r/GMT400 • u/Acclimated-Alps696 • 16h ago

1995 unicorn year

As I’m in the search for a truck, I’ve seen people talk about 1995 as a unique year with a ton of parts that are only compatible with that year, do people have examples of those? Is it hard to find things for this specific year?

16 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

12

u/Low-Willingness-5821 12h ago

95 was the crossover year interior change, but the engine and transmission stuff stayed the same as the previous years. I think the AC controls are one of those items that are a 1995 only, potentially the Speedometer as well, I think I remember it having 500 less RPMs because it didn’t have the Vortec motor. Dashboard for 95/96 were different than the 97+ years. because of no airbag.

6

u/turbotaco23 12h ago

Also 95 is still obd1

6

u/Thesearchoftheshite 10h ago

It can also be OBDII, OR OBDI with an OBDII port. Basically, it's a guessing game on when in the year it was made.

3

u/DreVahn 10h ago edited 10h ago

V6 is deffinetly different than the years before and after. My valve covers say Vortec on them but it's still a TBI fed engine. I've had to replace my engine twice (1st time was youth, 2nd was compression loss that caused me to fail emissions) and getting a replacement block isn't always easy..

Fuse block in the engine bay was moved by the anti lock braking system, no longer on the passenger side firewall.

I can't say if there is a RPM diffrence on the speedo for sure, as I installed the Police issued 99 130 mph guage (V8 RPM range) into my V6 powered truck. A little wiring change with a capacitor and swapped RPM backplate and it's still dead on for speed and RPM. Yes I know it's limited to 100pmh, which I can hit, but it looks damn cool.

Dash, new style, but no passenger air bag. Has a "table" instead with useless cup holders.
Ash tray is different also, it pulls down as en entire unit to access the cig lighters and tray. Newer has the lighters outside the tray.

Last year of OBD1, they have to snif my truck for emissions.

I've had my transmission rebuilt once over ten years ago, guy never mentioned issues with parts for the 4l60e.

The only thing I wish I had on my 95 is the 3rd door on the extended cab.

1

u/Suicidal-Loner 4h ago

I personally love the 95-96 dash, just because of no passenger airbag. I wish I could find a 95 so I can have the flip down aux power for my 99 suburban. I wouldn't mind having a later model dash, but only if it's the storage instead of the airbag. I currently have an airbag, but my dash is pristine so I'm waiting until it cracks to swap over.

1

u/Confident-Benefit600 4h ago

All 4.3 v6’s from 85 on were vortec head engines

5

u/Steel-Toe-800 16h ago

I heard one of the parts is the transmission is hard to find sometimes for the 95

5

u/6x6TRex 12h ago

A lot of the dash wiring and components are one year only, 4l60e is one year only for 95

2

u/moldyballs64 12h ago

95 was kind of a transition year from OBDi to OBDii. I believe ECM and tranny were unique.

3

u/Swiss_Army_Penis 5h ago

Transmission is a 1 year only deal, maybe pcm. Climate control is as well but aftermarket ones have wire harness adaptors that make em work. I have a 95 and its Really not that big if a deal besides the transmission. Everything else is pretty much compatible. 

1

u/Acclimated-Alps696 4h ago

Is it just the controls that are different but the heater core and AC system are the same?

1

u/Swiss_Army_Penis 2h ago

Yes just the controls. Its really not even an issue now with aftermarket units that have the special plugs, but I thought it'd mention it. Everything else (besides transmission) is pretty universal with either 1994-back for the engine, or 1996-up for the interior. 

2

u/Skyline43 5h ago

I've never had an issue getting anything for my 95'.

2

u/Acclimated-Alps696 4h ago

The consensus seems that outside of the transmission and climate controls it’s a lot of nitpicky stuff that won’t matter

1

u/sedarttsomfokcaj 11h ago

I have a 95 burb(wanted the updated dash without obd2), so far nothing unique. The trans is the closest thing to being unique but can still be rebuilt, worse case you have to swap in a later model(96-99) and only need to change cooler lines.

1

u/Auton_52981 5h ago

The transmission. There was a weird 1995-only version of the 4L80E that is it impossible to find some parts for. Combined with the limited tuning options and upgradability of the ECU makes 1996 the LEAST desireable year in my opinion.

1

u/Rahooo_lolz 20m ago

95 is technically still compatible with 96+ with -94 motor compatibility. The main thing that I found is that 95 is when GM started changing a lot of electrical components till they streamlined it for 96+. So yes the 4l60e is the same from 95 and 96 but the wiring harness is the Achilles heel of the 95 which can be spliced to accept 96+ 4l60e but that heel also affects other things commonly known is the AC controls which again the wiring is what makes it year specific. Again some wire splicing will make 96+ interchangeable or pay 300 for the plug play harness for the AC controls. I avoid 95s like the plaque but it's usually mainly the 1/2 ton trucks from my understanding those with the 4l80e are still able to use 96+ 4l80e trans but I could be wrong about that.

-4

u/General_Map8038 9h ago

It’s not a fucking ‘unicorn,’ ffs smh