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View Full Version : All 73-87 guys.....got a ? for ya..... Physh1 09-23-2002, 06:49 PM I'm looking for an 73-87 GM std cab short bed truck and just curious waht are the ideal years to look for? What years should I stay away from? I'm looking for another ride to keep my dually away from daily driving and since it's going in for some body work soon I need a ride!! Cameron 97Silverado 09-23-2002, 06:51 PM 85 or 86!! 97Silverado 09-23-2002, 06:56 PM Originally posted by 5-8CHEVY Those are good years but personally I'd prefer to have a TBI '87. :read: I'd stick with 81-87 personally. :D Damn, I forgot all about TBI on '87s 454ss 09-23-2002, 06:58 PM I had an 87 stepside, it ran real good and I had very few problems with it. Nick 09-23-2002, 07:01 PM 87 :thumbup: Physh1 09-23-2002, 07:07 PM Very cool. Thanks....I saw a killer one on ebay yesterday that looked brand spanking new and spotless with a 2800 buy it now but I really don't want a long bed. I wonder how long it would take me to bag the sucker :think: I will keep my eyes open..... Cameron Physh1 09-23-2002, 07:18 PM Originally posted by 5-8CHEVY With your welding skills it would take a weekend tops. :read: You could always but the longbed, get a short bed, cut down the frame or do a back halfed tube frame and have a nice swb. :read: :D :tongue: Sounds like a good possibility..... The welding skills are getting better :) so I might be able to pull it off. :D Cameron Mavmavv 09-23-2002, 10:09 PM I prefer the 73's personally. They look the most classic. And they are emissions exempt to boot! BaggedC10 09-23-2002, 10:18 PM Personally, I would purchase a 81-87' C10. GM improved the undercoating used each year, so newer is better. Check the cab corners, fender lips, radiator support, and the cab floor---Like 5-8 said. :read: Check the following link out. :D http://www.73-87.com/misc/7387ck.htm :cool: N2TRUX 09-23-2002, 10:25 PM It depends on what your priorties are in your purchase. If you looking for TBI and a clean straight line body, then the 87 is it. If your looking for a better deal, with the quad light look, then look at the 81-86 is the way to go. If you want more of a classic look, with the rounded body lines, and round headlights, then it's 73-80. 81 was a change over year. Most of them had a single square headlight, with the 73-80 front end. The base trucks, and C-20's still had round lights. Personally, I love the classic looks of the rounded line trucks...:smokin: Physh1 09-24-2002, 07:36 AM Nice link. Thanks....:D I'm not too picky I just wanted to avoid the "lemon" years if possible and know what to look folr as problem areas when testing one out and you guys have come through again :) Thanks again.....Cameron 1badgmc 09-24-2002, 09:00 AM I would stick to '81-'87, but my personal preference is '84-'87. I know it's strange, but it's for a really small reason. '84 was the year that the highbeams and wiper controls moved to the signal stalk. The '81-'82 trucks had the parking lights in the front bumpers. '83 is when they moved them to the grille. I also prefer the better looking flatter dashboards in the '80's models as opposed to the rounder '70's trucks. '81-'87 trucks make it easier to update to a '91 Suburban grille if you so desire also since you wouldn't have to change out all of the front sheetmetal. low 84 09-24-2002, 11:51 AM none of the 73-87's were lemons. in fact the majority of them don't have their original motors or trannys in them anyway. i woudl get a pre 87 b/c i don't like efi, carbs are much simpler to work on imo. and look for a 350 truck. 305s are realy dogs. and they get just as bad gas mileage as a 350 so they are pointless. i pesonlly would get 81-86 w/options. bigred305 09-24-2002, 02:46 PM I would say an 86 or an 87, I would love to have an 86 because they were carbed, but I like my 87 too....:rocking: chev1978 09-25-2002, 12:04 AM I personally like the older 73-79 with round headlights carb,no fancy crap to go wrong, carb alot easier and cheaper to fix then efi, and old ones have 12 bolt rear end. just look for rust under carpet,cab corners,cab support rocker panel usually if you flick or knock on the panel you can hear rust inside if its rusty low 84 09-25-2002, 12:05 PM ahh, forgot about the 12 bolts in the older ones. that is deffinatly an advantage. i will be swaping out my 10 bolt this summer for a 12 out of one of the older ones:D:D:D chev1978 09-25-2002, 12:27 PM ya gotta like the stock 12 bolt with 3.73s if it was only locking but it likes to pretend it is :head: why does it mostly leave two strips of rubber but sometimes only one? I can leave two strips around courners but sometimes when i want to show off it just doglegs it :cussing: dammit? Captkaos 09-27-2002, 04:30 PM Remember that 84-86 sticks you with a 305. For a 12 bolt it has to be before '81. 454, before '79. There is no "lemons" in these trucks, about the closest thing to it is the stupid ECS on the '81-ups. And you can ditch that easily. BadAss_2002 10-06-2002, 10:10 AM Originally posted by Captkaos Remember that 84-86 sticks you with a 305. For a 12 bolt it has to be before '81. 454, before '79. There is no "lemons" in these trucks, about the closest thing to it is the stupid ECS on the '81-ups. And you can ditch that easily. Whats the ECS? I'm looking for a 84-86 4x4..Might go older, but I'll swap front sheetmetal since I like the quad headlight look.... 76silverado 10-06-2002, 10:55 AM i prefer the 73-78. 79 and newer have cats..unless you have the rare 2 smog pumps and no cats low 84 10-07-2002, 02:32 PM Originally posted by BadAss_2002 Whats the ECS? I'm looking for a 84-86 4x4..Might go older, but I'll swap front sheetmetal since I like the quad headlight look.... ecs is electronic spark control. it had like a control moduel box under the dash i think. basically the system worked with the distributor to mess with the timing to keep the 305's from detonation which they are prone to. Nick 10-07-2002, 04:52 PM Originally posted by low 84 ecs is electronic spark control. it had like a control moduel box under the dash i think. basically the system worked with the distributor to mess with the timing to keep the 305's from detonation which they are prone to. Wouldn't that be ESC ? :D igork5k20 10-07-2002, 08:35 PM Didn't GM switch to galvanized sheetmetal at some point late in the 80s or early 90s? I believe this was a contributing factor to the lack of paint sticking in those years (along with the new laws on car paints) This would also be a definite reason to go later. Here in Portland, OR - the 73s & 74s are very popular due to their emissions exemptions. Just my $.02... low 84 10-07-2002, 09:03 PM Originally posted by Nick99Chevy Wouldn't that be ESC ? :D :dunce: yeah esc my bad, captkaos screwed it up first:read: BadAss_2002 10-07-2002, 09:46 PM Well, how much of a pain would it be swapping in the 91 Suburban front sheetmetal and the Suburban interior into a 73-80 truck? Preferably one with a bigblock 4spd if I can find it:devil:I'd love to build a crew cab dually short bed and have a matching reg cab long bed for work.... low 84 10-08-2002, 12:50 AM i got a friend who detailed the suburban grille swap on his site. it does require changing the core support. i don't know what all is entailed in the sheet metal swap. the 81-87, 88-91 suburban sheet metal is all the same i think its just the 88-91 grille that requires a different core support. but like i said i don't now what all you gotta do to get the 81-91 sheet metal on the older ones. i will dig up the grille link tommorow igork5k20 10-08-2002, 08:26 AM Here is a link to a pretty informative article on swapping your front end to an 89-91 style: http://www.coloradok5.com/grilleswap.shtml :) low 84 10-08-2002, 11:51 AM http://www.geocities.com/abetterchemist/ go here and then go to grille conversion page, it pretty detailed with prices and pics. Captkaos 10-08-2002, 04:15 PM Originally posted by low 84 captkaos screwed it up first:read: I have immunity! :tongue: vBulletin v3.5.1, Copyright ©2000-2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
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