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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => 73-87 Chevy & GMC Trucks => Topic started by: timthescarrd on September 13, 2012, 09:38:18 pm

Title: Heavy Half-Ton ?
Post by: timthescarrd on September 13, 2012, 09:38:18 pm: So I keep hearing about trucks being a "heavy-half", but what exactly made it so? I assume more leafs on the rear, maybe better shocks, bigger brakes. Was there an RPO code for this? How does one determine if a truck is a heavy-half or not? was it both C series and K series? Was it only for certain years?

Thanks in advance, you guys have a lot of info to share.
Title: Re: Heavy Half-Ton ?
Post by: Stewart G Griffin on September 13, 2012, 10:22:10 pm: i'd like to know as well.

It's funny because i have the heavy duty rear springs yet my gvwr is only 4900 lbs. :o
Title: Re: Heavy Half-Ton ?
Post by: Cabcorner on September 14, 2012, 07:29:48 pm: It was all about beating emissions .
Title: Re: Heavy Half-Ton ?
Post by: bd on September 14, 2012, 08:24:01 pm: Quote from: Cabcorner on September 14, 2012, 07:29:48 pm
It was all about beating emissions .

The winning ticket goes to the man in the "...corner" ! ! ! ;D

(Sorry, I couldn't resist....)

IIR - The Heavy Half was a marketing strategy based on a 1/2-ton chassis and available only for a few years during the 80's (give or take). Heavier springs increased GVWR by ~500 lbs, and ushered the vehicle toward a less stringent emissions requirement.
Title: Re: Heavy Half-Ton ?
Post by: zieg85 on September 14, 2012, 09:15:02 pm: Ford did it with the F150 until 1979. My 78 was free of emissions, took regular gas. The F100 had cats starting in 75. I assume GM did the same thing back then as well.
Title: Re: Heavy Half-Ton ?
Post by: 78 Chevyrado on September 15, 2012, 04:17:06 pm: Being a heavy-Half got the truck over 6,000lbs GVW so it didn't need a cat and could run leaded fuel.
Title: Re: Heavy Half-Ton ?
Post by: Captkaos on September 18, 2012, 02:36:05 pm: Heavy Halfs recieved the longer 56" spings of the Long bed 3/4T trucks and increased the GVWR to get past emmissions.
RPO was F44, Big 10's were Heavy Halfs.
Title: Re: Heavy Half-Ton ?
Post by: Jason S on September 18, 2012, 08:33:22 pm: I may be remembering incorrectly or just plain wrong, but I think Big 10 was Chevrolet with associated Big 10 decals on some trucks and Heavy Half was GMC with associated decals...
Title: Re: Heavy Half-Ton ?
Post by: 78 Chevyrado on September 19, 2012, 12:01:13 am: Quote from: Jason S on September 18, 2012, 08:33:22 pm
I may be remembering incorrectly or just plain wrong, but I think Big 10 was Chevrolet with associated Big 10 decals on some trucks and Heavy Half was GMC with associated decals...

Yeah thats correct.