Piston Slap: How Much GMT 360 Can You Handle?

Sajeev Mehta
by Sajeev Mehta

Roland writes:

Hey Sajeev,

A few years ago I was looking for a midsized SUV for my business (kitchen renovations) and ended up with a ’07 4Runner Sport — which my son (and business partner) decided was for him. Not wanting to derail a business and personal relationship, I stuck with my ’01 Silverado pickup.

Recently I’ve been looking at midsized SUVs again (this time for myself), but don’t want anything new, being a firm believer in used vehicles. One option is the Saab 9-7X (here comes the derision!). I like the size, styling, don’t need seven seats, and if I can interpret various articles — it was the best GM SUV of its time, but Saab fans hated it for that reason. I can pick up an ’06 model for about a $1,000 (CDN, with 104K miles) with a blown 5.3-liter engine, no rust, etc. Question: Would this be an opportunity to drop a 6.0-liter into a 9-7X without the harsh ride of a TrailBlazer SS?

Or just find a 5.3-liter replacement engine and keep things as is?

Or am I nuts?

Sajeev answers:

Well, of course getting MOAR LSX-FTW is a great idea. But the smart move for a businessman is to wimp out and get a replacement 5.3. Those aren’t the cheapest 5.3s around (i.e. all-aluminum LM4) but they are still cheaper than a 6.0 and might have less tuning/programming headaches. But maybe this isn’t being a wimp. Why, I reckon you can slap a mild cam, a set of headers, full exhaust, tune, etc, to a replacement 5.3 for less cash and be quite happy with your work truck!

I quite like this idea, but I brought in our very own Chris Tonn for some personal feedback. Read on:

Chris writes:

Bozi says: LS motor makes all things great. Chris, the ’06 Trailblazer owner, says: RUN.

I’d choose a rusted ’88 Tercel rolling on three wheels and the left rear drum dragging on the ground over another GMT360. Though one of my biggest gripes with my Trailblazer — the flaky ignition switch that requires yearly replacement — is solved by the Saab’s console-mounted key switch.

Nothing is easy to repair on the GMT360. In salt-laden climates, the power steering lines and cooler will rust through, requiring the flexibility of a gymnast combined with the strength of a powerlifter to replace without pulling the engine. The front struts wear quickly and can be a bear to DIY. Fuel economy is dismal even with the six-cylinder.

If you want to stay with a GM product, consider a Tahoe. It’s a proper truck beneath, with a bit more interior space, better ride quality, and better ease of maintenance.

[Image: Chevrolet]

Send your queries to sajeev@thetruthaboutcars.com. Spare no details and ask for a speedy resolution if you’re in a hurry…but be realistic, and use your make/model specific forums instead of TTAC for more timely advice.

Sajeev Mehta
Sajeev Mehta

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  • Bam210135 Bam210135 on Nov 24, 2017

    As a 9-7x owner, I'd recommend buying it as long as there aren't rust issues on the frame/cooler lines. I'm a big fan of mine! As far as the 6.0 ls conversion, I'd recommend not doing it and going mild with any hop up choices. While the suspension, steering, and brakes are identical on all 9-7x's to a TBSS, the transfer case is not. It's a different awd t-case. It might stand up to it, it might not.

  • Gtem Gtem on Nov 24, 2017

    My overall impression of the GMT360 is a gem of an engine bolted to a heap of garbage.

  • CanadaCraig You can just imagine how quickly the tires are going to wear out on a 5,800 lbs AWD 2024 Dodge Charger.
  • Luke42 I tried FSD for a month in December 2022 on my Model Y and wasn’t impressed.The building-blocks were amazing but sum of the all of those amazing parts was about as useful as Honda Sensing in terms of reducing the driver’s workload.I have a list of fixes I need to see in Autopilot before I blow another $200 renting FSD. But I will try it for free for a month.I would love it if FSD v12 lived up to the hype and my mind were changed. But I have no reason to believe I might be wrong at this point, based on the reviews I’ve read so far. [shrug]. I’m sure I’ll have more to say about it once I get to test it.
  • FormerFF We bought three new and one used car last year, so we won't be visiting any showrooms this year unless a meteor hits one of them. Sorry to hear that Mini has terminated the manual transmission, a Mini could be a fun car to drive with a stick.It appears that 2025 is going to see a significant decrease in the number of models that can be had with a stick. The used car we bought is a Mk 7 GTI with a six speed manual, and my younger daughter and I are enjoying it quite a lot. We'll be hanging on to it for many years.
  • Oberkanone Where is the value here? Magna is assembling the vehicles. The IP is not novel. Just buy the IP at bankruptcy stage for next to nothing.
  • Jalop1991 what, no Turbo trim?
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