I am about to buy my first truck, need some opinions and information.

[werewolfx13]

My old '84 half ton long bed GMC regularly saw 2000-4000 lbs in the bed with a set of gabriel coil-over overload shocks. Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to load a half ton with 1 ton of stuff and drive around all the time with it. A guy my dad and I worked with on a lot of our BIG tree jobs where we needed two trucks running debris to the brush pile never left the site with less than 5000 lbs unless it was all brush, and it was a 1/2 ton.

[81C10]

Yep, stay away from the 350 diesels unless you have plans to swap in a gas engine or a 6.2/6.5 diesel almost immediately. Those things are cursed. I've never seen one survive past 80k miles without needing MAJOR work..its an olds engine (BOP bellhousing), gets crappy mileage and is a DOG for power..converting it to gas is not an economical choice either, as you can buy a running 350 gas engine cheaper than you could convert it, especially if you have it done rather than do it yourself. The 350 diesel was designed for passenger transportation only, a pickup with that engine could not be used for towing or carrying more than 500-600 lbs, and if it crapped out on you, they'd tell you you towed with it and void any "warranty".

What about the mid-80's goodwrench crate engines? I believe all of them used the new 'DX' block, which made them more reliable. My '81 diesel had the origianal engine replaced with a crate in '84. I haven't got it running yet, so I can't say how much power it has or how good it runs.
...sorry for going off topic.

[werewolfx13]

Crate or not, the 350 diesel is a junk motor as a diesel. The block is good for making large displacement small block strokers..I think I read they can be taken out to be a 440 CI stroker and still be streetable, a 454 stroker if it will only see the dragstrip. My grandfather's 79 had a 350 diesel..1/2 ton, VERY low GVWR, 2wd, 400 trans, somthing around a 3.42 rear end, it got 16-17 mpg highway @ 55mph, 45 up hill unless you dropped the hammer. When you figure you can build a 350 gas engine with TBI and see that mileage, and gas is cheaper than diesel (Gas here is 2.83, diesel is 3.29), unless you're making biodiesel and running a heavy mixture, the 350 diesel will cost you MORE to drive, and have a LOT less power. Not to mention if you live in a cold climate, biodiesel gels a LOT worse than regular diesel, so you spend a lot more money on anti-gel..

[Bowtie Bomber]

The 350 diesel is the only motor that a GM dealership owner would admit was a piece of junk. (was talking to him about it when I was ordering parts, funny conversation.)

My truck had it at one point in it's life. But it kept blowing head gaskets. Most people with those engines did a 350 Gasoline engine swap.