Chevrolet Silverado (first generation)

The first generation of the Chevrolet Silverado is a series of trucks manufactured by General Motors from 1998 until 2007 under the Chevrolet brand and also as the GMC Sierra. Built on the new GMT800 platform, the Silverado/Sierra 1500 and 2500 pickup trucks were first released in August 1998 as 1999 models. The "classic" light-duty GMT400 C/K trucks were kept in production alongside the new types for the first model year, while the heavy-duty GMT400 pickups (as well as the GMT400 SUVs) were continued until 2000, with the new GMT800 Silverado/Sierra HD (Heavy Duty) released in model year 2001. A 3500 model was added later for 2001, with the introduction of the HD moniker (though it was not until the 2007 GMT900 model year a 3500HD debuted). A refresh for 2003 models was introduced in 2002, bringing slight design changes and an upgrade to the audio and HVAC controls. The 2007 GMT800 trucks, built after the new GMT900 had gone on sale, used the name Classic to denote the difference between the two generations.

Development
In January 1993, GM began development on the GMT800 pickup program with numerous teams coming together. A new design was chosen and finalized for production in June 1995, 36 months ahead of the scheduled start in June 1998. Development sign-off was issued in late 1997, with pre-production and series production commencement in June 1998.

Light duty
There are a number of models of light-duty Silverados and Sierras, including the half-ton, three-quarter-ton, SS, and Hybrid. The light-duty trucks used the 1500 and 2500 names. They are available in three cab lengths: a 2-door standard/regular cab, 3- or 4-door extended cab, and for 2004, a full front-hinged 4-door crew cab (derived from the 2001 HD trucks). Three cargo beds are available: a 69.2 in short box, 78.7 in standard box, and a 97.6 in long box. The short bed is only available with the crew cab and extended cab. The standard box was also available with the Stepside box. They were available in three trim levels: Base/SL, LS/SLE, and the luxury-oriented LT/SLT, with the latter only being available with the extended or crew cab and automatic transmission.

For the first two years, only a regular cab and 3-door extended cab were available (the 4-door extended cab was added for 2000), along with the 4.3L V6 and the new LS-based 4.8 L, 5.3 L, and 6.0 L V8 engines (a continuation of the 6.5L Detroit turbo diesel engine on 2500 trucks was actually planned, but ultimately cancelled) paired to a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. The 4.3 L, 4.8 L, and 5.3 L were only available in the 1500 series trucks (with the 5.3 L also being available with the 2500 series at 7,200 pounds GVWR), and the 6.0 L was only available on the 2500 series trucks. Also, the manual transmission was only available with the 4.3 L or 4.8 L on the 1500 series or with the 6.0 L on the 2500 series at 8,600 pounds GVWR.

For 2005, extended-cab/standard-box 1500 4×4 trucks were available with the higher-output, all-aluminum 5.3 L Vortec engine, RPO code L33.

The Silverado/Sierra Z71 off-road package, only available on 1500 4×4 models, received 46mm gas-charged shock absorbers, jounce bumpers, stabilizer bars, skid plates, and a high-capacity air cleaner.

For 2001, the Silverado was available with the lighter-weight Pro-Tec Composite Box; it was only available on select extended-cab short-bed Fleetside models. Also, the 3-door extended cab and 2500 series with 7,200-pound GVWR were discontinued.

GM introduced a minor revised version of the Silverado and Sierra for the 2003 model year, with a new front end influenced by GM's own Cadillac Escalade of the same generation (except the Escalade did not have a horizontal bar), and a slightly updated rear end. For 2006, the Silverado received another slight revision, and received the grille and hood that were introduced on 2005 2500HD and 3500 models (the Sierra remained unchanged). In addition, the Chevrolet logotype emblem on the bottom-right of the tailgate was removed (though base-trimmed models still had the larger Chevrolet logotype decal on the tailgate). Its SUV counterparts, the Suburban, Tahoe, and Yukon, retained the use of the pre-facelift sheet metal (except Mexico). During the 2005 model year, all light-duty GMT800 pickups reverted to front disc/rear drum brakes as a cost-cutting measure; heavy-duty trucks and the SUVs retained their 4-wheel disc brakes.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Silverado an overall "marginal" score on the frontal offset crash test for poor structural integrity and poor dummy control, although no injuries were recorded on the dummy's body regions.

2001 GMC Sierra C3/2002–2007 Denali


GMC built an upscale version of its Sierra 1500 in 2001, called the Sierra C3. It used all-wheel drive with a 3.73:1 final drive gear ratio and included the 6.0 L Vortec 6000 LQ4 V8 rated at 325 hp at 5000 rpm and 370 lbft of torque at 4000 rpm. It was coupled to a 4L60E-HD 4-speed automatic transmission along with other upscale equipment. For 2002, the name was changed to Sierra Denali (in line with the Yukon Denali), but the specifications remained essentially the same except for the addition of Quadrasteer and GM changed from the 4L60E-HD to the 4L65E in conjunction with a 4.10:1 final drive gear ratio.

The Denali was rated for towing 10000 lb and hauling 1840 lb in the cargo box.

The Sierra Denali was initially equipped with Delphi's Quadrasteer system as standard equipment. It was a four-wheel steering system that greatly reduced the truck's turning radius and improved lane changing while towing. General Motors dropped Quadrasteer from the Sierra Denali after the 2004 model year and its entire lineup after 2005, citing poor sales of this expensive option.

Chevrolet Silverado SS
Launched in early 2003, the Silverado SS is a factory high-performance truck. Based on the Silverado 1500 Extended Cab with a 6.5' Fleetside box, it features upgrades in the drivetrain and both exterior and interior appearance, and included the 6.0-liter Vortec High-Output V8 rated at 345 hp at 5200 rpm and 380 lbft of torque at 4000 rpm coupled to a 4L65E four-speed automatic transmission. This was the same engine used for the second-generation Cadillac Escalade and GMC Yukon Denali. Chevrolet and GMC advertised this engine as the "Vortec High Output" and later as the "VortecMAX," while Cadillac called it the "HO 6000." The SS came with a standard all-wheel drive setup with a 4.10 final drive gear ratio and 4-wheel disc brakes. In 2005, in an attempt to increase sales, a 2-wheel drive version became available (the 2WD SS also lost its rear disc brakes in favor of drums, as did the rest of the 1/2-ton GMT800 pickups). 2005 was also the first year the sunroof was available in the SS lineup. In 2006, the AWD variant was dropped, and rear-wheel drive was the only drivetrain available. In a further effort to reduce cost, buyers could also choose cloth interior and/or a bench seat. The Silverado SS also came with the Z60 performance suspension and 20-inch aluminum wheels. All SS trucks used the torsion bar style front suspension for better handling. SS-themed trucks were only available from the factory in Black, Victory Red, and Arrival Blue Metallic from 2003 to 2004. For 2005, Arrival Blue Metallic was replaced by Silver Birch Metallic (as done with other trims as well).

Intimidator SS
In 2006, Chevrolet released a special-edition Silverado SS under the name "Intimidator SS" (licensed by Dale Earnhardt, Inc.) to honor the late Dale Earnhardt. The truck came with several minor appearance upgrades (rear spoiler, embroidered headrests, Intimidator custom badging), but was essentially a standard Silverado SS. Of the 1,033 scheduled trucks, only 933 were made (the remaining 100 were sold as 2007 Silverado SS "Classic" body style trucks before the 2007 MY changeover to the new GMT900. These trucks were only available in Black exterior but could be ordered with cloth or leather interior.

Vortec High Output/Vortec Max
The Vortec High Output (VHO) option was first introduced in 2004 to a limited market (mainly consisting of Texas and several surrounding areas); it was available nationwide for MY 2005. It was available for both the Silverado and Sierra 1500 series trucks. This special edition package (under option code B4V) included several options previously not found on the standard 1500 model, most notably the LQ9 6.0L V8 engine (the same used for the Silverado SS, the Cadillac Escalade, and GMC Yukon Denali). The LQ9 was rated at 345 hp at 5200 rpm and 380 lbft of torque at 4000 rpm, which were the same specifications as in the SS models. The B4V package could only be ordered on extended-cab standard-box 4×2 trucks. They were all built at the Canadian assembly plant and were equipped with the Z60 High Performance suspension package, in addition to the M32 (4L65E transmission), GT4 (3.73 rear gear), and G80 (governor lock) as standard equipment. The 2004 models were equipped with the standard 10-bolt 8.625" rear end. The 2005 models were upgraded with the larger 14-bolt 9.5" rear end under RPO option AXN. The package also included one style of the newly introduced GM 20-inch wheels installed from the factory. This marked the first time the LQ9 engine was available for a two-wheel drive application. Unlike the previous years with the SS package, interior choices ranged from basic cloth to fully loaded. There were also more exterior color options available with this package.

For 2006, the Vortec Max (stylized as VortecMAX) trailering package became available. The Vortec Max package was added to the option list with an array of similar features and new badges, and at its core retained the LQ9/4L65-E powertrain. However, the Vortec Max package differed from the Performance edition in that it also came with a variant of the Z85 Handling/Trailering suspension, as well as 17-inch wheels and tires under the option code NHT (and was available on 4×4 and 4×2 models) versus the Z60 High Performance Suspension and 20-inch wheel and tire package of the regular B4V (which was limited to 4×2 trucks). This was because the Vortec Max package was intended for high-capacity trailer towing, while the Performance Edition was intended more for customers who wanted the Silverado SS mechanicals, but did not want the visuals of one. It was also made available (in addition to the extended cab) on crew cab models. Towing capacity with the Vortec Max trailering package was 10,800 pounds.

Hybrid
GM launched a hybrid version of the Silverado/Sierra in 2004, becoming the first-ever GM hybrid passenger vehicle. Known within GM as the Parallel Hybrid Truck or PHT, it is not actually a parallel hybrid by the current definition, but a type of micro hybrid design. The electric motor housed within the transmission flywheel housing, serves only to provide engine cranking/starting, battery charging, and powering accessories. The engine automatically shuts down as the truck comes to a stop and uses 42-volt electric power to the starter/generator unit to restart the engine as the brake pedal is released. Besides the typical 12-volt automotive battery, the PHT uses three additional 14-volt valve regulated lead–acid (VRLA) batteries mounted under the rear seat to store and provide power. The truck uses a 5.3 L LM7 Vortec 5300 V8 for primary propulsion power. These trucks were also purchased back from customers for more than what they were worth in the late 2000s.

The PHT features four 120-volt 20-ampere AC outlets, two in the bed and two inside the cab under the rear seat. These are particularly interesting to the building/construction contractor market, since they often require AC power when on the job. Additionally, the extra reserves of power for the accessories make this truck well-suited to that market, where trucks often sit at idle for hours at a time.

Availability was extremely limited at first, with commercial buyers getting the first allotment. Later in 2005, the truck was offered at retail in Alaska, California, Florida, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Canada. For 2006–07, the truck was generally available to retail buyers throughout North America. The Parallel Hybrid Truck was discontinued for the 2008 model year with the release of the GMT900 truck line. Starting in 2009, General Motors offered a second-generation Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra equipped with a Two-Mode Hybrid powertrain and CVT.

Heavy Duty
The HD variant is a heavy-duty version of the half-ton trucks. The HD was available in the 1500HD, 2500HD, and 3500 models. The 1500HD, introduced in 2000 for the 2001 model year, offered a Vortec 6000 V8 with 300 hp at 5200 rpm and 360 lbft of torque at 4000 rpm with a Hydra-Matic 4L80-E four-speed automatic transmission. The 1500HD was only available in a crew-cab, standard-box configuration and shares several mechanical components with the corresponding 2500HD model (it was not until the future 2014 K2XX body that a 1500 crew-cab standard-box configuration debuted). The 1500HD was rebadged as the 2500 model for 2004 only. The 2500HD and 3500 also offered the LB7 Duramax diesel V8 with 300 hp at 3100 rpm and 520 lbft of torque at 1800 rpm, the LLY Duramax diesel V8 with 310 hp (231 kW) at 3000 rpm and 605 lb·ft (820 N·m) at 1600 rpm, and the LBZ Duramax diesel V8 with 360 hp (268 kW) at 3200 rpm and 650 lb·ft (881 N·m) at 1600 rpm, as well as the Vortec 8100 V8 with 340 hp at 4200 rpm and 455 lbft of torque at 3200 rpm.

The 2500HD had an available five-speed (six-speed for 2006–2007 models) Allison 1000 automatic transmission with the Vortec 8100 and 6.6 L Duramax. The 3500 offered the same engines and transmissions that the 2500HD used. However, it was usually equipped with dual rear wheels (a single-rear-wheel version was available from 2004) and had a stronger suspension. The HD models were primarily used for towing and high-weight cargo. According to a 2016 study by iSeeCars.com, the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD came in at #2 among the top 10 longest-lasting vehicles and comprised 5.7% of vehicles over 200,000 miles.

For 2002, GMC introduced a new limited-edition Sierra Professional. Built as either a 1500 or 2500HD Extended Cab Short Box model with two- or four-wheel-drive, the Professional was billed as the ultimate contractor's truck. There were extra storage trays and larger cupholders throughout the cab, including one temperature-controlled cupholder. The exterior featured lower body cladding, "Professional" badging, and a full-chrome grille. These trucks also featured a standard bedliner, box-rail protectors, in-bed power outlet, and many optional accessories suited to tradesmen (such as ladder racks and toolboxes). The 1500 series came standard with the 5.3 L Vortec 5300 V8, but the 4.8 L Vortec 4800 V8 could be ordered with an option credit if so desired. 2500HD models came with the 6.0 L Vortec 6000 V8 only. All trucks had the four-speed automatic transmission with tow/haul mode. Customers could choose from either SLE or SLT Decor. The base price for a 2002 1500 2WD with SLE Decor was $29,591. 2003 was the final year the Professional was offered.

Towing capacity for the 1500HD is rated at 10,300 lb, and payload capacity was rated at 3,129 lb in the bed depending on options. Towing capacity for the 2500HD is rated at 16,100 lb with the gasoline 8.1 L V8 and 3.73:1 rear axle ratio, and payload capacity was rated at 3,964 lb in the bed depending on options. Towing capacity for the 3500 is rated at 16,700 lb, and payload capacity was rated at 5,753 lb in the bed depending on options. The addition of 4×4 tends to reduce the towing and carrying capacity by 200-400 lb, depending upon year and model. Other factors, such as options, can also affect these numbers.

2003 refresh
For 2003, the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra models received a mid-cycle refresh (known as "cateye" trucks to the general public). All Silverados and Sierras received a revised front-end design (the Silverado's front end was redone to closely resemble the 2002 Avalanche), and Silverados received new tail lamps, most models also received new wheel designs. The interior was also redesigned, with a new dashboard design that included a new instrument cluster with an optional enhanced Driver Information Center (DIC), and a new four-spoke steering wheel. New audio system options for 2003 included newly-available XM Satellite Radio capabilities, as well as a Bose premium audio system, and an integrated six-disc CD changer. All trucks also received new front seats with new upholstery designs and color schemes. Power adjustable brake and accelerator pedals were also newly available on select trims. New for 2003 was a Work Truck (WT or W/T) trim that was offered alongside the Base trim, and later became the new "base model" Silverado and Sierra. The Silverado 1500 lineup received a new "SS" trim that included the 6.0 L LQ9 Vortec V8 gasoline engine, while the LT model was divided into LT1, LT2, and LT3 trims. Other additions to the powertrain lineup for 2003 included a new E85-capable version of the 5.3 L Vortec V8 gasoline engine, which was available in states without California emissions standards.