i don;t know if they made a zr2 in that year s10. i feel like that didn't and someone put those stickers on it for the heck of it.
the 4.3 is a super engine but that has the spider fuel injection assembly under the intake that everyone hates. its not tbi and those cause lots of issues. i am surprised the interior is still ok on that truck. its 100% plastic and does not like sunlight. my 98 sonoma (gmc version of s10) was so brittle when i bought that it broke into a million pieces when i put a dash carpet on it. the surrounds on the radio and cluster also easily broke every dang tab off.
the seats were super comfortable and the 2.3 inline 4 cylinder with the 5 speed was the best engine i ever had from a chevy. its the same engine they use in the cars and you can get a replacement from anything because they block is cast with the mounting holes for front and rear wheel drive. just change the accessories and its good to go.
the shifter is very short and feels really sporty.
i actually would have been driving my 98 red stepside single cab still, instead of the red 04 ranger stepside i have, but my son shifted into 2nd on the highway and blew the motor after i had just replaced the head and clutch so i was so aggrevated i gave it a fellow s10 guy on the street from me.
the stepside bed on the sonoma/s10 is wider than the ranger stepside so it was alot more useful.
the sonoma/s10 also came with an awesome sport pack (coded zq8 on glove box sticker) from the factory that was lowered, had big front and rear sway bars, and came with wide rims and low profile tires. my 98 sonoma had that package on it. the guy told me that was how he ordered it when he got it in los angeles when he was working out there in the 90s. he was retiring out of country and sold me the truck for 750 bucks.
man i wish i still had that truck. i like the 04 ranger but i liked that 98 sonoma a lot more.
the new colorado doesn't compare at all to the new ranger though. my son's girlfriend had a z71 25 colorado and its not nearly as nice, or good on gas, as my 24 ranger. and its been in the shop for about 4 times already, trans shift issues and engine cutting out while driving.
View attachment 139983
thats my 98. i had to replace the front bumper because the guy i got it from had bounced it off the curb to many times.
-------------------------------------
Key Details of the 1998 ZQ8 Package:
- Suspension/Handling: The package lowered the truck by 1.5 inches via specialized springs, with an additional 0.5-inch drop from lower-profile tires, totaling roughly 2 inches. It featured firmer springs, upgraded shocks, and a frame-to-axle "anti-hop" bar.
- Steering & Frame: A 12:1 quick-ratio steering box was standard, along with a steering frame brace.
- Wheels: The 1998 ZQ8 model featured 16x8-inch cast-aluminum wheels, which were also standard on the 1996-1998 S-10 SS.
- Availability: While often found on the 1999-2003 S-10 Xtreme, the ZQ8 package was available as a sports option on 1996-1998 GMC Sonoma models.
- Body Style: The Stepside (Sportside) bed with the ZQ8 package is considered quite rare, adding to its appeal as a sport truck.
