Is there a GMC version of the VHO?

[BlenderWizard]

I was just wondering, because I keep "looking out" for some tell tale signs of a VHO, which the only one I've really come up with is the wheels. I was out the other day at Sam's, I think, and there was a stark white GMC with wheels nearly identical to jethro_3's and White Lightening's, except they had GMC center caps. Is this a GMC VHO?

[nineball481]

there is a guy at www.performancetrucks.net that has a VHO GMC. His is black I believe.

[jethro_3]

The supposed less than 2000 VHO's in 2005 included GMC. Before I found my VHO in Denton I had the local GMC dealer do a search and they thought I was nuts and laughed for a week at me. When I drove onto the James Wood GMC, Cadillac, Chevy & Pontiac all in one line lot I spotted a LOADED $41K GMC VHO. From the outside it is the height and the rims that give it away. Look for a single 3" stainless exhaust out the back with duals out of the muffler.

Look at this one ==> '04 GMC VHO

Now GMC and Chevy are going to make a VHOMAX. It is not pure performance as in the past, it will be in 4x4's, z71's, crew cabs, not the big frame... but will have the bigger engine in it. There goes the neighborhood.....

[White Lightening]

Originally Posted by BlenderWizard

I was just wondering, because I keep "looking out" for some tell tale signs of a VHO, which the only one I've really come up with is the wheels. I was out the other day at Sam's, I think, and there was a stark white GMC with wheels nearly identical to jethro_3's and White Lightening's, except they had GMC center caps. Is this a GMC VHO?

Greetings Blender,

I know of at least one GMC VHO in 2004 (picture shown below) name is texascody20. He ended up getting it a bit by mistake - as he didn't even know it was a VHO - he just liked the look.

http://img9.imageshack.us/my.php?loc...wtruck34am.jpg

I should re-mention though - that merely the wheels on the VHO DOES NOT indicate it is VHO. There are more trucks out there with the 20 inch wheels that ARE NOT VHOs, than are VHOs. Chevy made in 2004 (and I think also in 2005) - what is known as the Limited Appearance Package. It was quite a deal and something I almost bought. It was a $1995 package that then got a $1000 rebate on the MSRP. In other words - the net cost was $995.00. It came in red and white trucks with the 5.3 engine. In every way it was a standard 1500 series exteneded cab except for the following:

a. 20 inch wheels and tires (just like the VHO)
b. Z60 suspension (just like the VHO and the SS)

They made a bunch of these trucks with this package on them - available in LS and LT configurations (always 2wd). First started producing this package in May 2004.

[BlenderWizard]

Originally Posted by White Lightening

Greetings Blender,

I know of at least one GMC VHO in 2004 (picture shown below) name is texascody20. He ended up getting it a bit by mistake - as he didn't even know it was a VHO - he just liked the look.

http://img9.imageshack.us/my.php?loc...wtruck34am.jpg

I should re-mention though - that merely the wheels on the VHO DOES NOT indicate it is VHO. There are more trucks out there with the 20 inch wheels that ARE NOT VHOs, than are VHOs. Chevy made in 2004 (and I think also in 2005) - what is known as the Limited Appearance Package. It was quite a deal and something I almost bought. It was a $1995 package that then got a $1000 rebate on the MSRP. In other words - the net cost was $995.00. It came in red and white trucks with the 5.3 engine. In every way it was a standard 1500 series exteneded cab except for the following:

a. 20 inch wheels and tires (just like the VHO)
b. Z60 suspension (just like the VHO and the SS)

They made a bunch of these trucks with this package on them - available in LS and LT configurations (always 2wd). First started producing this package in May 2004.

Wow, he bought that truck, and put that garbage around his fenders... nice

[2004vho]

In 2004 there were 2,000 Chevy & 2,000 GMC truck versions produced as either a Vortec High Output or a Spring Special Limited Edition Appearence Package ext'd cab 4X2 truck. There is no breakdown as 2 which trucks were LS/LT or SLE/SLT, with or without XM radio and/or OnStar etc.The SSLEAP's only came in (dark) Indigo Blue paint and had the same VHO suspension, a 5.3L engine, and the same 20" wheels as the VHO. They could be bought in any state!! The VHO had the 6.0L 345hp engine (slightly lower compression ratio than the SS Silverado 6.0L) but was only available the states of TX, OK, and LA and some boardering counties in "neigboring" states. I have no production #'s for 2005 VHO's, and in 2006 the truck option was re-named the VortexMax available in either a crewcab or ext'd cab version 6.0L 345hp 4X2 or 4X4 chassis.....Also, in late 2004-present these same 20" wheels were available a dealer installed options on any new truck!!! Hope this helps.....Also visit my webpage if you need more VHO info, pics, etc.

[White Lightening]

Originally Posted by 2004vho

In 2004 there were 2,000 Chevy & 2,000 GMC truck versions produced as either a Vortec High Output or a Limited Edition Appearence Package ext'd cab 4X2 truck. There is no breakdown as 2 which trucks were LS/LT or SLE/SLT, with or without XM radio and/or OnStar etc.The LEAP's only came in (dark) Indigo Blue paint and had the same VHO suspension, a 5.3L engine, and the same 20" wheels as the VHO. They could be bought in any state!! The VHO had the 6.0L 345hp engine (slightly lower compression radio than the SS Silverado 6.0L) but was only available the states of TX, OK, and LA and some boardering counties in "neigboring" states. I have no production #'s for 2005 VHO's, and in 2006 the truck option was re-named the VortexMax available in either a crewcab or ext'd cab version 6.0L 345hp 4X2 or 4X4 chassis.....
Also in late 2004-present these same 20" wheels were available a dealer installed options on any new truck!!! Hope this helps.....Also visit my webpage if you need more VHO info, pics, etc.

Thanks 2004VHO - but you have a few things not correct. I personally have never seen a Blue L.E.A.P., however I test drove Limited Appearance Package 2004's that were white or red (2 red, 1 white). I believe there were considerable L.E.A.P. trucks as I was able to find more than 15 in a 125 mile radius. In that same distance I was able to find only 3 VHO trucks - all of them without vho badging. Eventually - I bought a white vho in East Dubuque - Iowa. Other VHO's that I looked at were a black one in Rochester MN, and a white one just outside of Madison WI.

I understand the compression ratio on my truck and that of an SS are identical.

[jethro_3]

[quote=2004vho]The VHO had the 6.0L 345hp engine (slightly lower compression radio than the SS Silverado 6.0L) but was only available the states of TX, OK, and LA and some boardering counties in "neigboring" states.QUOTE]


So let me get this right..... How does GM differentiate a VHO and an SS engine in the VIN???? Same code, "N." Same engine parts. So how is it less compression??????? So is it the same Horsepower??? The LQ9 is an LQ9, no higher/lower compression builds are known to exist... Please show me some GM documentation. The lower compression 6.0 Liter is called a LQ4(310 HP) and on my build sheet I have referenced 3 times LQ9.

You got me on that one.

Also when you say only availible in TX, OK, and LA you missed the details on that one.

RPO R61 - South-West Truck Discount: (Note - South-West Truck Discount is restricted to residents of TX,OK,LA,CA,FL,NM,NV,AZ & Select counties in KS,AR,MS,AL & GA Please consult your DLR for Eligibility Requirements.)

That is directly from the GM Build Sheet on my truck. You to can get one printed by going to your dealer and asking for hte RPO build Sheet. Any dealer could order them but the discount only applied if you fit the condtions for R61, ASK White Lightening.

By the way, nice truck....

[2004vho]

Not all 2004 VHO's had the "vortec high outup" badges on the doors. These were shipped to the originating dealers SEPERATE from the truck itself, each dealer had to install these badges THEMSELVES via a paper template. With no literature or publicized info on these trucks, most dealers didn't know what 2 do with the VHO badges-some threw them away!! So, not all 2004 VHO's had the badges on the 2 front doors. The important thing here is that the engine code on a 2004 VHO is "N" for 6.0L and not "T" for 5.3L in the Spring Special Limited Edition appearance package. Otherwise, somone can/could confused a non-badged 2004 VHO in red, pewter, green, or marroon (for example) as a Spring Special Limited Edition. Furthermore, all this info pretains to the 2004 model only. In 2004 Spring Special Limited Edition Apperance Packages w/ 5.3L only came in DARK INDIGO BLUE METALLIC!! It was the ONLY 2004 truck available in this discontinued color......In 2005, the "Apperance Package" was available on ANY Ext'd cab 4X2 truck in ANY color....And all VHO trucks came with the badges already installed on the VHO 6.0L trucks.

On the power issue, I can't figure it out either. But the VHO's have less compression ratio than the SS Silverado for SURE and BOTH make 345hp!! I'm 100% on this one.....

[jethro_3]

I don't understand how you can change no parts,have less compression and still have same HP. Find some literature and I will believe. Less compression in the 6.0 was a result of flat top piston in the 310 HP and the 345 HP was the domed piston, one or the other. The VHO HAS 345, simple, it is. I will get you a Dyno slip next week to show you if that will help you. These creatures are rare and they do not follow all the rules. But the RPO code for an SS is B4U and the VHO was called out as B4V. Same engine. Go to SIlverado SS forum and tell them that the engine has less compression on the VHO. I will watch the posts with you and I will not stop them from eating you up.

In 2005 NOT ALL VHO came with badges installed. The VXS code specifies the truck come with door badges NOT installed. If the dealer installed them upon dilivery that is not the true VXS as ordered. This was directly from the dealers code book. Mine and a few others on Silverado SS have verified this. They may have come inside the cab but they were not installed on the doors at the assembly line.

The VHO came in SS colors and a few colors that the SS did not.

This truck is considered a cousin to the SS because it is a 2wd version with the same heart and sole, just without the flash.

[BlenderWizard]

Alright, I finally saw a commercial on TV today for the GMC VortecMAX trucks

[2004vho]

EASY JETHRO 3!! Easy man, i own a GMC VHO I'm not trying to "knock" our rides here dude!!! I know both the SS and the VHO make 345 hp, but the VHO HAS A LOWER COMPRESSION RATIO!! The SS has flattop pistions and a different PCM tune, compared to the VHO with dished pistons. Go to the SS Silverado site, heck that is were i have found MOST of my data. Look me up dude, my login is "Bad Bowtie". Search the forums there to for this piston and compression thread, heck next time I'm on the ssilverado.com site I'll copy and paste it here for you ok?
Just take it easy man, we are "VHO" brothers just trying to learn more about our rare trucks, and pass that information on to other GM truckers right????

[jethro_3]

Please help me read this thread from Silverado SS.....

VHO vs SS

No harm done no grudge carried. Just information and thank you for your help in making me find more....

[2004vho]

Well, U got me so far Jethro..... Maybe I got the 6.0L info on the Denali and Escalade crossed in my mind. So only the programing is differnet then in the PCM?? I'd rather not HAVE to run the 93 octane anyway man.....

[jethro_3]

GM literature for the LQ9 6.0L says, "93 Octane Prefered." I did not see where it differentiated between which model the LQ9 was in. It will run 87 but has a tendancy to ping in WOT at the track. Done that ONCE....