Please help, I'm slightly torn and having second thoughts! - First option: $5,700 1998 Silverado 1500 Z-71 4x4 with 160K on the body and transmission, with a brand new custom ...

First option: $5,700
1998 Silverado 1500 Z-71 4x4 with 160K on the body and transmission, with a brand new custom built 5.7L bored out with 600 miles on the engine, an aftermarket cold air intake and a Flow-master exhaust installed.
Has a decent aftermarket Sony CD player with an iPod doc connector (I have an iPod so I like this feature a lot)
Has some visible, but small rust spots along the bottom of the cab.

Second option: $6,800
2001 Silverado 1500 Z-71 4x4 with 125K original miles, maintenance has been kept up. - 5.3L stock engine.
Has only a standard stock single CD player/radio
Has no visible rust (paint bubbling above rear wheel-wells)

Both trucks have all working basic features like A/C, heat, power windows and locks, all lights, etc.

My decision is leaning toward the 98 because it's cheaper and less electronic/computerized. I want to get more into doing my own work and I feel like the 98 would be just a little bit easier to work on myself than the 2001 model. And the newer, bigger engine, should be solid for a long time and make it fun as heck to drive! .....But then I started thinking about maintaining value, then fuel economy comes to mind and now I am second guessing myself. So I ask, which one would you buy, and why? Your insights are very much appreciated!

I'd go with the 98. $1,100 saved will still buy you a lot of gas. They should be about the same to insure due to the larger engine size but I'm thinking still a bit cheaper with the 98. The 01 is going to go down in value vs. the 98 has pretty much hit it's bottom. You can always sell a truck that runs (or parts) for about $5,000. The paint bubbling over the rear wheels is just waiting to be "visible rust" and you will got out and spend more than $1,100 adding a better stereo, cold air intake and flow master. Plus, if you are in a state that has personal property tax based on vehicle age you will save there and you should save some money on the sales tax. That's my thoughts but I do accounting work for a living so I kinda think in that frame of mind.
Kelly

If you spend more then 1,100 on stereo, exhaust and intake your doing it all wrong. Just my 2cents

His point still stands, if not that much then close to it. Sound financial reasoning, other opinions welcome too.

No other opinions?

If all of the maintenance has been kept up on the 2001 I'd go with that one. As long as you continue to keep up with the maintenance that engine will last you a long time. Plus I'd be a little nervous with the custom built engine unless you know where it was done and know it was done right. I'd honestly feel more comfortable with the custom engine if it had 6k miles vs 600 (that's just my opinion though, I don't have any experience with rebuilt or custom engines). I also like the fact that the 2001 engine is all stock which probably means it hasn't been raced around too much. As far as decks go most of them now days are Ipod ready and you can get a pretty good one for around $100.

I would keep your 98 since you say its a fresh motor for the extra 1000 buck for the other truck you could get your trucks body fixed up. And transmission for your 98 theres lots of them out there if yours goes bad. Plus i think the 88-98 GM trucks were there best looking but thats my opinion.

98 gmc 4x4 wrote:Plus i think the 88-98 GM trucks were there best looking but thats my opinion.

I would have to agree with you on that. I realized I was going to be a truck guy when I was ten years old and I saw a brand new 1994 single cab stepside Silverado.

Yeah, when I close my eyes and picture myself in either truck, the 98 seems to just feel right... I think I'll go back to my gut on this one, the 98 is the red one in my avatar pic, and I'm going to pick it up tomorrow after work. I'm excited!

Chandler84 wrote:If all of the maintenance has been kept up on the 2001 I'd go with that one. As long as you continue to keep up with the maintenance that engine will last you a long time. Plus I'd be a little nervous with the custom built engine unless you know where it was done and know it was done right. I'd honestly feel more comfortable with the custom engine if it had 6k miles vs 600 (that's just my opinion though, I don't have any experience with rebuilt or custom engines). I also like the fact that the 2001 engine is all stock which probably means it hasn't been raced around too much. As far as decks go most of them now days are Ipod ready and you can get a pretty good one for around $100.

I agree. Too many unkowns with the rebuilt engine with only 600 miles. If the motor isn't sound after purchase that truck just got really expensive.