73-87chevytrucks.com

General Site Info => General Discussion => Topic started by: zieg85 on May 30, 2015, 10:23:46 am

Title: Up for discussion (first year issues)
Post by: zieg85 on May 30, 2015, 10:23:46 am
I read everything I find on our beloved 73-87 trucks but I got to thinking...  With some redesigns there are major flops, be it engineering blunders, safety features, or appearance issues.  Since I was 10 years old when the 73's were introduced I hadn't seen or read of anything.  We all know the gas tank issue but to me it was better than the behind the seat style in 72.

Ready,    set,      go...  my first square was a 1984 in 1991 and the earliest was a 1979 that was a driver.

Inquiring minds want to know...
Title: Re: Up for discussion (first year issues)
Post by: Engineer on May 30, 2015, 08:12:13 pm
Not first year, but it seems like the '75~'79 models would rust almost as fast as the new Dodges, or Rams or whatever they are calling their trucks now. 5 years in and those babies were rusty.

To this very day I see several '73~'74 trucks still running around my home town with 40 years behind them and little or no rust.
Title: Re: Up for discussion (first year issues)
Post by: Engineer on May 30, 2015, 08:18:35 pm
One reason there wasn't any first year issues with the '73 models was because there really wasn't a technology leap. They just bent some new frame rails and changed the shape of the bodies.

Powertrains were basically carryovers from the 1972 model year.

Climate control systems were already developed in the passenger lines so all the bugs were worked out through those.

Just like a 16oz claw hammer, nothing complex, it just works.
Title: Re: Up for discussion (first year issues)
Post by: Stewart G Griffin on May 30, 2015, 10:55:15 pm
i thought there were problems with rain dripping in when you opened the doors due to no drip rail?

Minor, i know.
Title: Re: Up for discussion (first year issues)
Post by: LTZ C20 on May 31, 2015, 01:59:22 am
I shall be following this, just out of pure interest.
Title: Re: Up for discussion (first year issues)
Post by: Stewart G Griffin on May 31, 2015, 09:33:28 pm
i'm not saying this was an "issue," but it would be interesting to compare earlier models rust resistance compared to a 91 blazer, suburban or 1ton.
Title: Re: Up for discussion (first year issues)
Post by: Stewart G Griffin on May 31, 2015, 09:36:33 pm
First year for the Olds diesel was definitely an "issue."
Title: Re: Up for discussion (first year issues)
Post by: fitz on June 01, 2015, 03:26:12 pm
I'm not a fan of the early 700R4 transmissions.
Title: Re: Up for discussion (first year issues)
Post by: Stewart G Griffin on June 01, 2015, 08:18:29 pm
Actually ALL years of the olds diesel was an "issue."   :)
Title: Re: Up for discussion (first year issues)
Post by: LTZ C20 on June 02, 2015, 08:11:59 am
I'm not a fan of the early 700R4 transmissions.
This, they were total crap. Didn't start being good till 87 or 88 I think, when they started calling them 4l60s.