High mileage LQ4 from a 2500

[TrybalRage]

I'm currently trying to sell or trade a car (1997 Camaro SS) to fund doing an LS swap in my C10, bring the drivetrain up to modern standards. I'm selling for $3500 with a little wiggle room.

I got an offer for a 2000 Silverado 2500, LQ4 with a 4L80E (not sure if 2WD or 4WD at this point). The truck has almost 290,000 miles on it. He said that the previous owner claimed to have the motor replaced at one point, but cannot verify. He had the transmission rebuilt, and does have paperwork on that (don't know how long ago, we've only started talking).

He sent several videos of it running/driving, it seems to run well, no noises I can hear. Truck seems pretty clean body wise, a couple of minor rust spots in the cab corners - not that the body is something I need.

Says the motor has New intake gasket, both knock sensors, new knock sensor harness, new pcv valve, new egr valve, fuel pressure regulator, new mass air flow, cold air intake, new plugs, new wires, all 8 coil packs.

I figure I can part out what I don't need and pull quite a bit to use in my C10, if I go that route.

The mileage has me worried. I know these motors are workhorses and have been used in all kinds of fleet vehicles, and several hundred thousand miles are not unheard of with no problems. I don't mind freshening a few things - I've read timing set and lifters are a good idea - but man, 300k is a lot.

I guess I'm wondering if this truck as described would be worth around the $3k-ish I'm looking to get. When I shop around car-part.com for LQ4s of that vintage, they're asking 7-800 or more even with that same mileage, and this doesn't even include accessories, harness, PCM. The transmission seems to catch a good price, if it's 4WD and I need to sell it or trade it. The rest of course could get a few bucks here and there.

For those who have done this type of swap, and have experience with these motors, does this seem like something I should even entertain?

[kipps]

I would be skeptical of a 300k mile vehicle, myself.

If you're not stuck on a 6.0, the 5.3's are available for a lot cheaper.

Search craigslist and facebook marketplace for a 2000 or later tahoe, silverado, suburban, and trailblazer. I checked marketplace for Reading, Pa, and I see a number of daily-driver Tahoe's selling for well under 2k. You should be able to coax someone to sell you one for less than $1200. Buy it, drive it for a few months, then shred it.

If you want to search a larger radius on craigslist, use searchtempest.com

If you want to search a larger radius on facebook, there is a hack that works on desktop PC's. Facebook only allows you to select up to a 100-mile radius. When you choose one of those radius options, it adds a "km=???" to the URL. Change that number in the URL, and you can search up to a 5000km radius.

[ls1nova71]

A 20 year old truck with almost 300k on it is in no way worth almost 3 grand in my opinion. Especially if there is no documentation on when the engine was replaced, could have been 200k ago. Also, I would stay away from the 99-00 6.0"s due to the longer crank and cast iron heads. Keep looking, you should be able to fine a little newer one with less miles for less.

[Gregski]

punt

[TrybalRage]

Originally Posted by kipps

I would be skeptical of a 300k mile vehicle, myself.

If you're not stuck on a 6.0, the 5.3's are available for a lot cheaper.

Search craigslist and facebook marketplace for a 2000 or later tahoe, silverado, suburban, and trailblazer. I checked marketplace for Reading, Pa, and I see a number of daily-driver Tahoe's selling for well under 2k. You should be able to coax someone to sell you one for less than $1200. Buy it, drive it for a few months, then shred it.

If you want to search a larger radius on craigslist, use searchtempest.com

If you want to search a larger radius on facebook, there is a hack that works on desktop PC's. Facebook only allows you to select up to a 100-mile radius. When you choose one of those radius options, it adds a "km=???" to the URL. Change that number in the URL, and you can search up to a 5000km radius.

The $1200 tahoe/suburban route was my original plan with the money from the sale. Just not getting a lot of bites for the price I want. A 6.0 is just tempting, I guess.

[Gregski]

i think its more about the tranny a 4L60e vs a 4L80e that comes with the 6.0L

[TrybalRage]

Originally Posted by ls1nova71

A 20 year old truck with almost 300k on it is in no way worth almost 3 grand in my opinion. Especially if there is no documentation on when the engine was replaced, could have been 200k ago. Also, I would stay away from the 99-00 6.0"s due to the longer crank and cast iron heads. Keep looking, you should be able to fine a little newer one with less miles for less.

I actually went and tried to do a search for a similar truck to see what they were selling for, and even 200k miles and more they were $4-5k.

Oh well. It's not something I need to do, just caught my attention. Most of the other trade offers have been jeeps, a mustang, etc.

[mongocanfly]

I would not give that much for it either..but something we've come to see is there is a huge asking price difference In different parts of the country...around here that truck would be under 1k in price
Nothing wrong with a good 5.3...with a few minor upgrades itll make 6.0 power

[Heavymetl]

Another vote for the 5.3. Go grab a cheap one and start swapping. Put some long tube headers on it and get it tuned and you'll be shocked how well it runs.

[Willie Makeit]

seat of the pants feel is negligible between a 5.3 vs 6.0

a cam change, a set of headers and a good tune and the 5.3 will make more umph than the stock 6.0 & you'll still be in for less money.