Hey guys, I have an 03 and like the truck quite a bit. Wonder what everybody’s opinions on the previous generation with the 350? I do like the older body style. Just curious as to what people see as the major chants and upgrades with the 800.
Opinions on the previous generation of tahoes or Yukons?
- Thread starter 03yukXL
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SpareParts
Full Access Member
For me not a fan of the GMT 800's.
I like the GMT 400's better. Way better body lines, Cheap parts, Easy to work on, last forever.
GMT900's Better body lines. Better creature comforts then an 800, Not a cat eye, I think 800's are UGLY, Uncomfortable to drive, More prone to rust. Just not a fan.
My last GMT400. What's not to like, 454.
I like the GMT 400's better. Way better body lines, Cheap parts, Easy to work on, last forever.
GMT900's Better body lines. Better creature comforts then an 800, Not a cat eye, I think 800's are UGLY, Uncomfortable to drive, More prone to rust. Just not a fan.
My last GMT400. What's not to like, 454.
Having had both I like the older ones for simplicity, parts can be cheaper to buy, and a lot of parts are more durable.
I like the look of them and the 00-06 Yukon about the same.
Driving goes to the newer one by a long shot. The OBS ones drive like the old truck they are compared to the 2000s ones. They're clunkier, steering and braking is worse but not bad, worse gas mileage and obviously lack some of the options. The seats are more padded and comfortable in them tho.
Rust wise they are both the same but people have been fixing up OBS trucks longer so decent replacement body parts are cheaper and more readily available.
I like the look of them and the 00-06 Yukon about the same.
Driving goes to the newer one by a long shot. The OBS ones drive like the old truck they are compared to the 2000s ones. They're clunkier, steering and braking is worse but not bad, worse gas mileage and obviously lack some of the options. The seats are more padded and comfortable in them tho.
Rust wise they are both the same but people have been fixing up OBS trucks longer so decent replacement body parts are cheaper and more readily available.
strutaeng
Full Access Member
If you are used to the GMT800, I would say you may not like the GMT400. At least I didn't, going from an 800, then buying a 400.
They each have issues, of course. But the things I really dislike on the previous generation are:
Busted dashes,
Mediocre door hinges that cause the driver's side door to sag, then it binds and you break the handles,
Vortec engines with the goofy spider injectors,
Intake manifold gaskets leak,
Rear drums are woefully inadequate on the 1500s. I've got a buddy that says drum brakes are for losers (he's a young kid...go figure.),
ACs are kinda weak and the compressors don't last,
I've learned to hate distributors because they wear out and have left me stranded a few times.
I've got a 2000 K3500 and in addition on the 8 lug, the brakes are a nightmare to replace. The rotors are not a slide-out design. You have to press out the rotors from the hubs AFTER removing them off the truck.
A while back my brother's BIL was looking for an old Chevy and we even did a comparison. It's for trucks, but there's plenty of information on suvs well. Here: https://www.performancetrucks.net/f...neral-discussion-130/gmt400-vs-gmt800-560602/
An LS-swapped OBS would be a cool truck tho.
They each have issues, of course. But the things I really dislike on the previous generation are:
Busted dashes,
Mediocre door hinges that cause the driver's side door to sag, then it binds and you break the handles,
Vortec engines with the goofy spider injectors,
Intake manifold gaskets leak,
Rear drums are woefully inadequate on the 1500s. I've got a buddy that says drum brakes are for losers (he's a young kid...go figure.),
ACs are kinda weak and the compressors don't last,
I've learned to hate distributors because they wear out and have left me stranded a few times.
I've got a 2000 K3500 and in addition on the 8 lug, the brakes are a nightmare to replace. The rotors are not a slide-out design. You have to press out the rotors from the hubs AFTER removing them off the truck.
A while back my brother's BIL was looking for an old Chevy and we even did a comparison. It's for trucks, but there's plenty of information on suvs well. Here: https://www.performancetrucks.net/f...neral-discussion-130/gmt400-vs-gmt800-560602/
An LS-swapped OBS would be a cool truck tho.
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My biggest gripe with that generation of GM trucks was mentioned above: the brakes suck big time. Not just in a b*tch to replace sense but in the brakes were truly inadequate for the weight of the vehicle sense.
I never had any major problems with mine and it was high mileage. Interior was very comfortable, rode great, visibility great, and super easy AND cheap to maintain.
The main thing I believe that benefits that generation of trucks is the quality of materials. The 90’s were a strange time. Automakers had focused so long and hard the past decades on luxury and workmanship and still wanted to make a hefty, quality vehicle that could last. The big SUV boom was brewing up and I think they were still spending a bit more on raw materials.. carpet maybe 1/16th in. Thicker, stuff like that, ya know?
In a way, as mentioned, it technically *IS* a downgrade from the GMT800, but depending on if it’s earlier model or later model may be more or less very similar to the GMT800 and be more of an aesthetic/stylistic difference more than anything else tbh. I think the earliest models were still pretty primitive, like for example, and someone correct me if I’m wrong, but i think the first few years of GMT400 did not come standard with airbags. My ‘98 did.
I never had any major problems with mine and it was high mileage. Interior was very comfortable, rode great, visibility great, and super easy AND cheap to maintain.
The main thing I believe that benefits that generation of trucks is the quality of materials. The 90’s were a strange time. Automakers had focused so long and hard the past decades on luxury and workmanship and still wanted to make a hefty, quality vehicle that could last. The big SUV boom was brewing up and I think they were still spending a bit more on raw materials.. carpet maybe 1/16th in. Thicker, stuff like that, ya know?
In a way, as mentioned, it technically *IS* a downgrade from the GMT800, but depending on if it’s earlier model or later model may be more or less very similar to the GMT800 and be more of an aesthetic/stylistic difference more than anything else tbh. I think the earliest models were still pretty primitive, like for example, and someone correct me if I’m wrong, but i think the first few years of GMT400 did not come standard with airbags. My ‘98 did.
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Marky Dissod
Full Access Member
GMT400 front brakes? Or GMT800 front brakes?
Is the GMT900 front brake kit as plug'n'play for a GMT400, as it is for a GMT800?
strutaeng
Full Access Member
Negative on the 1500s.
Although Lawrence Tolman did a front brake upgrade to a 8 lug suburban GMT400 a few years ago...I think he used a lower control arm and other brake parts from a GMT800 8 lug?
Marky Dissod
Full Access Member
This is the kind of stuff this forum should prioritize:
flexible definitions of GM OE that make the GMT400 GMT800 & GMT900
even easier than GM originally intended to maintain and upgrade
with stuff that anyone can order from RockAuto's parts menu
for the foreseeable future.
I mean, front brake upgrades are AWESOME, but that's all?
Still fantasizing about frankensteining my Z71 into a sort of Tahoe 2500 ...
Yeah sorry, for clarity I was referring to GMT400 brakes that suck. Though the 800’s aren’t that much better…
Spearhead the movement !
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