Bodyworks

[Subzilla]

Some questions for you 6.5ers on what was available bodywise in the 90's style trucks. We're in the market for a 6.5 pick-up with either extended cab or crew cab.

First question: Did GM only offer the 6.5 in the 3/4 and 1 ton?
Second: Was the crew cab available on the 3/4 ton? Or just extended cab?
Third: Was the short bed offered with the crew or extended cab and 3/4 ton?

We really would like a short bed but don't have the funds for a Dmax, that is if that's the only way we can get the short bed.

Thanks,
A 6.2er

[joed]

From memory, so others may want to offer some corrections:

1: The 6.5 was offered in 1/2 tons from 94-99. I think the last couple of years it was only available in an extended cab short box. It was also offered on 2-door 4wd Blazers/Tahoes from 94-99, and suburbans (both 1/2 and 3/4) from 94-99.

2&3: They did offer a crew cab short box 3/4 for 99 and 2000 only. The crew was offered on a 1-ton, (long bed only) from 93-2000. They also offered an extended cab 3/4 short box in two versions: lighter duty (6 lug wheels, 7200 GVWR), 94-99?, and the heavier duty (8 lug wheels, 8600 GVWR) from 96-2000, I believe - this is my 98. Also, extended cab long beds were available from 93-2000, on both 3/4 and 1 tons (most are duallies)

The 6.5 crew cab short box 3/4 is very rare - I've never seen one with a 6.5 here locally, most are 454 gassers. I'd like to find one myself!

I think that covers it - it gets confusing.

Hope that helps. Joe.

[Hubert]

What about the 3rd door options?
FYI
I THINK? ext cab 3rd door was offered in 1500's from '96+ but not same for 2500/3500's. Not sure of offerings I think they started in '98+ if at all. I don't know.

[Kenneth]

IIRC the 3rd door was available when gm switched to the new interior in 95. Well, for sure by 96, because I have a friend with a 96 chevy and it has the 3rd door. I think in 98 or 99 when you got the extended cab it came with the 3rd door, it wasn't an option. But, I could be totally wrong.

[JohnC]

My 2 cents:

The third door did not come until after '95.

HD E-cab shortboxes were available in '94, at least. (I think...)

[Hubert]

Hmmm a bit confussed my '97 K2500 ext cab short box has no 3rd door???? My nephews '96 K1500 gasser did have a 3rd door.

Might have something to do with gcvwr. Mine's the 8 lug 8600 lb model. The 3rd door takes some of the rigidity out of the truck.

I use to not care about it but with a new baby in a car seat this year the 3rd door would be nice.

[KallyI]

IIRC, when I bought my 97, I was told that the 3rd door was not available with the diesel option. No one could explain that to my satisfaction.

[Subzilla]

Thanks Joe and others, that helps alot! I guess I never really paid attention all these years to what had extended cab vs. bed length. Like I said, we would rather have the short bed just for ease of manuvering around. I'll keep my eye out for one. Or if ya'll know of one....

[Kenneth]

My buddy's truck was a gas model so that could be the difference. But his was a 96 and did have the 3rd door. I don't know why the diesels wouldn't have the 3rd door option, that is rediculous. I don't know if that's true, cause I have never seen a 6.5 with 3rd door, only gas trucks.

[Robyn]

I will venture a guess that the 3rd door (available in the 96 and later years) may not have been in the package because certain models are emission certified with certain engines and having that 3rd door may have made some stupid difference to some EPA moron.

This is no different than the 92-93 Burbs not being available with the 6.5 TD
From what Im told it was an emissions certification thing and the Burbs had not been certified yet with the 6.5 TD.

There are some out there that have been retroed for sure.

The manufactures do many Odd things when it comes to their package offerings for sure.

A friend has a 1500 series pickup (4x4) that has the 3rd door but its a 5.7 gasser 1996 model

Finding a particular combination in a used rig can be a challenge when you get back a few years.

The rigs that had the rather Odd packages (Short bed extended cabs ect) can even be tougher to dig up now simply because of the low production numbers combined with the normal losses due to wrecks and such.

Also many of these trucks are highly sought after and this further decreases the availability.

Looking on Auto Trader.Com and using the largest mileage scan available can produce some results if you are persistent.

I found my 95 crewcab (DaHooooley) on Auto trader.com
Was lucky and it was only 50 miles away.

Good luck in your quest

Robyn