2001 Fake Z71?

Heys guys, great forum here. I recently just bought an 03 Silverado. My buddy at work has a 01. He bought his new. Some other guys at work has also bought these trucks recently as well.

The other day he realized he had the 4.8 liter in his. The truck that he was suppose to buy that he test drove was a 5.3. When I was looking at buying a new one, I had a saleman at a local dealership tell me that if I really wanted a Z71 they had a good detail guy and they could remove the 4x4 stickers and replace them with Z71. Now when we examined his stickers you can tell that there is a small broken piece of an old sticker under his Z71 sticker. Now he is really upset. He is looking for his original window sticker.

Is there any other way to decode the truck. Vin # or trim tag. Some things I have noticed about the truck which may or may not matter are:

No towing package, No heated mirrors or rear defrost.

It does have the skid plates and gas shocks.

Thanks,

Russ

Im not sure about there being any RPO code or anything in the VIN. for a Z71, but I do know that it has a aluminum skid plate under the front diff. and bilstein gas shocks frt and back. My original window sticker does state "Z71 offroad package".

If i remember correctly when i bought my 96 and wanted to know what all options it came with from factory, i went to the GM dealership and gave them the vin# and they gave me a print out in great detail, down to the color and weather it was 2 tone paint or not , gearing ect ect. That would be your best option , and yes the Z71 SHOULD come with skid plates, the heavier gas shocks , different gearing than the regular 4x4's, larger tires ( 245's on 4x4's and 265's on Z71's , or at least it used to be) just to name a few. Oh and just because it has the skid plates on it and the shocks does not mean that it is definitly a Z71, also does not mean that it is not . My 96 4x4 HAD the skid plates and rancho shocks when i bought it. The skid plates were factory and obviously the shocks were aftermarket installed by the previous owner.

Check in the driver door I believe for the stock tire size. 245x75x16s came with the 4x4. 265x75x16s came with the Z71

Check in the driver door I believe for the stock tire size. 245x75x16s came with the 4x4. 265x75x16s came with the Z71

That will not always work. My 92 is not a Z-71 but it came out with 265/75/R16s, same as my Dad's 91: non Z-71 but came with 265 tires.

My uncle had an 01 Z-71 that had 245/75/R16s BTW.

The only difference in a Z-71 and a regular 4WD is the skid plates and shocks, and maybe the locking differential or limited slip rear end (G80 is the RPO code).

Also, I think the standard engine even in the Z-71 is the 4.8L, but MOST come with the 5.3.

you forgot the stabalizer bars and the jounce bumper's for z-71 i was at the local book store seen the truck buyer's guide it was listing the difference between the 4x4 off rd pkg and the z-71 tow pkg also the cost difference was in there, i was at a chapers book store in canada not sure if you have one there or not?/? worth a look.

you forgot the stabalizer bars and the jounce bumper's for z-71 i was at the local book store seen the truck buyer's guide it was listing the difference between the 4x4 off rd pkg and the z-71 tow pkg also the cost difference was in there, i was at a chapers book store in canada not sure if you have one there or not?/? worth a look.

So what is the cost difference? And what in the hell is a jounce bumper?

Look in your glove box, GM uses a three digit code for each option. If it's a Z71 it will be one of the codes on the list of options in the glove box. Also, I've seen plenty of Z71's with 245 tires on them. A couple of years ago I was on the lot at Buff Whelan Chevy in Sterling Heights Mich. and they had a $hit load of Z71's all with 245 tires on them. 245 was even printed on the window sticker as the tire size on that vehicle. I was surprized because it contradicts what the brochure says. :screwy: I've seen a small footnote by the off road package option that indicates it requires 265 tires to also be ordered. So I don't if that was a factory screw up or what. I've ordered and purchased 3 (three) Z71's, 1993, 1996 & a 2002 and with all of them the only thing that came with the package was skid plates, high pressure gas shocks and Z71 badging (stickers). no heavier suspension, no locking differential, no trailer package, no oil or trans coolers, no stabilizer bars, no larger engine, no different gearing. All bought from the same dealer in Romeo, Mich. vehicles sold in Canada may be different though.

So what is the cost difference? And what in the hell is a jounce bumper?well if i wasnt too hung in suspension class i think i remember being told that springs control jounce and shocks control rebound no wait the other way?? ah fuck cant remember i believe they would be for off roading it's for bottoming out the truck on heavy bumps? ill go to the book store tommorow and pay attention to what it say's stay tuned ill re-post my half fast info with something to back it up! and the cost difference, maybe ill just photo copy the pg then scan it on here? check tommorow. it was in a 4x4 truck buyers guide(magazine)it listed every truck and the options and extra cost for those options.alright ill shut it now.

Heys guys, great forum here. I recently just bought an 03 Silverado. My buddy at work has a 01. He bought his new. Some other guys at work has also bought ...

I've had a 92, 98, 01 and now an 2004 Z-71, and the first thing i did was check the codes on the equipment list inside the glove compartment. It's a list of a few dozen 3 digit codes, one of them should read Z71.

As for the engine size, in 98 I had a choice of 5.0 or 5.7 for the Z71 and my dad now has an 2004 Z71 with a 4.8 V8.

I know that almost all options including skid plates can be ordered on any 4 wheel drive truck. Some have them, some don't but the Z71 packages all these options together and the only true way to know is by the equipment codes in the glove compartment.

In the end its not a big deal as long as you get the equipment you paid for.

Hope this helps
Perry

ok consumer guide lists z-71 as having the following
-larger springs?
-larger shocks
-jounce bumpers
-stabalizer bars
-skid plates
-high capacity air cleaner??
-and either 245 or 265 tire's your choice


plow pkg has
-heavy duty alternator
-transmission oil cooler
-electrical supply conectors?
-emergency lights?
-mounting equipment
-heavy duty springs
-dual climate control

What is the big deal about Z71 any ways?

1. Someone spent 3x more for stuff you can put on yourself
2. They like to look manly, but to lazy to install the stuff
3. They like to look manly, but do not know how to change their oil.

I see those stickers and think what a waste.

I know there no 4x4. I pulled about three of those Z71 out of the mud.

If you have a 4x4 and want to make it a Z-71 then go to a local 4x4 shop. A lot of people buy Z-71's and take them straight to a shop and have lift kits and larger tires installed. None of the skid plates and shocks will work after a suspension lift is installed and you can usually get everything except the stickers to make your own Z-71 pretty cheap.

well i didnt get my z-71 for any of the above reasons???? and to top it off i have takken all the badges off, i got mine for a good deal and did help that it was a z with tow pkg and the off rd tire's! that's like saying why buy the LT pkg when you can buy leather seats and put it in yourself? and what the hell does pulling them out of mud have anything to do with options? negative or what. oh wait let me guess you never being pulled out before, sorry but even in tuff truck challenge the guys get stuck and use their winch's! tell them that's not a 4x4:screwy:

You guys are missing the point...the original post was rustover asking about how to make sure you have a true Z-71. He wants to help his buddy who thinks he might have been ripped off for a package on his truck that he didn't get.

well i didnt get my z-71 for any of the above reasons???? and to top it off i have takken all the badges off, i got mine for a good deal and did help that it was a z with tow pkg and the off rd tire's! that's like saying why buy the LT pkg when you can buy leather seats and put it in yourself? and what the hell does pulling them out of mud have anything to do with options? negative or what. oh wait let me guess you never being pulled out before, sorry but even in tuff truck challenge the guys get stuck and use their winch's! tell them that's not a 4x4:screwy:


Never been pulled out of the mud because I have a real 4x4.

81 Jeep Cj5
Front and Read Dana 60 Axles with Posi-Trac
450 hp Chevy 350
38X12.5X15 Tires
T-18A - tranmission
Dana 300.
Full body roll cage.
Front and Read Winches

Have about $30,000 invested in it.


Now if you remove the stickers - COOL !!!!

I just di not understand why the Z71 rpo code is that big of a deal.
Leather Seat - no thanks.

I see getting the truck because of its setup but some people buy the truck because it is a Z71 and then they walk around like some big shot. I jsut get confused on that.

I have also seen 4.8L Z71s. As long as we are on the topic, does anyone know if the Z71 skid plates will bolt on to a non-Z71 2000 Silverado without drilling and tapping? Also, does anyone know where I could get rugged bolt on skid plate for the same truck, particularly the oil pan and front suspension ones, where they have that easily destroyed plastic from the factory?

Josh

Heys guys, great forum here. I recently just bought an 03 Silverado. My buddy at work has a 01. He bought his new. Some other guys at work has also bought these trucks recently as well.

The other day he realized he had the 4.8 liter in his. The truck that he was suppose to buy that he test drove was a 5.3. When I was looking at buying a new one, I had a saleman at a local dealership tell me that if I really wanted a Z71 they had a good detail guy and they could remove the 4x4 stickers and replace them with Z71. Now when we examined his stickers you can tell that there is a small broken piece of an old sticker under his Z71 sticker. Now he is really upset. He is looking for his original window sticker.

Is there any other way to decode the truck. Vin # or trim tag. Some things I have noticed about the truck which may or may not matter are:

No towing package, No heated mirrors or rear defrost.

It does have the skid plates and gas shocks.

Thanks,

Russ

The engine type can be read directly from the VIN. See page 2 of http://www.gmgoodwrench.com/gmgoodwrenchjsp/gmspo/brochures/2004VINCARDS.pdf. This says it's for 2004 but the only thing that changes is the tenth digit, which indicates the year. For 2001 I believe that should be a 1.

My 2001 came with 265/75 as did my 2004 4x4. Ditch that method of figuring it out

ok, so I got a little worried and I went outside and checked out my truck after reading this forum.

I have the badging for z71 and I have the above mentioned code that says z71 in my glove box, I even have the skid plate and 285's (not 245 or 265) on my truck, but if you check out the original sticker from in the window? No reference to Z71 on there anywhere. I have the 5.3l engine and leather seats.

oh and one more thing, I have what seems like standard shocks in the front (can't read the name and not heavy-duty) and leaf springs in the back.

Guess I am going to call ou my local chevy dealership and part out the vin number.

ok, so I got a little worried and I went outside and checked out my truck after reading this forum.

I have the badging for z71 and I have the above mentioned code that says z71 in my glove box, I even have the skid plate and 285's (not 245 or 265) on my truck, but if you check out the original sticker from in the window? No reference to Z71 on there anywhere. I have the 5.3l engine and leather seats.

oh and one more thing, I have what seems like standard shocks in the front (can't read the name and not heavy-duty) and leaf springs in the back.

Guess I am going to call ou my local chevy dealership and part out the vin number.
YO postless put a link for parting out your vin 2 posts up above!