is there something in the vin# to tell the difference in the ratings? i know the 305 started somewhere in mid 03 and the 325 was 04.5 but but what are the manufacture dates? also i have had a couple 250hp trucks and a couple 325hp trucks and there is a huge diff when i put a smarty on these trucks! will the 305 act more like a 250 or the 325? any info would be great.

 

Look on the vale cover, driver's side. The info should be on a sticker there. The 305 and 325 trucks should respond similar to a Smarty unless you're looking for more than 400 or so horses although IMO the 325 trucks will feel a little better.

 

03 s.o. 250hp trucks had "s" for 5th digit in vin. H.o. 305hp trucks had "c". I believe 305 trucks were throughout the line up in 04 till the 325 "600" motor came out in 04.5. They also did away with the 10.5 rear end and 47re for 04..

 

In the 03/04 trucks, the main difference between the 235/250/305hp motors(besides piston design for oiling purposes) was the programming in their ecm's. The Smarty should/does make them all equal powerwise......

 

thanks guys, the vin stuff was what im looking for. looking for another 03 or 04 truck and i would llike a to find a 305 hp truck. i have an early 03 250hp truck and a 04.5 and with tha smarty the poor 03 on level 9 feels like 5 on the 04.5. no its not the truck i put it on another early truck it felt the same way also.

 

AirGrabber, that's incorrect. The 250 and 235hp trucks had a "6" as the 8th digit and the HOs have a "C" for the 8th digit. Seems strange to me that one is a number and one is a letter but that's what it is....

 

In early '03, you could order either HO or SO, but could only get the HO (305) with the 6spd. I ordered my 305/6spd in Nov of '02. '04 did have a mid year model change with the 325 and the '04.5.

 

Yeah. I also ordered an early 03 HO when you could only get the manual.

Shortly after that the 48RE was introduced and you could get that with the HO.

The SO CA emissions engine also had a cat, where the HO 555/305 did not.

In 04.5 the 50 state 600 came out, which has a cat.

 

i started looking at vins and it is weard that the 8th in one is a number and a letter in the other but either way we got it figured out. thanks guys!

 

Dang! You used to have two really nice 3rd gens Andy. I almost bought your green one...

 

oops, Got mixed up a bit. I will recite my model years and engine changes 10 times for my penalty while kneeling in front of my truck.

 

thanks! i cant really afford to out run people so i like my trucks to be reliable and cleaner than everyone elses. lol
i actually have a 02 auto for sale now if you guys know anyone looking, probably one of the cleanest left.

 

http://s754.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/silver%2002/