Hi y'all.
I'm Jay, i don't currently have a 1973-87, but have been wanting to get back in to them.
My first experience with them was my brother's customized 1973 1/2 ton longbed, a black "Silverado 454SS."
I had a 1977 Custom Deluxe 1/2 ton long bed when i turned 16, but it was never put on the road. I paid $250 for it, it ran great but the trans had a major leak.
We had several 4wds in that time period as well. And a 1975 3/4 ton Sub bought at a garage sale for $125.
Then I bought a 1982 Custom Deluxe shortbed stepside for $600 from a friend. Just a 250 straight six but it was very reliable until it blew a head gasket and I traded it to my brother for a 1985 Camaro IROC.
He had the 454 from his 454SS in the Sub until it was wrecked, then put it in the stepside. I think he still has it, but I don't know. He also had some sort of prototype Deutz diesel powered '76 Chevy, but I think he sold it on ebay...As you can tell, sadly we haven't spoken much at all since I left. I know he just sold his 1986 4x4 crew cab dually.
Mom has a late 70s Blazer herself for winter.
Anyhow, enough with the family history.
My vehicles tend to end up with every factory option I can add as well as options never offered. Case in point, my S10 is a 1991 and has keyless entry (only offered on the Bravada in 1991), functional Homelink (not offered until 1997), that kind of stuff. To me, most aftermarket parts are tacky and look added on, I like a clean factory look, things you have to really look at to notice.
I've been looking for a 2wd shortbed fleetside to play with but haven't found anything yet. There's a super nice Blazer up the street from me - an '84-86 - that has been sitting for a long time but with some TLC would look like it just rolled out of the showroom. Unfortunately, it is a 4x4 and I already have an S10 Blazer 4x4.
It would have to have factory A/C as that would be the hardest option to add and is almost necessary here in Texas. My plans are:
454; posi; A/C; tilt; cruise; PW; PL; cargo lamp; delay wipers; tach and gauges; dual tanks; power mirrors; ect.
If I go with a 1973-74 front end, I want to add a factory inside hood release. The 1973-4 grille is my favorite style and I even added one to my 1977.
I want do things such as a 1988-91 dash to add a factory CD player, 1981-87 tach and gauges - which I know are rare and I had a tach cluster from a 1981 GMC 1/2 ton but sold it on ebay about 10 years ago along with a 1975 tach cluster, however the bigger trucks had them optional through 1991 and a vacuum gauge would be kinda cool; overhead console with temp/compass and Homelink; auto-dimming rear view mirror; express down windows; keyless entry with factory remotes; factory alarm; power seats; automatic headlights with DRLs;
Am I missing anything? Rare and unusual options? Unfortunately, finding some of the rarer factory options will take time, we had a 1977 1/2 ton 4x4 Silverado we used as a work truck that was really strangely optioned, had NOTHING except cruise, delay wipers, cargo lamp and an inside hood release. It had a straight column, no A/C, no radio, speedo and fuel gauge; very weird to me. Unfortunately, the truck was junked before i could save those options it did have because even then I knew they were pretty rare.
Sorry to be so long winded.
Hopefully I can start finding parts for this project and a truck to begin with soon.
1
