Emissions issues with early 2000s gm trucks?

Mainly asking because I was looking at ZR2 S10s, but also for 4.8/5.3/6.0 trucks.  I have come across a couple low mileage (80-120k) S10s with bad $1800 catalytic converters, and another one that the owner was giving up on because the EGR monitor will not ever show complete.  Also, at a previous job they had a couple of 5.3 Chevy trucks that literally took months sometimes for the catalyst and evap monitors to set.  

Is that a common experience with GM trucks of that era? Living in California it would be a big issue, so I figure before buying one is the time to ask.  

Also, does anyone know what causes so many LSx powered trucks to catch on fire? In 20 years of going to salvage yards they are by far (by 20-30x) the most common vehicle to see totally burned.

Fuel rail bolts rust out, fuel lines rust out.

Maybe not Cali problems.

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

Fuel rail bolts rust out, fuel lines rust out.

Maybe not Cali problems.

Whatever the fire hazard is was even when they were pretty new. I think I counted 35 of them in one yard one time, all thoroughly burned to the point the rims were puddles stuck to the brake rotors.

In reply to Tk8398 :

Most likely vehicles to be parked at a job site or parking lot near a wildfire? Or most likely to be towing and overheat, causing something to melt and start a fire?

90BuickCentury said:

In reply to Tk8398 :

Most likely vehicles to be parked at a job site or parking lot near a wildfire? Or most likely to be towing and overheat, causing something to melt and start a fire?

There were too many over different yards and a number of years for that to be a logical explanation, I think they were catching on fire while being used, because it was only 4.8/5.3/6.0 pickups and SUVs. 

In reply to Tk8398 :

Ive been an avid junkyarder for a while. Ive seen 1 maybe 2 burned GMT800s.

I havent had any common problem running readiness on GMs. Ive seen the EGR monitor not run on a old mopar because the TPS sensor was dropping out. You can find the drive cycle required to run the monitors and just follow that.

I've had 4 GMT800's and a 6.0 swapped C10. These don't have any emissions issues that I've heard of and definitely don't have fire issues. Don't think I've ever seen a burned 4.8/5.3/6.0 truck or SUV. 
 

The only weakness that can be somewhat related to emissions is the intake manifold gasket that can leak on cold starts causing a rough idle for 10-30 seconds. Mine never set a CEL and the replacement gasket is an easy fix. Maybe 1 hour to swap it out. 

The biggest problem I have seen is failed grounds at the back of the head causing weird issues, and the wiring harness to the throttle body is a little stressed.  The yellow wire usually breaks within 1/4" of the connector.

I bought my 05 2500hd with a "unfixable" evap leak. In PA we can register over 9000lb gvwr to avoid emissions, but may not be possible elsewhere. I am thinking it's something a little trickier to fix like a seal on the access ring for the fuel pump and not a hose, etc. HPTuners used to be able to turn those things off but see the EPA threads on why that may not be possible anymore.

In reply to Paul_VR6 (Forum Supporter) :

Have seen a lot of fuel tanks rust out on top.  Yes the tank is plastic but some of the evap components are not.

Pete. (l33t FS) said:

In reply to Paul_VR6 (Forum Supporter) :

Have seen a lot of fuel tanks rust out on top.  Yes the tank is plastic but some of the evap components are not.

Good call, I'll take a peek when I drop the tank for a big fuel pump some day

In reply to Paul_VR6 (Forum Supporter) :

Most of the time when I see a GMT800 evap system someone has loaded the shotgun up and blasted it but it keeps coming back its the fuel tank pressure sensor