1990-1998 Chevrolet C/K Pickup - Consumer Guide Automotive

Category	Chevrolet C1500 5.7-liter ext. cab Rating (See All Ratings)

Performance	4

Fuel Economy	2

Ride Quality	3

Steering/Handling/Braking	3

Quietness	3

Controls/Materials	4

Interior Room	6

Room/Comfort (rear)	2

Cargo Capacity	2

Value within Class	7

Total Score:	36

Ratings: Maximum 10 points per category

Chart: One rating chart provided for a representative model

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1990-1998 Chevrolet C/K Pickup Review

GM's best-selling vehicle and the nearly identical GMC Sierra had been redesigned as early 1988 models. Both came in three series: 1500 (1/2-ton), 2500 (3/4-ton), and 3500 (1 ton). "C" pickups are 2-wheel drive, while "K" designates 4-wheel-drive models. Short-bed trucks (1500 series only) rode a 117.5-inch wheelbase and had a 6.5-foot cargo bed. Long beds, in all three series, had a 131.5-inch wheelbase and 8-foot bed. Extended-cab pickups rode a 155.5-inch span with 8-foot bed, or 141.5-inch with 6.5-foot bed. Antilock rear brakes were standard. Base engine was a V6, but a broad range of V8s were available, including a diesel. Sportside trucks (short bed only) had flared rear fenders; those with regular fenders were called Fleetside. A 454 SS muscle truck arrived in 1990, with a performance/handling package.

Year to Year Changes

1991 Chevrolet C/K 2500/3500: The 7.4-liter V8 engine was revised, and could be mated to a 4-speed automatic instead of the prior 3-speed. In the 454 SS, that engine now made 255 horsepower--25 more than in 1990.

1992 Chevrolet C/K 2500/3500: Sportside trucks with the flare-fendered cargo box could have an extended cab this year. All C/K trucks got freshened interiors, and the four-speed manual transmission was gone. A new turbodiesel V8 engine debuted for heavy-duty use.

1993 Chevrolet C/K 2500/3500: Automatic transmissions now had electronic controls to determine shift points. A flare-fendered sport option package went on sale.

1994 Chevrolet C/K 2500/3500: Two new 6.5-liter diesel V8s debuted. C/K trucks now had side door guard beams and center high-mounted stoplamps.

1995 Chevrolet C/K 2500/3500: A driver-side airbag and standard 4-wheel antilock braking came in 1995.

1996 Chevrolet C/K 2500/3500: All the Vortec gasoline engines were retuned, while the 6.5-liter diesel was replaced with a turbodiesel of the same size. The other big news was the availability of a passenger-side rear door on the C/K1500 extended-cab, short-bed truck, but only on the top-line Silverado models.

1997 Chevrolet C/K 2500/3500: A new standard passenger-side airbag comes with a dashboard deactivation switch that can be flipped when a rear-facing infant seat is used. The 5.0-liter V8 delivers 230 horsepower, ten more than 1996 models, while the 5.7-liter checks in with 255 horsepower, five more than before. For 1997, the optional third door could be ordered on any C/K 1500 model, not just the top-line Silverado.

1998 Chevrolet C/K 2500/3500: Chevrolet made few changes to the C/K as it readied a replacement for the 1999 model year.

1990-1998 Chevrolet C/K Pickup Road Test >

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