1996 is the first year for the Vortec heads and they do make more hp with better fuel economy (The wonders of that black magic art called intake charge flow optimization). I agree that buying the one with the least mods is the way to go. If the one truck needs an engine, it means he beat the crap out of it so the rest of the truck will probably need to be worked on.

I also agree with buying a new ride. Much like interest rates for refinancing your house will never be as low as they are (or were 6 months ago). You will proabably not see a better deal on a new truck than the OEM's are offering right now.

 

The vortec is definately the engine to have. However, if the engine in the lifted truck has already been replaced once and needs another engine now, then I would be very weary of the other parts on the truck. namely tranny and drivetrain. Anything that went through that many motors in that short of time was either beat to all hell or very neglected and poorly maintained.

 

Like i said before i am not going to get the z71, and i got to looking at the tahoe ad and the phone number wasn't there so I found another tahoe for $8000. It's a 1995 one owner and has about 150k miles on it and new water pump, belt, and some other stuff. It also comes with some aftermarket speakers in it. It is a real nice one. so what do you think

 

THAT much for a 95!! go to a dealership and find the newest one for the cheapest amount. plus trucks that old you dont want to fool around with because youre gonna be replacing the transmission soon. My moms 95 tahoe **** the bed with 120000 miles on it.

 

Edmunds shows a range for a 95 Tahoe of average condition 4X4, 150,000 miles: $3,000 dealer trade in, $4,000 private party, $5,000 dealer retail.
You asked for opinions, so based on Edmunds, my opinion is you would be paying way too much. Crazy way too much for a vehicle with 150,000 miles.

As I suggested before, look at a new truck. The deals are pretty good right now. You may not get all the extras, but you won't be getting all the problems of a 150,000 mile vehicle either.

If the new F150s are too much as $12,000, Rangers are under $10,000 new. Get something you can afford, that has a warranty, and save yourself money and headaches.
There is something about a new vehicle........

 

OK kids Like I said before I am only 16 and can barly afford a used truck and certainly not going to buy a new truck. Plus my cousin has a 2-door tahoe like i am talking about and it has 330,000 miles on the original motor and still going strong.

 

i've know of a tahoe with almost 200,000 that is still running great but is you pay more than the book value and have an accident that totals it, tour fault or the other guys, the insurance will only pay the book value. if you owe $5000 and the book is only $3000 that means you have to come up with $2000 to pay the bank. make sure you don't go over the book value whatever you buy. if you can't afford a new car that's fine, my first car cost $750! of course that was nearly 24 years ago. dang i'm getting old!

 

becareful on the lifted trucks. you can get a cheap lft but thats what you want to stay away from. i have 8" of lift on my excursion and run 36's. i have never had the insurance company say anything about the truck being lifted but they are higher on suv's. stay away from the body lifts because they look like crap on chevy's, to much of the frame shows. you can get a lot of lift for a chevy if you go with a whiplash kit, but you still talking $$$. with the lift, triple shocks at each corner, tires, wheels and ladder bars i have close to $4000 in mine.