The last time we looked at Chevy pickups on this site, we were in the 1970s with the square body. This time we jump ahead to the trucks that replaced it: the 1988 to 1998 Chevrolet C/K, known to truck people by its platform code, GMT400.
Drive any back road in East Texas and you will still pass one of these trucks. Some are farm trucks with faded paint and a hay bale in the bed. Some are restored and shining. Either way, they have aged better than almost anything else from that era, and there are good reasons why.
A Clean Break From the Square Body
Chevrolet introduced the new trucks in April 1987 as 1988 models. After a long run with the square body, this was a completely different look. The new truck was lower and smoother, with flush glass, a sloped hood, and a cleaner front end. It looked modern in 1988, and honestly it still looks right today.
The changes were more than skin deep. Four wheel drive models got independent front suspension with torsion bars, and the cab and frame were all new. The truck rode and handled more like a car than the old square body, without giving up the ability to work.
Cabs, Beds, and Trims
GM offered the extended cab from the start in 1988, the first extended cab on its full size pickups. A short bed version of the extended cab followed for 1989, and a four door crew cab arrived for 1992. In 1996, a passenger side third door was added on some extended cab models, which made getting into the back seat a lot easier.
Buyers could choose a Fleetside bed in 6.5 or 8 foot lengths, or the Sportside, which replaced the old Stepside and came only as a 6.5 foot bed. Chevrolet trim levels started with Cheyenne, moved up to Scottsdale, and topped out with Silverado, which had the most chrome and a carpeted interior. Scottsdale was dropped after 1991.
Engines Through the Years
From 1988 through 1995, the gas engine lineup was simple and tough:
- 4.3 liter V6
- 5.0 liter V8
- 5.7 liter V8
- 7.4 liter V8
For 1996, Chevrolet rolled out the Vortec engines with sequential fuel injection and better breathing cylinder heads. The Vortec 5700 was rated at 255 horsepower and the Vortec 7400 at 290. The Vortec 5700 in particular built a reputation as one of the best small block truck engines GM ever made, and it is a big reason so many of these trucks are still running.
Diesel buyers had the 6.2 liter at first, and a 6.5 liter turbodiesel showed up in 1992. The 6.5 turbo had its fans and its critics, but plenty of them pulled trailers for hundreds of thousands of miles.
The 454 SS
The wild one of the bunch was the 454 SS, built from 1990 through 1993. Chevrolet took a regular cab, short bed 1500 and dropped in the 7.4 liter big block. In 1990 it made 230 horsepower and used a three speed automatic. From 1991 on it got 255 horsepower and a four speed 4L80E automatic. It also had a stiffer suspension and quicker steering.
About 16,953 were built in all, and 13,748 of those were 1990 models. Today a clean, original 454 SS is one of the most collectible trucks of the era.
The 1995 Update
For 1995, the interior got a full redesign with a new dash, door panels, and seats, plus a standard tachometer and a double DIN radio slot. Four wheel ABS and a driver side airbag came along too. Many owners think the 1995 to 1998 interior is the best of the run.
The End of the Run
The all new Silverado arrived in August 1998 as a 1999 model, but the GMT400 did not disappear overnight. Heavy duty versions stayed in production through the 2000 model year, and the chassis cab lasted even longer.
Why They Are Still Popular
These trucks hit a sweet spot. They are modern enough to drive every day, with fuel injection, decent brakes, and a comfortable cab. They are also simple enough to work on in your own driveway, without a pile of electronics. Parts are everywhere, and the aftermarket support is huge.
Prices have climbed in recent years, especially for clean regular cab short beds and anything with the Vortec 5700. The best ones now bring serious money, and good, rust free examples are getting harder to find.
If you are shopping for one, check the cab corners and rocker panels for rust, look for a clean title and honest miles, and listen for a healthy transmission. A GMT400 that has been cared for will keep on going.
More on my East Texas life, land work, and house projects is in my journal at greg-mckinney-mineola-texas.com.
Greg McKinney, Mineola, Texas
