Howdy from NC (questions about my 2 door)

[pgerblonski]

hello from NC - not yet a 'card carrying member' as i haven't actually brought it home, but...

i've been offered a pretty clean (some rust behind the rear wheel) pretty much base model (rubber floors, no carpet even) 1997 2 door Tahoe - 5.7 TBI (EDIT - yes I did say TBI but I'm guessing that was/is a reporting error on the part of the owner? - seems this *should* be a Vortec engine, no?)

i have perused the forums for a bit looking for info - highlights and (honestly more specifically) lowlights of these trucks - i have several (please don't hate me) powerstroke fords (96 quigley van, 01 excursion, 1997 f350 - the f350 may well be traded for the 97 tahoe), still run a 93 trooper (my DD), a 75 CJ5 and an old karmann ghia i need to make run again... so i'm no stranger to working on my own stuff - but... i don't know enough about these trucks to anticipate what might/probably will break - what's hated, what's loved, and what's most feared...

so... i come to ask... what questions should i be asking, and what should i be looking at? the truck is owned by a friend, 5 hours away - so it's pretty much of a blind trade thing - we both know each other, we're both pretty anal retentive when it comes to our vehicles (the quigley came from him, and he got a truck from me way back when) - i just don't know the tahoes well enough to know what to look for...?

thanks in advance for the advice - both now, and when i probably bring this puppy home! :smiley-face-popcorn

(EDIT - seems the trans and intake coolant leaks are the biggest headaches?)
[mod - if this needs to be reposted elsewhere, please advise! ]

 

[07burb]

:welcome:

Moved this to a better section to hopefully get answers as well as made a small edit to the title :waytogo:

 

[lesterl]

Its either a 1997 Vortec (stock for 96+), or a 1995 or older TBI (Stock TBI was 95 older) If it has anything else it was special ordered or aftermarket (seriously doubt it), have him take a pic of the engine, if it has an old round filter on top of the intake it is TBI, if it is Vortec it will have a cartridge filter on the passenger side with a duct leading to the throttle body....

LIM gaskets are notorious and would be the FIRST thing I would change when I got the rig. Use FelPro PermaDry Plus gaskets as they are rubber with a steel core.

If my 95 TBI had been a Vortec I probably would have kept it, it was a great rig loved it, but it was a little bit slow.....

My rear was a little saggy, so I put some air shocks on it to help....

They got the regular front end issues, pitman arm/Idler arm and bracket, etc...

Love these rigs, just wanted a truck (1998 sierra, which has a very similar chassis....)

 

[pgerblonski]

Well, it's been months, but I finally brought the old girl home this week! I'll try to post pics of her in her maiden form soon...

Essentially a bone stock base model Tahoe - no fender flares, steel wheels, vinyl interior, rubber floor mats and only had 24k logged on her in the past 10 years total mileage is 148k