The cateye Silverado is the facelifted 2003-2006 Chevy Silverado. It's the GMT800 truck with the narrow, sharply angled headlights that give it a permanent mean squint. Chevy never sold a trim called "Cateye." It's an enthusiast nickname, and plenty of people count the 2007 Silverado Classic too. People want them because they look angry, they're simple to work on, and the top dog, the Silverado SS, made 345 hp from a 6.0L V8.
Where did the cateye come from?
Start in August 1998. GM launched the first-generation Silverado 1500 and 2500 as 1999 models. They rode on the new GMT800 platform and were sold as the Chevy Silverado and the GMC Sierra.
The GMT800 replaced the old GMT400 C/K trucks, but not overnight. The light-duty "classic" C/K stayed in production next to the new truck for the first model year. GMT400 heavy-duty pickups held on until 2000. The GMT800 Silverado and Sierra HD arrived for model year 2001, built at Fort Wayne Assembly in Roanoke, Indiana, and at Flint Truck Assembly and Pontiac East Assembly in Michigan.
Then came the glow-up. The mid-cycle refresh for 2003 was introduced in 2002, and the new front end took its cue from the Cadillac Escalade of the same generation, minus the horizontal bar, which the Escalade didn't have. It also pulled styling cues from the Avalanche and Trailblazer. Every Silverado and Sierra got a revised nose. The Silverado's version is the one everybody calls "cateye."
It was more than a nose job. The 2003 truck got more than 40 new features and enhancements:
- A redesigned instrument panel and cluster, plus new audio and HVAC controls
- Dual-zone climate control and the segment's first Bose audio systems
- A new multiplexed electrical system and electronic throttle control
- Wider availability of Quadrasteer four-wheel steering
- The brand-new Silverado SS
Out back the rear got a light update and new tail lamps. Dual-rear-wheel trucks were the exception and kept the earlier taillights. Most models got new wheel designs too.
Cateye years, versions and engines
The cateye kept changing every year it was built. Here's the short version.
| Model year | What changed |
|---|---|
| 1999-2002 | Original GMT800 with straighter headlight lenses. Not a cateye. |
| 2003 | Cateye front end, refreshed interior, new cluster, HVAC and audio, electronic throttle control, Silverado SS launches (AWD only) |
| 2004 | Light-duty 1500 Crew Cab Short Box joins the lineup, limited-market Hybrid production begins, Duramax LLY replaces the LB7 mid-year |
| 2005 | 1500HD badge returns, 1500 manual transmission dropped, most 1500s switch to rear drum brakes, L33 high-output 5.3L appears, SS gets a 2WD option |
| 2006 | VortecMAX expands the 345-hp 6.0L to more 1500s, Intimidator SS offered, Duramax LBZ arrives |
| 2007 Classic | GMT800 production continues beside the redesigned truck |
That 2005 brake change matters if you're shopping. To cut costs, every 1500 except the Hybrid (and the GMC Sierra Denali) went from four-wheel discs to front discs and rear drums. Heavy-duty trucks kept four-wheel vented discs.
| Engine | Where you'll find it | Output |
|---|---|---|
| 4.3L Vortec V6 | 1500 | - |
| 4.8L Vortec V8 | 1500 | - |
| 5.3L Vortec V8 | 1500 | - |
| 6.0L Vortec High Output / VortecMAX (LQ9) | SS, then more 1500s for 2006 | 345 hp / 380 lb-ft |
| 6.0L Vortec 6000 | 1500HD | 300 hp / 360 lb-ft |
| 6.0L Vortec (LQ4) | HD | About 300 hp / 360 lb-ft |
| 8.1L Vortec 8100 (L18) | HD | About 330-340 hp / 450-455 lb-ft |
| 6.6L Duramax LB7 | 2001-2004 HD | 300 hp / 520 lb-ft |
| 6.6L Duramax LLY | Mid-2004 on HD | 310 hp / 605 lb-ft (auto), about 300 / 520 (manual) |
| 6.6L Duramax LBZ | 2006-2007 Classic HD | 360 hp / 650 lb-ft, Allison 1000 6-speed auto only |
Light-duty transmissions were the 4L60-E, 4L65-E and 4L80-E four-speed automatics, plus NV3500 and NV4500 five-speed manuals. You could get rear-wheel drive or 4WD.
The sleeper of the bunch is the 1500HD. It runs the 6.0L Vortec 6000 with a 4L80-E automatic, an 8,600 lb GVWR and eight-lug wheels. For 2006, max payload was 2,052 lb on the 1500 and 3,129 lb on the 1500HD. Max trailer rating was 10,400 lb for a 1500 in the right VortecMAX tow setup and 10,300 lb for the 1500HD.
The SS and the Intimidator: what makes a cateye special
The cateye's party piece is the Silverado SS. It launched in early 2003 on the 1500 Extended Cab with the 6.5-foot Fleetside box. Chevy called the engine "Vortec High Output" and later "VortecMAX," and Cadillac called the same motor the "HO 6000." It was a 6.0L LQ9 V8 making 345 hp and 380 lb-ft, bolted only to a 4L65E four-speed automatic.
The 2003-2004 trucks were AWD only, with the drivetrain borrowed from the GMC Denali and Cadillac Escalade. They also got a 4.10 G80 rear axle, four-wheel discs, the Z60 suspension that dropped the ride height and firmed things up, 20-inch wheels and 275-width tires. A full-size pickup that hit 60 in 6.3 seconds in 2003 was a big deal. It still didn't sell well.
So Chevy added a cheaper, lighter RWD SS for 2005. It weighed about 200 lb less than the AWD truck, usually came with a 3.73 axle, and lost the rear discs for drums. By 2006 the SS was RWD only, with a 3.73 G80. Paint choices were short: Black Onyx, Victory Red, Arrival Blue Metallic and Silver Birch Metallic, with Silver Birch replacing Arrival Blue in 2005.
Then there's the holy grail: the 2006 Intimidator SS, built to honor Dale Earnhardt and Chevy's sixth signature-edition vehicle. Only 933 were built, all in Black Onyx. Here's what it got:
- Black monochromatic paint and a tailgate spoiler
- 20-inch chrome wheels
- 2WD with a 3.73 final drive and a locking differential
- Two-stage multi-leaf springs, Tenneco shocks and a stiffer front stabilizer bar
- Earnhardt's signature on the tach
The cateye scene today
Owners sum up the look in one word: angry. The 2003-2006 trucks wear angled headlight lenses, while the 1999-2002 trucks have straighter ones. The interior and sides look nearly the same between the two, so the face does all the talking.
That split is why aftermarket parts usually come grouped as "99-02" and "03-06." Know which one you have before you order anything for the front end.
The builds we like on these trucks fall into three camps:
- The clean daily: leveled front, 17s or 20s tucked close to the fenders, stock motor. Simple and sharp.
- The lifted poke truck: a real lift and wide 22s with deep negative offset sticking out past the fenders ("poke").
- The SS tribute: a 2WD 1500 with the 6.0L, a low stance and big chrome or black 20s. Sleeper energy.
Which years to buy (and which to skip)
For a daily: we'd hunt a 2003-2004 1500 with the 5.3L. You get the cateye face, the new interior and four-wheel disc brakes before the 2005 drum swap. Need four real doors? The 2004 Crew Cab Short Box is the one.
For a build: a 2005-2006 2WD 1500 is the cheap, light starting point. If you can find a 2006 with the 345-hp VortecMAX 6.0L, grab it. Rear drums aren't a dealbreaker on a build because you'll be into the brakes anyway.
For a collector: a 2003-2004 AWD SS with the 4.10 axle and rear discs, or a 2006 Intimidator SS. Low miles and original paint matter more than anything you could bolt on.
For towing: a 2006 HD with the LBZ Duramax and Allison six-speed, or a 1500HD with the 6.0L if you want eight lugs without a full HD.
What we'd skip: anything with rotted rockers or a flaking frame at the rear cab mount, no matter how good the price looks. Also watch for 1999-2002 trucks wearing a cateye nose. The swap only needs the front bumper brackets, so the face alone doesn't prove the year. Check the dash and the tail lamps.
What to check before you buy
Rust is the cateye killer. Bring a flashlight and don't be shy.
- Cab corners and rockers: the GMT800's most common body problem, especially on trucks from road-salt country. Rust starts behind the rear doors and at the bottom of the cab. Extended and crew cabs get hit hardest.
- Poke the rocker behind the rear door. If it crumbles, walk away. Rockers rot from the inside out when the weep holes plug with salt and dirt.
- Frame at the rear cab mount: flaking, scale or holes are deal-breakers.
- Prior repairs: weld-in patch panels last. Bolt-on covers, clip-on covers and Bondo don't.
- Door bottoms and brake lines: brake-line corrosion is common on northern trucks.
- Transmission: high-mileage 4L60E trucks wear out the 3-4 clutch pack and get torque converter shudder.
- Gauges: instrument cluster stepper motors fail. GM issued Special Coverage #07187 for it.
- 4WD: a "Service 4WD" light usually points to the transfer case switch or encoder. Transfer case "pump rub" is another known issue.
- Clunks: intermediate steering shaft and driveshaft slip yoke.
- Front end: worn hub bearings and ABS sensor problems.
- Everything else: fuel pump module, knock sensors killed by water in the engine valley, broken exhaust manifold bolts, HVAC blend door actuators, and Autoride (Z55) shocks or compressor.
Already own one? Don't seal the rocker weep holes. Wash the rockers out and coat the insides with something like Fluid Film.
Wheels and tires for the cateye Silverado
The 2003-2006 Silverado 1500 runs a 6x139.7 bolt pattern (6x5.5) with a 78.1 mm hub bore. The stock 1500 wheel is a 7x16 with a +31 offset, and the SS rolled on 20s. The 1500HD is eight-lug, so none of this applies to it.
| Wheel size | Offset range | Clearance |
|---|---|---|
| 15x7 to 16x8 (incl. 16x6.5) | -6 to +35 | Bolts on |
| 17x6.5, 17x7 | -6 to +35 | Bolts on |
| 17x7.5 | -6 to +32 | Bolts on |
| 17x8, 17x8.5 | -60 to +35 | Tight on some trucks; deep negative offsets need a lift |
| 18x8 | 0 to +35 | Bolts on |
| 18x8.5 | -12 to +35 | Tight on some trucks |
| 18x9 | -12 to -1 | Check clearance, may need a lift |
| 20x8.5 | -12 to +35 | Tight on some trucks |
| 20x9 | -60 to +35 | Tight on some trucks; deep negative offsets need a lift |
| 20x10 | -60 to -1 | Extreme fitment, plan on a lift |
| 22x9, 22x9.5 | +10 to +20 | Check clearance |
| 22x10 | -52 to +20 | Check clearance; the deep end needs a lift |
| 22x12 | -52 to -12 | Extreme fitment, plan on a lift |
Here's how we'd set one up. If it were our cateye daily, we'd run a 17x8.5 -10 KMC Wrath in satin black with a leveling kit and a set of all-terrains. The -10 offset sits in the range that can get tight on some configurations, and leveling the front buys the room.
For a full-send lifted build, we'd go 22x12 with deep negative offset, like the Moto Metal Combat 22x12 -44 in chrome. That's extreme-fitment territory, so the lift comes first. Both wheels have a 106.1 mm bore, so run hub-centric rings sized to the truck's 78.1 mm hub.
KMC WRATH 6x139.7 17x8.5 -10 Satin Black
- Size: 17x8.5, 6x139.7, -10 mm offset
- Finish: Satin Black
- Build: Cast Aluminum monoblock
$374.00 · View details
Moto Metal COMBAT 6x139.7 22x12 -44 Chrome
- Size: 22x12, 6x139.7, -44 mm offset
- Finish: Chrome
- Build: Cast Aluminum monoblock
$636.80 · View details
| Wheel | Size / offset | Weight | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KMC Wrath, Satin Black | 17x8.5 / -10 | 25.74 lb | Leveled daily | $374.00 |
| Moto Metal Combat, Chrome | 22x12 / -44 | 44.09 lb | Lifted poke build | $636.80 |
Want it clean and low-key on 22s? Stay at 22x9 or 22x9.5 with a +10 to +20 offset. That keeps the wheel tucked and still needs only a clearance check.
Keep building your cateye
Browse every six-lug option in our Chevy Silverado 1500 wheels collection. For the deep dive on sizes, read what wheels fit a cateye Silverado 1500 and our Silverado 1500 wheel and tire sizing guide from stock to a 6-inch lift.
Ready to raise it? Start with truck leveling kits, step up to full suspension lift kits, or add room for tires with body lift kits. Confirm with the maker that the kit covers your exact year, cab and drivetrain before you buy. Running an HD instead? Our guide to running 35s on a Silverado 2500 HD covers the heavy-duty side.
FAQ
What years is the Chevy cateye?
The Chevy cateye covers the 2003-2006 Silverado, the facelifted GMT800 truck. Plenty of people also count the 2007 Silverado Classic, which kept the GMT800 body while the redesigned truck went on sale beside it. The 1999-2002 trucks are the same generation but have straighter headlight lenses, so they aren't cateyes.
What is a cat eye truck?
A cat eye truck is a 2003-2006 Chevy Silverado with the refreshed front end and narrow, sharply angled headlights. It's a nickname, not a trim. Chevy never sold a "Cateye" model, so the name tells you nothing about the engine, cab or drivetrain. It covers everything from a work-spec V6 to a Duramax HD or an SS.
Why is it called a cateye truck?
Look at the headlights. The 2003 refresh gave the Silverado narrow, sharply angled lenses and a revised front fascia that looks like a squinting cat. Owners just call it angry. The GMC Sierra got a new front end that year too, but the cateye name belongs to the Silverado.
What engines came in the Chevy cat eye?
Light-duty 1500s got a 4.3L V6, 4.8L V8 or 5.3L V8. The SS, and more 1500s from 2006, got the 345-hp, 380 lb-ft 6.0L LQ9. The 1500HD ran a 300-hp 6.0L. HD trucks offered the 6.0L, the 8.1L V8 and the 6.6L Duramax diesel in LB7, LLY and LBZ versions, with the LBZ topping out at 360 hp and 650 lb-ft.
Is a cateye Silverado a good truck to buy?
Yes, if the body and frame are solid. The drivetrains are simple and the look still turns heads. Rust is the big risk, so poke the rockers behind the rear doors and check the frame at the rear cab mount. On high-mileage trucks, also check for 4L60E wear and failing cluster gauges. A clean 2003-2004 5.3L is our pick for a daily.