Used Chevrolet C/K 1500 Engines
Used, remanufactured and rebuilt engines for the 1988–1999 Chevrolet C/K 1500 — tested before they ship and covered by warranty. Tell us your truck and we’ll match the exact engine.
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Engine Options
Which engine does your C/K 1500 have?
The C/K 1500 is the GMT400 half-ton, the Chevrolet pickup that came before the Silverado. Its gas engines come in two families that look alike and do not interchange: the throttle-body-injected (TBI) 4.3L V6, 5.0L and 5.7L V8s of 1988–1995, and the Vortec versions of the same three engines from 1996, which moved to central sequential injection and OBD-II. Detroit 6.2L and later 6.5L diesels were offered throughout, and the 1990–1993 454 SS was the only 1500 with the 7.4L big-block.
The 1500 pickup ran from 1988 to 1998 in the US; the 1999 “Classic” continued only as a 2500 or 3500 alongside the new Silverado. The table below lists what was offered when. Because a 1995 engine and a 1996 engine of the same size are different units, we confirm from the VIN before we quote.
| Engine | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4.3L V6 (262) | Code: LB4 | Base engine, 150–165 hp. |
| 5.0L V8 (305) | Code: L03 | All years, 175 hp. |
| 5.7L V8 (350) | Code: L05 | All years, 185–210 hp. |
| 7.4L V8 (454) | Code: L19 | 454 SS only, 1990–1993: the Mark IV engine for 1990, the Gen V from 1991. Every other 454 went in the 2500HD and 3500. |
| Engine | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4.3L V6 Vortec 4300 | Code: L35 | 200 hp. |
| 5.0L V8 Vortec 5000 | Code: L30 | 230 hp. |
| 5.7L V8 Vortec 5700 | Code: L31 | 255 hp. Continued in the 2500 and 3500 Classic to 2000. |
| Engine | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6.2L V8 diesel | Code: LH6 | Detroit Diesel, 1988–1993, 126–150 hp. The light-duty version; the LL4 was the heavy-duty engine for trucks over 8,500 lb GVWR. |
| 6.5L V8 diesel, naturally aspirated | Code: L49 | 1994–1995 light-duty trucks, 155 hp; dropped for 1996. |
| 6.5L V8 turbodiesel | Code: L56 | 1994–1998, light-duty 1500 and 2500 (VIN S), 180 hp. The L65 (VIN F) was the heavy-duty turbo. |
Not sure which one is yours? Request a quote and we’ll work it out from your VIN.
Before You Order
What to check before you order
TBI or Vortec
A 1988–1995 engine has throttle-body injection; a 1996–1998 engine is a Vortec with central sequential injection, built for OBD-II. They are not interchangeable even at the same displacement, so the model year decides which we quote.
Light-duty or heavy-duty diesel
The 6.2L came as the light-duty LH6 and the heavy-duty LL4, and the 6.5L turbo as the light-duty L56 and heavy-duty L65. A 1500 takes the light-duty engine; match the code, not just the size.
Which 6.5L
For 1994 and 1995 a 1500 could have the naturally aspirated 6.5L (L49) or the turbo (L56). The naturally aspirated engine was dropped for 1996. Tell us which you have.
454 SS
The 7.4L was a 2500HD and 3500 engine except in the 1990–1993 454 SS. The 1990 truck has the Mark IV engine and the 1991–1993 trucks the Gen V, so the year matters.
Have your VIN ready
With the VIN we can confirm the engine, model year and weight rating before we quote, which avoids ordering the wrong version.
Common Problems
Common C/K 1500 engine problems
Sticking CSFI injectors — Vortec 4.3L, 5.0L and 5.7L, 1996–1998
The poppet injectors on the central “spider” stick or leak, giving hard hot starts, misfires and fuel washing the cylinders. GM bulletins 99-06-01-022 and 00-06-04-003B cover cleaning, and a later bulletin recommends converting to the multi-port spider. It rarely kills the engine, but on a high-mileage truck it is often what prompts the rebuild-or-replace decision.
Stalling and block cracking — 6.5L diesel, 1994–1998
The pump-mounted driver (PMD) overheats in the engine valley and causes stalling and no-starts; it is the most common 6.5L fault and is not an engine failure. The engine itself is replaced most often for cracked main-bearing webs and main caps, crankshaft failure, or heads cracked by overheating.
Intake-gasket coolant leaks — 4.3L V6, 1995–1998
Coolant leaking past the intake-manifold gasket and sludging the oil was the subject of GM’s 2008 Dex-Cool settlement, which covered 1995–2004 vehicles with the 4.3L. That settlement is closed, so there is no claim to make now.
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FAQ
C/K 1500 engine questions, answered
Which engine does my C/K 1500 have?
For 1988–1995 it is a TBI 4.3L V6, 5.0L or 5.7L V8; for 1996–1998 a Vortec version of the same three. Diesels were the 6.2L to 1993 and the 6.5L from 1994, and only the 454 SS had the 7.4L. Send us your VIN and we’ll confirm the RPO code.
Will a 1996-up Vortec 5.7L go into my 1995 truck?
Not as a direct replacement. The Vortec has different fuel injection and engine management, built for OBD-II. We supply the TBI engine your truck was built with.
Is there a recall or extended warranty on my engine?
We know of none: no powertrain recall or warranty extension for the GMT400 1500, and the Dex-Cool settlement that covered the 4.3L closed years ago. Run your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to be sure.
Is the engine covered by a warranty?
Yes. Every engine we sell is covered by warranty, and extended cover is available at extra cost. The full terms are in our Warranty Policy.
Ready to replace your C/K 1500 engine?
Tell us the year and have your VIN to hand — a specialist will confirm the right unit and send you a quote.
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