What is the best year of the 1st gen and what are the differences? I will be looking for a 4wd.

Thanks
Jason

IMHO, '91.5 thru '93. That was when the intercooler was added. Some of the '93's even had a lockup torque converter (A618). If you are in to luxury, the LE is as close as they got. The heads on the later model engines were also modified to prevent cracking around the fuel injector seat. They went from a 9mm to a 7mm injector. If you like automatic overdrive you may need to stick to the later years as well, but I am not absolutely sure of that. Personally I like the look of the earlier trucks better because the grill had to be pushed out to accomodate the intercooleron the later years. If you don't mind shifting gears go with a five speed. You will get more usable power than an automatic.

IMHO, '91.5 thru '93. That was when the intercooler was added. Some of the '93's even had a lockup torque converter (A618). If you are in to luxury, the LE is as close as they got. The heads on the later model engines were also modified to prevent cracking around the fuel injector seat. They went from a 9mm to a 7mm injector. If you like automatic overdrive you may need to stick to the later years as well, but I am not absolutely sure of that. Personally I like the look of the earlier trucks better because the grill had to be pushed out to accomodate the intercooleron the later years. If you don't mind shifting gears go with a five speed. You will get more usable power than an automatic.

That pritty much sum it up but you can make more power with the 89-91.(with out spending $$$$)cus the injectors were capable of flowing more fuel when you turn the pump up.........the down side is that when you turn the pump up the egts gotwaaaay up, espessaly in the summer time when you will be using it the most.....and there isn't a bolt in intercooler kit for these truck! :(

If you want a 5 sp, try to find a 93, they have the 18.5cm exhaust housing, and the radiator is supposedly bigger than ones on 91-92's(not entirely sure about this, I read it somewhere). I never owned a 91.5-93 w/ a built auto, I owned 2 stock ones. I also owned a 91 3 sp auto w/ 3.07 gears. I'd pick the 3 sp auto any day over the others, much more durable, cheaper to rebuild, etc. But they are non IC, not the best for towing. Frankly, just try to find a clean one, that's hard enough as it is, especially in the midwest. I'm about to fall through the floor on my 93, but It's what I wanted(see sig) and It gets 21 MPG. The 91.5-93 trucks are pretty much the same, and the 89-91 trucks are pretty much the same, the biggest changes between those two groups being the overdrive auto, intercooler, crossflow radiator and new style grille came in 91.5. As far as the power difference between the 2 groups yes the early ones are much faster stock, but the newer ones come w/ other better, not so easily changed parts. Besides, a set of injectors is $400, those and timing/pump adjustments will more than make up the difference.

Radiators the same for all the inter-cooled trucks. Much better than the earlier ones, but not an easy swap at all. 93 went back to the 18.5 cm turbo houseing. the early trucks with larger injector bodies supposedly are prone to cracked heads at the injector ports. The 3.07 gear is not available and the axle houseing and carrier are not able to be swapped with other gears without machining and shimming. The later trucks are set up better to recieve a tach. I believe the 4x4 hubs were changed a bit for the later trucks. The earlier trucks have a more aggressive fuel pin in the pump, which I believe makes cranking on the smoke screw and star wheel a bit less noticeable. But I think 93 went back to this pin, known to have a black bottom as apposed to a green bottom side.

'91.5 is the least troublesome, I think. Intercooled but they still had a seperate voltage regulator so none of that crank sensor foolishness to mess with.

They are all good, though. If it's a play toy/light work truck you can't go wrong with any of them. If you want big power or want to tow heavy, hold out for an intercooled truck. Don't worry about little crap like turbine housing size, it's $150 to fix it if you don't like it.

The '90 is the best year.

727 transmission, which means that you don't have to put up with the slushy overdrive; 3.07 rear end, which means that you don't need the slushy overdrive; bigger injectors, which mean that you can double your power without having to buy aftermarket; no computers, which means that you don't have computers; and no intercooler, which means that you can use water injection the way God intended and not worry about funky plumbing and leaky wannabe-radiators.

And the '90 is better than the '89 because the '89 had the ugly front end yet. [whistle]

The '90 is the best year.

727 transmission, which means that you don't have to put up with the slushy overdrive; 3.07 rear end, which means that you don't need the slushy overdrive; bigger injectors, which mean that you can double your power without having to buy aftermarket; no computers, which means that you don't have computers; and no intercooler, which means that you can use water injection the way God intended and not worry about funky plumbing and leaky wannabe-radiators.

And the '90 is better than the '89 because the '89 had the ugly front end yet. [whistle]

[laugh] I'm shore that some one will chime in on the 89 opinion!
90 have a computer also, it just dont control near as much as the intercooled ones do!

90 have a computer also, it just dont control near as much as the intercooled ones do!

I have a computer? Where? I don't see no computer...

(Except for the one in the glove box that makes it harder to do donuts...)

Was that an 1990.5 change? My engine actually says 1989 on it, although the doorjamb says 1990. (And the turbo says '88...)

I have a computer? Where? I don't see no computer...

(Except for the one in the glove box that makes it harder to do donuts...)

Was that an 1990.5

Black box, driver side fender, beween the fire wall and the fender!
It contols stuff like air intake heater, fuel heaters, and cruz if it an auto......it may do 1 or 2 ether things allso.

Black box, driver side fender, beween the fire wall and the fender!
It contols stuff like air intake heater, fuel heaters, and cruz if it an auto......it may do 1 or 2 ether things allso.

Oh, heck, that thing doesn't count.

I accidently ripped that little black box open with a scratch awl a few months ago and I'm still waiting to see the adverse affects... [coffee]

this wasnt when u tried crashing cuz theres no hotties in CA was it? IMO '93 was the best year...very few problems...

IMO I think it depends on what you want to do with the truck.

this wasnt when u tried crashing cuz theres no hotties in CA was it? IMO '93 was the best year...very few problems...

Actually, the problem there was a bad voltage regulator, which screwed up Led Zeppelin and subsequently burned out my headlights.

While installing the new light bulbs there occured the aforementioned incident with the scratch awl.

So in a way, yes.

IMO I think it depends on what you want to do with the truck.
What he said.

Some of the '93's even had a lockup torque converter (A618).
Has anyone confirmed this or is it still a rumor? I know mine does, but thats because I put it there.

I'm rather partial to 92, 93 club cab LE's myself.

Thanks for the replies fellas. I would be using the truck to haul and tow. It would be occasional towing. The rest would be hunting and fishing. I would like to have good power though. The trailer is around 8k. I would like to not know it is back there though. [laugh]

Thanks again


Jason

Has anyone confirmed this or is it still a rumor? I know mine does, but thats because I put it there.
Yeah they called gas truck models. There was also a 5 speed auto available too.... again in gas truck models :rolleyes:.

Thanks for the replies fellas. I would be using the truck to haul and tow. It would be occasional towing. The rest would be hunting and fishing. I would like to have good power though. The trailer is around 8k. I would like to not know it is back there though. [laugh]

Thanks again


Jason

If you don't plan to go too crazy on power and want good reliable power Id go with a 91.5-93 intercooled. If your towing and you prefer auto's you will be better off getting it built to prevent any tranny problems.

I happen to be very fond of my '93 LE. I read somewhere that 92 and 93 had heavier frames, but I've not confirmed it....