No doubt this was made as a platform to boost exposure for your LS Engine Swap Book and there is nothing wrong doing so. But, your research seems to be spent on looking through GM sales brochures that do not paint the entire picture of the history and availability of what all was offered ( changes were made that not every sales literature was made aware of ). Consulting more than the internet will get you better results on future projects.
In 1993 I worked for a Chevrolet dealer in Delaware OH,in the parts department. I owned a 79 K-10 Bonanza that was my daily driver. Equipped with factory 350/350 turbo trans,4wd NP203 ,12blt axles rear posi. Only comfort options were tilt wheel,P/S sliding rear cab window, and switchable duel fuel tanks. I was so happy driving my truck back then. I regret selling it in 96,for a crappy G-30 van.
I had a friend that had a 77 or 78 bonanza two tone yellow and white back in the late 90s. 350/350. I told him not to sell it..he did...I was driving a 2 tone grey 1992 ext cab step side at the same time....nothing special but I miss that truck for some reason
I recently re-acquired an extremely low 1980 no cat 454 long bed just to be used as an occasional work truck which it has been all of its life. I have never been happier going down the road and running trips and recently sold my old friend 89 long bed. The 80 has no cats, no egr valves and no electronics, no temp sensors, no 02 sensors, no cheap electric fuel pumps etc to go bad and burns much cleaner on the smog test than my 2001 Corolla driver (23ppm hcs) if that tells you anything about how setting things up correctly can work!
When they changed the leaf springs and solid front axle in half ton to torsion bar and independent suspension in half ton, they never had the weight capacity for snow plows. Lift the plow on a leaf sprung truck, minimal dropping. Torsion bar, the plow frame almost touched the pavement
Probably going to get a lot of flak: 85’ C20 C6P built 383 SM465 4.10 one of the cleanest squares you’ll find. The 383 dynoed 480hp 520ft lbs, tows like a boss. 3rd gear on the street is frightening! There is optional nitrous coming.
Had 77 K20 with 400 v-8 and auto trans.Rode horrible and the engine had no power and got terrible mileage (5-8mpg) Engine finally spun a rod bearing.Mechanic said that was a common problem on 400 engine as the longer stroke increased the rod angle and put a lot of pressure on the bearings.Replaced it with a 350 which was just as bad.One of the happiest days of my life was when I sold it and saw it disapear down the road.But I currently have a 79 C70 2 1/2 ton farm truck with 454 engine which turned out to be a great truck.
Awesome video and 1980 was the odd man out with the square lights I think 84-87 was sharp. I had an 84 step side with a 305. I was always amazed at how my 94, with a 4.3 had more horsepower than a 1970’s 350.
This is a trip down memory lane. My dad had 3 square bodies: a 75 Scottsdale with a 400 small-block and automatic, a 78 Custom Deluxe (the one I learned to drive in) with a 250, three on the tree, and a downgrade to manual steering. His last truck ever was an 81 Scottsdale with a 305 and automatic. When you mentioned the A833 transmission, you brought back another memory. My first truck was an 84 Dodge D100 "Miser". 225 slant six, A833, and 2.72 gears- it made that 78 look GOOD! Another upgrade for 81 was a redesigned front cab mount that seemed to be more resistant to rusting out than the earlier one. Those cab mounts killed my dad's 78.
My first truck was a 73 with 350 and it was faster then every thing in my high school lmao everyone called it the mustard machine because it was yellow and he bed had rust cracks in it but I earned the truck filling it up with fire wood every year with my grandpa and on my 16th birthday he gave it to me. Truck was great would wrap the speedo like nothing or carry a cord of wood just as easy. I also owned a 78 bonanza 400 all time awd, 77 stepside 350, 84 shortbox 305
This was a really cool video! Reminds me, through the 80s, in the area I grew up in, primary industries being farming, cattle, and logging, EVERYBODY had a Chevy pickup ranging from new to early 70s. They were extremely well liked for the roles cited above, and ran until they rusted through! I literally remember ONE dodge pickup from the next town over, and one or two fords.
Ive had to explain alot of this to people. My 1st truck was a 1990 squarebody suburban. I currently have an 88 squarebody 4 door long bed dually, and a 99 obs 3/4 ton suburban. 1/2 ton changes right away, but 3/4 , 1 ton, and suburbans take a few years to change.
Great video. My Dad had the one-off year 1980 with the square headlights. It was the Big-10 model, designed to avoid some emissions requirements. It was a half ton with heavier duty suspension and brakes and maybe some other minor changes- but not a 3/4 ton. The GMC version was called the Heavy-Half. These models were only available in 79 and possibly 78. If you edit this video, you may want to add all the different steering wheel designs. My favorite is the version with the creases.
Would love a complete K5 lineup video with every little option and change! The little details you provide are GREAT,, even for a guy who knows his chevy's
Still near daily driving my 1983 C10 with its original 305 and th350 transmission. It still runs amazing after 41 years and I use it heavily for hauling materials and rock etc. It's a remarkable vehicle and the only downside, for somebody who doesn't like to be noticed, is that everyone stares at the truck when I'm driving it and people comment on it at gas stations etc.
Another excellent video, really appreciate all the work you put into these. I've owed six chevy trucks from various years - 1972 thru 2021. The first vehicle I ever drove was my parents 1979 square body. We took many family trips around the west coast in that truck when i was a kid. So this video brought back a lot of memories of that truck. I'm in the process of completely rebuilding a 1972 c10 cheyenne super. Chevy trucks are in my blood i guess you could say lol
This video is my second favorite video of all time, only next to your LS history video but hooooly this video is going to be watched every single morning just like the LS one until I die because I do love my chevy’s, the trucks and the LS!
Sir. 2019 Silverados and up have way more rounded fenders. On my 23 with the 2" lift. I can tuck 35×11.5r20s with ease and still have plenty of travel. Now with the GMCs your absolutely right. They still have a very sharp angled fender well
K body Blazer/Jimmy, PLEASE! Great C/K video I've owned many over the years. The Jimmy Blazer K- body really won my heart! ❤️ For the record, in Michigan, the Blazers and Suburban's are titled as station wagons. Even a '96 Jimmy I called my "mini Jimmy" was titled as a station wagon.
The best pickup ever made is the Squarebody GMC/Chevy. I have had 3 of them in over 20 years and has done everything better than any diesel, gas or electric truck ever made. Great video 👍
I understands an LS is a great motor, but i don't need to be beat over the head about it repeatedly. I personally would rather build the motor that is supposed to be in that vehicle. I still did really enjoy the video tho.
I can't wait till LS unswaps are a thing. My built 454 with a properly tuned carb will outperform an LS for towing, fuel economy and torquey fun. I will never own an oxygen sensor or an ECU!
The first gen small blocks had some pretty serious cooling and oiling problems, if you want to stay with an SBC you really need to look into finding one of the 90s Goodwrench motors. As a helpful helpful hint, all vans came with 4 bolt mains and tend to be overlooked at junkyards. For heads, vortecs flow better than any other gm produced heads by a mile including the double hump fuel injection heads of the 60s, but vortecs also have their head cracking issues
I have a 1996 L31 Vortec converted to 79 425 caddy Q-jet and 79 c-vette hei with Pertronix. Welded an o2 sensor bung into exhaust with gauge in the cab to monitor air / fuel ratio and vacuum gauge to tune for all conditions. Great engine for my 1985 K30, and it looks correct.
Carb to vortec head intakes are about $100 on ebay and must be aluminum die cast or some other improvement. The casting is better than an Edelbrock intake from 20+ years ago; zero porosity and the Edelbrock had to be skimmed with bondo on machined head surfaces to get good seal.
Tailgates; There was an earlier version of the full, flat brushed applique similar but slightly different to the '81-up version. There was one more variation on GMCs - 1973-4s had the GMC logo embossed at the top left corner (with chrome letters on top on high-trim ones), 1975-80 had them centered under the tailgate handle. 1973-4 Suburbans had the same rear doors or tailgate as '75-91, only the emblems changed (and the 1975 style Suburban emblems held on until 1988!)
Few things I noticed, 3/4 tons actually share the same frame as a half ton, no mention of manual transmission clutch pedal linkage changing to hydraulic in 1984, K5 tailgates are nothing like pickup tailgates. Other then that not a bad video
Do you have any idea why they stopped installing the Hydraulic clutch in 1963? 1960 to 1962 have Hydraulic clutch. Torsion bars and Xbox frames. Also do you know what year the torsion bar suspension came back 🤔
@vm722 probably a cost of production issue in the 60s would be my guess, linkages and springs were probably less expensive then master and slave cylinders at the time. Although my collection of squarebody hydraulic pedals that guys want way too much money for makes me think the used market pumps them up a little too much
@ 7:26 in this video, you show a GMT-400 that had the factory paint color my 1st new truck had. Its called Garnet Red & Quick Silver My truck had even the excat orangeish pin stripe! B.T.W. auther.. 2500's were available in 1988 !! Only as i had mine... 6 lug wheels.. 7200 G.V.W.R. actually had 2500 on the door molding. Factory equipped with 14 bolt semi floatng rear axle and large rear drums.
Great video! You must have listed all of the factory options for these trucks. I have seen these and I'm sure they were done by a conversion company with extended cabs and extra-long 12 ft beds. Exceptionally rare
My dad had a '79 GMC Sierra (base model), 3 on the tree, power nothing. Only options were long bed, AM radio and a step bumper. It was his work truck for a glass shop (auto and building) and doubled as our family car until Mom got a new Plymouth Horizon in 1986 which she drove like it was a Lotus.
I had a 1974 C10 with a factory 454, TH400, dual tanks, and gauge package (tach, etc). It would burn the right rear tire for days. Wish I'd kept it to convert to a shortbed.
76, 350, 3 on tree, 5/8 ton, saddle tanks, it was an excellent truck: rolled odo 3 times, switched it to automatic, then years later cousin got it and wrapped it around a tree and left it, it could have been hauled back for parts (engine, Trans, body panels)
Year ago I rebuilt the 454 in a 1977 c20, used ls6 type pistons to make compression 9:1 it pulls 6k trailer, used a stock 1980 camshaft as the new camshafts known for wiping lobes.
My 79 GMC C15 10 short bed was originally purchased by a power company. My father bought it at auction in 1984. It has a 250 in.³ in-line six with a turbo 400 transmission. I always thought this was strange, but the truck was purchased by a utility company. The one thing I can say about this engine is that it is reliable and easy to work on. My truck has zero options. No radio no air conditioner. It’s as base model, as a base model can,possibly. Come. This truck has everything you need and nothing you don’t need.
Great video. I’m going to abuse my 1974 C20 my grandfather bought new as a farm truck this weekend. It looks bad cosmetically, but it keeps going and cost me almost nothing to own.
Well done video. There were actually four bed configurations. The utility oriented long bed step side was omitted. On the tailgate trim the full size bruised aluminum started in 75 with the Silverado package. The 5/8 ton Big10/Heavy Half is another interesting side story. I love squarebodys and cut my teeth on them. Wish I still had my 65, 79 or 83 C10 SWB from back in the day. I do have my 72 though.
A customer at a shop where I worked had a long bed step side diesel with an A-833OD transmission. A very strange combination. The only one I’ve ever seen in person.
Bonanza (Royal Sierra if it's a GMC) is what was called a "spring special" in internal Detroit jargon. Toward the end of the model year all the trim options that sold slower than expected or were due for a change the next model year were piled onto these, there was a special price and an ad campaign to generate interest at a slow time of the year in auto sales. Ford and Dodge called theirs Explorer and Prospector. They did the same thing with cars but there was either no special branding or it was a one-and-done name.
I started to question is credibility when he said that the GMT 400 ran until 2002. It ran until 98 in half tons and 2000 in 3/4 and 1 tons. 99-02's were GMT 800's.
I had a '88 GMT400 (350ci / 700R4), which I know isn't a "square body", but in 1987, I'm reletively certain the same drivetrain was available. A friend had a '87 thus equipt, but was 4wd.
The boomer gM squarebody trucks were horrible blowing up and burning 🔥 to the ground,plus they were lame with a fantastic rust out problem gM should be ashamed for building these grease traps for so long
Man a family friend of mine has tons of vehicles out in the woods getting over grown and rotting, multiple squares. One i really like is that 1-ton dually crew cab long bed. Except someone did a fine farm rebuild on it. The put on a 2-door cab and in the extra space, put a Huge slip tank on it! All painted matching the truck and was quite nice once apon a time. idk if it was a farm truck or maybe a logger's around here
And there were some GM pickup variants that weren't available here in the USA; the 1970s Mexican DINA1000, with its obvious cab/front clip origins but fitted with a 282 AMC/Rambler inline Six/5 spd stick combo. The South African market C/K10, etc but in RHD and of course, the ca 1999 GMT 400 Holden Suburban, also factory RHD, for sale in Australia
Your blazer tailgate info is all wrong they were nothing like the truck and were more like suburban single door with either manual roll down window or power depending on year and option either way the placement was same in center and key would go in for power or button inside or the handle would pop out of center handle for manual window. My folks had Chevy with power version and my grandpa had gmc with manual.
Only by morons who don't know that it's called the GMT400 platform. You could call every old body style "OBS". It's as stupid of a name as "square body". Honestly, I don't know who came up with these names... a 5 second google search will tell you what the actual names of each generation are.
Literally every old body style of truck could be called "OBS"... they're all "old body styles". Call them what they are... GMT400 platform, or 4th gen. C/Ks. "OBS" is the stupidest thing I've ever heard... almost as dumb as the term "squarebody".
@@livewire2759I guess it depends on the setting, every Chevy truck fan knows what a square body and obs is but not everyone knows them as the round line and gmt400, so call it a spade or a shovel, call it whatever you want as long as your group knows what you’re talking about.
@@genechoate5020 Well, not every chevy guy knows those terms though... I'm a "chevy guy" and I've been a GM mechanic for 20 years, yet I only recently (2 or 3 years ago) heard those terms and had no idea what they meant 'till I looked them up. Just a few years back, those terms didn't even exist, we called them "90s chevys" or "70s chevys", or if we wanted to get technical, 2nd, 3rd or 4th gen C/Ks. I just don't understand why, in a time when everyone has unlimited knowledge (the internet) right in their pockets, people don't take 10 seconds to look up the proper terms for things instead of making up their own terms that don't actually mean anything.
THANK YOU SIR FOR SHARING YOUR HARD WORK WITH ALL OF US / YOU ARE TRULY THE GO TO GUY FOR ANYTHING AND I MEAN ANYTHING GM TRUCKS / YOUR E BOOKS SHOULD BE IN EVERY STATE HIGH SCHOOL TRADE SCHOOL AND EVERY WHERE GM TRUCKS ARE WORKED ON / EVERYTHING IT IS DONE WELL TO THE POINT AND DONE WITH NO B/S / JUST THE FACTS / I WISH YOU WELL ON YOUR ENDEAVORS ON EVERYTHING GM TRUCKS THANKS AGAIN / # PS; WHAT TRUCK DO YOU DRIVE ,? THAT'S IF YOU DON'T MIND ME ASKING / IN 1976 HAD A NEW CHEVY VAN FIRST AND LAST BRAND NEW TRUCK / IT WAS A HOTDOG WITH THE WORKS IT RAN GREAT AND GOT OVER 300 THOUSANDS MILES ON IT / 350/AUTO / SHORTY / H D EVERY THING ALL FOR 5K CASH
He probably didn't wash out behind the panels, If you Read the owners manual it tells you how to properly wash it to prevent rust iv washed my truck the way gm recommended it had a little rust when I got it but iv driven it through winter salt and all that and I wash it out very regularly I haven't had any new rust pop up in the 8 years iv owned it
I may be callus here but my 74 has never had a spot of rust anywhere. It is of course a California truck. Not only do we never even think of rust but we have no use for anything that has a lot of rust It is why no matter how bad democrats have ruined the state? it is still close to paradise.
Everyone in my family that had a 73-79 square body had to deal with major rust. My dad said they would rust before you could pay them off… They all live in Kentucky and Tennessee.
The funny part is the "Positraction" G80 rear axle is still used in new 2025 Silverados, Of all of my GM trucks (A lot of them) only 2 or 3 did't have the G80, that's at the top of my requirements when buying one, they are that good.
I personally have never seen or heard of a 2WD military square body truck and in this video they're all 4WDs but you said they all started life as a C30 chassis (30.35) which is different from a K30 chassis
My 77 k10 has 3.08 gears, also I just did a 0-60 it was 14 seconds, yea slow my engine is mostly stock has early 71-72 487x heads a good smog era head with a slightly bigger cam
The military trucks had a max speed of 55, not 65. Even flat out, wide open throttle, the truck topped out just over 55. The military Blazer was a 3/4 ton, and because it had a 3.08 gearing, IT could go 65+.
Great Video! Could you Do one on the 1972-1993 Dodge/Dodge Ram Trucks? Or maybe the 1973-1979 Ford Dentside trucks? Or the 1980-1997 Ford Bullnose, Bricknose, and Obs Trucks?
Hello I've got a 1984 Chevy C10 square body originally the 6.2 l diesel chassis which has bigger heavy-duty brakes on the rear drums and a hefty set disc brakes changing into a posi traction. In a bulletproof are 700r4 370 HP.350 CDI 400 PLUS FOOT POUNDS OF TORQUE. FEEL COMPLETELY CONFIDENT. Towing 7500 maxed out.
@colclumper 210HP in all half ton 350s from 1987-1995, 250HP in all 1996 350s. That's only +40 but you've got the right idea. 97+ had a bigger cam for 255hp.
For the GMT 400s they ran till 98 for the 1500s and 2001 or 2002 for the 2500/3500. 1999 was the first year for the Silverado GMT 800. 2003 was the face-lift for the silverados.
the 307 was killed in early 73 My dad ordered a 1973 C30 custom stepside (to make a tow truck) he ordered a 307 with the 4 speed stick. He got called by the dealer a couple weeks after being informed he will be getting a 350cid instead of the 307 because it was no longer available. the trucks he already had were a 65 and 67 C30 stepsides each with the 283cid engines..
The 1949 through 1954 trucks was called a Thriftmaster. I own a 1953 Chevrolet Thriftmaster 3100 truck that still has the stove bolt 6 in it and is three on the tree!
The name "Thriftmaster" only referred to the 216 and 235 "stovebolt" 6 cyl engines used in the 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton trucks. The actual name for the truck series (or "platform") from 47 to early 55 was the "Advance Design Series". The 3/4 ton, 1 ton and medium duty trucks also used a 261 cid straight 6 that was called the "Jobmaster". Midway thru 55, the new "Task Force Series" was introduced, which continued to use "Thriftmaster" and "Jobmaster" engines as well as the new V8 (small block) engine which was called "Taskmaster". In the late 50s they also used the Buick 322 V8 in GMC trucks and the 348 "W Series" (big block) engine in Chevy's, both of which were called "Loadmaster".
They sold one ton squares and GMT400s next to each other that year. I'm sure GM was just trying to use up some existing parts from the old chassis. They have basically sold a "carryover model" with every new generation since then
Torque is necessary to get a heavy vehicle moving, Remember it is a Truck, not a muscle/sports car. Had a 76 with 3 on tree 350 and it rolled the odo 3 times, switched it to an automatic even
For the most part, good video, but you are being too hard on the engines. They were mostly excellent quality-wise. The reason they didn't make tire -shredding horsepower was EPA emissions mandates more than anything else, not the 8.5 compression. GM knew perfectly well how to make good power, but meeting emissions targets came first. If they had failed to meet them, the buyers would not have been able to register them.
I don't want to say you're wrong. Because I'm not 100% sure about the ccuv Blazers gearing, but the volunteer fire department I'm on has one, and we have had it up to 70 on the interstate but I must say it was not a fan of it. Normally, it is hooked up to a side by side that we use for brush fires, so it does not normally get anywhere near 70.
You forgot 1 transmission. In 1985 my Grandfather bought a lwb 85 custom deluxe with a 4.3 4brl and th375 transmission. The th375 was basically a th350 in a th400 case.
Be careful how you word things... people might think you can actually put TH350 parts into a TH400 case. The TH375 was a "light duty" TH400, meant for use with the economic V6 engine in heavy 1/2 tons and 3/4 ton trucks. They also made a heavy duty version of the TH400, the TH475, that was used with big block engines in 1 ton trucks.
TH375B was a heavy duty TH350. TH375 was a TH400 with 27 spline slip yoke output. TH350C was a TH350 with lockup torque converter. You had either the 2nd or last one. The TH375B was not available in the 80s.
No doubt this was made as a platform to boost exposure for your LS Engine Swap Book and there is nothing wrong doing so.
But, your research seems to be spent on looking through GM sales brochures that do not paint the entire picture of the history and availability of what all was offered ( changes were made that not every sales literature was made aware of ).
Consulting more than the internet will get you better results on future projects.
Yeah, he acts like you can’t even modify the engines in those trucks, only put an LS in it…
My first truck was a 73 C10 350 automatic. Rebuilt the 350, removed the smog pump, lots of ways to add HP. Wish I still had it!
@@mikebuehler6248 73 k10 350 was my first truck as well.
Man that 91 Blazer is gorgeous! 😍🔥🇺🇲
In 1993 I worked for a Chevrolet dealer in Delaware OH,in the parts department. I owned a 79 K-10 Bonanza that was my daily driver. Equipped with factory 350/350 turbo trans,4wd NP203 ,12blt axles rear posi. Only comfort options were tilt wheel,P/S sliding rear cab window, and switchable duel fuel tanks. I was so happy driving my truck back then. I regret selling it in 96,for a crappy G-30 van.
@@johncarlson3061 I had a 78 bonanza almost exactly the same but mine had the 400 engine.
I had a friend that had a 77 or 78 bonanza two tone yellow and white back in the late 90s. 350/350. I told him not to sell it..he did...I was driving a 2 tone grey 1992 ext cab step side at the same time....nothing special but I miss that truck for some reason
I recently re-acquired an extremely low 1980 no cat 454 long bed just to be used as an occasional work truck which it has been all of its life. I have never been happier going down the road and running trips and recently sold my old friend 89 long bed. The 80 has no cats, no egr valves and no electronics, no temp sensors, no 02 sensors, no cheap electric fuel pumps etc to go bad and burns much cleaner on the smog test than my 2001 Corolla driver (23ppm hcs) if that tells you anything about how setting things up correctly can work!
When they changed the leaf springs and solid front axle in half ton to torsion bar and independent suspension in half ton, they never had the weight capacity for snow plows. Lift the plow on a leaf sprung truck, minimal dropping. Torsion bar, the plow frame almost touched the pavement
Love my '86 square body. 2wd shorty with 500hp gen1 SBC. It lives its life on the street and on the strip, 1/4 mile at a time!
Oooooof I don't miss them, driven all but the 50s and 60s versions. 70s, 80s and 90s trucks left a lot to be desired.
Probably going to get a lot of flak: 85’ C20 C6P built 383 SM465 4.10 one of the cleanest squares you’ll find. The 383 dynoed 480hp 520ft lbs, tows like a boss. 3rd gear on the street is frightening!
There is optional nitrous coming.
Only part I see you getting any guff about is saying it's one of the cleanest.
The systematic and complete presentation of the material is impressive!
Unique quality and original approach.
Had 77 K20 with 400 v-8 and auto trans.Rode horrible and the engine had no power and got terrible mileage (5-8mpg) Engine finally spun a rod bearing.Mechanic said that was a common problem on 400 engine as the longer stroke increased the rod angle and put a lot of pressure on the bearings.Replaced it with a 350 which was just as bad.One of the happiest days of my life was when I sold it and saw it disapear down the road.But I currently have a 79 C70 2 1/2 ton farm truck with 454 engine which turned out to be a great truck.
Awesome video and 1980 was the odd man out with the square lights I think 84-87 was sharp. I had an 84 step side with a 305.
I was always amazed at how my 94, with a 4.3 had more horsepower than a 1970’s 350.
This is a trip down memory lane. My dad had 3 square bodies: a 75 Scottsdale with a 400 small-block and automatic, a 78 Custom Deluxe (the one I learned to drive in) with a 250, three on the tree, and a downgrade to manual steering. His last truck ever was an 81 Scottsdale with a 305 and automatic.
When you mentioned the A833 transmission, you brought back another memory. My first truck was an 84 Dodge D100 "Miser". 225 slant six, A833, and 2.72 gears- it made that 78 look GOOD!
Another upgrade for 81 was a redesigned front cab mount that seemed to be more resistant to rusting out than the earlier one. Those cab mounts killed my dad's 78.
My first truck was a 73 with 350 and it was faster then every thing in my high school lmao everyone called it the mustard machine because it was yellow and he bed had rust cracks in it but I earned the truck filling it up with fire wood every year with my grandpa and on my 16th birthday he gave it to me. Truck was great would wrap the speedo like nothing or carry a cord of wood just as easy.
I also owned a 78 bonanza 400 all time awd, 77 stepside 350, 84 shortbox 305
This was a really cool video! Reminds me, through the 80s, in the area I grew up in, primary industries being farming, cattle, and logging, EVERYBODY had a Chevy pickup ranging from new to early 70s. They were extremely well liked for the roles cited above, and ran until they rusted through! I literally remember ONE dodge pickup from the next town over, and one or two fords.
Ive had to explain alot of this to people. My 1st truck was a 1990 squarebody suburban. I currently have an 88 squarebody 4 door long bed dually, and a 99 obs 3/4 ton suburban.
1/2 ton changes right away, but 3/4 , 1 ton, and suburbans take a few years to change.
Great video. My Dad had the one-off year 1980 with the square headlights. It was the Big-10 model, designed to avoid some emissions requirements. It was a half ton with heavier duty suspension and brakes and maybe some other minor changes- but not a 3/4 ton. The GMC version was called the Heavy-Half. These models were only available in 79 and possibly 78. If you edit this video, you may want to add all the different steering wheel designs. My favorite is the version with the creases.
Would love a complete K5 lineup video with every little option and change! The little details you provide are GREAT,, even for a guy who knows his chevy's
the video I've been waiting my whole life
Still near daily driving my 1983 C10 with its original 305 and th350 transmission. It still runs amazing after 41 years and I use it heavily for hauling materials and rock etc. It's a remarkable vehicle and the only downside, for somebody who doesn't like to be noticed, is that everyone stares at the truck when I'm driving it and people comment on it at gas stations etc.
Another excellent video, really appreciate all the work you put into these. I've owed six chevy trucks from various years - 1972 thru 2021. The first vehicle I ever drove was my parents 1979 square body. We took many family trips around the west coast in that truck when i was a kid. So this video brought back a lot of memories of that truck. I'm in the process of completely rebuilding a 1972 c10 cheyenne super. Chevy trucks are in my blood i guess you could say lol
GMT800 Silverados came out in 1999 which was the last year for GMT400 pickups, at least in the USA.
This video is my second favorite video of all time, only next to your LS history video but hooooly this video is going to be watched every single morning just like the LS one until I die because I do love my chevy’s, the trucks and the LS!
Sir. 2019 Silverados and up have way more rounded fenders. On my 23 with the 2" lift. I can tuck 35×11.5r20s with ease and still have plenty of travel.
Now with the GMCs your absolutely right. They still have a very sharp angled fender well
You missed information about the BIG 10 (CHEV) and HEAVY HALF) GMC
Had a 5/8 ton
That is what I was thinking. Hope you have a good day
I had one factory ordered new square body , A 1979 Cheyanne short box 4/4 350 auto, 373 gears..
K body Blazer/Jimmy, PLEASE!
Great C/K video I've owned many over the years. The Jimmy Blazer K- body really won my heart! ❤️
For the record, in Michigan, the Blazers and Suburban's are titled as station wagons. Even a '96 Jimmy I called my "mini Jimmy" was titled as a station wagon.
The best pickup ever made is the Squarebody GMC/Chevy. I have had 3 of them in over 20 years and has done everything better than any diesel, gas or electric truck ever made. Great video 👍
Full video on the Blazer would be awesome!!
Awesome presentation! Great video! Fantastic information!!!
I drive my 1978 Chevrolet Silverado everyday. My dad has a 1983 drives everyday. Great trucks.
I understands an LS is a great motor, but i don't need to be beat over the head about it repeatedly. I personally would rather build the motor that is supposed to be in that vehicle. I still did really enjoy the video tho.
I can't wait till LS unswaps are a thing. My built 454 with a properly tuned carb will outperform an LS for towing, fuel economy and torquey fun. I will never own an oxygen sensor or an ECU!
The first gen small blocks had some pretty serious cooling and oiling problems, if you want to stay with an SBC you really need to look into finding one of the 90s Goodwrench motors. As a helpful helpful hint, all vans came with 4 bolt mains and tend to be overlooked at junkyards. For heads, vortecs flow better than any other gm produced heads by a mile including the double hump fuel injection heads of the 60s, but vortecs also have their head cracking issues
I have a 1996 L31 Vortec converted to 79 425 caddy Q-jet and 79 c-vette hei with Pertronix.
Welded an o2 sensor bung into exhaust with gauge in the cab to monitor air / fuel ratio and vacuum gauge to tune for all conditions.
Great engine for my 1985 K30, and it looks correct.
Carb to vortec head intakes are about $100 on ebay and must be aluminum die cast or some other improvement. The casting is better than an Edelbrock intake from 20+ years ago; zero porosity and the Edelbrock had to be skimmed with bondo on machined head surfaces to get good seal.
@@augsu lol doubt it
Tailgates; There was an earlier version of the full, flat brushed applique similar but slightly different to the '81-up version. There was one more variation on GMCs - 1973-4s had the GMC logo embossed at the top left corner (with chrome letters on top on high-trim ones), 1975-80 had them centered under the tailgate handle. 1973-4 Suburbans had the same rear doors or tailgate as '75-91, only the emblems changed (and the 1975 style Suburban emblems held on until 1988!)
Few things I noticed, 3/4 tons actually share the same frame as a half ton, no mention of manual transmission clutch pedal linkage changing to hydraulic in 1984, K5 tailgates are nothing like pickup tailgates. Other then that not a bad video
Do you have any idea why they stopped installing the Hydraulic clutch in 1963?
1960 to 1962 have Hydraulic clutch. Torsion bars and Xbox frames.
Also do you know what year the torsion bar suspension came back 🤔
I believe a hydraulic clutch change was mentioned somewhere in transmission part of the video.
@vm722 probably a cost of production issue in the 60s would be my guess, linkages and springs were probably less expensive then master and slave cylinders at the time. Although my collection of squarebody hydraulic pedals that guys want way too much money for makes me think the used market pumps them up a little too much
@ 7:26 in this video, you show a GMT-400 that had the factory paint color my 1st new truck had. Its called Garnet Red & Quick Silver
My truck had even the excat orangeish pin stripe! B.T.W. auther..
2500's were available in 1988 !! Only as i had mine... 6 lug wheels.. 7200 G.V.W.R. actually had 2500 on the door molding. Factory equipped with 14 bolt semi floatng rear axle and large rear drums.
Great video! You must have listed all of the factory options for these trucks. I have seen these and I'm sure they were done by a conversion company with extended cabs and extra-long 12 ft beds. Exceptionally rare
My dad had a '79 GMC Sierra (base model), 3 on the tree, power nothing. Only options were long bed, AM radio and a step bumper. It was his work truck for a glass shop (auto and building) and doubled as our family car until Mom got a new Plymouth Horizon in 1986 which she drove like it was a Lotus.
I had a 1974 C10 with a factory 454, TH400, dual tanks, and gauge package (tach, etc). It would burn the right rear tire for days. Wish I'd kept it to convert to a shortbed.
76, 350, 3 on tree, 5/8 ton, saddle tanks, it was an excellent truck: rolled odo 3 times, switched it to automatic, then years later cousin got it and wrapped it around a tree and left it, it could have been hauled back for parts (engine, Trans, body panels)
Year ago I rebuilt the 454 in a 1977 c20, used ls6 type pistons to make compression 9:1 it pulls 6k trailer, used a stock 1980 camshaft as the new camshafts known for wiping lobes.
How much extra power did you gain over stock?
My 79 GMC C15 10 short bed was originally purchased by a power company. My father bought it at auction in 1984. It has a 250 in.³ in-line six with a turbo 400 transmission. I always thought this was strange, but the truck was purchased by a utility company. The one thing I can say about this engine is that it is reliable and easy to work on. My truck has zero options. No radio no air conditioner. It’s as base model, as a base model can,possibly. Come. This truck has everything you need and nothing you don’t need.
Great video. I’m going to abuse my 1974 C20 my grandfather bought new as a farm truck this weekend. It looks bad cosmetically, but it keeps going and cost me almost nothing to own.
Well done video. There were actually four bed configurations. The utility oriented long bed step side was omitted. On the tailgate trim the full size bruised aluminum started in 75 with the Silverado package. The 5/8 ton Big10/Heavy Half is another interesting side story. I love squarebodys and cut my teeth on them. Wish I still had my 65, 79 or 83 C10 SWB from back in the day. I do have my 72 though.
A customer at a shop where I worked had a long bed step side diesel with an A-833OD transmission. A very strange combination. The only one I’ve ever seen in person.
@@alantrimble2881 My 79 C10 SWB was weird in a way. It had a 305 engine, THM400 trans and a carrier bearing on the driveshaft from the factory.
Bonanza (Royal Sierra if it's a GMC) is what was called a "spring special" in internal Detroit jargon. Toward the end of the model year all the trim options that sold slower than expected or were due for a change the next model year were piled onto these, there was a special price and an ad campaign to generate interest at a slow time of the year in auto sales. Ford and Dodge called theirs Explorer and Prospector. They did the same thing with cars but there was either no special branding or it was a one-and-done name.
Thanks for the Metric numbers! Love from Sweden ;)
I started to question is credibility when he said that the GMT 400 ran until 2002. It ran until 98 in half tons and 2000 in 3/4 and 1 tons. 99-02's were GMT 800's.
Also GM discontinued the square wheel opening with the current generation of truck. Check photographs of the current trucks to verify.
I had a 73 custom. Had a press in plug where the lighter was supposed to be.
This is alot of effort. I appreciate you. This is very impressive
I had a '88 GMT400 (350ci / 700R4), which I know isn't a "square body", but in 1987, I'm reletively certain the same drivetrain was available. A friend had a '87 thus equipt, but was 4wd.
Squarebodies are the best trucks ever made. I prefer the 81-87 style though.
The 73-4 GMC had the tailgate lettering in the upper right side of the tail gate that was the year model tailgate trim to use it was slick no badging
This is great thanks for posting!
You should make more of these for other generations of Chevy trucks like the obs, and action line models
In México the squarebody lasted until 1991, being these last years the more sought after
The boomer gM squarebody trucks were horrible blowing up and burning 🔥 to the ground,plus they were lame with a fantastic rust out problem gM should be ashamed for building these grease traps for so long
@bradzimmerman3171 thank you for the comment. You have a lot of valuable insight.
These videos are comfy af.
Man a family friend of mine has tons of vehicles out in the woods getting over grown and rotting, multiple squares. One i really like is that 1-ton dually crew cab long bed. Except someone did a fine farm rebuild on it. The put on a 2-door cab and in the extra space, put a Huge slip tank on it! All painted matching the truck and was quite nice once apon a time. idk if it was a farm truck or maybe a logger's around here
very informative video, thank you so much.
And there were some GM pickup variants that weren't available here in the USA; the 1970s Mexican DINA1000, with its obvious cab/front clip origins but fitted with a 282 AMC/Rambler inline Six/5 spd stick combo. The South African market C/K10, etc but in RHD and of course, the ca 1999 GMT 400 Holden Suburban, also factory RHD, for sale in Australia
Your blazer tailgate info is all wrong they were nothing like the truck and were more like suburban single door with either manual roll down window or power depending on year and option either way the placement was same in center and key would go in for power or button inside or the handle would pop out of center handle for manual window. My folks had Chevy with power version and my grandpa had gmc with manual.
The GMT400 is also known as the OBS.
Only by morons who don't know that it's called the GMT400 platform. You could call every old body style "OBS". It's as stupid of a name as "square body". Honestly, I don't know who came up with these names... a 5 second google search will tell you what the actual names of each generation are.
Literally every old body style of truck could be called "OBS"... they're all "old body styles". Call them what they are... GMT400 platform, or 4th gen. C/Ks. "OBS" is the stupidest thing I've ever heard... almost as dumb as the term "squarebody".
@@livewire2759I guess it depends on the setting, every Chevy truck fan knows what a square body and obs is but not everyone knows them as the round line and gmt400, so call it a spade or a shovel, call it whatever you want as long as your group knows what you’re talking about.
@@genechoate5020 Well, not every chevy guy knows those terms though... I'm a "chevy guy" and I've been a GM mechanic for 20 years, yet I only recently (2 or 3 years ago) heard those terms and had no idea what they meant 'till I looked them up. Just a few years back, those terms didn't even exist, we called them "90s chevys" or "70s chevys", or if we wanted to get technical, 2nd, 3rd or 4th gen C/Ks. I just don't understand why, in a time when everyone has unlimited knowledge (the internet) right in their pockets, people don't take 10 seconds to look up the proper terms for things instead of making up their own terms that don't actually mean anything.
Gmt400 sounds better
THANK YOU SIR FOR SHARING YOUR HARD WORK WITH ALL OF US / YOU ARE TRULY THE GO TO GUY FOR ANYTHING AND I MEAN ANYTHING GM TRUCKS / YOUR E BOOKS SHOULD BE IN EVERY STATE HIGH SCHOOL TRADE SCHOOL AND EVERY WHERE GM TRUCKS ARE WORKED ON / EVERYTHING IT IS DONE WELL TO THE POINT AND DONE WITH NO B/S / JUST THE FACTS / I WISH YOU WELL ON YOUR ENDEAVORS ON EVERYTHING GM TRUCKS THANKS AGAIN / # PS; WHAT TRUCK DO YOU DRIVE ,? THAT'S IF YOU DON'T MIND ME ASKING / IN 1976 HAD A NEW CHEVY VAN FIRST AND LAST BRAND NEW TRUCK / IT WAS A HOTDOG WITH THE WORKS IT RAN GREAT AND GOT OVER 300 THOUSANDS MILES ON IT / 350/AUTO / SHORTY / H D EVERY THING ALL FOR 5K CASH
Dad bought a 1976 new , pos rusted out in 2 years. My 2011 rusted out just as fast. Like the engines , wish they could make a body.
He probably didn't wash out behind the panels, If you Read the owners manual it tells you how to properly wash it to prevent rust iv washed my truck the way gm recommended it had a little rust when I got it but iv driven it through winter salt and all that and I wash it out very regularly I haven't had any new rust pop up in the 8 years iv owned it
I may be callus here but my 74 has never had a spot of rust anywhere. It is of course a California truck. Not only do we never even think of rust but we have no use for anything that has a lot of rust It is why no matter how bad democrats have ruined the state? it is still close to paradise.
@@RattleTrapGarageoh hey your that 77 squarebody guy!
Everyone in my family that had a 73-79 square body had to deal with major rust. My dad said they would rust before you could pay them off… They all live in Kentucky and Tennessee.
@@77silverado yes your the other 77 squarebody guy 👀
The funny part is the "Positraction" G80 rear axle is still used in new 2025 Silverados, Of all of my GM trucks (A lot of them) only 2 or 3 did't have the G80, that's at the top of my requirements when buying one, they are that good.
Quality video. Thank you!!!
I personally have never seen or heard of a 2WD military square body truck and in this video they're all 4WDs but you said they all started life as a C30 chassis (30.35) which is different from a K30 chassis
My 77 k10 has 3.08 gears, also I just did a 0-60 it was 14 seconds, yea slow my engine is mostly stock has early 71-72 487x heads a good smog era head with a slightly bigger cam
The military trucks had a max speed of 55, not 65. Even flat out, wide open throttle, the truck topped out just over 55.
The military Blazer was a 3/4 ton, and because it had a 3.08 gearing, IT could go 65+.
Yes, I have an 84 blazer CUCV. I know it will go 10 miles faster than what was said in the video lol
Great Video! Could you Do one on the 1972-1993 Dodge/Dodge Ram Trucks? Or maybe the 1973-1979 Ford Dentside trucks? Or the 1980-1997 Ford Bullnose, Bricknose, and Obs Trucks?
GMT 400 was replaced in 1999 by the Silverado with some variations continuing till 2002. The same way square body’s sort of ended in 1987.
Blazer video appreciated.
The early square bodies looked great, but the body panels were poorly engineered and rusted out quickly - WAY TOO QUICKLY!
yes on the Blazer video
Hello I've got a 1984 Chevy C10 square body originally the 6.2 l diesel chassis which has bigger heavy-duty brakes on the rear drums and a hefty set disc brakes changing into a posi traction. In a bulletproof are 700r4 370 HP.350 CDI 400 PLUS FOOT POUNDS OF TORQUE. FEEL COMPLETELY CONFIDENT. Towing 7500 maxed out.
There were 2 generations of the gmt400. 88-94 and 95-98. The first were tbi 350s, the sencond were the vortec roller rocker 350s. I have a 91 tbi
'95 was still TBI. A coworker bought a new '95 Tahoe with TBI. He traded it a year later to get the '96 with the 5.7 Vortec CSFI.
95 was a mixed year with the new interior but still had tbi
88-98 is a single generation.
There was a midlife face-lift in 1995
@@Texassince1836 and an extra 50 horses
@colclumper 210HP in all half ton 350s from 1987-1995, 250HP in all 1996 350s. That's only +40 but you've got the right idea.
97+ had a bigger cam for 255hp.
Welcome back, AG!
For the GMT 400s they ran till 98 for the 1500s and 2001 or 2002 for the 2500/3500. 1999 was the first year for the Silverado GMT 800. 2003 was the face-lift for the silverados.
Good ‘ol granny gear on that Muncie. Usually blown to bits 🤣
Do this with ford f100s! This is a great vid!
the 307 was killed in early 73 My dad ordered a 1973 C30 custom stepside (to make a tow truck) he ordered a 307 with the 4 speed stick. He got called by the dealer a couple weeks after being informed he will be getting a 350cid instead of the 307 because it was no longer available. the trucks he already had were a 65 and 67 C30 stepsides each with the 283cid engines..
The 1949 through 1954 trucks was called a Thriftmaster. I own a 1953 Chevrolet Thriftmaster 3100 truck that still has the stove bolt 6 in it and is three on the tree!
The name "Thriftmaster" only referred to the 216 and 235 "stovebolt" 6 cyl engines used in the 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton trucks. The actual name for the truck series (or "platform") from 47 to early 55 was the "Advance Design Series". The 3/4 ton, 1 ton and medium duty trucks also used a 261 cid straight 6 that was called the "Jobmaster". Midway thru 55, the new "Task Force Series" was introduced, which continued to use "Thriftmaster" and "Jobmaster" engines as well as the new V8 (small block) engine which was called "Taskmaster". In the late 50s they also used the Buick 322 V8 in GMC trucks and the 348 "W Series" (big block) engine in Chevy's, both of which were called "Loadmaster".
47-55 were "Advanced Design"
My "75 Cheyene had dual tanks , bucket seats a 350 4V and locking rear axle .
Great Video on the C/K trucks! Can you make a video on the Blazer only.. I own an 82'
GMC years must have been different. My grandfather had a 1988 GMT400 3500 SRW with a 454.
They sold one ton squares and GMT400s next to each other that year. I'm sure GM was just trying to use up some existing parts from the old chassis. They have basically sold a "carryover model" with every new generation since then
The fuel tank ordeal was never an issue and was debunked. A
I don’t know where you’re getting some of this info but a 73 blazer with a 350 will do 0-60 much quicker then 22 seconds 😂
That's what I'm saying my full size long bed 77 full time 4wd 350 th350 np203 will do 0-60 in 14 seconds
@@RattleTrapGarage yeah I know that 22 seconds is absurd.
@@Thumper68 indeed
Torque is necessary to get a heavy vehicle moving, Remember it is a Truck, not a muscle/sports car.
Had a 76 with 3 on tree 350 and it rolled the odo 3 times, switched it to an automatic even
You got some frame info incorrect, k20s were not on the same big frame as the k30s, the k10s and k20 share the same size frame
I have a ‘78 C10 step side. I kinda wanna throw a traditional bed on it but always change my mind
High Sierra trim was available in 1984, I have one
hell yeah, i wanna see some Blazer treatment from Auto Guild! :) Pump it in my veins! 🤩🤩🤩
No mention of the addition of fuel injection in 87?
Pretty sure he covered that.
TBI
For the most part, good video, but you are being too hard on the engines. They were mostly excellent quality-wise. The reason they didn't make tire -shredding horsepower was EPA emissions mandates more than anything else, not the 8.5 compression. GM knew perfectly well how to make good power, but meeting emissions targets came first. If they had failed to meet them, the buyers would not have been able to register them.
WELL DONE.
I don't want to say you're wrong. Because I'm not 100% sure about the ccuv Blazers gearing, but the volunteer fire department I'm on has one, and we have had it up to 70 on the interstate but I must say it was not a fan of it. Normally, it is hooked up to a side by side that we use for brush fires, so it does not normally get anywhere near 70.
I'll say it... There was a LOT of misinformation in this video.
Military and Civilian offerings were different.
I like the square body Chevrolet C10 K10 pickup trucks. Some of it's body parts may be simple and easy to repair and remake...
You forgot 1 transmission. In 1985 my Grandfather bought a lwb 85 custom deluxe with a 4.3 4brl and th375 transmission. The th375 was basically a th350 in a th400 case.
Be careful how you word things... people might think you can actually put TH350 parts into a TH400 case. The TH375 was a "light duty" TH400, meant for use with the economic V6 engine in heavy 1/2 tons and 3/4 ton trucks. They also made a heavy duty version of the TH400, the TH475, that was used with big block engines in 1 ton trucks.
My 86 , had 4.3 v6 ..4 barrel and 4 speed stick
TH375B was a heavy duty TH350.
TH375 was a TH400 with 27 spline slip yoke output.
TH350C was a TH350 with lockup torque converter.
You had either the 2nd or last one. The TH375B was not available in the 80s.
Can’t wait for the Ford 1961 onwards vid (hint)
yes please make a blazer video
You missed that you could get a square body with a wood floored bed or a full steel bed just like the 67-72’s
@30:00 I've never seen a C-10 extended cab ⚡ 😮👍⚡
It was a good video kind of disappointed there was no mention of the wrangler trucks