We started getting the new body style 1988 Chevy trucks in April of 1987. It was the first time we had ever had people showing up at the dealership I worked at to see the all new body style Chevy trucks while the car hauler was still unloading the new trucks. I also remember the heavy duty Chevy and GMC trucks as well as the Blazers and Suburbans kept the square body look for a few more years.
Funny Steve mentioned snowplows, there was a real mad rush in 88-91 for the last of the 4 door square bodies. I don't think a single 3/4 or 1 ton left our local dealership without a plow frame and fifth wheel or gooseneck ball, HD Suburbans got plows too.
Oh yeah, me too! I have about a half dozen videos from my favorite creators waiting in the queue for me when I get up. It's my morning routine to have my coffee while enjoying my daily videos.
Excellent video and history. The square body Chevies and GMCs are red hot here in CO. I bought a 73 C30 with utility body and 3/4 ton wheels without duals for a daily and shop truck. 350 and SM465 granny 4speed. I’m keeping this one
I had an 87 K5 Blazer with the quad shocks in front. It also had the TBI 350, and the 700R4 trans with 3.73 front and rear diffs. Loved that Blazer! California rig, so zero rust, only 150k on the chassis, 30k on the rebuilt 350, and the trans I had rebuilt, it might have had 5k on it. Had to sell it to make a couple house payments so the wife and I didn't lose our house back in 2008 or so. Been looking for a replacement, and now the rust-free clean ones are going for a MINT! Thanks, Steve. Always love your content, and your limitless knowledge! Keep it up, brother!
I liked the 85mph speedo in my 78 phoenix and 78 starfire. Both 400 small blocks when I pulled the 305’s. Both had those terrible 2.52 or so rear gears, I would run 14.19 in that phoenix , crossing the line just as it shifted into 2nd. The starfire would shift just before the line(13” tires) and run 13.90’s. But putting the speedo needle around the S on the shift indicator was always fun.
@@johnydoey5450 i have 89 suburban and a 90 blazer, i live in the Arizona high desert so luckily they are both rust free. My profile pic is of a delivery truck that has been in a wash for probably 70 years that is about 10 miles from my house. Bullets have done more damage to it than moisture.
Thanks Steve! Love square bodies. Maybe it’s just me, but I think they were the last ones that really looked truck-like. The stuff since seems like it’s trying harder to look truckish.
Good stuff Steve ! Im the proud owner of a 74 C10 short fleet bed 250ci 4 on the floor with compound low...radio delete. totally original 103 k on the odo...love it just the way it is
Thank you for calling a a 4 speed instead of a "3 speed with granny low" as I see them called so often. The Muncie SM465 may be labeled on the shift knob "L-1-2-3" but that extra low 1st gear is actually a higher ratio (6.5 - 1) than the previous SM420 that was labeled "1-2-3-4", with a 1st gear ratio of 7 to 1. It drives me crazy when people call it a "3 speed"...
Great trucks! We had an 83 C10 Custom Deluxe in white on blk, that we got from a local library that closed. 44k on it in 1999! Oddly optioned, it had the rear step bumper, rear hd springs, p/s, no power brakes or a/c, AM/FM, gauge package, 250 6, and 1st year 700r4 non electronic OD trans. 2wd, long bed. We had it until 03 and sold it after my dad passed. Big mistake as aside from needing rockers, nothing was wrong with it.
That's kind of a unicorn. A basic Custom Deluxe that is actually packed full of good options. Quad shocks, dual tanks, sliding rear window, engine oil cooler and even though they are gone, automatic locking hubs.
Back in the summer of 1986. I worked at Strawberry, Chevrolet and Buick in York Maine. I remember the Chevrolet pick ups and Camaro Iroc being very popular! And let’s not forget the Corvettes and Buick grand nationals!! Excellent place to work for the times !
I used to drive an 85 or 86 C20 for work and those GM dual tanks were a massive PITA. You couldn't fill them both without turning the truck around. And half the time someone would take the pump before you could get turned around. All back in the day when pay at the pump was still a far off future dream. I was much happier with my Dad's 1988 F150 with both fillers on the same side.
These were the last of what I consider simple trucks. Not much of a GM guy but my dad had an 86 Silverado 2wd with a 6.2L diesel. We end up putting a Banks turbo kit on it. It was a nice truck to drive and after ten years in Michigan salt and 220,000 the torque converter gave up. He bought a 95 F 250 power stroke and a beater F150 for working.
Had a 73 2wd long bed for years it rusted away before it quit running sold it for next to nothing then got a 75 GMC Camper Special 3/4 ton that truck was awesome did everything from towing boats to hauling firewood and even getting groceries went places in that I'll never forget. Sure miss "Ole Blue"
The LO3 (305) and LO5 (350) truck engines never had roller cams only the cars received the updated roller cams. 96 with the new Vortec engines would be the first year GM trucks came with factory roller cams.
Psi in Illinois has license for a bunch of gm engines. They still make center bolt valve cover 305s and 350s. They also use the 4.3 V6(350 minus 2cyl) and the 8.1(496) Actually the 8.1 was killed off a couple years ago for an 8.8 (535). The 350 with a turbo matches the old 8.1 for the industrial applications these are still used for.
Leaded vs Unleaded Fuel - The size of the filler neck determined what Fuel you could use in your vehicle. Unleaded used a smaller nozzle at the pump and leaded was a larger nozzle. This restricted a unleaded vehicle from using a leaded fuel in the vehicle at the pump. Any vehicle over 8600 GVW, at least in 1986, was aloud to burn LEADED fuel, which include your heavy duty 3/4 ton pickup style trucks. This also meant that trucks over 8600 GVW didn’t have a catalytic converter restricted exhaust system. I’m sure this wasn’t the case for vehicles in California About the spring in the filler neck… that was a anti-siphoning device used by the auto manufacturers to prevent folks from getting free gas at night while the owner slept. The spring assembly would make it very difficult or near impossible to get a hose into the tank to siphon off 5 gallons of gas.
I owned an 87 r10 Silverado with the 305 and put 250K on it. Replaced axle seals once, lower ball joints, and installed a long tail shaft 350 in place of the unneeded 700R4 since it had 3:08 gears. It was a beautiful truck with a set of American Racing Grambler wheels and white letters. I love the square bodies but I don't miss their squeaky metal dash.
Great video, I remember going with my dad to the local dealer and checking one out that was yellow. He said, thats too much money for a truck. I think it was 17K in '87. Grey Chevrolet was the Dealer in Port Orchard WA.
What a huge difference it made having leaf springs under the front of your pickup. Leaf spring front ends didn’t go down when you raised your plow like the new junk they sell today. If I wanted torsion bars I’d buy a little car!
Torsion bars are adjustable though... crank them up if they sag under the weight of a plow. Yeah, it'll ride higher without the plow on it, but that seems to be in style these days. What do they call it... Carolina squat or something...?
Steve Back in the early 90's , I use to sell at all the swap meets , Stafford spring, lake compounds., Long story short, I met a old man that said he helped design, the throttle body for GM, He was also none for building kits to fit Hotrods, I can't remember his name, But I bought his system stand alone. I know you must know him, I herd he passed away, a while back, I still have that system. I ran it on my 76 454 dump truck , Just wanted to know if you New him, great Videos
He's technically incorrect as he's misreading the model code in the SPID. The first C is for Chevrolet (T is GMC), the second V means 4WD, and the 1 is 1/2 ton. So this is a V10. The rest of the model code in the SPID has to do with the cab style and bed type/length.
My Dad growing up had a 1982 Chevy it was blue. And a 1986 Chevy truck both single cab. And shortbed. The 1986 had dual tanks it had a black switch to choose which tank. I believe the 1986 was a Custom. He would pull his 1984 Sea Ray boat with it 18ft. That had a Volvo engine in it inboard outboard. 👍
I had an 86 k10 when I was a junior in high school. Bought it off an old dude who had it tricked out 1980s style,it was a gutless 305 with a 700r4 and 3.08 rears. Great in the snow though, never got it stuck
I daily an 1986 C20 custom deluxe burb. 350, 4 speed, with 3:36 gears. Total stripper, with no options. West coast truck with ZERO rust. It drives wonderfully.
Great stuff, love the channel, one of my favorites for sure. Pretty sure the roller cam did not appear until 95 I think, TBI motors had flat tappets. Hard to find a square in the yard anymore.
Yeah, TBIs were flat tappet cams, roller cams didn't show up until the vortecs in '96 (model year). Also, be careful if you buy a set of "vortec" heads... lots of people try to sell the TBI heads as "vortec" heads because they look similar, but they are NOT.
Another great video I need to find a set of power window power lock doors for my 77 GMC Sierra Grande pick up that's all I need to finish the restoration.
One anecdote about the roller cam deal, and it's only my single experience with a "later" 350, but the 350 that came in my step-dad's 1995 K1500 had a flat tappet cam. Maybe it was a layer reversion to flat tappets when they realized that the anemic tbi 350 didn't need a roller. No, it wasn't a swap, he bought it new in 1995, and I did an intake gasket on it sometime after 2011. If I remember correctly, the block did have the bosses for the retention spider, just no roller lifters. Just something that surprised me as all the 350 books said all 87+ had rollers and 1 piece rear seals.
Yeah, the TBI engines were not rollers. I don't know what book that info came from, but the TBI engines did not have roller cams, although they DID have one piece rear crank seals, so they got that right. The only small blocks that ever had roller cams were the Vortec engines introduced in '96.
I was in HS back then, my auto shop teacher had connections with Chevy. He got a new K1500 early. It looked so futuristic compared to all the other truck.
Many tbi blocks had roller cam provisions, but there were no roller cams until 1996 in pickups. 1 ton squares, Blazers and Suburbans continued until 1991, so '91 was the last year of leaf springs. 1987 was a V10, not a K10. 10 bolt rear axle, no 12's after '81. 131.5" wheelbase, not 131" But good video!
@@Inlinetodie Yes, but not in 1987. There were no CK trucks in 1987, only RV. The CK name came back in 1988 with the introduction of what became known as the "OBS" style.
@@googleusergp I thought the "R/V" distinction came in '88, to distinguish the new body style "C/K's" from the old body style utilities and 4 doors that continued until '91...
The Taiwan metal stamping industry became a big time player in the body panel replacement business with these trucks. They started out making replacement fenders, then doors, hoods, etc. The saying was "Tie one" on your truck! Of course, they expanded on to other, equally rust prone makes. If you wanted a replacement body for your Mustang or Camaro, they ended up making them.
Most truck L03's and L05's were not roller cam, some were machined for rollers, and had the bosses for the spider, but were not roller cam. most car variants did have roller camshafts though.
Makes me think about my first new truck. In 1983 I ordered a Chevy Silverado with a 6.2 liter diesel and a 5 speed manual transmission, dual fuel tanks and I went with a positract rear differential instead of the 4 wheel drive, which was 2000.00 dollars more. Added extra leafs to the rear springs to make it a heavy half. Total,price .$13,000.00 , traded it in for a 1987 Blazer. 😢
I bet I saw that truck on the road or drove past it many times as a kid. My Dad worked at Umass in the 80s & 90s and I spent a ton of time in Amherst as a kid.
Still have my 86 C20. Finally took out the TH400 and put a 700r4. Now it cruises at 70-75 !!! Just took out the tired 350. And have a new GM Performance 350/357hp, should run good up here in CO at 6500’ Great truck !! Still have my 72 Demon. Bought it new too !!! Ya, I’m old 👍
I thought it was the smaller diameter of the fuel filler that prevented the use of leaded fuel in the 1970s. Thanks for the review. These were great chucks. In spite of fears at the time, the later GMT400 seemed to have turned out to be even better.
You could buy the brackets from the dealer to convert from two to four shocks. A problem with quad shocks was the lower brackets would break,stronger bottom brackets would have to be welded on.
Fun Fact GM actually called the 73-87 the Rounded Line! Not Square Body! Reason....... Chevy Trucks before '73 had flat plate glass windows and flat door skins. The '73-87 we're the first generation Trucks to receive curved door glass this required the door skin to be Curved or Rounded!!!!! Now you know😎
I had a friend who bought one in 87 but his was the same color SWB black interior 4 speed V6 but it was a two wheel drive and he paid more for than the 88 model because he liked the look better.
That one's not too bad of shape considering where it is and how bad these can rot. I had a 1989 Suburban I bought cheap and later discovered the only thing that held the tailgate on was the glass... when that broke. Usually when the column is gone that means it was a tilt, those go quick, but I don't see that on the RPO sticker.
Hi Steve, the unleaded fuel restrictors came out in 1975, because the catalytic converter(s) where not compatible for leaded fuel use. By the way, shock absorbers do not support the ride, they steady the ride, only the springs carry the weight. Please reply. Dave...
Steve, cool video and thanks. I gotta tell you, mom and dad bought a new 76 3/4 ton camper special Chevy. It had shocks inside the bed from the cab. I've never seen this again. Is this an odd option? Miss that ol truck
Hello Styrene Relics, I can picture these little stabilizer mini-shocks on certain pickup campers in my memory. But now I'll keep an extra eye out for them in any Junkyard Crawl setting. Thanks! Also, I see that your screen name is Styrene Relics, as in classic model cars perhaps? I'm a huge model car builder and collector. I'm a "JoHan Addict" and freely admit it. If you haven't already, check out the many Model Car videos on this channel. They'll be listed in the Playlist. Lots of model car trivia and oddball kit stuff. Anyhoo, THANKS for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante
Yes sir, I have seen your videos. Love your altered wheel base AFX cars. Man, fun times back in the day. My channel is showing my builds but also many that I've help save. Great stuff here. I'll be around a lot. Thanks again.
The V22 deluxe frontend package was available from “1980” and 1981-87 on Chevrolet and GMC trucks. The 1980 being a 1 year only optional frontend with single square headlights. But one more thing. The V22 package was also a Chrome Grill package from 73-79 but simple just the plastic grill
I had a 82 GMC With the single headlight option.Found a donor GMC 4 headlight version. It is not so easy to convert. Rad support change out and electrical.It was a weekend project.
Dodge did the same light and grille treatment for Dodge Vans and Trucks from 1979-1985,base models had the round light on Vans 79-85 and trucks 79-80..
The 2 grilles and head light designs started in 1981 and the Square Body continued until 1991 in the US with the bigger trucks and in Mexico with the 1/2 trucks as well.
There's been many times when they had more than one grill offered. Chevrolet had the WT for a while at least in the mid-90s on up into 2000. It had a black utilitarian grill. My Ford super duty has a black utilitarian grill and glass headlights. But you can also get that truck with your common plastic lenses and bigger lights. Completely different grill. Depending on the package you ordered. Enjoyed your segment. You camping out in that Salvage yard? Well looks like you're about 3/4 away to 100,000 subscribers
You could still get square body Blazer or suburban up to 1990 but no pick ups after 1988. 1987 was also the first year for computer in the square body..
Always amazing how, after consumers who are enthusiasts make new designs and technology work after being scared of the stiff - I.e. solid 4x4 axles vs independent torsion bars….
1979 was the first year for unleaded fuel on Chevrolet trucks up to a certain GVW. I ordered a brand new 79 Chevy K 10 4 Wheel Dr. and it was the first year to have the door over the gas cap. A truck was about three months old when my wife rolled it it was so new that when they replaced the bed all they could find was 1978 beds and it had the gas cap on the outside of the bed but 79 was the first year for unleaded fuel in Half ton and larger pick ups
Hey Steve i have a 82 gmc 2wd long bed i converted to short bed ( i used a 73 short frame and welded the 82 horns on it ) now its a 82 2wd short bed with a 94 6.2L diesel if i convert it to 4wd would it make it less valuable at this point thanks .JM
They’re again in high demand. Square body prices are through the roof. My brother had an 86 3/4 ton 4x4, with 4.10 gears and a 454/th400.. he wishes he would’ve never gotten rid of that truck
Roller cams on TBI engines...? I don't think so... I've had dozens of these apart and never found a roller cam in one. The Vortec MPFI engines from '96 up had roller cams, but not the throttle body injected engines. The "quad shocks" are an interesting option though, they were very common on Suburbans, but somewhat rare on pickups, to my knowledge. Also, while cars had to stop using leaded gas in '72, that mandate didn't apply to trucks until '79... which is one of the reasons why I try to collect only 1978 chevy trucks. '78 was the last year you could get a 1/2 ton truck without catalytic converters, evaporative emissions, EGR, etc... and they still used the first generation quadrajet carburetors instead of the "modified" M4MV quadrajets that cars got in '75. Anyway, great video as usual. I offer corrections sometimes, but I very much appreciate you sharing your knowledge. Please never stop making these videos! Oh, and one other thing, the styling on these trucks was called "rounded line exterior styling"... so the term "square body" doesn't really fit... ;P
![Megan Thee Stallion - Bigger In Texas [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QxTkZTLWdo4/mqdefault.jpg)
A truck with 2 doors and a 8 foot bed. Now there's a concept.
We started getting the new body style 1988 Chevy trucks in April of 1987. It was the first time we had ever had people showing up at the dealership I worked at to see the all new body style Chevy trucks while the car hauler was still unloading the new trucks. I also remember the heavy duty Chevy and GMC trucks as well as the Blazers and Suburbans kept the square body look for a few more years.
Funny Steve mentioned snowplows, there was a real mad rush in 88-91 for the last of the 4 door square bodies. I don't think a single 3/4 or 1 ton left our local dealership without a plow frame and fifth wheel or gooseneck ball, HD Suburbans got plows too.
People knew that overgrown s10 suspension would be an issue..
I love how early steve posts his videos it fun to watch them before I head into work
Hell yeah 👍, thats how i start my day!
Oh yeah, me too! I have about a half dozen videos from my favorite creators waiting in the queue for me when I get up. It's my morning routine to have my coffee while enjoying my daily videos.
Steve, Forget about the Quadra Shocks, nowadays I get a shock every time I see a full-size pickup with an actual 8 foot bed 😁
An 8 foot bed that never has to be made
@@thefordmaniac That's even better.
Many of today's are being used like a car with a big trunk.
@@bobroberts2371 It's funny you put it that way. Our old Plymouth Fury had a trunk bigger than the beds on half the pickups on the road today.
The end of a Era for GM . This truck has to be the most popular across many generations of people
That truck needs to be saved. Looks like a solid base to build from!
This thing is in GREAT shape for being a truck from Western Mass! In the 90s these things were this rusty there.
I regret selling my 87 custom deluxe 12 years ago it was showing it's age but in great shape. Live in learn. Thanks Steve for showing this truck.
Excellent video and history. The square body Chevies and GMCs are red hot here in CO. I bought a 73 C30 with utility body and 3/4 ton wheels without duals for a daily and shop truck. 350 and SM465 granny 4speed. I’m keeping this one
We're all pulling for you Steve. Hope to see you back in the Junkyard soon
Man those are becoming very collectible and desirable! That one is a great contender for restoration! Nice! Great video Steve!
I had an 87 K5 Blazer with the quad shocks in front. It also had the TBI 350, and the 700R4 trans with 3.73 front and rear diffs. Loved that Blazer! California rig, so zero rust, only 150k on the chassis, 30k on the rebuilt 350, and the trans I had rebuilt, it might have had 5k on it. Had to sell it to make a couple house payments so the wife and I didn't lose our house back in 2008 or so. Been looking for a replacement, and now the rust-free clean ones are going for a MINT! Thanks, Steve. Always love your content, and your limitless knowledge! Keep it up, brother!
I used to have a square body! I pulled the 305 then lit it on fire. That was the best thing I could do to a Chevy!
I liked the 85mph speedo in my 78 phoenix and 78 starfire. Both 400 small blocks when I pulled the 305’s. Both had those terrible 2.52 or so rear gears, I would run 14.19 in that phoenix , crossing the line just as it shifted into 2nd. The starfire would shift just before the line(13” tires) and run 13.90’s. But putting the speedo needle around the S on the shift indicator was always fun.
Square body Crew cabs, one tons, suburbans and (V10) blazers continued until 1991.
@@johnydoey5450 i have 89 suburban and a 90 blazer, i live in the Arizona high desert so luckily they are both rust free. My profile pic is of a delivery truck that has been in a wash for probably 70 years that is about 10 miles from my house. Bullets have done more damage to it than moisture.
Correct, the RV Series became the "square body" offerings from 1987 to 1991.
Thanks Steve! Love square bodies. Maybe it’s just me, but I think they were the last ones that really looked truck-like. The stuff since seems like it’s trying harder to look truckish.
88-98 gmt400 to me chevy did it right with that body style
Good stuff Steve ! Im the proud owner of a 74 C10 short fleet bed 250ci 4 on the floor with compound low...radio delete. totally original 103 k on the odo...love it just the way it is
Very cool!
Thank you for calling a a 4 speed instead of a "3 speed with granny low" as I see them called so often. The Muncie SM465 may be labeled on the shift knob "L-1-2-3" but that extra low 1st gear is actually a higher ratio (6.5 - 1) than the previous SM420 that was labeled "1-2-3-4", with a 1st gear ratio of 7 to 1. It drives me crazy when people call it a "3 speed"...
I've got a pair of these, '86 4wd with a 305 and '83 2wd with 6.2 diesel. Nice trucks
Great trucks! We had an 83 C10 Custom Deluxe in white on blk, that we got from a local library that closed. 44k on it in 1999! Oddly optioned, it had the rear step bumper, rear hd springs, p/s, no power brakes or a/c, AM/FM, gauge package, 250 6, and 1st year 700r4 non electronic OD trans. 2wd, long bed. We had it until 03 and sold it after my dad passed. Big mistake as aside from needing rockers, nothing was wrong with it.
That would have been a 292 inline 6
4wd would be a k10 not a c10 in early models. However in 87 it was a v10 in 4wd and r10 as a 2wd
Yep. That's exactly right.
Yup I caught that too
We have to cut Steve some slack, he is a mopar guy. Also the square body continued until 91 in 3/4 and 1 ton.
I never knew that. Great info man👍
Yea,I had an 89 Chev 1 tin R body with the N series engine, brake part's always confusing to the part's guy,he tried selling C body part's
That's kind of a unicorn. A basic Custom Deluxe that is actually packed full of good options. Quad shocks, dual tanks, sliding rear window, engine oil cooler and even though they are gone, automatic locking hubs.
Morning Steve, in 1976-77 I started out my wrenching career installing Fisher Snow plows on new 4 WD pickups....great video Steve
Back in the summer of 1986. I worked at Strawberry, Chevrolet and Buick in York Maine. I remember the Chevrolet pick ups and Camaro Iroc
being very popular!
And let’s not forget the Corvettes and Buick grand nationals!!
Excellent place to work for the times !
I had a 75 😃short cab square box 305 I believe🤔 it was a fun truck great job Steve 🍀get R done😎✌️
I used to drive an 85 or 86 C20 for work and those GM dual tanks were a massive PITA. You couldn't fill them both without turning the truck around. And half the time someone would take the pump before you could get turned around. All back in the day when pay at the pump was still a far off future dream. I was much happier with my Dad's 1988 F150 with both fillers on the same side.
Oh man I loved those dual tanks on Chevy or Ford. I could rarely afford to fill them both but still 😆
With all that time saved with filling gas you could use that time to replace your salt primed oil pan and spring hangers every 5 years
These were the last of what I consider simple trucks. Not much of a GM guy but my dad had an 86 Silverado 2wd with a 6.2L diesel. We end up putting a Banks turbo kit on it. It was a nice truck to drive and after ten years in Michigan salt and 220,000 the torque converter gave up. He bought a 95 F 250 power stroke and a beater F150 for working.
Had a 73 2wd long bed for years it rusted away before it quit running sold it for next to nothing then got a 75 GMC Camper Special 3/4 ton that truck was awesome did everything from towing boats to hauling firewood and even getting groceries went places in that I'll never forget. Sure miss "Ole Blue"
Always enjoy your findings on these trucks,all the little different things found, a snow plow on a half ton,
Thanks 👍
It’s got the 9V27 steering wheel delete Very rare
The LO3 (305) and LO5 (350) truck engines never had roller cams only the cars received the updated roller cams. 96 with the new Vortec engines would be the first year GM trucks came with factory roller cams.
You are correct
Thought the same thing , these years of engines didn’t come with casting in the lifter valley for oe roller lifter retainers.
Psi in Illinois has license for a bunch of gm engines.
They still make center bolt valve cover 305s and 350s.
They also use the 4.3 V6(350 minus 2cyl)
and the 8.1(496)
Actually the 8.1 was killed off a couple years ago for an 8.8 (535).
The 350 with a turbo matches the old 8.1 for the industrial applications these are still used for.
@@stevenrodriguez7668 most if not all I've seen had the provisions cast into them from 87 and later.
The 2 350s that I pulled apart from 89 suburbans didn't have the bosses to hold the roller lifter retainer plate.
I remember going to auto wreckers when I was in high school and some of the vehicles were in better shape than what I was driving lol
Leaded vs Unleaded Fuel - The size of the filler neck determined what Fuel you could use in your vehicle. Unleaded used a smaller nozzle at the pump and leaded was a larger nozzle. This restricted a unleaded vehicle from using a leaded fuel in the vehicle at the pump. Any vehicle over 8600 GVW, at least in 1986, was aloud to burn LEADED fuel, which include your heavy duty 3/4 ton pickup style trucks. This also meant that trucks over 8600 GVW didn’t have a catalytic converter restricted exhaust system. I’m sure this wasn’t the case for vehicles in California
About the spring in the filler neck… that was a anti-siphoning device used by the auto manufacturers to prevent folks from getting free gas at night while the owner slept. The spring assembly would make it very difficult or near impossible to get a hose into the tank to siphon off 5 gallons of gas.
GOOD LORD!! You are the 'YODA' of car history!!!
I bought myself a new '81 Silverado short box for my 23rd birthday, payed $10,300.. loved that truck loved that truck
Great video, I had a 1986 , looked identical, even the color! Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
I had an 86 ramp truck.
I owned an 87 r10 Silverado with the 305 and put 250K on it. Replaced axle seals once, lower ball joints, and installed a long tail shaft 350 in place of the unneeded 700R4 since it had 3:08 gears. It was a beautiful truck with a set of American Racing Grambler wheels and white letters. I love the square bodies but I don't miss their squeaky metal dash.
Another great video Steve. Everyone of your videos, I watch I learn something new!!
Great video, I remember going with my dad to the local dealer and checking one out that was yellow. He said, thats too much money for a truck. I think it was 17K in '87. Grey Chevrolet was the Dealer in Port Orchard WA.
They just changed to Gilcrest,Have an Uncle remembers buying new trucks for 5 K, The old days,Cannot find a used up truck for under 10 k anymore
What a huge difference it made having leaf springs under the front of your pickup. Leaf spring front ends didn’t go down when you raised your plow like the new junk they sell today. If I wanted torsion bars I’d buy a little car!
Torsion bars are adjustable though... crank them up if they sag under the weight of a plow. Yeah, it'll ride higher without the plow on it, but that seems to be in style these days. What do they call it... Carolina squat or something...?
“Corn belt rake” like there’s a load of ‘shine in the back
1986 305 with a 4 bbl was an HO which was 180hp
Ford, Chevy, or Dodge. Love the square body American pickups.
Steve Back in the early 90's , I use to sell at all the swap meets , Stafford spring, lake compounds., Long story short, I met a old man that said he helped design, the throttle body for GM, He was also none for building kits to fit Hotrods, I can't remember his name, But I bought his system stand alone. I know you must know him, I herd he passed away, a while back, I still have that system. I ran it on my 76 454 dump truck , Just wanted to know if you New him, great Videos
His Knick name was Slap-Boy. I do remember him. Very genuine and knowledgeable fellow.
Steve forgot to mention, the rarely ordered two windshield option!
You can bet when Steve says C10 instead of K10 it’s to blow the comment section up😂
Y’all been played.
Ha i thought the same thing but since its a v10. I'm not so sure
@@jakegogats2233 You're correct. V10, no CK nomenclature in 1987.
He's technically incorrect as he's misreading the model code in the SPID. The first C is for Chevrolet (T is GMC), the second V means 4WD, and the 1 is 1/2 ton. So this is a V10. The rest of the model code in the SPID has to do with the cab style and bed type/length.
My Dad growing up had a 1982 Chevy it was blue. And a 1986 Chevy truck both single cab. And shortbed. The 1986 had dual tanks it had a black switch to choose which tank. I believe the 1986 was a Custom. He would pull his 1984 Sea Ray boat with it 18ft. That had a Volvo engine in it inboard outboard. 👍
Do I see Mortske and Duff sneaking up on that squarebody?
I had an 86 k10 when I was a junior in high school. Bought it off an old dude who had it tricked out 1980s style,it was a gutless 305 with a 700r4 and 3.08 rears. Great in the snow though, never got it stuck
I daily an 1986 C20 custom deluxe burb.
350, 4 speed, with 3:36 gears.
Total stripper, with no options.
West coast truck with ZERO rust.
It drives wonderfully.
Three leafs in the front springs as opposed to only 2 on each side, gives away the plow package option..
Great stuff, love the channel, one of my favorites for sure. Pretty sure the roller cam did not appear until 95 I think, TBI motors had flat tappets. Hard to find a square in the yard anymore.
Yeah, TBIs were flat tappet cams, roller cams didn't show up until the vortecs in '96 (model year). Also, be careful if you buy a set of "vortec" heads... lots of people try to sell the TBI heads as "vortec" heads because they look similar, but they are NOT.
Another great video I need to find a set of power window power lock doors for my 77 GMC Sierra Grande pick up that's all I need to finish the restoration.
One anecdote about the roller cam deal, and it's only my single experience with a "later" 350, but the 350 that came in my step-dad's 1995 K1500 had a flat tappet cam. Maybe it was a layer reversion to flat tappets when they realized that the anemic tbi 350 didn't need a roller.
No, it wasn't a swap, he bought it new in 1995, and I did an intake gasket on it sometime after 2011. If I remember correctly, the block did have the bosses for the retention spider, just no roller lifters.
Just something that surprised me as all the 350 books said all 87+ had rollers and 1 piece rear seals.
Yeah, the TBI engines were not rollers. I don't know what book that info came from, but the TBI engines did not have roller cams, although they DID have one piece rear crank seals, so they got that right. The only small blocks that ever had roller cams were the Vortec engines introduced in '96.
I was in HS back then, my auto shop teacher had connections with Chevy. He got a new K1500 early. It looked so futuristic compared to all the other truck.
Many tbi blocks had roller cam provisions, but there were no roller cams until 1996 in pickups.
1 ton squares, Blazers and Suburbans continued until 1991, so '91 was the last year of leaf springs.
1987 was a V10, not a K10.
10 bolt rear axle, no 12's after '81.
131.5" wheelbase, not 131"
But good video!
Just makes you wonder how long that truck has been there. Had to have been before the square body prices went up.
Love the videos Steve!! I’m pretty sure this one is K-10 for 4x4 not C-10. Keep up the great content!
V10 as there was no K10 in 1987.
Yes, K10 is for 4x4, C10 is 2 wheel drive
@@Inlinetodie Yes, but not in 1987. There were no CK trucks in 1987, only RV. The CK name came back in 1988 with the introduction of what became known as the "OBS" style.
Super nuanced but thanks for the info!! I love all the little differences between years
@@googleusergp I thought the "R/V" distinction came in '88, to distinguish the new body style "C/K's" from the old body style utilities and 4 doors that continued until '91...
I had an '86, 2WD..... THREE ON THE TREE!!
The Taiwan metal stamping industry became a big time player in the body panel replacement business with these trucks.
They started out making replacement fenders, then doors, hoods, etc. The saying was "Tie one" on your truck!
Of course, they expanded on to other, equally rust prone makes.
If you wanted a replacement body for your Mustang or Camaro, they ended up making them.
Most truck L03's and L05's were not roller cam, some were machined for rollers, and had the bosses for the spider, but were not roller cam. most car variants did have roller camshafts though.
Makes me think about my first new truck. In 1983 I ordered a Chevy Silverado with a 6.2 liter diesel and a 5 speed manual transmission, dual fuel tanks and I went with a positract rear differential instead of the 4 wheel drive, which was 2000.00 dollars more. Added extra leafs to the rear springs to make it a heavy half. Total,price .$13,000.00 , traded it in for a 1987 Blazer. 😢
I do remember College Chevrolet, on the other side of the tracks from "Last Place Lumber"
I bet I saw that truck on the road or drove past it many times as a kid. My Dad worked at Umass in the 80s & 90s and I spent a ton of time in Amherst as a kid.
Love those trucks
Still have my 86 C20. Finally took out the TH400 and put a 700r4. Now it cruises at 70-75 !!! Just took out the tired 350. And have a new GM Performance 350/357hp, should run good up here in CO at 6500’ Great truck !! Still have my 72 Demon. Bought it new too !!! Ya, I’m old 👍
Great trucks
I thought it was the smaller diameter of the fuel filler that prevented the use of leaded fuel in the 1970s. Thanks for the review. These were great chucks. In spite of fears at the time, the later GMT400 seemed to have turned out to be even better.
You are correct. The 'flapper' is an attempt to lower vapor emissions from the gas tank.
Thank you!
87 first year of fuel injection. My buddy bought an 86 k20 bran new we took it to Florida and back in 89.
You could buy the brackets from the dealer to convert from two to four shocks. A problem with quad shocks was the lower brackets would break,stronger bottom brackets would have to be welded on.
Thank you for the history lesson
Glad you enjoyed it
Fun Fact GM actually called the 73-87 the Rounded Line! Not Square Body!
Reason....... Chevy Trucks before '73 had flat plate glass windows and flat door skins. The '73-87 we're the first generation Trucks to receive curved door glass this required the door skin to be Curved or Rounded!!!!! Now you know😎
I had a friend who bought one in 87 but his was the same color SWB black interior 4 speed V6 but it was a two wheel drive and he paid more for than the 88 model because he liked the look better.
Hey Steve a little side note the crew cabs stayed square body til 90. I a buddy of mine had an 88 crew it was a square body. My 89 was a square body.
1991, actually. Chevy called them R and V instead of C/K.
@@CR7659 Correct.
For being a New England truck it doesn't appear to be ate up completely with rust.
sandblast the frame, a new cab and bed, a crate motor ….it could be done.
That one's not too bad of shape considering where it is and how bad these can rot. I had a 1989 Suburban I bought cheap and later discovered the only thing that held the tailgate on was the glass... when that broke.
Usually when the column is gone that means it was a tilt, those go quick, but I don't see that on the RPO sticker.
my buddy bought the 87 with a 454 ,when you hit 100mph the motor would cut out some limiter and it got like 9mpg with a intake upgrade
Hi Steve, the unleaded fuel restrictors came out in 1975, because the catalytic converter(s) where not compatible for leaded fuel use. By the way, shock absorbers do not support the ride, they steady the ride, only the springs carry the weight. Please reply. Dave...
Steve, cool video and thanks. I gotta tell you, mom and dad bought a new 76 3/4 ton camper special Chevy. It had shocks inside the bed from the cab. I've never seen this again. Is this an odd option? Miss that ol truck
Hello Styrene Relics, I can picture these little stabilizer mini-shocks on certain pickup campers in my memory. But now I'll keep an extra eye out for them in any Junkyard Crawl setting. Thanks! Also, I see that your screen name is Styrene Relics, as in classic model cars perhaps? I'm a huge model car builder and collector. I'm a "JoHan Addict" and freely admit it. If you haven't already, check out the many Model Car videos on this channel. They'll be listed in the Playlist. Lots of model car trivia and oddball kit stuff. Anyhoo, THANKS for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante
Yes sir, I have seen your videos. Love your altered wheel base AFX cars. Man, fun times back in the day. My channel is showing my builds but also many that I've help save. Great stuff here. I'll be around a lot. Thanks again.
The V22 deluxe frontend package was available from “1980” and 1981-87 on Chevrolet and GMC trucks. The 1980 being a 1 year only optional frontend with single square headlights. But one more thing. The V22 package was also a Chrome Grill package from 73-79 but simple just the plastic grill
I had a 82 GMC With the single headlight option.Found a donor GMC 4 headlight version. It is not so easy to convert. Rad support change out and electrical.It was a weekend project.
@@robbyaugtel5189 you had a base model 81-87 not what I was talking about
@@robbyaugtel5189 I was talking about V22 Deluxe Front Appearance Package
You should do a review of the Chevy military pickups and Blazers in the '80s.
Dodge did the same light and grille treatment for Dodge Vans and Trucks from 1979-1985,base models had the round light on Vans 79-85 and trucks 79-80..
interesting about the grills
I watched a video on that 58 Impala yesterday someone posted it
Might have been capable of having a roller cam, but every one I’ve had was a flat tappet cam.
I believe they were. Roller cam showed up in 92?
I don’t think roller cams came in the trucks until 1996.
Leased an 87 C30 to tow my race car around in 1988. 454, 4 speed, got around 10 mpg whether I was towing or not. It was the base model like this one.
R30, not C30 in 1987. No CK Series in 1987.
The 2 grilles and head light designs started in 1981 and the Square Body continued until 1991 in the US with the bigger trucks and in Mexico with the 1/2 trucks as well.
6:29 geez Steve, getting a little too friendly with the truck:)
collage street is still there it's on the right heading into town on RT. 9 from Belchertown!
There's been many times when they had more than one grill offered. Chevrolet had the WT for a while at least in the mid-90s on up into 2000. It had a black utilitarian grill. My Ford super duty has a black utilitarian grill and glass headlights. But you can also get that truck with your common plastic lenses and bigger lights. Completely different grill. Depending on the package you ordered. Enjoyed your segment. You camping out in that Salvage yard? Well looks like you're about 3/4 away to 100,000 subscribers
I want a c10 badly. I think they look great lowered with some patina.
You could still get square body Blazer or suburban up to 1990 but no pick ups after 1988. 1987 was also the first year for computer in the square body..
Crews cabs as well
The square body Blazer ran through the 1991 model year. It would have been an R series (2WD) or V series (4WD).
Always amazing how, after consumers who are enthusiasts make new designs and technology work after being scared of the stiff - I.e. solid 4x4 axles vs independent torsion bars….
1979 was the first year for unleaded fuel on Chevrolet trucks up to a certain GVW. I ordered a brand new 79 Chevy K 10 4 Wheel Dr. and it was the first year to have the door over the gas cap. A truck was about three months old when my wife rolled it it was so new that when they replaced the bed all they could find was 1978 beds and it had the gas cap on the outside of the bed but 79 was the first year for unleaded fuel in Half ton and larger pick ups
My 1989 suburban 350 did not have a roller camshaft,,,not sure the 305.
That’s worth saving I’m thinking 🤔
Hey Steve i have a 82 gmc 2wd long bed i converted to short bed ( i used a 73 short frame and welded the 82 horns on it ) now its a 82 2wd short bed with a 94 6.2L diesel if i convert it to 4wd would it make it less valuable at this point thanks .JM
They’re again in high demand. Square body prices are through the roof. My brother had an 86 3/4 ton 4x4, with 4.10 gears and a 454/th400.. he wishes he would’ve never gotten rid of that truck
Roller cams on TBI engines...? I don't think so... I've had dozens of these apart and never found a roller cam in one. The Vortec MPFI engines from '96 up had roller cams, but not the throttle body injected engines.
The "quad shocks" are an interesting option though, they were very common on Suburbans, but somewhat rare on pickups, to my knowledge.
Also, while cars had to stop using leaded gas in '72, that mandate didn't apply to trucks until '79... which is one of the reasons why I try to collect only 1978 chevy trucks. '78 was the last year you could get a 1/2 ton truck without catalytic converters, evaporative emissions, EGR, etc... and they still used the first generation quadrajet carburetors instead of the "modified" M4MV quadrajets that cars got in '75.
Anyway, great video as usual. I offer corrections sometimes, but I very much appreciate you sharing your knowledge. Please never stop making these videos!
Oh, and one other thing, the styling on these trucks was called "rounded line exterior styling"... so the term "square body" doesn't really fit... ;P
How about a feature on that water heater standing behind the truck. It looks like a big one.
The Dodge Ram Rod Hall edition had also 4 shocks like that ones.
I bought a new 87 GMC Sierra Classic 1/2 ton 4X4 short bed with the fuel injected 350. It had quite the appetite for fuel.