Same iconic legacy, just under a more modern name: The Chevy Silverado
Many American families have a story about growing up with a Chevrolet pickup truck
Editor’s Note: This article was written by Nick Murphy, a Pontiac Grand Prix enthusiast who currently lives in Tampa, FL. (but grew up in upstate New York and also loves Chevy trucks)
Growing up, my dad would tell me stories about learning to drive in my grandfather’s 1970 Chevrolet K-5 Blazer. As a kid, both my dad and my grandfather always drove Silverados, and I like to think I was their favorite shotgun rider. When I got into my teenage years, my dad started letting me help him work on his 2500 HD Chevy Silverado. When I started to learn how to drive, I was even lucky enough to take that out with him from time to time. When it came time for me to go to junior prom in high school, I’m sure you guessed it, I drove that 6.6L turbo diesel powered 2500 HD Silverado. My buddy Jake, who drove the same model just a different color, and I thought we had the nicest rides in school that day. Of course, we made sure to show our Silverados off outside the prom venue’s entrance.
There’s a reason why musicians of all creeds, but especially country music artists, sing songs about Chevy pickup trucks: They’re relatable and we can usually share a story or two about them. Even though it isn’t strictly sold in the United States, Americans from all over the country have rallied behind Chevrolet pickup trucks for their durableness, reliability, and the idea that they take us to the destinations where we create some of our most fond memories.
How it transitioned from C/K trim option to its own line
From 1960 until 1999, Chevrolet produced its line of C/K pickup trucks. Starting in 1975, the title “Silverado” was a designation for a specific level of trim. It wasn’t until 1998 when the first model year, the 1999, “Silverado” pickup truck hit the market. This was a major transition for the popular American based manufacturer because it took a trim option and turned it into its own model of vehicle. Even though Chevy has kept its CC and CK designations from a manufacturing standpoint, the introduction of the Silverado effectively meant the end of the C/K line of pickup trucks.
4 generations of Silverado later and it’s still one of consumers favorite trucks
The first generation of Silverado’s were produced from 1999 – 2007. Originally the design of the 1st generation Silverado was finalized in mid 1995, but it wasn’t signed off for production until late 1997 as production started in June of 2018. There were numerous types of Silverados: The standard one, the SS (super sport), the hybrid, and of course the Heavy Duty (HD). To go along with this, they also offered a slew of engine options which included: The 4.3L V6, 4.8L V8, 5.3L V8, 6.0L V8, 8.1L V8, and lastly but certainly not least, the 6.6L diesel V8.
The second generation which ran from 2007-2014 saw some minor changes under the hood. Chevy stopped offering its big block 8.1L V8 and introduced its 6.2L V8 which gives considerable boosts in power and performance compared to its other gas engines. In 2007 the second generation won both the North American Truck of the Year Award and the Motor Trend Magazine Truck of the Year Award.
When the 3rd generation came about, engines were kept basically the same, with the exception of the 4.8L V8 being no longer available. Chevrolet paired their engines with better transmissions instead to boost performance. 2018 was Chevrolet’s centennial year so in order to celebrate that they released their 4th generation of Silverado. With this release came some major changes as they are now offering a 2.7L inline 4 cylinder engine with a turbocharger. Another shocking release was their 3.0L V6 duramax, but because of the EPA, the release of this engine was held up beyond its original release date. Consumers are excited about this new generation and we are all looking forward to see what the future of the Silverado has instore.
Silverado Pickup Trucks hold their value, so why not invest in them?
Trucks in general are known for holding a high resale value, even at the 150,000+ mile mark and the Chevy Silverado is no different. It is usually well worth your investment to keep your Chevy Silverado on the road for as long as possible, even if that means starting to do more maintenance on it. If you notice issues such as overheating, white smoke appearing when starting the vehicle, excessive oil consumption, low coolant levels, or poor fuel economy, then you may be in need of a cylinder head replacement.
Since the quality of replacement cylinder heads varies widely, you should do your research before buying new cylinder heads. Our high quality cylinder heads will allow your Silverado to be back on the road as soon as possible. With a generous warranty and free shipping across the USA, Clearwater Cylinder is an excellent choice for Chevrolet Silverado cylinder heads. In addition, we have over 25 years of experience and a massive catalog of cylinder heads.
In short, we are dedicated to providing professional and friendly support in order to meet all of your cylinder head needs. Feel free to contact Clearwater Cylinder Head Inc. via phone toll-free at 1-800-572-1963. Online ordering for heads is also available. We look forward to hearing from you to keep your Silverado truck on the road for years (and fond memories) to come.
Buy Chevy Silverado replacement cylinder heads using links below
2 GM GMC Silverado 6.0 OHV V8 CYLINDER HEADS CAST# 873 Cast iron 1999-2000
2 GM GMC Silverado 6.0 OHV V8 CYLINDER HEADS CAST# 873 Cast iron 99-2000 NO CORE
GM CHEVY 4.8 5.3 OHV LS4 SILVERADO EXPRESS CYLINDER HEADS & BOLTS&GASKETS 99-05
2 GM CHEVY 4.8 5.3 OHV LS4 SILVERADO TAHOE EXPRESS CYLINDER HEADS 99-05 NO CORE
NEW GM CHEVY 4.8 5.3 OHV LS4 SILVERADO TAHOE CYLINDER HEADS CAST#706 &862 99-05