1/2 ton pickup - 4.3 or LSX?

LSX, duh!

Problem is, where I Iive, the market for trucks is crazy.  A 9-year-old Silverado longbed standard cab with a V8 and 114 thousand miles  is $14,000. Ouch! On the other hand, V6 models are significantly less. This is purely going to be a work truck and not be used for towing. I'm also looking at a 18-year-old with 112 thousand miles for $6,000. That's pretty old, but this is California, where rust isn't a problem, and I used to own the exact same truck with the V8 and it worked great, never broke till some moron ran into it.

thoughts?  

Truck prices are pretty crazy everywhere, but not California crazy.  Look at doing a fly and drive.  

I test drove a 2014+ Silverado with the 4.3 and came away impressed with it. It was a hell of a lot more potent than my old Vortec 4.3 C1500. I think '14 was the first year of increased power across the board with the GMs.

Buy the V8, an older truck with the 4.8 is a winner.  I would avoid the 6, not as durable a motor.  Even if you don't tow it will get decent mileage and is very durable.  I get 15 or better around town and a few higher on the highway.  No cylinder deactivation just a strong little motor.  After 175K miles oil analysis came up perfect and we tow with it.

In reply to porschenut :

All of the 4.3s I've been around were as durable as a bowling ball, so I'm not with ya there  

They don't have as much power as the 5.7 Vortec, being only 6/8ths the displacement.But I've even successfully towed a decent bit with em. I am still a V8 fan, and would prefer most V8s to one, but they will get the job done. 
When we met, my wife was towing her camper with a brand new 07 with a 4.8. Did NOT like that engine. 5.3 has more power, and most I know of got better mpg! Id rather have a 4.3 than that engine. 
Bear in mind, that was my only experience with a 4.8, and that truck had been back to the dealer a lot, by 15K miles for a lot of minor stuff going wrong. (Truck was a lemon, and GM refused to stand behind their product) Truly disappointing. 

I have a 2011 Silverado WT with the 4.3 that I paid $7500 for before truck prices went insane. It had about 130k on it.

It's not an inspiring truck, but it does truck stuff very well. IIRC it has around 220k on it and I have no plans to retire it any time soon. The guy that drives it seems to like it and takes pretty good care if it. It does do some towing, but most of that is under 3000 pounds. It does that just fine. I don't think it gets much better fuel economy than my 5.3 power GMC but buy in is cheaper. 

I did just put a transmission in it but that's to be expected with a 4L60E. They are pretty much a consumable and fairly cheap.  

2014+ trucks got the EcoTec 4.3 which seems pretty cool.

That V-6 is bulletproof, tows well.  My father in law used his as a commercial floor guy, over loaded, with an overloaded trailer, for hundreds of thousands of miles.  I think it even had the original clutch.  Old Chevy work truck, 4WD

Replacement for displacement: https://www.amazon.com/Turbo-Parts-Chevy-Turbocharger-Wastegate/dp/B07JB1V71M

In reply to slefain :

My wife is NOT gonna be happy ya showed me that...