73-87 Chevy Truck

[system-f]

My boat project will never really be done, bit once I get the interior in it is time to start my next project which will probably be a 73-87 Chevy truck. Since I am bored tonight I figured I would start gathering more information about these vehicles. If you own or have owned one please respond with this information:

Year:
Model: (c/k10,20,30)
Transmission: (TH400,TH350,SM465, etc)
Engine:
Mods:
Gas Mileage:
Towed Weight:
Did you or do you like this vehicle?

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: 73-87 Chevy Truck

Had 2.

1976 Chevy Pickup.
350 4bbl 4 speed granny gear transmission
Was fun to drive, but you could only get about a top speed of 70 out of it.
But you could burn rubber in 1-3 gears. With the granny gear, most of the time you would start in 2nd or start in 1st and skip right to 3rd.

my other truck, "Bobs Toy" (thats what was on the bug deflector)
was a 1978 Chevy pickup. 6 cylinder "Three on the tree"
Both were great trucks. While they ride like lumber wagons, you just can't seem to beat the feeling of driving a truck that was designed to last many many many years.

I really like the look of the mid to the late 70's chevy pickup trucks. The square lines were well defined and simplistic.

Out of your scope. I have now a 1995 Chevy Cheyenne, 6 cylinder. 4L60e transmission 174,000 miles and runs like it's brand new. I rebuilt the transmission myself about 3 years ago. I actually bought the truck for 300 bucks knowing the transmission was back..

I dunno I'm a chevy guy... My wife drives an impala.

 

[dan t.]

Re: 73-87 Chevy Truck

Had 3,73 Jimmy,3.73 gears ,350 trans, at least 4 different 350 motors ranging from stock to 375 hp
76 1/2 ton short box,3.73 gears, posi rear diff, 350 trans, 205 transfer case,once again at least 4 different 350 motors,also ran dual fuel, gas and natural gas,1/2 the price to run. The best milage on gas was about 16 mpg imperial gallons, on nat gas about the same but at 1/2 the price
80 chev 3/4 ton 4x4,400 trans, 205 t/c,3.73 gears,350 motor about 270 hp also dual fuel.milage about the same. Rebuilt it from a bare frame, all new body panels, drove it for 10 years just sold it, got a 98 3/4 ton,350 vortec, 20 mpg drives like a car, not a real bush truck tho, good luck with your project

 

[J JACKSON]

Re: 73-87 Chevy Truck

good trucks i have had a 71, 74, 76, 83, and 88 out of all of them my fav was the 71 (witch i still have) but the 74 and the 76 were good trucks the 83 was diesel keep away from those. and the 88 was a money pit.

 

[puckhead]

Re: 73-87 Chevy Truck

76 GMC long bed, 355, Holley 650, Performer intake. It was fun.....

Strictly my opinion

Pre '88 have dangerous gas tanks (I know the news people cheated, but, putting the tanks OUTSIDE the frame was not smart) The '80's brought ESC (electronic spark control) every truck I see these days with this system it has failed. In Missouri that's not a problem just take it off the computer. If you live somewhere more restrictive that may cause you headaches. Again my opinion I'd go pre-'96 and drop (or build) a factory 383 stroker and tow all day with a smile. BTW LOVE your boat. Can't wait to see what the inside looks like.

-T

 

[79MERC1150]

Re: 73-87 Chevy Truck

Owned a 74 C-20, a 76 C-10 Surburban 4x4, a 83 K-5 Blazer 4x4, a 87 G30 Crewcab Dually, 454 EFI, SM-465, US Gear 2 speed spliter, and 3:73 gears, and a 1988 G-30 Crewcab Dually 4x4, 454 EFI, Turbo 400, 4:10 gears. Loved all of them, and I am a Ford guy! The 700R4 transmissions available in the 83's up to about 87 were weak, and most people opted to replace them with Turbo 350's, which are nearly bulit proof. The outside fuel tanks are a little scary, however I have never heard of or seen one blow up, and I work in the ER so I see the aftermath of a lot of car wrecks. The SM-465 is awsome, however it has a limited gear range. The US Gear two speed makes the 465 have 8 forward gears and two reverse gears. Chevy and GMC trucks of the vintage you like are basic good solid transportation. I also had a 1980 C-10 diesel. When the engine blew up, we installed a 455 Olds engine, turbo 400 and had a truck with lots of power. Just for the record the 455 Olds can be bored and built to about 700 cubic inches. Wonder how that would work in a boat?

 

[dwco5051]

Re: 73-87 Chevy Truck

Had a 78 K25 with the 350 and the T350 Tranny. It would pull any thing I had back then but was somewhat of a gas hog until I changed out of the full-time four wheel drive. A set of lock out hubs and and blocks in the spider gears in the transfer case helped a bit but this was a 4wd camper special and weighed quite a bit. It was a metallic dark red and the previous owner had reupolstered it with a lot of a red velvet like material. Looked a lot like the waiting room in a ****** but I was in between wives at the time and I imagined that it might improve my image.

Liked the lines of those boxy old Chevies and followed up after that one with a 85 Blazer and then a 91 Suburban. Driving a 2001 2500HD GMC diesel now. Not quite as flashy but the gray leather interior goes better with my hair and present lifestyle

 

[cherokeerunning]

Re: 73-87 Chevy Truck

I had a 77 4x PU, 350 w/4bbl Holly, 350 turbo trans. Had a 78 K5 Blazer with drivetrain taken out of my 77 PU. and now have a 87 GMC Jimmy 4x. It has a 350 with TBI fuel injection, Automatic trans with overdrive. They are all really simple trucks to work on, parts are about as cheap for those years of trucks, than any auto on the road. Look up a starter or altenator or whatever...compare it to any other vehicle. Not bad mouthing any other brand, all I've had is good luck with my chevys, thats all I'll ever spend my hard earned dollars on.

 

[nimmor]

Re: 73-87 Chevy Truck

I owned a 79 GMC, and loved it. It had the 350 in it but not completely stock. It had a little lift on the cam with a quadra jet carb. I believe the transmission was the TH 350, never had any issues with it to need parts. Was a great truck and ran good. I had duel exhaust with packs and it sounded great. I am not for sure how it was geared. I pulled a small boat with ease. I had also pulled some stock trailers as well as pulled my wifes conversion van homw when the fuel pump went out. My family started getting bigger so I needed an extended cab. The only complaint I have is rust. But I have had issues with all my Chevy especially the fenders. This truck made me believer in reciever hitches. It only had bumper hitch and over the years had really started to sag.

 

[system-f]

Re: 73-87 Chevy Truck

Thanks for the input guys. Mine will have to be a 1 ton and 4x4 because of the frame difference. It looks like the gas mileage numbers were higher than I had hoped and a nicely tuned quadrajet might improve that (according to the quadrajet gawd at work who loves them so much he install them on his Fords). It seems that all of the transmissions from this era had a 1:1 top gear so speed would be mostly final drive ratio dependent and gears are CHEAP for any axle that came in these trucks. So far the biggest problem seems to be finding one with stock A/C, but I am told the A/C system is so simple it can be completely removed without even cracking a line. Auto A/C work is my cup of tea, too.

Thanks again.

 

[dan t.]

Re: 73-87 Chevy Truck

The problem with AC is that the firewall is different, found that out with my 80. You might remove it intact, but I wouldnt make any bets. I dont know about a 1 ton but on a 1/2 ton you can use the 2 rear crossmembers and fuel tank from a Blazer and mount it between the frame rails at the back. I had 3 tanks in my 76 short box before I went dual fuel

 

[system-f]

Re: 73-87 Chevy Truck

The problem with AC is that the firewall is different

Exactly. That is why I need a factory A/C truck. There is no point in removing it in one piece when I will probably have to convert it anyways. I just thought it was cool that you could.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: 73-87 Chevy Truck

Had a 76 k5 blazer 4bolt main 350 t350 trans 9" lift 38.5 ground hawgs.

Towed everything anywhere but only got around 10mpg.

Man was that truck fast! Went to the mud races last month and couldn't believe the amount of race trucks that where slower.

By the way look in your area for a shop that does military axle conversions, here in Orlando is Chucks Trucks their forum is full of people dying to get rid of 3/4 and 1 ton drivelines that are sitting around their yards. Great source for real cheap parts.

Great now you've got me looking at old pics, missing my truck!

 

[dennis wilson]

Re: 73-87 Chevy Truck

My boat project will never really be done, bit once I get the interior in it is time to start my next project which will probably be a 73-87 Chevy truck. Since I am bored tonight I figured I would start gathering more information about these vehicles. If you own or have owned one please respond with this information:


Year:
Model: (c/k10,20,30)
Transmission: (TH400,TH350,SM465, etc)
Engine:
Mods:
Gas Mileage:
Towed Weight:
Did you or do you like this vehicle?

I still have a 74 Chev k-20, 4 barrel, 350 automatic that I got in 76. 15 years ago I put in a target engine, no matter what I was doing, loaded or not, it got (and still gets) 8 miles to the gallon. Over the years many parts have fallen off, but the important ones are still there. I use it now to pull a 7 large hay bale wagon (bales weigh 1200 lb each). If it's a 100 degrees or 10 below it starts and thank goodness cause the cows will get fed. One of the most dependable things on the farm.

Dennis

 

[djvan]

Re: 73-87 Chevy Truck

Not that big of an issue for you as far as rust goes, but I think around 80 or so GM started maknig the bodies more rust resistant.

DougV>