L V8s ...
It'll be interesting to compare the Gen4 V8s' longevity to the Gen3 V8s'.
Willing to bet against engines that include Engine Half@$$ ...

Without AFM on either generation, id say its pretty equal becuase iirc the block is the same or very similar, just a matter of heads/intake and crank/cam changes?

 

[Tonimus]

Welcome aboard! Glad you found us. I've purchased a couple of your gizmos. Hopefully my cupholder will be delivered tomorrow so I can show the good people.

 

[stutaeng]

Just wondering why that article left out the LMF, LH8, & LH9 5.3L V8s ...
It'll be interesting to compare the Gen4 V8s' longevity to the Gen3 V8s'.
Willing to bet against engines that include Engine Half@$$ ...

Not sure? I would have included all Gen III "LS" truck engines in that article, so the 4.8, 5.3 and 6.0.

Without AFM on either generation, id say its pretty equal becuase iirc the block is the same or very similar, just a matter of heads/intake and crank/cam changes?

Yeah, I would agree. I pretty much consider doing an AFM delete on Gen IV reverting it back to Gen III. Only other difference is 24x vs 58x reluctor wheel.

 

[all4oldchevys]

Not sure? I would have included all Gen III "LS" truck engines in that article, so the 4.8, 5.3 and 6.0.

Yeah, I would agree. I pretty much consider doing an AFM delete on Gen IV reverting it back to Gen III. Only other difference is 24x vs 58x reluctor wheel.

From what I’ve read they’re a bit easier to tune for boost with the factory ecu but I haven’t yet been able to afford a turbo kit so it’s third hand info.

Also the rectangle port 6.2 though my personal experience with that motor is underwhelming.

 

[all4oldchevys]

Welcome aboard! Glad you found us. I've purchased a couple of your gizmos. Hopefully my cupholder will be delivered tomorrow so I can show the good people.

I was disappointed it didn’t make it there Saturday. Didn’t realize today was a holiday until my wife was trying to drop stuff off at the post office.

 

[Marky Dissod]

... would have included all Gen III "LS" truck engines in that article, so the 4.8L, 5.3L and 6.0L.

Willing to bet money I don't have, that less 4.8L engines will survive vs however many 5.3L vs however many 6.0L.
Hopefully the 4.8L blocks that say "4.8L-5.3L-6.0L" (all three displacements) on their front passenger side survive, and get bored out to 6.0L.