95 vs 96-98 vs 99

Does anyone know the main differences between these Tahoe years? I am looking to buy a Tahoe that I will keep for many many years to come and I want to make sure that I buy the best one possible. I got a hell of a deal on a 95 Tahoe with 135K on it and I am debating if I should put my money into this one or if it would be better to wait and try and find a newer year. I a pretty sure the newer years have the vortex but I am sure what the main advantages are. I am also curious of the differences between the 98 vs 99.
Thanks for any advice and comments.

Sorry for the double post

How good of a deal? The Tahoe was intrduced in 1994, as a 2 door, then in 1995 Chevy came out with the 4 door.

Up to and including the 1995 the Tahoe has the standard Chevy 350 motor, great engine. The shop I work at maintained a 1995 Tahoe for my wife's company, they traded it in last year with 485,000 on it, original motor. I know I worked on it.

In 1996 Chevy went to the Vortec 350, althought there are a few rare 96's with the standard 350, the are very rare, 90% have the vortec. The Vortec has more H.P., but it has been my experience, there are a few common problem issues with the engine and transmission. Still not a bad choice.

In Late 98/Early 99, Chevy came out with fixes to the issues, but added more stuff, bringing more issues. One issue is the fuel pressure, running at about 90 psi, the popit valves in the plastic manifold are very susceptable to carbon build up, people put fuel pumps in the Tahoes about 2 years after owning them because they do not change the fuel filter every year, as stated in the maintaince schedule. Anywho, After 99 your ignition system changes as well, they go back to the famed 327 about 2002 or so and change ignition systems again, added the speed steering control, and other things.

I can do a FULL tune up, SP (only ACDelco), SPW, dist cap, rotor, fuel filter, pcv, air filter (I run K&N so I just clean it ;) on my 1995 for about $100.00

For a 96-97 it will hit about $175-200

For a 98-00 it jumps to about $250

This is just for PARTS, not the labor to install! The SPW for the standard 350 are about $45 a set, for the 96-97 about $65 a set and for the 98-00 they are about $100. Everything else goes up too, the 95 runs the standard ACDelco spark plug ($1.85), the Vortecs runs a platnum ($6-$8), the 98 switches to a double plat ($8-$12) (EACH).

I grabbed my 1995 because the price was right and it has the RARE 3rd seat, a dealer only option. I can fit 9 in the Tahoe, just like the suburban! I wanted the non-Vortec because of the damn reliability and the go forever toughness. I see to many 96 and up with too many problems, but there are people on this board who will cuss the 1995 till they puke. Yes,it does not have the pep of the Vortec, but if I wanted a race car I would have bought the Corvette!

I plan to add H.P., when the motor does go boink, I will put in a cam, Vortec heads, and to the race track I will go.

It comes down to how much you want to spend, like ANY truck, there will be issues that you will have to deal with. But for a people hauler/snowmoblie tower/4wheeler tower/grocery getter/wife's rig, you can't beat any of them.

Just be smart, get a carfax, check Consumer reports, and talk the dealer down.

KT

Wow, thanks for that great reply. I think you have talked me into holding onto the 95'. The 95' I just got is a silver 2dr sport that has 130,000 miles on it. I talked the guy down to $3000. The truck is in really good condition the outside is basically perfect condition. The inside needs to have the front two leather seats fixed and a carpet kit but other than that it is solid.

Out of curiosity, did the 94' Tahoe have the same dash as the 96' Tahoe, because my 95' does? I thought that was the first year the integrated the new dash with the new body style. I could be wrong.

I am not sure how to post a pic to the message but I posted a pic on my profile, check it out.

Thanks Again!

Actually, you are going to need to go to Gallery section of the site and type in my user name to see it.

The dash u have(95) is some what the same to the 97-99s except u have the cup holders instead of the pass airbag. Those only came on the 95-96s.

So, I have no passenger airbag? There is this moaning sound that comes out of the dash where I thought the air bag was. I thought the sound was the air bag venting. Any ideas? Maybe that should be another topic.
Great looking Truck pics! I checked out your Cardomain page. How did you get the pics to appear on your posts?

Im prety sure you dont have a passenger airbag. As for the pics, that my sig. I got the add of y pics n just added this ***pic***

Doc

I am very certain that passanger air bags were not installed until about 98 or so, one of the changes. The other post is correct the dash on the passanger side has cup holders (#$#$%^#$ stupid idea). I would have grabbed that tahoe in a heartbeat for the price you did. I would expect many good miles and years out of it.

When I got mine I did the following:

Full tune up - it had never had one - replaced everything listed in 1sy post
Fuel injection service and change fuel filter - do it every year
oil change, every 2,000 miles until oil quit looking very dark (took about 6,000 miles), I use Vavoline - just the normal stuff, I can't afford the pricey synthetic. When I change it at 3,000 now it is a semi dark color, unlike when I got it the oil was pitch black dark. I swear by Vavoline - been using it for 15 years, good stuff (k, I will get off my soap box)

The maintanance stuff on mine had not been done, so I had to do it all when I got it. If yours is already taken care of, then just keep it up.

As far as the air bag "sound" - airbags do nothing until the sensor sends the signal to a relay to deploy, a small electrical charge is applied to the air bag, a chemical reaction takes place and "BOOM" you have air bag deployment.

The sounds you are hearing is proably the air dams in the heating unit moving to the selection of the heating/cooling control knobs on the dash. See if this helps: before you shut the truck off, turn the heater/cooling fan speed to "off", then when you start it the next day turn the fan on, if you hear a noise under the dash I would suspect that it is normal operation of the heating/cooling unit, now if it is very noisey then you have a problem, but hearing it change from windshield defrost to floor heat in normal.

later

Kt

The "new" body style was introduced in LATE 1999 Early 2000, it has since then changed slightly. The biggest cosmetic difference in chevy trucks (including tahoe - since the 4 door tahoe sits on top of a 1/2 ton extended cab frame, a 2 door is probably on a regular cab frame) is in 1994 a new grill was introduced (curved out where chevy emblem is and more pointed in the middle), the old one had the flat emblem bar and had a flat appearance. The engine and transmission was way better than the 1992-1993. I do know that there are A LOT more suspension/lift kit options for the 2 door. Have fun.

Kt

Sounds like you got a real deal. I bought a well care for black 4X4 2-door with 155,000 for 7,500.
I also need the bottom leathers replaced. Ebay has some one that sell them all the time. They just slip on but you have to know if they are all hog cliped or has the black rails and the back is hog cliped. If you find some else where let me know. Dave