Used 1997 Chevrolet C/K 3500 Series Consumer Reviews
Used C/K 3500 Series for sale
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 1997 C/K 3500 Series, so we've included reviews for other years of the C/K 3500 Series since its last redesign.
1993 K3500 Reg Cab LB 4X4
Erik, 06/30/2009
1993 Chevrolet C/K 3500 Series Cheyenne 2dr Regular Cab 4WD LB (5.7L 8cyl naturally aspired 5M)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
Family owned since new. Very reliable and great to drive. Fuel mileage is not that great but considering it is 454 with 4.10 gears 14 mpg is not bad. Could get a 1 ton with better economy but this one is paid for and the average payment on a new one will buy a lot of gas even at $3/gal. Here in rural IA there are many Chev/GMCs of this vintage still working hard. I know it will always start regardless of the temp. I plan to pass this one down to my son (it was my father's truck).
1993 1 ton dually
Jerrald Braiuca, 03/26/2006
1993 Chevrolet C/K 3500 Series Silverado 2dr Extended Cab LB (5.7L 8cyl naturally aspired 5M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
This is the first 1 ton dually I've owned and was surprised at how smooth it rides. I've been around Chevy trucks all my life and this is by far the best design both in convience and styling. Everyone warned me that I wouldn't like the 6.5 turbo but it has all the power and performance I'll ever need while still getting 16-17 mpg.
Whole lotta truck!
Mike Wise, 04/29/2004
1997 Chevrolet C/K 3500 Series Silverado 4dr Crew Cab 4WD LB (5.7L 8cyl naturally aspired 5M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I have the 6.5 Turbo Diesel motor which I absolutely love...when it runs! I can't stand it when it doesn't run or is having mechanical problems, which seems to be most of the time anymore. I've had overheating problems when I'm towing in the summer, fuel injection pump has been replaced ($1500), also had to replace lift pump, oil pressure switch 3 times, and pmd module twice. But, once you get her running right it's hard to beat it's performance and mpg!
I still love Chevy's but not this one.
Louie, 05/29/2006
1997 Chevrolet C/K 3500 Series Silverado 4dr Crew Cab 4WD LB (5.7L 8cyl naturally aspired 5M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I bought my used with 98K miles. After getting new motor, radiator, fuel pump, starter, brakes, heater coil and motor, brake line, rebuilt front end, before it turned 123K over 10k dollars in work and parts. To top that off I was getting 8 to 10 mpg with the 454. I finally couldn't take it anymore and traded for a Dodge diesel. It broke my heart cause I'm a Chevy man at heart. I love my Dodge,but I still may get another Chevy some day. I just think I really got a lemon with this truck and my other Chevy 1999 wasn't this back. Also Chevy really drop the ball when they stopped making the Camaro. That comblined with this truck turned me to Dodge.
Looks great, runs better
acshimp, 06/14/2003
1995 Chevrolet C/K 3500 Series Silverado 4dr Crew Cab LB (5.7L 8cyl naturally aspired 5M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
The Crew Cab long bed is,well, long. The cavernous space inside makes it worth while! Getting used to the length and dual rear wheels took only a few days. The venerable 454 is as bullet proof as ever- I am turning 95,000 miles and all I do is change the oil and get the occasional tune-up. Everything works inside and out and the interior and paint even looks great after 8 years. What's the downside? Gas. At only 10- 12 MPG ( I did get 13 once!) I don't pass too man gas stations.
Disappointed in Chevy
70mach428, 08/04/2003
1997 Chevrolet C/K 3500 Series Silverado 4dr Crew Cab 4WD LB (5.7L 8cyl naturally aspired 5M)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
I have been a GM owner for over twenty years and this truck will be my last GM vehicle. To be succinct, I have 58,000 miles and need a new bottem end on my engine, and my front end needs to be rebuilt - and this truck has been pampered! Call me crazy, but I think that a $40,000 truck should last more than 58,000 miles. To add insult to injury, GM will do nothing to help offset the cost of repairs. Ford, here I come.
Like a rock
billybob big rigger, 10/01/2006
1997 Chevrolet C/K 3500 Series Silverado 4dr Crew Cab 4WD LB (5.7L 8cyl naturally aspired 5M)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
I own a K3500 crew cab with a 454 big block. It has all the power I will ever need. It rides like a one ton, but if you want ride, buy a car. It will fit all your gear, and or family. It pulls like a mule. 4x4 is decent, but the auto hubs could have used a little better engineering. All in all, it is the best thing I have ever bought.
OK
S Johnston, 09/14/2006
1997 Chevrolet C/K 3500 Series Cheyenne 2dr Regular Cab LB (5.7L 8cyl naturally aspired 5M)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
Bought this truck new, 7.4L 2WD limited slip. Used for towing 4 horse 5th wheel. I really have no major complaints. The truck has done OK for me. I baby it, and have kept up the maintainence. It mostly has highway miles, going to and from horse shows. 7.4 performed OK on the towing, not a whole lot of power, but got me up the hill.
Big Beast
Matt, 08/20/2009
1990 Chevrolet C/K 3500 Series 2dr Regular Cab LB (7.4L 8cyl naturally aspired 4M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I bought this Truck to work on the farm where I lived, and it has been a very good buy. While the 454 DRINKS gas, this truck has never let me down. It is an absolute workhorse that will do any job you need it to with ease. I wouldn't recommend for a daily driver, but if you have work to do, its the one for you.
Canadian K3500
Mort, 04/13/2007
1994 Chevrolet C/K 3500 Series Silverado 2dr Extended Cab 4WD LB (5.7L 8cyl naturally aspired 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
In 113,000 km of driving, most of which was carrying my 2400# Bigfoot camper, I am very happy with this truck. I have had to replace the alternator and water pump. 170,000 total kms.
truck has never failed me
Jim Elmore, 10/20/2004
1990 Chevrolet C/K 3500 Series 2dr Regular Cab LB (7.4L 8cyl naturally aspired 4M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
i feel that this truck has many more years of faithful service to offer
If only they still made these.
dpurchell, 11/12/2003
1992 Chevrolet C/K 3500 Series Silverado 2dr Regular Cab 4WD LB (5.7L 8cyl naturally aspired 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Purchased new as a construction co. vehicle, I have been the sole owner of this truck since purchase in '92. I love the big block power and torque. After 155000 mi. I still own and use this truck and can't bring myself to replace it with a new version of pickup as I dont like the new ones as well. Still burns almost no oil between oil changes.
12000 lbs daily
HEAVYHAULERS, 11/22/2006
1992 Chevrolet C/K 3500 Series Scottsdale 2dr Extended Cab LB (5.7L 8cyl naturally aspired 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought my truck new, 300,000 miles today. The best truck I have owned. Only replaced ring & pinion (4:10), clutch 2X, brakes 5X, water pump 1X, battery 3X, starter 2X, AC compressior 1X, 1 valve job, 4 sets of tires, compression is still there in all 8 cyl. Burns about a half a quart every 3 weeks. Time to rebuild the entire front end and manual tranny and install a new seat. This truck pulls 12,000 lbs pintle hitch, daily 6 days a week in all kinds of traffic in all kinds of midwest weather and shows only minimal rust. Since Dodge has the Cummins in it and I now want a diesel thats my new truck. The Chevys are just too ugly and cannot match the power of the Dodge powertrain.
1993 1 ton Chev Silverado Truck
Robert Egge, 02/16/2004
1993 Chevrolet C/K 3500 Series Silverado 2dr Regular Cab LB (5.7L 8cyl naturally aspired 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought this truck new. I own a construction company and have enjoyed driving this. My son drove it for 3 years and now I am going to sell it. I have a 2000 Silverado 3/4 and it does not have near the power and the seat is very uncomfortable! I have loved owning this truck but my son bought his own car so we do not need it anymore. For anyone who is looking for a great vehicle the 1993 truck with the big engine has been awesome. The gas mileage is not so great but....
Matt's review
mathew glasscock, 11/01/2007
1993 Chevrolet C/K 3500 Series Silverado 2dr Extended Cab 4WD LB (5.7L 8cyl naturally aspired 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I use it hard every week. It has 470,865 miles on it and still drive it to work every day and haul cows on the weekend.
'93 c3500 Cheyenne dually 12' flatbed
Tony T., 01/01/2016
1993 Chevrolet C/K 3500 Series Cheyenne 2dr Regular Cab LB (5.7L 8cyl naturally aspired 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
My truck gets about 9~ mpg due to the additional weight of the 12' flatbed. It's very loud even with my 350 5.7l. The transmission is amazing however I cannot speak for the manual as my truck is a 4speed automatic at 188,000mi that loves sailing around 45-55 mph with an innovative 4th gear overdrive you'd think you're driving around in a very loud luxury car; even while towing 4000lbs. Maintenance on these trucks is easy, I just recently replaced my front suspension (upper, lower arm, tie rods, ect.) with 2 people and a bunch of hand tools. Everything under the hood is easily accessed. The only downside is the transmission is very expensive to rebuild due to it being one of the first in the line of new GM auto transmissions with a chip however with good care it will last a long time. I move vending machines with my truck and before I bought it I had to rent vehicles. I would rent a f450 sd gas flatbed which drove like a brick and drank gas like water costing me about $130 in gas for a trip out about 170 miles. Whereas my 93 Cheyenne drove like a dream and cost half as much in gas. These old trucks do not die if you take care of them. I've heard stories of people driving cheyenne trucks pushing 500kmi and I believe it, these trucks are beasts. The ride comfort is excellent after driving 5-10 miles in my grand marquis my back starts to hurt, but in my cheyenne even with a bench seat I can drive 200 miles and be happy. The handling is great after replacing my front suspension and getting a front end alignment you can drive this truck with telepathy if you wanted to.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Old Faithful
jrl423, 06/26/2009
1996 Chevrolet C/K 3500 Series Silverado 4dr Crew Cab LB (5.7L 8cyl naturally aspired 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is absolutely the best truck I have ever owned. It has the vortec 350 engine, auto, 2 wheel drive and single rear axle. I originally got this to haul a 36' bumper pull camper trailer. It did with no issues. I have hauled fifth wheels up to 40' and bobcats I rented with no problem. With 105,000 on it now it is still better than anything I test drive to replace it. Gas mileage is not bad unless its fully loaded. Other than regular maintenance all I have done is replace an AC compressor. Every time I think about getting something different,I just drive it to the dealer , look at the sticker and fall in love with my truck again.
96 Silverado 3500 Dualy Diesel A/T 2 w/d
J Howard, 08/02/2006
1996 Chevrolet C/K 3500 Series Silverado 2dr Extended Cab LB (5.7L 8cyl naturally aspired 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I like driving it w/o a load. I cannot get the pulling power I expected even though I have spent $1,500 to solve the problem. The dealer does not have an answer. I take very good care of it and do all the maintenance. I can barely pull a loaded 4 horse trailer or a 27' cabin boat. If I cannot solve soon, I will give up and go to another unit.
Honest evaluation
David, 03/31/2005
1992 Chevrolet C/K 3500 Series 2dr Regular Cab 4WD LB (5.7L 8cyl naturally aspired 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought new in 1992 this has been a work truck from day one. I have used it for an excavation business and it has been a great truck. It's worked hard but I have taken good care of it. Now has 174000 mi - burns almost no oil between changes(at 4000mi) and compression is close to new specs. If the truck had never been up north and run in the salt, I'm sure I would run it to 300000 miles. I would say the only weak link in the chain is the brake system, which has seemed ok but not great. They have always been touchy in damp weather and the anti- lock system has seemed to be less than inspiring. This truck is still working daily and turning 11-12mpg. I'll buy new Chevy when they look better!
Best Truck
Dave, 06/29/2005
1992 Chevrolet C/K 3500 Series 2dr Regular Cab 4WD LB (5.7L 8cyl naturally aspired 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought it new in 92. After 180,000 miles it still burns no oil between changes. This has been a fantastic truck. Chevy has me for life.
Farm truck
Don Robinson, 05/18/2007
1996 Chevrolet C/K 3500 Series Silverado 2dr Regular Cab 4WD LB (5.7L 8cyl naturally aspired 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This truck has been on the farm for 11 years, and with minor problems and one recall, has been trouble free and hard working. We have hauled cattle, fertilizer and chemicals, wood, machinery and countless other loads and the thing just keeps going. This engine did have an injector pump problem, but GM extended the warranty out and the problem was fixed on a 10 year old truck- no questions asked. I am keeping this truck for around the farm, but hope the new Duramax will prove as serviceable as this K 3500.
Used Truck Appraisal
naja, 02/06/2004
1993 Chevrolet C/K 3500 Series Cheyenne 2dr Extended Cab LB (5.7L 8cyl naturally aspired 5M)
0 of 6 people found this review helpful
This truck was a very good truck when it was new. Now it has many miles and has become unreliable. Has to be repaired every few months to keep in use. I am planning on selling and would like an appraisal for TMV. The truck has need for much exterior repairs. Please give me a TMV.