1998 Chevy Cheyenne out of curiousity.

METALSAM1313

MEMBER
1998 CHEVROLET CHEYENNE
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
175,000 MILES

I have a few questions actually.

I am unable to figure out, why my truck says cheyenne on it, yet it looks like a silverado. I do not have power steering or power windows, everything is manual except the transmission and the steering, brakes as well. I am unable to explain that to anyone.

I was also curious considering I live in Arizona, what I can do to keep from getting the sun bleached spots in my paint it is white, so can it even get sunbleached. Also out here there are a lot of trucks with chipped and cracked paint mine looks great in comparison.

Also I have just replaced the A/C system, by that I mean everything. The fuel pump, perviouse owner put the wrong one on. New suspension, all new fluids, new dash "check engine light", and had the emissions passed on it with a new catalytic converter.

This is the first car my father has baught me and I am hoping it is the last, but with all the stuff coming up left and right it is draing me pretty bad. My father got it at a pawn shop for 3,500 and I have invested another 6,000 in it so far. I guess my main question is, should I get out of it now, before I go broke, or should I stick it out. I do not know if Chevy's of my year hold value or not and blue book says nothing for something in my area. Outer body is in good condition some minor scratches and dings. And mechanically I have replaced averything from rear axle seals to dash board matt.

What have I gotten my self into and if it is made here in the U.S. Why is it so expensive?

any advise would be great! I love my truck her name is Bonnie but she is breaking my heart.

MetalSam

5 Replies

PEAR69

MECHANIC
1,482 POSTS

� Ok metalsam1313, I will answer some of your questions and give you an opinion based on experience with the 98 chevy V8 ( I am assuming it is a 5.7L � 350ci. � First - there are a number of paint conditioners and waxes that have UV (sun) protection in them - the choice is yours. I suggest any Meguires product. � Second - It is very very very very very RARE that a truck produced in 1998 has no power steering - was that a mis-print? Do you have a power steering pump mounted on the lower left front of the engine? � Third - Cheyenne is just a Chevy truck with different options as opposed to a Silverado with different options � -- they are both Chevy trucks with different options. � Fourth - the Vortec engine with your truck and all Chevy Vortecs for that matter, have a common problem - they all have lower intake manifold gasket problems - they fail and leak coolant. This job ( if not done by yourself) will cost you around $800 bucks. If it has already been addressed on your engine then your are good there. If not, then look and smell for coolant leaks, but it's only a matter of time with 175000 miles. � � It sounds like you are young so let me give you some advice -- when you get into driving used trucks or cars you have to expect that there will be some mechanical break downs and failures. It is wise to educate yourself a little bit on repairing your vehicle yourself. It is not as hard as you may think - even if you are not mechanicaly inclined. � Purchasing an automotive repair manual for your truck can save you money even if you do not repair it yourself. How? You may ask - reading a repair manual will educate you on some common failures and will point you in some direction when you take it in to a mechanic for repaires. A mechanic who gets educated information from a customer is less likely to "take you for a ride" on repairing. I remember my first vehicle � a 1970 Dodge Dart Swinger (no power brakes and no power steering for real) but � "oh what a car". I took my girl Bonnie to the drive-in theater with that car, � "ah the memorys I miss that car" � � � � My point is - cars and trucks break down - just like relationships - you can just keep repairing them and spend a lot of time and money in doing so - or just move on. But the ones you love - well that's time and money well spent if you want my opinion. Keep us posted on "Bonnie" and try to get a little closer to her. Good luck

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Monday, April 6th, 2009 AT 12:55 AM

METALSAM1313

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I am slowly getting aquanted with my truck. Just yesterday, I replaced my front brake pads! I appreciate the advice and will get that wax this Friday when I get paid. I am new to working on cars. The last car I helped on I was about 13 years old helping my uncle with his 69 comaro that he had turned into a Pro-Street drag racer, he claims that it had 1400 horse power but from the rest of the family they say he doesn't know much about cars. So either way all I did on that was hand him tools and clean the inside as well as lay in the upholstery. As in the carpeting. Other than that I just learned from my brother who works as a mechanic in California, I learned fhow to replace the rear axle seals, how to replace my brake drum shoes, (rear) how to check and replace all my fluids, how to tell when I need a tire rotation or change out. As well as replace an Air conditioning compressor. I then had to pass his test of replacing the alternator on my own reading his manual. I actually have the 305 V8 in my truck I believe it is the 5.0 liter V8 but I could be wrong. I am young in auto mechanic experience but I am actually 25 years old. Sad I know. I thank you for your help. I am now working on a way to get my friends and I together to replace the oil pan gasket, the mechanic I go to said it is a minimum of $500 cause they have to practically take the engine out so my friends and I are getting together to give it a shot, I am confident one of them is a mechanic at the Chevy Dealership near by so he is going to teach my how, the others are there for the BBQ and Beer as well as a few hands to assist with the engine. Other than that I think my Bonnie is almost back to original condition.

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Thursday, April 9th, 2009 AT 4:44 PM

PEAR69

MECHANIC
1,482 POSTS

It sounds like you have more than enough mechanical knowledge to repair anything on your truck. A 305 chevy also has the same lower intake manifold gasket failure problem. Watch for this closely. Keep an eye on your oil, looking and smelling for coolant. This lower intake gasket can fail internaly and leak coolant into your motor oil. As far as the oil pan gasket -- look carefully at the job - some engines need to be lifted slightly and some do not. Removing the oil pan gives you access to the oil pump. If there is a lot of miles on the engine, replacing the oil pump is a good idea.

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Thursday, April 9th, 2009 AT 7:47 PM

METALSAM1313

MEMBER
3 POSTS

I will keep that in mind and talk to my friends about where to get a pump out here for a pretty good price. As for the engine lift, I was warned about that by my mechanic he said that it depends on the drive shaft? And if it gives enough room to get in there without having to disconnect it, if not than you will have to diconnect it from the engine and pull the engine out. That is about all I know. As for the oil I check the oil every gas stop I give my self a half hour for her to cool down and than check it, It has not been losing a noticable amount of oil so I think it is a leak that is not bad enough to really worry, which is why I am trying to learn and study up before we go too crazy. As for the lower intake gasket I'll call my brother back in California to see if he has done anything with that while I was down there. He likes to tinker on my truck it is like the little brother to his 94 Silverado 350, 5.7liter with 400,000 miles and runs like new all maintained by him. So he like to tinker with mine so that he can see if I am being a good little brother. Thanks again P.S. I am going to try tonight to put a picture of my Bonnie up so you guys can see her. I am very proud of her she is kind of my first restore without having to go from ground up. The previouse owner beat her up pretty good I got her almost back to perfect condition.

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Thursday, April 9th, 2009 AT 8:49 PM

RODRAM

MEMBER
7 POSTS

Hi. In 98 and in 97 like mine, Cheyenne was the base trim level for full size trucks, and Silverado was an updgraded trim level for the full size trucks. In 1999 (I Think it was 99). The badge name Silverado was used as a model name, where Silverado=full size truck, and the trim levels became SL, SLE, and SLT.