Which engine for new Silverado SWB 4wd, 4.3 or 4.8?

Last post on Aug 27, 2009 at 5:29 AM

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#1 of 1 Which engine for new Silverado SWB 4wd, 4.3 or 4.8? by gpaull Aug 27, 2009 (5:29 am)
Hope this isn't a double post - my first attempt seems to have gotten lost in cyberspace. I'm in the market for a new Chevrolet SWB regular cab 4wd - selling price right now including locker, skid plates, 4.3 Vortec six cylinder engine, auto trans, and 3.73 gears is about $23,000-24,000. I'm not a speed demon, but I do worry about the six being a bit underpowered. I will be taking this vehicle into the mountains of northern Mexico, not jeep trails, but some slow speed rutted highways with some washouts. Then maybe some travel to national forests in the Appalachians. The 4.8 liter V-8 runs about $25,000-26,000 for the SWB, about the upper range of my pocketbook. It has 3.42 gears. Are there reliability issues with either engine? An alternative is a late model used Chevy SWB, 5 speed manual, 2007, for $16,500, but I perfer the coil spring front suspension of the newer models. Double cabs and and big v-8's are out because of coast and the size is just too bulky for my style of driving/roads. Thanks for your comments. Gene Paull Brownsville, Texas

#1 of 1: Which engine for new Silverado SWB 4wd, 4.3 or 4.8? by gpaull; Aug 27, 2009 (5:29 am)

Hope this isn't a double post - my first attempt seems to have gotten lost in cyberspace. I'm in the market for a new Chevrolet SWB regular cab 4wd - selling price right now including locker, skid plates, 4.3 Vortec six cylinder engine, auto trans, and 3.73 gears is about $23,000-24,000. I'm not a speed demon, but I do worry about the six being a bit underpowered. I will be taking this vehicle into the mountains of northern Mexico, not jeep trails, but some slow speed rutted highways with some washouts. Then maybe some travel to national forests in the Appalachians. The 4.8 liter V-8 runs about $25,000-26,000 for the SWB, about the upper range of my pocketbook. It has 3.42 gears. Are there reliability issues with either engine?

An alternative is a late model used Chevy SWB, 5 speed manual, 2007, for $16,500, but I perfer the coil spring front suspension of the newer models.

Double cabs and and big v-8's are out because of coast and the size is just too bulky for my style of driving/roads.

Thanks for your comments.

Gene Paull
Brownsville, Texas