How to tell if a Tahoe is an LS or LT?

[TheEnder53]

Hello again everyone,

I have a question about my 01 Tahoe i haven’t really been able to get consistent answers on.

The tahoe has LT badges on it. They appear to be original as they are faded, and worn quite extensively. But from what i can tell on a one vin site that would actually give me the trim, they said it’s an LS.

From what i can tell, it doesn’t have painted body trim moldings, auto AC, or heated seats. It has pretty much everything else. Can anyone help me out here? I will list build sheet below.

Build Sheet

 

[OR VietVet]

My rule of thumb, without knowing the badges, is LS is cloth seats and LT is leather seats.

 

[Marky Dissod]

After 23 years, not sure if a definitive answer is possible, without sales materials.
Someone will eventually locate sales materials for 2001.

Meanwhile, I'd recommend:
17" wheels
front brake caliper brackets calipers rotors and pads from a 2010 Suburban
Once done, you'll NEVER go back.

 

[swathdiver]

Hello again everyone,

I have a question about my 01 Tahoe i haven’t really been able to get consistent answers on.

The tahoe has LT badges on it. They appear to be original as they are faded, and worn quite extensively. But from what i can tell on a one vin site that would actually give me the trim, they said it’s an LS.

From what i can tell, it doesn’t have painted body trim moldings, auto AC, or heated seats. It has pretty much everything else. Can anyone help me out here? I will list build sheet below.

Build Sheet

Send me your VIN, I have some lookups left at compnine.com.

 

[TheEnder53]

Send me your VIN, I have some lookups left at compnine.com.

1GNEK13T51R122692​

 

[TheEnder53]

My rule of thumb, without knowing the badges, is LS is cloth seats and LT is leather seats.

She has leather, sunroof, and a few other goodies. Haha.

 

[TheEnder53]

After 23 years, not sure if a definitive answer is possible, without sales materials.
Someone will eventually locate sales materials for 2001.

Meanwhile, I'd recommend:
17" wheels
front brake caliper brackets calipers rotors and pads from a 2010 Suburban
Once done, you'll NEVER go back.

I have heard about these upgrades and trust me they will be the first things i do to her. Very good!

 

[swathdiver]

1GNEK13T51R122692​

Build Sheet

1GNEK13T51R122692
Vehicle: TAHOE 4 DR 1/2 TON
Year: 2001
Build Date: 2000-11-29
RPO Description
UE1 COMMUNICATION SYSTEM VEHICLE, G.P.S. 1 GPS 1 VEH COMM SYS(UE1)
UG1 OPENER GARAGE DOOR, UNIVERSAL UNIVERSAL GARAGE DR OPENER(UG1)
UK6 RADIO CONTROL REAR SEAT & EARPHONE JACKS RR ST AUDIO(UK6)
UP0 RADIO AM/FM STEREO, SEEK/SCAN, AUTO REV MUSIC SEARCH CASS, CD, AUTO TONE, CLOCK, ETR. STEREO,AM/FM W/AUTO REV CASSETTE,CD,AUTO TONE(UP0)
UQ3 SPEAKER SYSTEM,PERFORMANCE ENHANCED AUDIO ENHANCED SPKR SYS(UQ3)
UY7 TRAILER WIRING,7 WIRE,2 LEAD FRONT HARNESS,5 LEAD REAR HARNESS 7 WIRE TRLR HARN(UY7)
VB3 BUMPER,REAR STEP,INCLUDES IMPACT STRIP(CHROME) CHROME STEP BPR(VB3)
VG3 STRIP,FRONT BUMPER IMPACT FRT BPR IMP STR(VG3)
VG8 LABEL,NOTICE TO BUYER NOTICE TO BUYER LABEL(VG8)
VP6 NOISE LEVEL CONTROL NOISE LVL CONT(VP6)
VR4 TRAILER HITCH(WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING PLATFORM) EQLZR HITCH(VR4)
VXS VEHICLE - COMPLETE
V22 GRILLE,RADIATOR(CHROME) CHROME GRL(V22)
V54 CARRIER,ROOF LUGGAGE(PAINTED) PAINTED RF LUGG CARR(V54)
V73 VEHICLE STATEMENT - US/CANADA US/CANADA VEHICLE STATEMENT(V73)
XMK TIRE FRONT P265/70R16 WOL R/PE ST TL AL2 111S TIRE(XMK)
X88 MARKET BRAND CHEVROLET CHEVROLET(X88)(EXPORT)
YA7 TEST - EMISSION, CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY LINE
YD3 AXLE FRONT (BASE EQUIP) FOR SCHEDULING GVW PLATE FRT AXLE(YD3)
YD6 SPRING,REAR(BASE EQUIPMENT) RR SPRING(YD6)
YE9 CONVENIENCE PKG COMFORT & DECOR LEVEL #3 COMFORT & CONVENIENCE PKG #3(YE9)
YF5 CALIFORNIA EMISSION CERTIFICATION CALIFORNIA EMIS CERTIFICATION(YF5)
YMK TIRE REAR P265/70R16 WOL R/PE ST TL AL2 111S TIRE(YMK)
ZMK TIRE SPARE P265/70R16 WOL R/PE ST TL AL2 111S SPARE TIRE(ZMK)
ZM9 SALES PACKAGE COMFORT AND CONVIENCE COMFORT AND CONVIENIENCE PKG(ZM9)
ZW7 CHASSIS PACKAGE,PREMIUM SMOOTH RIDE PREMIUM SMOOTH RIDE CHAS PKG(ZW7)
ZY1 COLOR COMBINATION SOLID SOLID PAINT COMBO(ZY1)
Z82 TRAILERING PACKAGE(SPECIAL)(REESE TYPE HITCH) PROVISION FOR HD TRAILER EQUIP(Z82)
1SB PACKAGE-OPTION 02 (1SB)
1SZ PACKAGE OPTION- (1SZ)
14U EXTERIOR COLOR,STORM GRAY MET (14U)
6XK SPRING COMPTR SELECT FRT LH SUSP(6XK)
7XK COMPONENT FRT RH COMPUTER SEL SUSP (7XK) SUSP(7XK)
92I INTERIOR TRIM SHALE/PEWTER (92I)
922 TRIM COMBINATION LEATHER, SHALE/PEWTER (922)
AG1 ADJUSTER FRT ST POWER, MULTI-DIRECTIONAL, DRIVER MULTI-DIRECTIONAL PWR D/SEAT ADJR(AG1)
AG2 ADJUSTER PASS ST POWER, MULTI-DIRECTIONAL MULTI-DIRECTIONAL P/SEAT ADJR(AG2)
AJ1 GLASS,DEEP TINT(REAR SIDE WINDOWS AND REAR DOOR WINDOW) DEEP TINTED GLS(AJ1)
ARL PLANT CODE-ARLINGTON TX, CPC ARLINGTON,TX ASSEMBLY PLANT(ARL)
AS3 SEAT,REAR UTILITY R/SEAT(AS3)
AT5 SEAT,RR CENTER FOLDING RR CTR FLDG SEAT(AT5)
AU0 LOCK CONTROL,REMOTE ENTRY(KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM) REMOTE ENTRY LK CONT(AU0)
AXP VIN IDENT POSITION, MULTI- PURPOSE VEHICLE MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLE VIN POSITION(AXP)
A31 WINDOW,POWER OPERATED,ALL DOORS PWR WINDOWS(A31)
A95 SEAT,FRONT BUCKET,DRIVER,PASSENGER,HIGH BACK RECLINING FRT HIGH BACK RECL BKT ST(A95)
BVE STEPS RUNNINGBOARD, SIDE RUNNINGBOARD SIDE STEPS(BVE)
B30 CARPET,FLOOR AND WHEELHOUSE FLR CPT(B30)
B58 COVERING,FLOOR MATS,FRONT AND REAR,CARPETED INSERT CPT INS FLR MATS(B58)
B85 ORNAMENTATION,EXTERIOR,BELT REVEAL MOLDING BELT RVL MLDG(B85)
CF5 ROOF,SUN,GLASS SLIDING,ELECTRIC ELEC SUNROOF(GLASS)(CF5)
C25 WIPER SYSTEM,REAR WINDOW RR WDO WPR(C25)
C36 HEATER,AUXILIARY AUX HTR,RR(C36)
C49 DEFOGGER,REAR WINDOW,ELECTRIC ELEC RR WDO DEFG(C49)
C5H GVW RATING 6, 900 LBS 6900 LB GVWR(C5H)
C60 AIR CONDITIONER,FRONT,MANUAL CONTROLS A/C MAN CONT(C60)
C69 AIR CONDITIONER,RR AUX RR AUX A/C(C69)
DF5 MIRROR,INSIDE,REARVIEW,LT SENSITIVE,COMPASS,O/S TEMP DISPLAY I/S REARVIEW MIR W/COMPASS(DF5)
DH2 MIRROR,INSIDE, ILLUMINATED,LH & RH,WITH DUAL SUNSHADE ILLUM S/S MIR(DH2)
DK8 CONSOLE ROOF INTERIOR, DELUXE ROOF CONSOLE(DK8)
DR2 MIRROR,OUTSIDE,LH & RH, REMOTE CONTROL,ELECTRIC, MANUAL FOLDING HEATED R/CONT HTD O/S MIR(DR2)
D07 CONSOLE,FRONT COMPARTMENT FLOOR(CUSTOM) CUSTOM F/CMPT FLR CNSL(D07)
EVA TEST DVT, EVAP EMISSION REQUIREMENT EVAP EMISSIONS REQUIRED(EVA)
E52 BODY EQUIPTMENT ONE PIECE LIFT GATE WITH LIFT GLASS BOD LIFT GATE W/GLASS(E52)
FF6 ARM,TORSION BAR SPRING ADJUST,LH TORS BAR ADJ ARM(FF6)
FF7 ARM,TORSION BAR SPRING ADJUST,RH TORS BAR ADJ ARM(FF7)
GT4 AXLE,REAR,3.73 RATIO 3.73R(GT4)
G65 LEVEL CONTROL MAN, SELF-ADJUSTING SELF-ADJ MANUAL LEVEL CONTROL(G65)
G80 AXLE,REAR,POSITRACTION,LIMITED SLIP POSITRACTION L/SLIP R/AXL(G80)
JC5 BRAKE VAC POWER, 4 WHL DISC, 7,200 LBS BRK VAC PWR DISC(JC5)
KC5 RECEPTACLE ELECTRICAL, ACCESSORY ACSRY ELEK RECEPTACLE(KC5)
KG8 GENERATOR 130 AMP 130 AMP GEN(KG8)
KNP COOLING SYSTEM,TRANSMISSION,HEAVY DUTY HVY DUTY TRANS CLG SYS(KNP)
K18 REACTOR SYSTEM AIR INJECTION, ELECTRIC ELEC AIR INJECTION REACTOR(K18)
K34 CRUISE CONTROL,AUTOMATIC,ELECTRONIC CRCONT(K34)
K47 AIR CLEANER HIGH CAPACITY HI CAPACITY A/CL(K47)
LM7 ENGINE GAS, 8 CYL, 5.3L, MFI 5.3T(LM7)
M30 TRANSMISSION,AUTOMATIC 4 SPEED,4L60E,ELECTRONIC 4-SPD A/TRANS(M30)
NC1 EMISSION SYSTEM CALIFORNIA, LEV CALIF EMIS LEV(NC1)
NP5 STEERING WHEEL,LEATHER WRAPPED LEATHER WRAPPED STRG WHL(NP5)
NP8 TRANSFER CASE ACTIVE, TWO SPEED, PUSH BUTTON CONTROL TRANSFER CASE(NP8)
NZZ PACKAGE,OFF ROAD SKID PLATE,SPORT SKID PLT PKG(NZZ)
PF4 WHEEL,16X7(ALUMINUM) AL WHL(PF4)
QE4 WHEEL SPARE 16 X 6.5, ALUMINUM ALUM SPA WHL(QE4)
QMK TIRE ALL P265/70R16 WOL R/PE ST TL AL2 111S TIRE(QMK)
R9I CONTROL - SALES ITEM NO. 84
R9J CONTROL - SALES ITEM NO. 85
R9K CONTROL - SALES ITEM NO. 86
SLM SALES PROCESSING - STOCK ORDERS
T96 LAMP,FRONT FOG(USED WITH TOURING YP6) FRT FOG LP(T96)

 

[project_x]

My rule of thumb, without knowing the badges, is LS is cloth seats and LT is leather seats.

I had an LS with leather, it had manual climate control....my LT has painted fender flares, leather, adjustable pedals and auto climate.

 

[Mudsport96]

Now this is something I'm going to have to look into I guess. Because it just created questions in my brain. MY 2006 Z71 has leather and auto climate....the FATHER-IN-LAWs 2006 Z71 had cloth and manual climate.... so could a fella have just added the Z71 option to any unit? Or would it have to have had some base upgrade to LT before you could order the Z71 package?
Like the High Flow air box comes automatically with the Z71 option. But we see here that the K47 is also independent of the Z71 option as I don't see it in the RPO list.

 

[strutaeng]

Hello again everyone,

I have a question about my 01 Tahoe i haven’t really been able to get consistent answers on.

The tahoe has LT badges on it. They appear to be original as they are faded, and worn quite extensively. But from what i can tell on a one vin site that would actually give me the trim, they said it’s an LS.

From what i can tell, it doesn’t have painted body trim moldings, auto AC, or heated seats. It has pretty much everything else. Can anyone help me out here? I will list build sheet below.

Build Sheet

I don't know if the painted body trim was actually available in 2001, was it?

It's the decals say LT, then that's what it is. I think the trim is like a general package, and the RPO code are more definitive options.

My 99 Silverado also had leather seats in an LS trim. I eventually replaced them with cloth because I wanted the jumseat instead of the console, and the leather was pretty beat up.

 

[Fless]

Here's something else to confuse you, from the Build Sheet on my '04 LT:

 

[Fless]

Now this is something I'm going to have to look into I guess. Because it just created questions in my brain. MY 2006 Z71 has leather and auto climate....the FATHER-IN-LAWs 2006 Z71 had cloth and manual climate.... so could a fella have just added the Z71 option to any unit? Or would it have to have had some base upgrade to LT before you could order the Z71 package?
Like the High Flow air box comes automatically with the Z71 option. But we see here that the K47 is also independent of the Z71 option as I don't see it in the RPO list.

IIRC 'Z71' is a "Chassis Package," not a trim level.

 

[Marky Dissod]

If the decals say LT, then that's what it is.

Given that there are precious few people who would fake a Tahoe LT -
You might be surprised how many supposed 'Impalas SS' I've seen ... with 4.3L V8s -
It's PROBABLY a Tahoe LT.

But again, someone needs to show up with the old sales materials to be sure.

 

[Marky Dissod]

https://www.motorologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2002-Chevrolet-Tahoe-brochure.pdf

 

[strutaeng]

You might be surprised how many supposed 'Impalas SS' I've seen ... with 4.3L V8s

...ah, the 4.3 V8 (L99 IIRC?)...kinda forgotten in modern history, probably like the SBC 305. You never hear about either anymore. A lot of people don't even know there was such a thing as a V8 4.3.

Was the 4.3 V8 also like big brother LT1? Did it have that Optispark distributer? I can't remember what else those engines had: reverse-flow cooling...(?)

 

[Marky Dissod]

Unless you know where to find the lone external telltale difference between the 4.3L L99 & the 5.7L LT1,
it's all too easy to confuse the L99 with the LT1 - they are externally identical from all the easy vantage points.
The only functional difference between the 4.3L L99 & the 5.7L LT1, is the displacement.

Reverse flow cooling with a cam-driven H2Opump allowed 10.0:1 scr in the Iron-head LT1 in 4- & 5-door cars,
and 10.5:1 scr in 2-door cars.
(LT1 engines, and my ability to tune them, are why I balk at the idea that high compression and 87 octane cannot coexist - you just have to be willing to give up some power and throttle response, compared to 91, is all.)
The Opti-Spark was a great idea, implemented about a decade too late.
It was also not safe from oil & H2Opump leaks.
Opti-Sparks work well IFF you know how to check for good quality control, and can properly install and diagnose them.
That said, LS-type coil-per-cylinder ignition, all by itself, is both a maintenance upgrade AND a performance mod for every LT1, with NO drawbacks.

@TheEnder53, check the brochure link I posted.

 

[adventurenali92]

IIRC 'Z71' is a "Chassis Package," not a trim level.

Yes and no. The chassis portion of the Z71 package is the stiffer shocks and springs in the rear and some other odds and ends of things, but it does include body specific trim that a regular Tahoe doesn’t have. Color matched front grille, color matched front and rear bumpers with a different lower plastic trim valence and fog lights on the front bumper than a regular Tahoe. Painted fender flares. z71 specific nerf style running boards. Z71 specific roof racks that are different than regular Tahoe roof racks. Different wheel option.

 

[Mudsport96]

...A lot of people don't even know there was such a thing as a V8 4.3.

Two different 4.3 V8s. The L99 that was the LT1 lookalike. And in 1975-76 anemic 4.3 (262) v8 in the monza and some midsized cars. Made 110 hp @3600 and 195tq @2000 rpm. Bore so small not even 1.94 valves fit the block.

 

[Doubeleive]

https://www.motorologist.com/wp-content/uploads/2002-Chevrolet-Tahoe-brochure.pdf

what messes it all up is O -optional equipment, could have this or that or not at all
my pickup say's LT & Z71 but it's a LTII & Z71, just a butthair under a LTZ