small truck advice
Question:
>I just bought a 2000. While they are not perfect they are nice little >trucks. I was surprised that the little 2.2L could move it pretty well, but >if you have the money go for the 4.3L, the 2.2 has trouble passing on the >highway and is kind of buzzy, but I didn’t care what engine I got because I >want to swap a v-8 in a few years. I got my 88 with 70k on it after it was
Wow… doesn’t look like a whole lotta room in my 2001 S10 4.3L to get a V8 in there. Lemme know if you manage to wedge it in 
I’m scared to try and do anything with the 6, let alone an 8.
Response:
The V-8 is the same width as a 4.3, just longer. The 4.3 is a 5.7 V-8 with 2 cylinders missing so the swap is pretty straight-forward. I think without re-locating anything, you need to use an e-fan… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I just bought a 2000. While they are not perfect they are nice little >trucks. I was surprised that the little 2.2L could move it pretty well, but >if you have the money go for the 4.3L, the 2.2 has trouble passing on the >highway and is kind of buzzy, but I didn’t care what engine I got because I >want to swap a v-8 in a few years. I got my 88 with 70k on it after it was > Wow… doesn’t look like a whole lotta room in my 2001 S10 4.3L to get > a V8 in there. Lemme know if you manage to wedge it in I’m scared > to try and do anything with the 6, let alone an 8.
Response:
Hi Brian: I had an ‘87 reg. cab with 2.5L, 4 speed (2WD) that I bought as a wreck and fixed up. I had it 7 years and only replaced the muffler and front brakes. It had 250 000 miles on it when I retired it last fall. I absolutely loved it. Got a ‘97 Sonoma ext. cab with the 4.3L auto (2WD). Its a nice truck and moves right along, but the mileage is a bit of a shocker after the ‘87. I figure on a good day with a strong tail wind, I get 23 mpg. Andy
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi! I am looking at getting a small truck. I have been looking at the > S10/Sonoma mostly and am wondering if anybody has anything good/bad to say > about them. I want an extended cab for the extra room because the regular > cabs seem kind of cramped. I am looking at 1999-2002 models. either new or > used. I would appreciate any advice or comments. Thank you. > Brian
Response:
23 MPG is good for a 4.3L. I’ve gotten 21 on the highway, not drafting anyone, going 70-75, from southern NJ to upstate NY… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi Brian: > I had an ‘87 reg. cab with 2.5L, 4 speed (2WD) that I bought as a wreck and > fixed up. I had it 7 years and only replaced the muffler and front brakes. > It had 250 000 miles on it when I retired it last fall. I absolutely loved > it. Got a ‘97 Sonoma ext. cab with the 4.3L auto (2WD). Its a nice truck > and moves right along, but the mileage is a bit of a shocker after the ‘87. > I figure on a good day with a strong tail wind, I get 23 mpg. > Andy >Hi! I am looking at getting a small truck. I have been looking at the >S10/Sonoma mostly and am wondering if anybody has anything good/bad to say >about them. I want an extended cab for the extra room because the regular >cabs seem kind of cramped. I am looking at 1999-2002 models. either new > or >used. I would appreciate any advice or comments. Thank you. >Brian
Response:
Its also good for the 2.2L. Eugene – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > 23 MPG is good for a 4.3L. I’ve gotten 21 on the highway, not drafting > anyone, going 70-75, from southern NJ to upstate NY… > Hi Brian: > I had an ‘87 reg. cab with 2.5L, 4 speed (2WD) that I bought as a wreck and > fixed up. I had it 7 years and only replaced the muffler and front brakes. > It had 250 000 miles on it when I retired it last fall. I absolutely loved > it. Got a ‘97 Sonoma ext. cab with the 4.3L auto (2WD). Its a nice truck > and moves right along, but the mileage is a bit of a shocker after the ‘87. > I figure on a good day with a strong tail wind, I get 23 mpg. > Andy >>Hi! I am looking at getting a small truck. I have been looking at the >>S10/Sonoma mostly and am wondering if anybody has anything good/bad to say >>about them. I want an extended cab for the extra room because the regular >>cabs seem kind of cramped. I am looking at 1999-2002 models. either new > or >>used. I would appreciate any advice or comments. Thank you. >>Brian
Response:
Brother has a 1991 Chevy S – 10 4X4 reegular cab, two tone, with 220,000 miles. No rust. engine never taken apart, original trans…. Has had very good luck with it in -60 below Minnesota winters Harryface 1. 1973 Chevy Impala 4 door, 1980 – 83 2. 1968 Buick LeSabre Convertible, 1983-86 3. 1978 Olds Holiday 88, 1986 -91 4. 1991 Pontiac Bonneville LE, 1991 to ? ? 5. 1989 Chevy Cavalier Z- 24 Convertible, 1996 to 2000
Response:
>I personally don’t think much of that 2.2 liter engine because of its long >history of head gasket failures. Other than that, I think the trucks are >pretty good. At work they had a ”94 for the parts truck, and I always >thought it was pretty light in the back for driving on snow. If you are in >snow county, I recommend a 4×4 if at all possible. >-NC
Brian, I second Nicks’s opinion of the 2.2L engine. Get the 4.3L and don’t look back. You will have lot’s of fun trying to even move that truck with anything in it, or on the freeway with the 2.2L. Ever driven a 95+ Cavalier? Same deal Get the 4×4 if you can (or need), resale on a 4×2 drops like a rock in snow country, even with the V6. Having said that, I got the 4×2 in Michigan, because it was all I could afford. However, I do have a TrailBlazer & a beater Corsica to back it up in the snow
Response:
Hi! I am looking at getting a small truck. I have been looking at the S10/Sonoma mostly and am wondering if anybody has anything good/bad to say about them. I want an extended cab for the extra room because the regular cabs seem kind of cramped. I am looking at 1999-2002 models. either new or used. I would appreciate any advice or comments. Thank you. Brian
Response:
I just bought a 2000. While they are not perfect they are nice little trucks. I was surprised that the little 2.2L could move it pretty well, but if you have the money go for the 4.3L, the 2.2 has trouble passing on the highway and is kind of buzzy, but I didn’t care what engine I got because I want to swap a v-8 in a few years. I got my 88 with 70k on it after it was mud raced, repo’ed and auctioned off. We hauled over 1 ton of lumber on it over a WV mountain, then took took some cows to the sale, before took it to columbus to college. I wrecked it twice and it was stolen once. It wasn’t untill It had 170k on it and things started to rust out from its early years at the mud races (all the undercoating was torn off, the cab had mud under the carpet, sctatches all over). I moved all my stuff through 4 apartments and a house (lost of electronic and computer equipment as well as office furniture that I got dumpster diving). I drove it through at least 10 states working as a emergency reapir tech for 911 systems. People tell me theie import was so great because they got 100k miles on it and then I find out that all they ever did was drive it to and from work, they never abused it like I did. My brake jobs cost me $20 for either shoes or pads and I still have the original rotors and just replaced the original clutch at 170k (not bad when you take into account I learned to drive stick on it). The only breakdowns were do to the rust, the gas tank bottom rested and started leaking, then the radiator rotted out and blew on the highway causing the engine to overheat and took the head gasket before I could get stopped. I almost finished rebuilding the engine myself when I got a new job and the wife said I had to buy a new truck, so I bought another S-10. Now I can affore to take better care of this one (actually change the oil and wash it more than once a year), so it should last me a long time. Eugene
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi! I am looking at getting a small truck. I have been looking at the > S10/Sonoma mostly and am wondering if anybody has anything good/bad to say > about them. I want an extended cab for the extra room because the regular > cabs seem kind of cramped. I am looking at 1999-2002 models. either new or > used. I would appreciate any advice or comments. Thank you. > Brian
Response:
Thanks Eugene for your response. Is your truck a regular or extended cab? I’m leaning toward the extended cab myself. I would like to get the 4.3, because I heard they go like a bat out of hell, but I will probably have to go with the 2.2 for purchase price and gas mileaage reasons. I welcome any more comments you have on them, and once again, thank you. Brian
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I just bought a 2000. While they are not perfect they are nice little > trucks. I was surprised that the little 2.2L could move it pretty well, but > if you have the money go for the 4.3L, the 2.2 has trouble passing on the > highway and is kind of buzzy, but I didn’t care what engine I got because I > want to swap a v-8 in a few years. I got my 88 with 70k on it after it was > mud raced, repo’ed and auctioned off. We hauled over 1 ton of lumber on it > over a WV mountain, then took took some cows to the sale, before took it to > columbus to college. I wrecked it twice and it was stolen once. It wasn’t > untill It had 170k on it and things started to rust out from its early years > at the mud races (all the undercoating was torn off, the cab had mud under > the carpet, sctatches all over). I moved all my stuff through 4 apartments > and a house (lost of electronic and computer equipment as well as office > furniture that I got dumpster diving). I drove it through at least 10 > states working as a emergency reapir tech for 911 systems. People tell me > theie import was so great because they got 100k miles on it and then I find > out that all they ever did was drive it to and from work, they never abused > it like I did. My brake jobs cost me $20 for either shoes or pads and I > still have the original rotors and just replaced the original clutch at 170k > (not bad when you take into account I learned to drive stick on it). The > only breakdowns were do to the rust, the gas tank bottom rested and started > leaking, then the radiator rotted out and blew on the highway causing the > engine to overheat and took the head gasket before I could get stopped. I > almost finished rebuilding the engine myself when I got a new job and the > wife said I had to buy a new truck, so I bought another S-10. Now I can > affore to take better care of this one (actually change the oil and wash it > more than once a year), so it should last me a long time. > Eugene
Response:
Brain, I personally don’t think much of that 2.2 liter engine because of its long history of head gasket failures. Other than that, I think the trucks are pretty good. At work they had a ”94 for the parts truck, and I always thought it was pretty light in the back for driving on snow. If you are in snow county, I recommend a 4×4 if at all possible. -NC
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi! I am looking at getting a small truck. I have been looking at the > S10/Sonoma mostly and am wondering if anybody has anything good/bad to say > about them. I want an extended cab for the extra room because the regular > cabs seem kind of cramped. I am looking at 1999-2002 models. either new or > used. I would appreciate any advice or comments. Thank you. > Brian
Response:
Mine is the extended cab, that is about the only thing I ever wanted to change about my old one. I will probabally never will have anyone in the back but I like to have the extra space. The 2.2 was cheaper , but the gas milage is not really any better, at least going from manual to auto tranny, plus the 4×4 is nor available with the 2.2. I wish I had gotten 4×4 on this one, espically with the crappy tires they put on it. I want to put a locker in the back to help out. Eugene
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Thanks Eugene for your response. Is your truck a regular or extended cab? > I’m leaning toward the extended cab myself. I would like to get the 4.3, > because I heard they go like a bat out of hell, but I will probably have to > go with the 2.2 for purchase price and gas mileaage reasons. I welcome any > more comments you have on them, and once again, thank you. > Brian > I just bought a 2000. While they are not perfect they are nice little > trucks. I was surprised that the little 2.2L could move it pretty well, > but > if you have the money go for the 4.3L, the 2.2 has trouble passing on the > highway and is kind of buzzy, but I didn’t care what engine I got because > I > want to swap a v-8 in a few years. I got my 88 with 70k on it after it > was > mud raced, repo’ed and auctioned off. We hauled over 1 ton of lumber on > it > over a WV mountain, then took took some cows to the sale, before took it > to > columbus to college. I wrecked it twice and it was stolen once. It > wasn’t > untill It had 170k on it and things started to rust out from its early > years > at the mud races (all the undercoating was torn off, the cab had mud under > the carpet, sctatches all over). I moved all my stuff through 4 > apartments > and a house (lost of electronic and computer equipment as well as office > furniture that I got dumpster diving). I drove it through at least 10 > states working as a emergency reapir tech for 911 systems. People tell me > theie import was so great because they got 100k miles on it and then I > find > out that all they ever did was drive it to and from work, they never > abused > it like I did. My brake jobs cost me $20 for either shoes or pads and I > still have the original rotors and just replaced the original clutch at > 170k > (not bad when you take into account I learned to drive stick on it). The > only breakdowns were do to the rust, the gas tank bottom rested and > started > leaking, then the radiator rotted out and blew on the highway causing the > engine to overheat and took the head gasket before I could get stopped. I > almost finished rebuilding the engine myself when I got a new job and the > wife said I had to buy a new truck, so I bought another S-10. Now I can > affore to take better care of this one (actually change the oil and wash > it > more than once a year), so it should last me a long time. > Eugene
