Beat Up Trucks...

[Cali-Deuce]

How did you become the owner of an old Chevy Truck?

In my case, I like the lines of the Chevy Step side, found a 74 in rough condition and bought it for $Twelve. In Cali, 75's and before allows you to escape the Politicians reach into your pocket every 2 years for a smog "check". My truck came with the typical rusted out door and fender bottoms. The wood in the bed is missing as well as the medal "T" railing in the floor. The radio sucks, the driver's door doesn't close right and I had to replace the heater core.

Since I bought the truck, I picked up a bunch of parts. I just need the time to work on the truck. Seems to me that I have either time or money. Just never both at the same moment.

Deuce

[DustyRusty]

I wanted to have a daily driver that would also take me hunting in the intermountain west.  Bought mine new.  I liked the looks.  But mainly I wanted lock-out hubs, a granny-low 4 speed, and a short bed.  Got a great deal.  The Ford dealer had only long beds at the time although he was willing to deal on what he had.  Didn't really condsider a Dodge at the time - don't recall if there was a local dealer.

I've never regretted the purchase.  The truck has served me well and I hauled a GM F-body behind it on a trailer from Wyoming to Alaska and never missed a beat.  Don't use it much anymore.  Alaska's winters really eat away at it.  I'm trying to save what's left of it.  lol

Rusty

[andyman86]

I was looking for a truck to get me around in some occasionally tough PA winters and something that I could take fishing and camping.  I wanted the truck to be old enough that it wasn't controlled by a computer so that I could learn some mechanic's skills and do the work myself.  That criteria narrowed my search to pre-1987 but at the time I didn't know much and was focused on getting an F-150.  My ex-girlfriend found an '86 Silverado Shortbed in manual in a local paper.  I almost didn't look at it.  But I arranged the meeting, drove it, and fell in love.  Bought it 3 days later for $1,900.  Still love the truck, the ex is another story.  The truck was the best thing to come out of that relationship.  It's made me a Chevy fan and has served me extremely well ever since.  PA is eating away at my truck but its still unstoppable and just like DustyRusty I'm trying to save whats left.  Glad I've hung on to it.

[zieg85]

Pictured was my first of this era...I think..., since back in Indiana that got me hooked on this body style.  It was my pastor's at the time.  He was a carpenter by trade...  He blew the engine and I put a 200K mile 5.7L I got from a good friend who took it out of his Suburban because it used some oil.  Got a 79GMC and a 81GMC all about the same time.  I strayed to Ford but soon came back after a phone call from my cousin saying he was ready to sell his dad's truck after he settled his estate, which is my forever truck 85 Chev C20 in my signature, now receiving a much deserved face lift, thread in projects section.

[p7387]

got my 87 short fleet about 4 yrs ago for $800 from the original owner in long island NY. has the usual rust issues , cab corners,bot fenders, rusty front end cross member etc.  but the truck has comparatively little rust for an east coast truck. i originally purchased the truck to haul building and landscaping supplies for my home improvement projects and based on that alone the truck has paid for itself in convenience 5x over. i have always felt that the 73-87 is poised to be the next classic and is still reasonably accessible at reasonable prices. i originally wanted a short step but the short fleet grows on you. i also wanted to use the truck as hobby truck/mechanical learning experience. i really like the truck and my long term goal is to make it a solid reliable daily driver. i wasn't really looking for the 87 tbi/computer setup for fear it would potentially complicate my mechanical learning experience but that is what happened to come my way, in fact i am in the process of trying to diagnose a starting problem thanks to all the good help i receive on these boards.

and yes..
lack of time is always the problem. let us all pray that come the point in life when we have free time to enjoy our hobby we are still physically able to roll around on our backs and squeeze into engine compartments

[gto109]

When I got my 85 Scottsdale honestly I was still on some good pain meds from surgery the week before.  I was looking for something to use in the woods and to pull a camper with.  I paid $900 for it with a bad transmission and a bed that was shot.  Now it is going to get painted in the spring.

[Cali-Deuce]

I think the bang for the buck is really hard to beat with this era of Chevy trucks. The junk yard I recently visited had plenty of 76 and newer trucks in it that couldn't make it past the Cali smog testing. I find several Blazer and Jimmy's with plenty of good parts that failed the testing process. Once you are listed as a Cali Gross Polluter... things can get costly real quick.

Thanks guy's for adding your input and let's see how thing go down the road...

Deuce

[Tx_Phil]

I had been looking for a crew cab 4x4 to use as a daily driver and hunting truck but just couldn't justify paying what used late model trucks are going for down here.  People are wanting around 20k for 2005 and newer trucks with well over 100k miles not to mention that they all seem to be loaded with garbage that I don't want like leather seats, sun roofs and video players.  I finally just gave up and started looking for something I could use as a hunting \ ranch truck.  The requirements were pretty simple, cheap, 4x4, cheap, heavy duty, cheap, runs and drives as it should, cheap, and it wouldn't matter if it got bumped or scratched.  Oh, and it had to be cheap!

One of the guys on a bow hunting forum listed an 87 suburban 1/2 ton 4x4 that they had been using as a hunting truck.  A few pictures and a few phone calls later a deal was struck.  I know if needed a battery and power steering pump so it would need to be towed and they seller offered to deliver it to my brothers house about 2 hours from where the truck was stored.  So for $800 cash I got a really solid running 4x4 suburban delivered.  It does have issues, mostly internal wiring for windows and seats and such but none are major. With the new battery it starts right up and runs smooth. It drives and shifts well and the four wheel drive seems to work properly as well.

I think my biggest problem now is knowing when to say when.  I've seen what you guys are doing with your trucks and I'm having visions of grandeur.  I know if I let myself I'd never stop messing with this thing until it was a fully functional daily driver.  I must resist! ! 

[77gmc]

My dad had a '73 C20/454 that I liked in high school.  Bought an 85 K10 new, both of my boys drove it thru high school, 2 fender benders, 3 engines and 2 trannies before I gave it away....lots of body damage and rust.

While looking for the early bronco I always wanted, I came across a 77gmc k10 stepside.   Thought I would fix some rust in the floor 2 yrs ago, next thing I knew the body was off and I was sandblasting the frame....painted it last week and now starting to put it back together.