In the market.....

[dropmech]

So in addition to my 06 which is lowered, I'm looking to get into the other extreme and buy a project for off road duty. I like the OBS for lifts just because they look sweet up in the air. What year should I focus my search on? Things to look for?

 

[Donnie Yukonie]

Well it really all depends on taste to be honest , IMHO I would say it has to be vortec , You can have a 4 door a bit cheaper than th 2 doors as they are more rare. they are pretty tough trucks so the usual Oil, Trans fluid check those, I will go ahead and tell you that the gas gauge will be faulty lol, On top of some other issues , you have to figure these trucks are getting up there in age now , so most minor things that you would normally not have to worry about start popping up , as for mileage the engines in these things are pretty solid not uncommon to see them 200 + with no issues,

 

[SunlitComet]

1999 if you dont mind a 4dr.

 

[dropmech]

I don't mind a 4 dr at all. Did all if the OBS have the 4wd lever in the floor or did some have the ouch button on the dash? I'm thinking I want to stick with a mechanical lever vs electrical with it being that old.

 

[19 tahoe 97]

I don't mind a 4 dr at all. Did all if the OBS have the 4wd lever in the floor or did some have the ouch button on the dash? I'm thinking I want to stick with a mechanical lever vs electrical with it being that old.

My 97 has the push button electronic transfer case but my friends 95 has the lever on the floor.

 

[dropmech]

Any issues with the electronics or it engaging?

 

[19 tahoe 97]

Any issues with the electronics or it engaging?

not yet, I was also concerned with the electronics when I first bought it but its nice that you can kick it into 4 hi while driving.

 

[Donnie Yukonie]

Personally for mechanical 4Wd On the floor You might have to go 96 and earlier, But as stated I have a shift on a fly 4wd and have had no issues to date with it , Countless mud holes, in 98 they came out with the Auto4wd feature

 

[SunlitComet]

incorrect don . the floor shifter was avaible on special request during the build which is why you occasionally see them and a 96-99. as for as the 1999 model goes if electronic push-button it will be the auto-trac auto4wd nv-246 np-8 t-case. it will suffer the same problems as the 243 does or 241 does with the following differences the 241 is all mechanical. when going to 243 you add the shift motor/encoder assembly and controller as well as selector switch into the mix. if you go auto4wd (nv-248 np-8). you add a clutch mechanism and a know internal pump issue that can eat thru the case(upgraded components available) and you switch to a special autotrac 2 blue fluid. However the nv-246 system has scannable codes. about a dozen or so that can be read with an appropriate scanner. and when it is in proper adjustment the t-case works great. as for the rest of vehicle the 99 had more cooling and tranny improvements over the 1998. so for obs suvs it would be the latest and greatest. if you want 2dr, i you have to fall back 1 year.

 

[FishinCricket]

incorrect don . the floor shifter was avaible on special request during the build which is why you occasionally see them and a 96-99. as for as the 1999 model goes if electronic push-button it will be the auto-trac auto4wd nv-246 np-8 t-case. it will suffer the same problems as the 243 does or 241 does with the following differences the 241 is all mechanical. when going to 243 you add the shift motor/encoder assembly and controller as well as selector switch into the mix. if you go auto4wd (nv-248 np-8). you add a clutch mechanism and a know internal pump issue that can eat thru the case(upgraded components available) and you switch to a special autotrac 2 blue fluid. However the nv-246 system has scannable codes. about a dozen or so that can be read with an appropriate scanner. and when it is in proper adjustment the t-case works great. as for the rest of vehicle the 99 had more cooling and tranny improvements over the 1998. so for obs suvs it would be the latest and greatest. if you want 2dr, i you have to fall back 1 year.

lol, know it all....