96-99 Chevy/GMC 3500 ?'s

Michael Kilduff · 10-30-2011, 09:58 AM

I have found a few 96-99 year model GM 3500 dual wheel trucks w/454-automatics for sale and I have some questions about these trucks that some here may be able to answer.

Were there any drivetrain-especially transmission and induction/fuel delivery- differences in these years? If so which is preferred?

What kind of mileage and economy should I expect when pulling 7000 pounds on flat terrain , city and highway?

What reliability issues did these vehicles tend to have, if any?

All the ones I am interested in have 90-125K miles, look to be well kept.

Any relies will be appreciated.

Ed Wright · 10-30-2011, 10:57 AM

As far as I know they are all the same. The 4L80E is a good transmission. There are some good gains in the tuning. My '99 Suburban gets about ten MPG pulling my 6700 lb trailer. I would look for one with 3.73 gears, 4.10 is more common with dual wheels, but the 3.73s get better mileage. Mine sure doesn't need 4.10s.

Rsmith38 · 10-30-2011, 11:54 AM

My 96 with 454 auto 4.11 tows 26 foot 10K trailer and gets about 8 - 9 MPG. Without trailer 13.5 on highway (loaded or empty - same mileage).
Only repair in 135K miles is electric in tank fuel pump quit - $90 and 2 hours to drop tank and replace. When we bought this 454 a diesel was 10K more so even at 8 mpg we could never make up the difference in fuel. But a Cumins diesel in my buddys Dodge will get about 13 pulling 10K and as much as 18 empty. Lots more power and more $$$$.

Rory McNeil · 10-30-2011, 12:01 PM

A buddy of mine bought a new 98 Chevy 3500 2 wd crew cab dually with a 454 automatic for towing his 28foot enclosed trailer and race car, his setup was about 8000 lbs. He drove it every day until about 1 1/2 year ago when it was totalled in a collision. At the time of the wreck, it had about 220,000 kilomoters (130-140,000 miles), and I believe the only problems he had were intake manifold gaskets (once), A/C compressor and hoses (once), ignition swith twice, which caused the trans to not shift, and one rear axle seal seemed to leak and require replacement every now & then. After the wreck, he wanted the same type of truck, and lucked into a 96 CC dually 2wd, 454 auto, that had spent most of it`s life sitting in a barn, and only had 25,000 km on the odometer when he bought it . Its almost like brand new, however, it too had a leaking rear axle seal shortly after he bought the truck. He really likes there trucks.

Dion Hildebrandt · 10-30-2011, 12:27 PM

I had a 99 gmc k2500 with the 454 and it had a hard starting problem that was almost impossible to figure out, after changing pretty much the whole fuel delivery system it was the fuel injectors themselves that were to blame. Have since found out they are a common problem on the 454's, it seems the mpfi was not properly sorted out and is somewhat of a redheaded stepchild amongst big cubic inch gm trucks. That being said I put headers and a full dual 3 inch exhaust and a healthy comp cam in this thing with a power programmer tune up, and it would tow in overdrive with out breaking a sweat. I sold it with 330,000 km's (canadian) on it and I guess it is still ticking.

Ed Wright · 10-30-2011, 02:14 PM

The funky injector deal is found in the small block Vortec engines. The 454" uses eight regular individual injectors like anything else. Hard starting is usually the fuel pump. Leaking intake gaskets are pretty common. Mine, at 115,000 miles has had both. Not real common for starting problem to be the injectors. Could be the fuel used.

killintime6968 · 10-31-2011, 12:31 AM

If your having to press and hold throttle to the floor to start its usually the injectors or fuel pressure regulator. Both are quite common as is the leaking intake gaskets. I know this first hand as I own a 2000 dually with a 454. And have replaced all the above. Also having worked for GM dealers for the last 32years.

10-30-2011, 09:58 AM	#1
Michael Kilduff Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Carolina Beach, NC Posts: 281 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	96-99 Chevy/GMC 3500 ?'s I have found a few 96-99 year model GM 3500 dual wheel trucks w/454-automatics for sale and I have some questions about these trucks that some here may be able to answer. Were there any drivetrain-especially transmission and induction/fuel delivery- differences in these years? If so which is preferred? What kind of mileage and economy should I expect when pulling 7000 pounds on flat terrain , city and highway? What reliability issues did these vehicles tend to have, if any? All the ones I am interested in have 90-125K miles, look to be well kept. Any relies will be appreciated. __________________ IHRA STK 932 O/SA

10-30-2011, 10:57 AM	#2
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 389 Times in 168 Posts	Re: 96-99 Chevy/GMC 3500 ?'s As far as I know they are all the same. The 4L80E is a good transmission. There are some good gains in the tuning. My '99 Suburban gets about ten MPG pulling my 6700 lb trailer. I would look for one with 3.73 gears, 4.10 is more common with dual wheels, but the 3.73s get better mileage. Mine sure doesn't need 4.10s. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

10-30-2011, 11:54 AM	#3
Rsmith38 Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 186 Likes: 0 Liked 28 Times in 15 Posts	Re: 96-99 Chevy/GMC 3500 ?'s My 96 with 454 auto 4.11 tows 26 foot 10K trailer and gets about 8 - 9 MPG. Without trailer 13.5 on highway (loaded or empty - same mileage). Only repair in 135K miles is electric in tank fuel pump quit - $90 and 2 hours to drop tank and replace. When we bought this 454 a diesel was 10K more so even at 8 mpg we could never make up the difference in fuel. But a Cumins diesel in my buddys Dodge will get about 13 pulling 10K and as much as 18 empty. Lots more power and more $$$$.

10-30-2011, 12:01 PM	#4
Rory McNeil VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: from Vancouver BC Canada, now in Nova Scotia Posts: 1,257 Likes: 244 Liked 938 Times in 259 Posts	Re: 96-99 Chevy/GMC 3500 ?'s A buddy of mine bought a new 98 Chevy 3500 2 wd crew cab dually with a 454 automatic for towing his 28foot enclosed trailer and race car, his setup was about 8000 lbs. He drove it every day until about 1 1/2 year ago when it was totalled in a collision. At the time of the wreck, it had about 220,000 kilomoters (130-140,000 miles), and I believe the only problems he had were intake manifold gaskets (once), A/C compressor and hoses (once), ignition swith twice, which caused the trans to not shift, and one rear axle seal seemed to leak and require replacement every now & then. After the wreck, he wanted the same type of truck, and lucked into a 96 CC dually 2wd, 454 auto, that had spent most of it`s life sitting in a barn, and only had 25,000 km on the odometer when he bought it . Its almost like brand new, however, it too had a leaking rear axle seal shortly after he bought the truck. He really likes there trucks. __________________ NHRA 6390 STK M/S 85 Mustang

10-30-2011, 12:27 PM	#5
Dion Hildebrandt Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: calgary alberta canada Posts: 383 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 96-99 Chevy/GMC 3500 ?'s I had a 99 gmc k2500 with the 454 and it had a hard starting problem that was almost impossible to figure out, after changing pretty much the whole fuel delivery system it was the fuel injectors themselves that were to blame. Have since found out they are a common problem on the 454's, it seems the mpfi was not properly sorted out and is somewhat of a redheaded stepchild amongst big cubic inch gm trucks. That being said I put headers and a full dual 3 inch exhaust and a healthy comp cam in this thing with a power programmer tune up, and it would tow in overdrive with out breaking a sweat. I sold it with 330,000 km's (canadian) on it and I guess it is still ticking. __________________ Dion Hildebrandt 6009 STK H/SA

10-30-2011, 02:14 PM	#6
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 389 Times in 168 Posts	Re: 96-99 Chevy/GMC 3500 ?'s The funky injector deal is found in the small block Vortec engines. The 454" uses eight regular individual injectors like anything else. Hard starting is usually the fuel pump. Leaking intake gaskets are pretty common. Mine, at 115,000 miles has had both. Not real common for starting problem to be the injectors. Could be the fuel used. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

10-31-2011, 12:31 AM	#7
killintime6968 Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Whitecourt,Alberta,Canada Posts: 226 Likes: 3,789 Liked 41 Times in 24 Posts	Re: 96-99 Chevy/GMC 3500 ?'s If your having to press and hold throttle to the floor to start its usually the injectors or fuel pressure regulator. Both are quite common as is the leaking intake gaskets. I know this first hand as I own a 2000 dually with a 454. And have replaced all the above. Also having worked for GM dealers for the last 32years.