Do you own a 98 C 1500 Chevy/GMC? Any coments about it?

Question

I bought one because it was in good shape. But 180 000 miles on the ODO.

Answer 1

I have a '97 K1500. Love it, absolutely love it.

Common problems on these trucks are the fuel pumps and the intake manifold gaskets.

The fuel pumps start whining loudly usually, then up and quit the next time you try to start the truck. My factory pump died at 133k. You have to drop the tank to access, and I highly recommend replacing it with an AC-Delco unit directly from Delco or the factory. If you get one from Checker/Autozone, your gonna get good at dropping the tank (know what I mean?). Try not to run the truck below 1/4 of a tank. No, not because "it could suck up trash", it is because the fuel in the tank helps keep the fuel pump cool (the fuel acts as a heat sink for the pump) and makes the pump last longer.

The first-gen Vortec V8 had some issues with the gasket leaking, and the tell-tale sign was loss of coolant down the front of the block. It showed its face at ~100k, so either yours has already been fixed, or it isn't leaking bad enough to make you want to do it. It is somewhat rare that coolant actually entered the combustion chamber (it just went to the ground) but it has happened (so don't go blaming head gaskets just yet). Mine started leaking at about 120k, and I still haven't fixed it. The leak is minimal, and the amount of effort to replace the lower intake manifold gasket is kind of a lot.

If you wish to disable the Daytime Running Lights (DRL), you simply remove the DRL fuse. If I remember correctly it is fuse #5 or #6 and is a 10A; located on the driver's side of the dash. Look in the owner's manual for reference. The lights will continue to operate normally, with the exception that the DRL do not illuminate when the key is switched on. The DRL little green light on the dash will continue to illuminate though.

As said, mine is a '97. It has the 350ci (5.7L), auto tranny, 3.73 gears, 4wd, is an ex cab short bed. I have a fiberglass campershell, rubber bed mat, and 4ft too chest in the bed loaded with c**p, the truck weighs 5800-6000lbs full tank (depending on which scale I use), and I can get 20mpg runnin 70 and baby it. In town only is 13-15 depending on traffic. Normal 75-80 I will see 17ish.

Hope you have as much good luck with yours as I have had with mine!!!