Technical > Automotive > How Reliable are GMC 5.7 liter V8 engines?

How Reliable are GMC 5.7 liter V8 engines?

I cannot understand why they expect $5,500.
If it runs with no issues I would say $2K tops, the car is so damn old.
Rubber in cars only lasts so long.
The steel can last just about forever.

I would expect a complete engine seal/gasket replacement, new shocks/suspension, ball joints, engine mounts, power steering pump, fuel pump, brake booster, tune up etc.
Unless they have proof that all the wear parts were replaced recently I would not trust paying $5,500 for a 99.

If you seriously want it tell them you need to test drive it to a mechanic and pay for a full inspection for like $100 to $200 where they will even check the cylinders, compression, the suspension, etc.
I have a feeling a mechanic is going to have a long list of things that would should subtract from their $5,500 asking price.

Definitely dont get a $5,500 loan on a truck that old and definitely dont get any used car without a 3rd party doing an inspection.
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...brought to you by Carl's Jr.

kelly blue book shows 'dealership price' for this vehicle, with all its miles, and options at around $7k. $4k for trade-in.

Your advice is sound, and standard for any purchase whether from a dealership or not. I'm new to the area and don't really have a reliable shop I could take it to.

I will try and at least get the vin so I can run a carfax on it tomorrow. The dealer did say he would work with me on the price; pending any financing offers that come through.

I dread buying anything with over 100k miles on it, but I need something, and I need it fairly quickly, and I don't have any money down. (Well I have a little but for a sticker price under 6k I shouldn't need any)

I've considered paying $200 for a trailer hitch on my Kia soul, and paying around $1200 for a 4x4x6 enclosed utility trailer to tow behind me...KIA's in Europe (which happen to be exactly the same as the ones here in the US) are rated for towing and even come with factory towing packaged up to 2000 pounds. However, here in the litigous US of A, they don't "recommend" or offer factory towing packages.

Initial trip to go get my gear would be about 700 miles round trip. After that, we're talking about maybe 30 miles per month on either the GMC or the Kia with the towing package.

I'm more worried about what the towing package would do to my KIA's transmission than anything else. Especially the round trip from Monterey to LA and back to get my gear where it will be used.

Plus the nearest place that has the trailer is in Indianna. I'd end up having to pay freight charges to get it out here to me on top of the price of the trailer.

- FM
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Q: How many theoretical physicists specializing in general relativity does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Two. One to hold the bulb and one to rotate the universe.

Kbb says retail for excellent (that would basically mean like new wearable parts that I listed before) is $6,800.
Basically anything wrong with it or things you know you will have to replace within a year you start subtracting from that price.
Excellent-"Has complete and verifiable service records"
Here is the owners manual »www.extendedgmwarranty.com/owner···rban.pdf
PDF page 351 starts the maintenance schedule:
For this truck they need records to show that basically everything was inspected, serviced, lubed, and bad things were replaced according to the maintenance schedule.

Very good = most service records available
Good = some service records available
Fair = Needs servicing, but is still in reasonable running condition with a clean title history. A few service records are available.

For a car that old I would say it would have to be fair.
KBB says $4,000, but personally I think that is at least $1K too high.

If you really want it, get it checked so you dont get a money pit and tell them $4K and with the horrible interest rates you will end up pay much more than that for the car so they still have a huge win at that price. They probably got the truck on a $1K to $2K trade in anyways or from an auction for $1k to $2K.

I think you should be able to knock them down to $4K easily.
Tell them $4K or you will just buy a trailer for your kia. Walk away if you have to. You can always come back and pay more later, but I think they will stop you and want to get you to sign even at $4K because they will rape you with the loan.

Maybe others have opinions on it.
I had a 92 suburban with a 350 and by 2002 it was burning oil at like 130K miles.
Vortec engines I had in 92 and 98 had problems around 120K miles with the CPIs and various other random parts fail. Those were a little different than the 350s.
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...brought to you by Carl's Jr.

reply to FutureMon
Also make sure it will pass emissions testing.

Also to get the coolant and transmission fluids changed a shop will charge about $300. Brakes $300, Tires $500+, tune up $400
Things add up quickly so remember this when buying such an old car.
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...brought to you by Carl's Jr.

reply to FutureMon
Thats the same driveline my 2000 Silverado has in it.

I'm at 205k miles on one cigarette lighter and the passenger window (electric) stuck all the way up.Still on origional brakes and only 4 sets of tires since new!

HOWEVER, several mechanics have told me that the 4l60e tranny in that truck should have been rebuilt twice so far so the Achillies Heel of that vehicle is not the motor but the tranny and believe it or not the AC system.

So, I'd offer them 4500 and let them finance it so they make a buck or 2.....Get the tranny screen and fluid changed BUT id take it for a 50 mile ride and pay close attention to the shift patterns of the truck.

Motor with steady diet of fresh oil is around 250-300k.....4L60E unserviced is about 150k. Look closer at the tranny then the engine. Most people change oil and ignore the tranny service and them Trannies aint cheap!
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Protect your right to keep and arm bears!

I was thinking about offering them the $4k as suggested.

They don't finance directly; They submit the loan to a couple of places, and whichever one I like the best I have to go there and sign the loan. This may also mean I get the check directly and then pay the dealer. I am not sure if that also means I can use the loan at any other dealership I want. Maybe I should offer $4500 if they don't stop me while I'm walking away from their refusal of the $4k offer Of course I need an approved loan first.

It looks like the tires are brand new.

The handle to release the tailgate was a bit tough to pull and open. I'd worry that it might break.

The engine compartment was sparkling clean. It looked like at least one of the things (maybe the alternator) was new (or refurbished). The main hose that goes across the top was brand new.

It drove really well. Only thing was that when I did a U-turn, the suspension seemed a bit bouncy. But again I'm used to my Kia and that could be normal. If I recall there's at least 4 or 5 inches between the top of the tires and the fender line.

- FM
--
Q: How many theoretical physicists specializing in general relativity does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Two. One to hold the bulb and one to rotate the universe.

reply to FutureMon


The 5.7L (350cid) GM smallblock is the venerable workhorse of the corporation, and has been around forever. They are solid, well-engineered engines, and will last forever if properly maintained.

I have personally had many go 200k plus, and still running strong when I moved to something else.

reply to FutureMon
My friend has a 2001 GMC Yukon. He likes the engine(mpg is another story). In 80k miles, he had to change the water pump and power steering pump. Nothing else that he had to get done.
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No Victim=No Crime

reply to FutureMon
Paying 8k total for a truck that will be close to twenty years old at the end of the loan does not sound like a good move to me. My two cents.

I would look into the option of getting a hitch for your KIA. How much does you karaoke equipment weigh?
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Making procrastination an art form since Pluto was still a planet.

Well it seems that the GM vehicle is a moot point. None of the banks want to finance it because it's too old. I knew that but it never really clicked until I just spoke with them about the 'offer'.

So now we're looking at an '04 Dodge Caravan for somewhere between $7-8k. I didn't pay much attention to it because of it's sticker price, but it would be a better fit for my intended use.

My gear, in total, (I'm guessing) weighs somewhere around 600 pounds in all.

I was looking at this trailer: »www.trailersplus.com/Idaho/Idaho···4016.php

Problem is, it's in IDAHO. It has a GVWR of 1560 and an empty weight of 580. So my gear would put the total weight somewhere around 1200.

Other problem with a trailer - my apartment complex said they would not allow me to park the trailer in my assigned spot unless I gave them a written request with pictures that they can submit to "corporate" for approval.

- FM
--
Q: How many theoretical physicists specializing in general relativity does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Two. One to hold the bulb and one to rotate the universe.

reply to FutureMon
There are trailers and there are trailers. A new clean small box trailer doubt they would have a problem with. Something either just very very large or say an ugly lawn service type open trailer never cleaned would be an issue.

Plus seriously, there are no trailers available closer to you to actually see in person and have someone figure out if your car could pull it ok?
I am in a large metro area of course but know at least a few different places to get a trailer if I wanted one locally at a decent price. Plus anyone this half of the state could come here also and not have to leave the state. Tucson also has trailer dealers for that half of the state.
Heck even some of the smaller towns have selection also both new and used.

reply to FutureMon
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

STEP AWAY FROM THAT CARAVAN! Friends dont let friends buy these things.

It is a rolling electrical problem.

Keep looking.
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Protect your right to keep and arm bears!

When purchasing a used car of course take it to your mechanic.

However don't expect to give a list of what's wrong from your mechanic to the seller and say deduct all of it. That won't happen, it's a used car afterall.
What you want to get from your mechanic is understanding that the car is sound to drive and it has no MAJOR problems.
On a 13 year old car expect to have ball joints, tire rods, springs, and shocks to be replaced.

reply to FutureMon
GM's 350 small block (5.7L) is perhaps the most reliable V8 ever made. And it had the longest production run of any V8 engine. With that truck, if the engine runs well and has no obvious defects, don't sweat it. Concern yourself more with the rest of the vehicle.

reply to DeltaElite
The one thing my wife's '03 Caravan has not had problems with is the electrical.

New deal is:

$7200 for the 2004 Grand Caravan SXE. 3.3ltr V6
80,000 miles.

My research showed the number 1 problem was the ac compressor going out from people who would run only the front AC and not the back at the same time. This particular model does not have rear AC.

Does not have power sliding doors, so no motors to go bad there.

Drives really nice. Interior is VERY clean. Someone went overboard on waxing up the dashboard though

They agreed to let me take it to my own mechanic for a full inspection prior to signing anything or giving them a dime.

Now I gotta try and get financing through my current auto loan financer. The company they got me approved through wants 22% interest!!! (Cause for some strange reason my FICO took a 60 point hit in the last 12 months - it's down to 590 )

And I'm calling my brother in law who actually owns one to get his take on it. I still have a week to make a final decision.

Remember, this is not going to be my primary vehicle. Once I've done the initial 700 mile round trip, I will be using it only a few times per month. Probably less than 75 miles per month in total.

- FM
--
Q: How many theoretical physicists specializing in general relativity does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Two. One to hold the bulb and one to rotate the universe.

reply to FutureMon
When it happens I will tell you "I told you so."

Son workes at Dodge dealer in town. "Rolling electrical trouble with a check engine light."

You were warned!!! ;>}
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Protect your right to keep and arm bears!

Well the current plan is to get as low a payment as possible on it for now on a 36 month loan. By October 1st I will be moving to a new place, and I will be able to use it to help cut costs on a U-Haul from point A to point B.

In the mean-time I stand to gain up to $1200/mo cash in income by having the capability of providing DJ/KJ services in the area.

Once I have a place with my own personal, private driveway and potentially my own enclosed garage, I will be able to take another look at both cars to trade in for a newer 3rd single vehicle, that can tow my gear in a trailer.

My brother in law has a 2007 Grand Caravan and he has nothing bad to say about it. His has about 60k miles on it at this point.

I know it's always a crap-shoot when buying a used vehicle - from a small dealership - but the potential gain outweighs the risk at this particular moment, so I'm going to go for it. As long as my private mechanic says it looks good.

- FM
--
Q: How many theoretical physicists specializing in general relativity does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Two. One to hold the bulb and one to rotate the universe.