I am considering a 1996 H1 Military spec M998 outfitted with a 1994 Vette engine making 300 hp. It has soft top and doors also.

As it's military spec, the car is spartan (no interior, stereo, ac, heat etc). Truck bed is linex with two fuel filler tubes (not sure why two tubes, maybe aux gas tank).

I have never owned a truck but this one is priced well, has more room due to lack of interior.

My concerns are:

- the soft top and doors (for security and theft reason)
- lack of hvac, stereo

I tend to think the vette engine is a plus given stock engines are not bullet proof right? it would seem the LT1 engine would be reliable, easy to work on with low maintenance.

Are my concerns valid? the truck is around $25k. seems like a great buy, no?

 

The stock 6.2 and 6.5 Detroit diesels were very reliable but just not powerhouses. They also had 24volt glow plugs and starters so that may be another reason that they swapped the old motor.

I can tell you this, they are not comfortable and only have seating for 4 but they can go almost anywhere off road!

 

My old business partner had a '96 Hummer wagon with a 350 TBI motor in it. It would hardly get out of its own way (0-60 was probably somewhere around 30 seconds) due to the weight and gearing. An LT1 should do a little better. His truck had a complete stereo system, but it was practically pointless because the truck was so noisy inside anyway. It was relatively easy to work on, and parts for the GM components were cheap. There are two fuel tanks.

 

what will you use it for ?