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[dgl24087]

I think the 4.3 was a late 1988 option, definitely available for the full 1989 model year. I had an 89 S-10 4x4 with the 4.3 and AT. Aside from tires, brakes, gas and oil, I replaced the water pump twice, starter twice, rear engine seal one time, and head gaskets once. I traded it away at 198,500 miles. Also had a 2000 S-10 ZR-2, probably the best vehicle I ever owned. Traded it for my Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 in May 2007. The Ram has been flawless so far at 44,xxx miles.

 

[timswi]

I have had quite a few 4.3's over the years and never had any problems whatsoever with any of them. I had on sticky injector with an '89 pickup. Minor inconvenience that I couldn't afford to deal with at the time...A couple of taps on the thottle body with the back of a screwdriver took care of it. What can I say, I was broke at the time.

I had a 2wd shortbed pickup with a 4.3 and 4:10's....Man was that fun. Woundn't back up my gravel driveway without the fibergass cap on it...A serious tire frier...Sold it with 210K on it..Should have hung on to that one.

 

[timswi]

Sorry, my mistake. I thought you'd changed wheels and tires. I've nothing against the tall wheels and low profile tires, but I don't think they will give you the best service out of your new truck. As I mentioned, I've no doubt it's a screamer, but I assumed you had other plans for it for the most part.

That might happen for winter driving, probably next year...I think it'll do just fine with the 20's in mild summer weather...Don't need them, but I have them. So I'll keep them.

 

[crashz]

I had an 89 GMC S15 Jimmy with the 4.3L while in college and it made it to 250K with only minor issues. Put a gas tank in it, multiple starters (I removed the heat sheild, and never replaced it), exhaust, wheel studs, painted it twice, and it needed a new digital dash when it was parked. Had a lot of fond memories in that little truck.

 

[Dargo]

That might happen for winter driving, probably next year...I think it'll do just fine with the 20's in mild summer weather...Don't need them, but I have them. So I'll keep them.

My only issue would be that my "'berg" where I live is notorious for having vehicle eating pot holes in the road from about now until mid summer. My next door neighbor owns the 2nd largest tire and wheel shop on our town. He loves those wheels this time of the year. Great guy, huh?

A really close friend of mine owns a Volvo dealership and our roads seem to eat Volvo wheels for lunch. You'd think he would love it too, but he really does try to take care of his customers, but at >$700 a wheel, he can't just give them away. Hopefully your town does a better job with their roads.

 

[timswi]

My only issue would be that my "'berg" where I live is notorious for having vehicle eating pot holes in the road from about now until mid summer. My next door neighbor owns the 2nd largest tire and wheel shop on our town. He loves those wheels this time of the year. Great guy, huh?

A really close friend of mine owns a Volvo dealership and our roads seem to eat Volvo wheels for lunch. You'd think he would love it too, but he really does try to take care of his customers, but at >$700 a wheel, he can't just give them away. Hopefully your town does a better job with their roads.

Good grief, I live in PA the pot hole capital of the world...Just have to practice serpintine driving I guess.

 

[timswi]

For those who are curious...Getting around 16MPG in lousy weather, 50% highway-50% local...Roughly 1,000 miles on the truck.

So far so good...This 6.2 sure does run good.

Realized why the stereo sounds like I'm in a gym...It's the leather interior...No sound deadening with those. Sounds OK though. Just used to cloth.

The 20" Eagles go better in the snow than I thought they would. BFG T/A's would be better, but that's not an option at this point.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Glad you are liking your new toy. 16mpg is very respectable in a truck. I can not wait to hear how you like it when its pulling a load and what you think if the new 6 speed versus the old 4 speeds you are accustom to.

Chris

 

[timswi]

Glad you are liking your new toy. 16mpg is very respectable in a truck. I can not wait to hear how you like it when its pulling a load and what you think if the new 6 speed versus the old 4 speeds you are accustom to.

Chris

Haven't towed yet, but I can say that I LOVE the 6 speed...No comparison to the 4speed in any way. No hunting, can barely tell when it shifts...Downshifts/upshifts are very accurate. Better than anything I've ever driven to be honest. Never take it out of drive, even on back roads. No hunting even at 40MPH and hilly terrain.

The manual and tow/haul will be good for towing, but haven't used it for much except to see how it acts.

Towing will tell the story....If things clear up, I might load the BX or the RTV and take it for a ride just for giggles.....Need to finally buy a trailer now instead of borrowing the neighbors. The 5x10 I have is good for home stuff, but not much else now. The wife meintioned this little detail the other day.

 

[Builder]

For those who are curious...Getting around 16MPG in lousy weather, 50% highway-50% local...Roughly 1,000 miles on the truck.

So far so good...This 6.2 sure does run good.

Realized why the stereo sounds like I'm in a gym...It's the leather interior...No sound deadening with those. Sounds OK though. Just used to cloth.

The 20" Eagles go better in the snow than I thought they would. BFG T/A's would be better, but that's not an option at this point.

Sure it is, just stomp that go pedal down and see how fast 403HP and a 6 speed hydramatic takes care of those good-for-a-year tires. :laughing:
Couple guys on my jobsite have 6.2's and they love 'em.

 

[timswi]

Sure it is, just stomp that go pedal down and see how fast 403HP and a 6 speed hydramatic takes care of those good-for-a-year tires. :laughing:
Couple guys on my jobsite have 6.2's and they love 'em.

The Good for a Year thing is true...That's gonna hurt.

I stomped it today when some kind of rice burner sports car tried to beat me in a merge lane...He lost

Had to try it once..Back to be a dignified member of the community.

 

[hawkeye08]

The Good for a Year thing is true...That's gonna hurt.

I stomped it today when some kind of rice burner sports car tried to beat me in a merge lane...He lost

Had to try it once..Back to be a dignified member of the community.

Our 2008 Yukon XL Denali has the 6.2, with AWD and the 6sp. With all the traction control and such, it is very hard to spin the tires. My 19 year old daughter loves it when I put my foot down and the exhaust rumbles... gonna miss it when we get the truck (2011 GMC 2500 HD 6.0).. We have over 40,000 miles on the factory tires and they still have 1/3 tread before wear indicators.

I disabled the traction control and stabilitrac one day to see what it was like when I put my foot down... I still grin when I think about it..

I drive very conservative most of the time and have gotten up to 20mpg, but in town get 15 usually and 18-20 highway. It is the daily driver for my wife.

 

[Builder]

The Good for a Year thing is true...That's gonna hurt.

I stomped it today when some kind of rice burner sports car tried to beat me in a merge lane...He lost

Had to try it once..Back to be a dignified member of the community.

Oh, I know. I'm a great customer to Goodyear. Just put a set of 4 20" blingers on the Tahoe. Got 3 yrs & 40K out of the first set. Actually, not too bad for Goodyears....

 

[timswi]

Our 2008 Yukon XL Denali has the 6.2, with AWD and the 6sp. With all the traction control and such, it is very hard to spin the tires. My 19 year old daughter loves it when I put my foot down and the exhaust rumbles... gonna miss it when we get the truck (2011 GMC 2500 HD 6.0).. We have over 40,000 miles on the factory tires and they still have 1/3 tread before wear indicators.

I disabled the traction control and stabilitrac one day to see what it was like when I put my foot down... I still grin when I think about it..

I drive very conservative most of the time and have gotten up to 20mpg, but in town get 15 usually and 18-20 highway. It is the daily driver for my wife.

I have the stibilitrak but not AWD...So auto keeps the tires from spinning for the most part. The rear loker does a better job than the one in my 04, but i have lit it up by accident once or twice

 

[timswi]

Oh, I know. I'm a great customer to Goodyear. Just put a set of 4 20" blingers on the Tahoe. Got 3 yrs & 40K out of the first set. Actually, not too bad for Goodyears....

If i can get anywhere near 40 out of these gumbands I'll be thrilled and change my opinion of GY.

Looked on Tire Rack and the prices aren't as bad as I thought...$50 a tire or so more than my old 17". Not great, but since this size is out there more and more, the price seems to be coming down.

A guy I work has a circa 2005 Dodge 4x4 with the blinger wheels and the first set of tires were over a grand..Not so bad now when he replaces his.

 

[Builder]

If i can get anywhere near 40 out of these gumbands I'll be thrilled and change my opinion of GY.

Looked on Tire Rack and the prices aren't as bad as I thought...$50 a tire or so more than my old 17". Not great, but since this size is out there more and more, the price seems to be coming down.

A guy I work has a circa 2005 Dodge 4x4 with the blinger wheels and the first set of tires were over a grand..Not so bad now when he replaces his.

I only paid $658 for a set of Goodyear LS2 275/55/20 at WalMart.
They don't get the best ratings, but for the price, they fit our needs.

I was going to suggest you sell your tires immediately and try to get ~125 for them and buy some nice Michelins. That's what I did with my stock Bridgestones when I bought my HD.

If you rotate the crap out of them and resist smoking the rear tires, you'll get 35-40.

 

[Ford850]

If i can get anywhere near 40 out of these gumbands I'll be thrilled and change my opinion of GY.

You should be able to get 40 out of them since they are on the new truck and suspension.