I personally am obsessed with Chevrolet but this is just whatever for me. But also basically everyone in my town has one so it’s gotten old for me. I just can’t believe he’s surprised that a pickup is taller than him.
Lawrie's Mechanical Marvels i regularly pass what looks like a 90s ford ambulance not marked not lights a little higher than that chevy. I can't believe such an intimidating machine is road legal over here lol
454 Big Block Chevy. 16 valves of pure Pushrod American power that's factory ready to pull a house EDIT: Those arent "cam covers" those are Valve covers. Over here on America we prefer Pushrods
@@lmm These trucks really shine when they're off road. No high speed stuff or corners 😂. There might not be a lot of horsepower, but there usually is a good amount of torque for climbing stuff haha!
We were blown away by the size of everything. If you look at my series called What's Broken Now, you'll find my daily, a 106 which to you guys must be a toy!
Here In Kentucky you see these a lot old farm trucks but us younger generations brought them back to life wheels tires cab lights tinted windows bad ass lol love these old trucks
Those big block chevs will pull a house down if modified if you don't like how long it is just find a single cab I enjoyed the video I'd drive that daily 😂
Oh I loved it. Just so very different to what we have here in the UK! For starters it genuinely wouldn't fit down some of the roads around here. I hear lots can be done to a big block to make it mega 😂
@@lmm i dunno about the state of that engine. but in that time period the epa was attacking and car companies did lots of whacky nonsense to vehicles to try and meet new tighter emissions standard. As for size i drive a 98 gmc serria 2500 ext cap and before that an 89 2500 chevy diesel. Being used to the size and desperately needing an 8x5 cargo hold LOL ya never realize how enormous these things are until i drive a car and it feels like a go kart with heat and air con and i have to relearn how to drive because ALL the mental math my brain does for that task is wrong lol. but we love our trucks and i guess we just don't think of that alot .
I’m watching this video, about a guy being so amazed about a everyday lifted American truck, while I’m figuring out how to lift my truck more than 9 inches lol
Bruh ya it’s kinda funny, I have two old fords in my driveway that guzzle gas and never use them for work, just fun and grocery getting, gotta love North America
@@lmm careful because they are about the size of your semis and fire trucks....but it is considered a pickup, hey also look up diesel brothers, they make custom diesel pickups with like 2 foot lifts, 6 doors, supercharged and turbo charged diesel all wheel steering with military Axel's, wheels and tires, here is a picture of thier shop truck images.app.goo.gl/3xP4Bv6vVhiqQveW9
I am American. I learned to drive with a 1995 Ford F-350 Crew Cab Dually about that size. I love the feeling that a truck that big gives me on the road and want another dually soon. They are intoxicatingly cool. With 4 passengers they also are comfy for long road trips. You just needed to drive 1 with 2 more gears on top and it will get better fuel Econ. The best feeling is watching other cars move over for you on 2 lane roads.
@@lmm Should find an old muscle car. Then see what those engines can really do when a torque converter isn't absorbing so much torque from the engine. That same engine put in the same year Chevelle SS made 450 HP and 500 lb-ft of torque. Just putting those cars in drive at idle can make them slip the tires a half rotation. Though you want to find a manual one so you spin the tires in 4th gear at 65 MPH.
Yeah, I doubt it. Late 70's and early 80's American vehicles were utter shit as far as performance goes. My (much smaller) 5.4 from 1966 makes more power and is better on fuel, lighter, etc.
@@lsswappedcessna The 70's depends on the smog emissions, which was probably optional in most states till like 77. But yes, the mid 80's were trash for muscle car type engines where they were so heavily restricted with emission checks.
I love your enthusiasm. Old Square body Chevy's are as American as it gets!! also, this is what I imagine every Brit does when they see our vehicles. 🤣🤣🤣
I visited mexico ( in the state of michoacan) every Christmas and there's a lot of square body chevys still being used, seen a blue 74 c3500 crew cab single rear wheel next to a bread store, and my uncle has a green 78 chevy k10 with a sm465 4 speed, and my older cousin had voilet red 73 chevy k20 with the fulltime 4 wheel drive automatic transmission and a 400, and my family owns a chevy d60 dump truck with a diesel. I'm more into fords ( from 1958 to 1996) but growing up in a ranch in mexico I was always surrounded by 73-87 chevy k series and c series trucks when I was a kid, You gotta love'm.
They're good trucks, lots of options were available, 6 cylinders, V8's, a 6.2l Diesel (which was available in 1982 on all series trucks) automatics and manuals (th400 and the sm465 are bulletproof transmissions) regular short beds all the way to your truck, you couldn't get a extended cab until 1988 on the gmt 400 body style. They still made the square body style R/V 30 series crew cabs, suburbans, and k5 blazers until 1991. There were the best trucks chevy built in my opinion but I wish chevy still build them.
Hah we got trucks everywhere! and lots of other gems since most of texas is pretty much country bumpkin land, though i have spotted a few McLarens down here
That makes me miss the 1983 Chevy c10 with a 350 out of 93 suburban I had because that truck sounded badass with dual 4 inch straight pipe exhaust that had 6 inch tips
OntarioRedneXXX Its just so weird for me that its weird for people, I mean its not just normal for me its all I know. I’ve legitimately never driven anything smaller than a 3/4 ton. I live in northern BC canada in the oil and gas industry and its all anyone drives. Fleets of them lol. I can’t imagine life without heavy duty trucks, to me being amazed by the existence of a 1ton is like being amazed that cellular phones exist or, dogs, or clouds... I have 5 duramax’s and this is some twilight zone shit. Its amazing how different the life of Europeans and North Americans is for us both being human beings in western countries.
It really is, it all seems rather unnecessarily big and loud to us. It's still awesome though! Have yo seen the size of my 106 you guys would just think its a model! I'm not sure how much I'd enjoy a newer truck - I just like old things 😂
@@lmm You guys do have similar things meant for the same commercial slash work applications though. A Mercedes sprinter 3500 dually is the same exact thing just as a different package for different needs, so different size but still a 1 ton utility vehicle. Another similar comparison whether I get flak from a fan boy comparing the two or not.... But the Unimog is a lot more similar to a modern 4x4 Diesel single rear wheel long box 1ton pickup than some would initially think. Reality aside being the culture of extreme capitalism American tends to have, HD pickups are meant for work applications much like a Unimog. And much like a Unimog, off road oriented commercial work activities. The purpose is very much similar and so are the capabilities in regards to weight and load carrying.
Oh yes, certainly similar things, just the design ethos is completely different. Most people wouldn't have a van for fun, pick ups with you guys are much more of a daily. I'd agree that they're certainly similar things, again just a difference in ethos for the design
The good thing about those 454s is that the fuel mileage doesn't get much worse when towing. I live in NC also and these trucks are still being used everywhere.
As an American and a Chevy fan, this particular truck is still a bit embarrassing. You see, once the 1970s came along, American cars hit (and sustained) a low point when it came to build quality, power... everything really. And I feel they're just now starting to recover. Even the Corvette was making a measly 140hp by the end of the 70s.
Don't get me wrong guys, I know these trucks were very durable. Its just that they were very simple and felt lacking in quality in certain areas like steering, shakes and rattles, etc... Which were all very common traits of American cars of the era.
Lawrie's Mechanical Marvels the other aspect of these trucks is the sheer compatibility of parts. The motor, transmission, axles, etc. we’re made for decades with very little change and used across a lot of vehicles. For example, the GM V8 bell housing pattern was used from the mid 50s up through the today on all the V8 vehicles and a few of the V6s. The availability of new parts, aftermarket support, and parts in junk yards makes these very easy to keep going on the cheap. They may not be very sophisticated, but that’s good for home mechanics.
As someone who owns a Squarebody I can confirm: The brakes are *Horrible*. MONSTROUS single piston calipers. Still better than the previous generation C/K series trucks with all-wheel drum brakes that might as well not exist
This is what every one in england and France thinks of American cars: Almost brakes over powerd (at least 600 or more) If you drive american cars you have a 50/50 chance of living and dying Way to big and drinks to much( not in America ) But all americans with old trucks and cars will say to this: that is so god dam true
yep, in high school I knew quite a few people that drove pickups to school. one had a K3500 with the 454 (7.4) V8. they'd agree with everything as to why trucks are unreasonable yet drive them anyway makin' lots of noise lol
@@lmm keep in mind those excursions are effectively a Ford F-250 SUV, as a result there was a 7.3L Turbodiesel and a V10 in the engine offerings among the V8's.
Thank you very much, glad you like what we do! Loads of cool stuff coming up - so please share us with your friends to spread the word and help us grow!
This is quite literally my daily driver and I can’t help but be amused and tickled by how excited he is Especially when he says you would need a special license over in the Ik to dive it. I got my license at 16 jumped in and drove it home lol
1:55 "it had all wheel drive" yea no. No American vehicle company has ever put all wheel drive in a pickup there's 4wd but that's way different than Awd
I came here just to see the truck as I was heading to bed. I thought no way am I going to watch 29 min of a review this late, I just wanted to see the truck. 29 min later, I've stayed up too late but have thoroughly enjoyed the review. 1979 was the best year for Chevy/GMC. I want a 79 so bad. I have a 89 GMC 2500 5 speed stick 5.7L, same rear chrome bumper. :] It's only an extended cab, but I do love it! Good night all
When you were inspecting the engine and you called the “bonnet” a “hood” your voice went down about 2 octaves. When working on the engine you can sit on the fender wells. I had to give my Chevy p/u away but if I had the wherewithal I’d buy one again in a New York minute.
I'm very happy that you enjoyed your visit to America, and that you fell in love with this truck. It's too bad you didn't get to drive something older or a little newer, like from the 1960s or'80s, this Chevy was produced during an era where pollution of great concern, and power suffered tremendously. What you drove was a work-truck also, built for rugged hauling, a "one-ton duallie" as those are known here. There's a usually friendly rivalry between the "Big Three" American auto makers, I used to like Fords the most, then I got a Dodge, and later on a Buick (made by General Motors, who makes Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Cadillac), they're really all the same after you've driven them all.
I really did enjoy myself, stunning scenery, bonkers vehicles, lovely people. There's always next time to try and sample some older and younger trucks. I really want to have a go at a proper Rig too 😂 Yes, I learnt about the 55 mph thing in an effort to save fuel, that made me chuckle. I don't think I've ever driven a Buick, we get Ford over here, the odd Dodge like my fire engine, but that's about it.
@@heartlessangel7 hell yeah, honestly you can get a pretty damn good finish if you block sand the paint with some 2000grit paper then clear coat and sand agian. Hell ive even used extrior pain on my hunting truck to camo it 👍
John, I didn't consider you'd have to do that. What a laugh. I do like the switch from one tank to another though! Jim, so it doesn't matter what it's pulling, still drinks the same 😂
a 6'x8' bed is standard here. if you can't carry a 4'x8' sheet of plywood in it with the tailgate closed, it's a shortbed. i have a 1993 ford f150 4x4 with a 300 straight 6, and a 1993 chevy 1500 extended cab 4x4 with a 350 v-8. the chevy has a short bed that i used as a work truck, and i use the full size bed ford to haul scrap metal, and as a firewood hauler and log skidder in the woods. it was a farm truck, and has a 3" suspension lift, a 2" body lift, 31" deep lug tires, and with the winch on the front, there's not many places it won't go, or pull, and will carry a full ton of whatever, no problem. i don't need to jack it up to change the oil either. it's just a pickup here, rusty but trusty. nothing special at all. and it gets 15-18 mpg avg. while doing it. oh, it has dual fuel tanks as well. it was a camper special, i think. you could put a european auto in the bed, and still have room for luggage. i know, i hauled a geo metro to the scrapyard whole once. had to leave the tailgate down though.
@@lmm absolutely bonkers is what we do best. 20 years ago, i had a 1972 buick electra 225, it had a 455 cu. in. engine and it was over 25' long. the trunk, i mean boot, was huge. fun fact, we call it a trunk because in the early days of motoring, you used to have a real steamer type trunk attached to the rear of the auto to carry things. i'm 5'11" and i could lie down in it without touching anything but the floor of the trunk. it's what we lovingly call a land yacht. that monstrosity got 7 mpg, but when it was new, gas was less than 50 cents a gallon.
@@lmm yes your probably right , still we do have Smart Cars and other small models here , some do buy cars that get high mileage like hybrids . You should have looked at the American RV 's including converted vintage Buses . I bet some are as long as the Narrow boats over there .
I love my c30. 454/ 4 speed/ 4.11 gears ... 20 foot 4 inches, 103 inches wide ... 8 mpg. love it. I once got 12 mpg, hooked up a 6 ton 5th wheel camper and could finally lift off the throttle going down hill
These days the Diesels are really popular. Before the 1980's diesel engines in pickups weren't even a thing and they weren't popular until the 1990's. The Cummins 5.9l in the Dodge trucks was a game changer followed by the Ford Powerstroke.
I have a 6.0 powerstoke single cab truck that sits on 22in semi truck wheels and tires. It gets about 35-40 mpg, it’s a 5 speed manual with a diablo sport chip of 100hp!!
So I was in England a few years ago, and the rental car guy was having the exact same reaction I’m having right now watching this, as I was geeking out over getting to drive a Peugeot and a Vauxhaul. It’s awesome getting to see how things are away from home, and more importantly enjoying the experience! Keep on making these fun videos, it was great watching you have so much fun!
Hahaha, I'm glad you get it! The vehicles and even the attitude towards them is just so different, it was really exciting to be able to sample it! Glad you're enjoying the videos, loads more exciting stuff to come!
I have a 1983 K30 short wheelbase, single cab dually, Custom flatbed. And it can make shockingly tight turns. Unloaded it does sometimes buck a little bit going down the road at highway speed, but it's not bad. 350 C.I engine bored .30 over, 3 spd automatic gets 8.7mpg hauling 7,000lbs or more. Edit: in response to how much fuel you used while filming on a short drive; at constant highway speed these trucks don't do too terrible mileage, but stop and go GUZZLES that fuel.
Great video! I loved the sense of wonder We had one with a manual. When we had the engine rebuilt the engine was souped up to 400 horses and 550 torques. It was rapid and the noise was biblical! It had great brakes too, it could stop shorter than most cars while towing a 6000 lb (3 tons!). We could go 180 miles on a tank hauling the boat or the horse trailer. That poor thing needs some TLC.
@@lmm It's sadly no longer with us. Somebody ran a red light and t-boned the poor thing. It could fit all 3 of us and our German Shepherd. Keep up the good work man!
Thank you for the inspiration I got into making some basic daily vlogs about my Jeep. I’m trying to keep it consistent with the uploads but its such a struggle but I love doing it.
@@coleray5044 check the accelerator pump on the Carburetor, there's different settings in the linkage, it's an arm with 3 o 4 holes in it, you might have to connect the linkage to the next hole up, just remove the cotter pin from the throttle arm and move up one hole and connect it back up. That's always solved my hesitation issues with a carb anyway 👍
Classic Reddit Stories I actually rebuilt the carburetor since then and it has power, but now it has to much, It idles high and I didn’t even touch the idle screw. Edit: I think it might be the IAC sensor
I've been through a couple of those "square body" Chevys as they're known among their fans. I currently have a 1984 Chevy K5 Blazer powered by the ubiquitous small block 350 CID V8 (5.7 liters) The engine bay is almost big enough for two engines and to work on it I have to stand under the hood with the engine. The way the steering is setup on these trucks, when you hit the brakes and the front squats from the weight shift it will want to pull the truck to one side, even when everything is in good condition. There are tons of parts and kits to fix all of the known issues with these beasts as they're very popular with offroaders and super easy and simple to work on.
I can believe it, there's a load of love for the things in the comments. I can't get over how big your engines are. 5.7 is a huge one by our standards 😂
This is great! A huge fun factor for me, when I visit the states is the cars and trucks. They are just mental. I think you were born in the wrong country ha Really enjoying you’re videos 👍🏻
My F150 4x4 super crew sits so high I have to stand on a short step stool to check the oil. And I had to install a kick-down step in the back corner of it so I can actually get my aging butt into the rear of it. But it's the best highway trip vehicle I have ever owned, comfortable, quiet, actually quite quick and can do... anything. 375 hp, 17.5 mpg around town and I've gotten over 24 mpg on the highway at 70 with the AC on. Pickup trucks truly are THE American vehicle. You should drive any of the current full sized US pickups and you'd be shocked how good they drive.
Lawrie's Mechanical Marvels also look up a Chevy 3500 Extended 15 passenger van. 6.0L LS, 6400 pounds curb weight, fits four generations of your family, no special driving license required. Essentially a 1996 design still being sold new in 2019.
Lawrie's Mechanical Marvels So, plywood sheets come 4 by 8 ft in England? Is it the same with sheet rock? (Might be called gypsum board in your neck of the woods). I never thought about how construction material is sold there. I’m safe in assuming that wattle and daub are not a thing anymore?
@@lmm trust me, I've genuinely seen bigger. K6500 crew cab pickup. parked my Saturn Ion (effectively a sedan version of an Opel Astra) next to it and the roof was barely up to the doors lol
Funny you talking about the size of the truck being so massive, I grew up around big trucks, full-size, jacked up, 4x4, whatever, what I can never get over is how small the little European cars are, I sat in an MG for the first time the other night and hit my knees on everything and felt like I was in a sardine can, I drive a 20 ft Chevy van for work everyday, it gets 11.5 mpg and usually has an 8 1/2 ft wide trailer behind it
This video is amazingly entertaining in the fact that this is a everyday vehicle here in the US. I actually owned a 1979 Chevy K10 Silverado (1/2 Ton) truck with a 400 small block Chevy and turbo 400 3 speed transmission with the same transfer case. I regret selling it. The truck in this video is an amazing setup considering there are not too many crew cab square body Chevys around anymore.
i have a1983 version of this exact truck. while it is slow, many of the problems are just from disrepair. (lack of power. poor steering, loud noise and bad brakes.) properly maintained it has quite powerful brakes and with a reasonably maintained engine you can get about 10 mpg. I love it. very capable but meant to be used for tasks that require such a thing. effectively a commercial vehicle.
"It transforms gas into noise". That and heat. But such *wonderful* noise! As to the gearbox: Be glad it was an auto. I have the Saginaw 4Spd manual and It. Is. Cursed. The single worst manual I've ever dealt with, and I drove commercial trucks I found your channel because of this video when I was first looking for my Squarebody. And I stayed for the locomotives. Thank you
@@lmm Short answer: Yes. Thorough answer: For a start it doesnt have real bearings, just bronze bushings, so it wears out quickly and is city bus loud. 1st is more like .5th gear, which is great for towing, but has no synchros. 2nd and 3rd, and 4th DO, but said synchros will randomly forget what their jobs are and then it just grinds. It doesnt help that the shifter throw is alarmingly long, and so vauge I keep grinding bits off 1st when trying to grab 3rd and I swear the gears wander around on their shafts (Probably related to that whole no real bearings thing). ...Writing this I found myself questioning why I bought this impractical beast with a severe drinking problem, and then remembered it's because my inner child wanted the monster truck he'd been promised
The neighbors had a C-30 crew cab doolie (the RWD version of this truck) growing up. They used it to tow a 3 axle fifth wheel combined horse trailer and travel trailer, and their boat to the lake and back. Same color white. By the way, the reason most of these were automatic is because automatic transmissions improved the towing capability!
I drive a K30 and I'll admit, it's a bit bigger than a Raptor or an F-350, but dang is it powerful. I work in construction and I'm usually the guy they call when they need to get something. No joke I had to carry a few steel beams for a building and they fit in the back of it. Actually hearing you talk about it reminds me of all the changes I've made. I swapped out the engine, the brakes, the gauges, and probably some other stuff. Yeah, the stock engine, brakes, and gauges aren't the best (Except for the song it sings). It's fun.
My late Stepfather owned the SUV version of this. We went up a 20-degree "road" up Sulphur Mountain in NW Arkansas that was more ruts and potholes than road. You had to wear your seat belt!
What that shake you are feeling is, is called "Death Wobble" it means something is loose in the front end, old trucks tend to have that issue once they get well worn.
@@lmm I suspect so, probably king pins, if they are not greased regularly they will wear out fast and the front wheels will have a lot of slop in them, also those leaf spring trucks could have the bushings in the springs go bad. Oh, and that body style of truck has an issue with the frame cracking behind the steering box, which makes the steering box eventually fall off the frame.
I love older trucks. I drive a 1999 GMC Suburban K250p 4x4 with a big ole 454 dropped in it. It's a 4 speed automatic and it has push button four wheel with 2 HI, 4 HI, 4 LO and 4 wheel auto, meaning that if the trucks computer senses tire slip in the front the 4x4 will kick in and start spinning with the back wheels. You'd probably love the hell out of it. The motor is louder than the truck your driving in this video even though mine is fuel injected and that one is carborated. Old trucks are the best and easy to work on.
Truck gets 6MPG... Greta Thunberg: “you have stolen my dreams and my childhood... how dare you!!” The guy driving: floors it... Greta: “HOW DARE YOU”! Lol. Great video👍🏻
At the time this truck was made gas mileage was at it's worst. Pollution controls and mechanical changes were to to keep the exhaust cleaner but horsepower was just sucked away. After changing the timing gears in my 76 Ford Torino to a pre-emissions set it was such an improvement in performance and mileage.
i got the chance to drive a 90's chevy pickup with the tbi 454 through my work and man. its not fast, but the sound, and the feeling of that instant torque was incredible.
Them were the days back then I'm glad I was around to live it . I would not trade them for now . I really like your review and I like English humer very funny
GM made this body style from 1973 to 1987, for 1/2 tons and 3/4 tons. And ended in 1991 on the one tons, like this one, k5 blazers and suburbans. The options list for these trucks were several pages long.
@@lmm Thier was at least 6 engine choices. 2 inline 6s, and 4 v8 engines, the 305 (5.0L) the 350 (5.7L) the 400 (which was a stroked 350 used in the high end 4x4s which made more torque then a 350 but was lighter then a 454.) The 454 (7.4L) And then the 6.2L diesel.
These are some of the trim packages you could get for the GMCs, from the 1975 brochure. These were intended to jazz up the inside, because the base models had some seriously Spartan interiors. Sierra, Sierra grande (Z62), High Sierra (Z84), Sierra Classic (YE9). They had some pretty groovy designs back then.
Loved the video brother i love big trucks because the small cars always give you the road and they let you go first i have 2013 silvrado HD2500 regular cab with the long bed its just fun to drive than any race car 🤣
Mine weighs in at 7500 pounds. Steel flat bed, 454/400. Just swapped a 12 valve cummins and a 10 speed eaton fuller so we will see how heavy she is now.
@@lmm man. Over here we can drive anything we want with nothing more than a normal drivers license as long as it's under 26,001 lbs. With the exception of a school bus or motor home for personal use. Most motor homes round here weigh between 35 and 45 thousand lbs
That used to be similar in the UK, but the changed it in the 90's Standard licence is 3.5 tonnes max, 7 or less seats, no trailer. Pretty rubbish really.
My grandfather had a crew cab dually with a 12 valve cummins swap with a 5 speed dodge transmission. He loved the truck but he sold it at about 180,000 miles, and the guy who bought it hauled lots of farm equipment with it and put a million miles on it. We don’t know what happened to the truck after that.
The pushrods has little to do with consumer preference and is more ease and cheaper to manufacture. Also has a smaller footprint, lower cg. With the cam in the middle of the block, you only need 1 cam to drive both heads, no big cam gears on the heads, no camshaft on top of the heads....but you do need all the valve train in between to open the valves.
These were also sold in KSA / Kuwait / Qatar / UAE / Oman / Bahrain / Iran / Iraq and many other surrounding countries. There's a ton of em still driving around.
Back in 1989 I dailied a 1969 Delta 88 sedan, yeah it did not weight as much as that truck, but it did have a 455cid V8. On the highway it was not bad but in the city if it got 6mpg it was lucky, but on the bright side and unlike the truck this Delta 88 could smoke pretty much everything in the city that I lived in at the time, fun car 😃 until the cops got involved. Because of that car I was barred from going down a certain neighborhood.
This is such a normal vehicle for us that I’m more entertained by how tickled he is by it lol I’ll never look at my truck the same way again
LOL I was thinking the exact same thing! Just made me chuckle how excited he was driving it!
I personally am obsessed with Chevrolet but this is just whatever for me. But also basically everyone in my town has one so it’s gotten old for me. I just can’t believe he’s surprised that a pickup is taller than him.
SAME
We just don't have stuff like that over here!
Lawrie's Mechanical Marvels i regularly pass what looks like a 90s ford ambulance not marked not lights a little higher than that chevy. I can't believe such an intimidating machine is road legal over here lol
454 Big Block Chevy. 16 valves of pure Pushrod American power that's factory ready to pull a house
EDIT: Those arent "cam covers" those are Valve covers. Over here on America we prefer Pushrods
It certainly felt like it would pull the earth!
@@lmm These trucks really shine when they're off road. No high speed stuff or corners 😂. There might not be a lot of horsepower, but there usually is a good amount of torque for climbing stuff haha!
No we do not “prefer pushrods” just most people hate change and don’t want to deal with the maintenance of a modern motor
I'd like to take it off road and go for a run!
Yeee yeee
Your unfiltered reaction to what i find commonplace gives me hope for humanity
I don't think I've ever restored anyone's faith in humanity before!
We don't have anything like that over here. It was pretty exciting.
@@lmm To us Americans, this is an average size vehicle 😂😂.
We were blown away by the size of everything. If you look at my series called What's Broken Now, you'll find my daily, a 106 which to you guys must be a toy!
30 solid minutes of " A confused Brit" driving a truck 😂
I should have just had that as the video description.
We just don't have things like that over here!
I'd say bemused actually...
Is any body gonna tell him they made one with 6 doors and a 12 foot bed.
If you read this btw I am NOT joking seriously look it up man
No way! I gotta drive one!
6 doors is a basic thing to do to these lmao
Some folks go for 8 doors
@@freedom24v86 can confirm on the 6 door, there's a guy near me with one, keeps it parked in front of his shop
@@cpufreak101 theres about 9-12 in my area good chunk dailyed
That's a mental thing. Must be massive!
12 yards long, 2 lanes wide, 65 tons of American pride!
Exactly - I've never felt more American!
Canyonero!
I was thinking about the same thing, especially the way he describes the size
Smells like a steak and seats 45
She blinds everybody with her super highbeams, She’s a squirrel squash’n deer smack’n driving machine!
Here In Kentucky you see these a lot old farm trucks but us younger generations brought them back to life wheels tires cab lights tinted windows bad ass lol love these old trucks
That's really cool, and pleased to hear the younger generation appreciates these awesome things!
Nothing like an old square body Chevy
carleybennett07 I’m doing just that with an ‘84 K20, the single cab isn’t that crazy to deal with
That's cool! Super truck.
carleybennett07 if that’s not soo accurate thing ever . Kentucky is full of gems .
Now imagine using that to pull a 35’ horse trailer on 20 foot wide roads. We have fun.
Yes, yes you do 😂
Yup... That's what we call a REAL TRUCK.
Yeah, I'd second that 😂
This is a pick-up. Not a truck
Austin Davis oh my god shut up
It's a pick up truck...
Lawrie's Mechanical Marvels truck, pick up truck, they’re usually considered the same over here
Those big block chevs will pull a house down if modified if you don't like how long it is just find a single cab I enjoyed the video I'd drive that daily 😂
Oh I loved it. Just so very different to what we have here in the UK!
For starters it genuinely wouldn't fit down some of the roads around here.
I hear lots can be done to a big block to make it mega 😂
@@lmm i dunno about the state of that engine. but in that time period the epa was attacking and car companies did lots of whacky nonsense to vehicles to try and meet new tighter emissions standard. As for size i drive a 98 gmc serria 2500 ext cap and before that an 89 2500 chevy diesel. Being used to the size and desperately needing an 8x5 cargo hold LOL ya never realize how enormous these things are until i drive a car and it feels like a go kart with heat and air con and i have to relearn how to drive because ALL the mental math my brain does for that task is wrong lol. but we love our trucks and i guess we just don't think of that alot .
1984 chevy c30 id proudly park it in my driveway and call it mine
Helll yeeaa
You guys certainly love your trucks 😂
They're pretty epic though.
I’m watching this video, about a guy being so amazed about a everyday lifted American truck, while I’m figuring out how to lift my truck more than 9 inches lol
Bruh ya it’s kinda funny, I have two old fords in my driveway that guzzle gas and never use them for work, just fun and grocery getting, gotta love North America
They're just so different to what we have back home!
@@lmm I bet the bobbies would have a fit if they saw that going through London
I love this guy. Me, him, a pub...a little bit of apple cider ....and truck stories.
Imagine if the guy saw a crew cab kodiak.
I'll have to track one down!
@@lmm careful because they are about the size of your semis and fire trucks....but it is considered a pickup, hey also look up diesel brothers, they make custom diesel pickups with like 2 foot lifts, 6 doors, supercharged and turbo charged diesel all wheel steering with military Axel's, wheels and tires, here is a picture of thier shop truck images.app.goo.gl/3xP4Bv6vVhiqQveW9
That looks amazing!
Lawrie's Mechanical Marvels you’d have an absolute conniption fit if you ever saw an American M35A2 deuce and a half
@@pacificcoastpiper3949 they’re so damn cheap too, it’d be a pain in the ass to drive daily and maintain though
I am American. I learned to drive with a 1995 Ford F-350 Crew Cab Dually about that size. I love the feeling that a truck that big gives me on the road and want another dually soon. They are intoxicatingly cool. With 4 passengers they also are comfy for long road trips. You just needed to drive 1 with 2 more gears on top and it will get better fuel Econ. The best feeling is watching other cars move over for you on 2 lane roads.
You definitely feel like the king of the road in it!
"i just can't get over how MASSIVE it is"
THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID
Quotes by Michael Scott
But never to you
Not to u
That is indeed what she said 😂
That truck has more power than his fire truck
Possible, though Jupiter feels like it's got way more torque.
But then, manual gearbox, so that might help...
@@lmm Should find an old muscle car. Then see what those engines can really do when a torque converter isn't absorbing so much torque from the engine. That same engine put in the same year Chevelle SS made 450 HP and 500 lb-ft of torque. Just putting those cars in drive at idle can make them slip the tires a half rotation. Though you want to find a manual one so you spin the tires in 4th gear at 65 MPH.
I'd love to have a go in a proper muscle car. They're just insane.
Proper proper cool
Yeah, I doubt it. Late 70's and early 80's American vehicles were utter shit as far as performance goes. My (much smaller) 5.4 from 1966 makes more power and is better on fuel, lighter, etc.
@@lsswappedcessna The 70's depends on the smog emissions, which was probably optional in most states till like 77. But yes, the mid 80's were trash for muscle car type engines where they were so heavily restricted with emission checks.
I love your enthusiasm. Old Square body Chevy's are as American as it gets!! also, this is what I imagine every Brit does when they see our vehicles. 🤣🤣🤣
Glad you enjoyed the video!
It was a great experience.
And yes, we don't have anything like this!
I visited mexico ( in the state of michoacan) every Christmas and there's a lot of square body chevys still being used, seen a blue 74 c3500 crew cab single rear wheel next to a bread store, and my uncle has a green 78 chevy k10 with a sm465 4 speed, and my older cousin had voilet red 73 chevy k20 with the fulltime 4 wheel drive automatic transmission and a 400, and my family owns a chevy d60 dump truck with a diesel. I'm more into fords ( from 1958 to 1996) but growing up in a ranch in mexico I was always surrounded by 73-87 chevy k series and c series trucks when I was a kid, You gotta love'm.
They certainly seem to have a big following. But I suppose for a go anywhere, shift anything and just keep going, they're not a bad choice.
They're good trucks, lots of options were available, 6 cylinders, V8's, a 6.2l Diesel (which was available in 1982 on all series trucks) automatics and manuals (th400 and the sm465 are bulletproof transmissions) regular short beds all the way to your truck, you couldn't get a extended cab until 1988 on the gmt 400 body style. They still made the square body style R/V 30 series crew cabs, suburbans, and k5 blazers until 1991. There were the best trucks chevy built in my opinion but I wish chevy still build them.
My friend has a k20 and load it with tons wood
K20's are tuff trucks, with a 350 and sm465 backed by a np205 transfercase, you got yourself a stout rig.
Carlos Vitela i have an 88 GM with a 6.2 diesel backed by a sm465 4speed. Its not fast or powerful but it makes lots of smoke and noise, I love it.
And keep in mind your not even in Texas😂
I'm kinda excited. I must go to Texas!
Hah we got trucks everywhere! and lots of other gems since most of texas is pretty much country bumpkin land, though i have spotted a few McLarens down here
@@daleknewvegas45 the state vehicle, by number sold is the Ford F150
yeah that one i didnt need to research for, i see them everywhere.
I'll have to visit!
just so you know to "work" on it you climb in under the hood and sit on the inner finders
aaron brown stand on the front bumper/sit on the rad support is my go to, my inner fenders are plastic
Hahahaha, that makes total sence. 😂
1992 Dodge W350 Extended Cab. 5.9L , Dana 70HD. 💥
Wanna sell it ?
Sounds awesome!
That makes me miss the 1983 Chevy c10 with a 350 out of 93 suburban I had because that truck sounded badass with dual 4 inch straight pipe exhaust that had 6 inch tips
I bet that sounded awesome!
If your so pleased by that you should see a brand new HD truck.
Darien Seminoff the frame is as tall as some of the cars in Europe lol
OntarioRedneXXX Its just so weird for me that its weird for people, I mean its not just normal for me its all I know.
I’ve legitimately never driven anything smaller than a 3/4 ton. I live in northern BC canada in the oil and gas industry and its all anyone drives. Fleets of them lol.
I can’t imagine life without heavy duty trucks, to me being amazed by the existence of a 1ton is like being amazed that cellular phones exist or, dogs, or clouds... I have 5 duramax’s and this is some twilight zone shit.
Its amazing how different the life of Europeans and North Americans is for us both being human beings in western countries.
It really is, it all seems rather unnecessarily big and loud to us.
It's still awesome though!
Have yo seen the size of my 106 you guys would just think its a model!
I'm not sure how much I'd enjoy a newer truck - I just like old things 😂
@@lmm You guys do have similar things meant for the same commercial slash work applications though. A Mercedes sprinter 3500 dually is the same exact thing just as a different package for different needs, so different size but still a 1 ton utility vehicle.
Another similar comparison whether I get flak from a fan boy comparing the two or not.... But the Unimog is a lot more similar to a modern 4x4 Diesel single rear wheel long box 1ton pickup than some would initially think. Reality aside being the culture of extreme capitalism American tends to have, HD pickups are meant for work applications much like a Unimog. And much like a Unimog, off road oriented commercial work activities. The purpose is very much similar and so are the capabilities in regards to weight and load carrying.
Oh yes, certainly similar things, just the design ethos is completely different.
Most people wouldn't have a van for fun, pick ups with you guys are much more of a daily.
I'd agree that they're certainly similar things, again just a difference in ethos for the design
The good thing about those 454s is that the fuel mileage doesn't get much worse when towing. I live in NC also and these trucks are still being used everywhere.
It gave the impression that it was fairly bombproof. I did love driving around in it.
I don't think the fuel efficiency could get much worse 😂
It drives pretty much the same with or without a load, however, if you put some decent weight in the back, it rides a little smoother.
Yeah, I can imagine that would help quite alot.
@@highflyinryan76weezer25 yup my f350 is the same way, it rides like a dump truck unless you got 4000lbs in the bed
Lawrie's Mechanical Marvels oh build it and it will get much much worse. But who needs miles per gallon when you have smiles per gallon?
As an American and a Chevy fan, this particular truck is still a bit embarrassing. You see, once the 1970s came along, American cars hit (and sustained) a low point when it came to build quality, power... everything really. And I feel they're just now starting to recover. Even the Corvette was making a measly 140hp by the end of the 70s.
I still absolutely loved it! I'll try and drive other better vehicles on my next trip!
what are you saying...my dad had a 1968 C10 and a 1971...drove both to 1997.....if he didn't pass from cancer he would still have them.....
Joel Sanford the 79 k-truck is the pinnacle of GM trucks if you ask me, beautiful lines and simple to work on, too bad they ever changed it
Don't get me wrong guys, I know these trucks were very durable. Its just that they were very simple and felt lacking in quality in certain areas like steering, shakes and rattles, etc... Which were all very common traits of American cars of the era.
And as Lawrie says, they're still a lot of fun to drive, Especially with that v8 sound.
"The brakes are... There are brakes." Lol
They're not good. 😂 Quite worryingly so.
Lawrie's Mechanical Marvels the other aspect of these trucks is the sheer compatibility of parts. The motor, transmission, axles, etc. we’re made for decades with very little change and used across a lot of vehicles. For example, the GM V8 bell housing pattern was used from the mid 50s up through the today on all the V8 vehicles and a few of the V6s. The availability of new parts, aftermarket support, and parts in junk yards makes these very easy to keep going on the cheap. They may not be very sophisticated, but that’s good for home mechanics.
That does make life so much easier when you can find the bits you need! And being commonplace keeps price down.
As someone who owns a Squarebody I can confirm: The brakes are *Horrible*. MONSTROUS single piston calipers. Still better than the previous generation C/K series trucks with all-wheel drum brakes that might as well not exist
Englishman giggles about a big truck-2019
Pretty good summery
We don't have them back home!
This is what every one in england and France thinks of American cars:
Almost brakes
over powerd (at least 600 or more)
If you drive american cars you have a 50/50 chance of living and dying
Way to big and drinks to much( not in America )
But all americans with old trucks and cars will say to this: that is so god dam true
Got it in one 😂
yep, in high school I knew quite a few people that drove pickups to school. one had a K3500 with the 454 (7.4) V8. they'd agree with everything as to why trucks are unreasonable yet drive them anyway makin' lots of noise lol
Crew cab dually. Beautiful vehicle. My buddy has a gigantic dually too.
It was absolutely super! Loved driving around in it, though with the amount of gas that it drunk I can't imagine people using one on a daily basis
My daily driver is a '76 Chevy crew cab. Love your excitement.
I'm very jealous
That truck was built by baby bald eagles
With a massive star spangled banner behind them.
He should drive an Excursion or a deuce and a half I'd like to see his reaction with that
I'd like to give it a go!
@@lmm keep in mind those excursions are effectively a Ford F-250 SUV, as a result there was a 7.3L Turbodiesel and a V10 in the engine offerings among the V8's.
How is your channel not bigger than what it is!? This content is incredible. Keep it up man.
Thank you very much, glad you like what we do!
Loads of cool stuff coming up - so please share us with your friends to spread the word and help us grow!
This is quite literally my daily driver and I can’t help but be amused and tickled by how excited he is
Especially when he says you would need a special license over in the Ik to dive it. I got my license at 16 jumped in and drove it home lol
1:55 "it had all wheel drive" yea no. No American vehicle company has ever put all wheel drive in a pickup there's 4wd but that's way different than Awd
Yeah, my bad. Sorry
Chevy had full time 4wd in the 70s. So he's not wrong it being awd
I thought Brits called our 4wd awd in British English, could be wrong.
@@wx4newengland . yeah wrong. We use same terms.
I came here just to see the truck as I was heading to bed. I thought no way am I going to watch 29 min of a review this late, I just wanted to see the truck. 29 min later, I've stayed up too late but have thoroughly enjoyed the review. 1979 was the best year for Chevy/GMC. I want a 79 so bad. I have a 89 GMC 2500 5 speed stick 5.7L, same rear chrome bumper. :] It's only an extended cab, but I do love it! Good night all
Sorry to keep you up!
Really glad that you enjoyed the video, it's an awesome bit of kit, loved driving it about.
When you were inspecting the engine and you called the “bonnet” a “hood” your voice went down about 2 octaves. When working on the engine you can sit on the fender wells. I had to give my Chevy p/u away but if I had the wherewithal I’d buy one again in a New York minute.
Hood sounds manly 😂
There's certainly space to work on bits in there 😂
I'd have one if I was stateside. Great fun!
Hey somebody gave me a 70s Chevy pu, if it was you thanks it served me well after I fixed the clutch. Not bad for a freebie...
Wouldn't complain if someone gave me one at all!
I'm very happy that you enjoyed your visit to America, and that you fell in love with this truck. It's too bad you didn't get to drive something older or a little newer, like from the 1960s or'80s, this Chevy was produced during an era where pollution of great concern, and power suffered tremendously. What you drove was a work-truck also, built for rugged hauling, a "one-ton duallie" as those are known here. There's a usually friendly rivalry between the "Big Three" American auto makers, I used to like Fords the most, then I got a Dodge, and later on a Buick (made by General Motors, who makes Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, and Cadillac), they're really all the same after you've driven them all.
I really did enjoy myself, stunning scenery, bonkers vehicles, lovely people.
There's always next time to try and sample some older and younger trucks.
I really want to have a go at a proper Rig too 😂
Yes, I learnt about the 55 mph thing in an effort to save fuel, that made me chuckle.
I don't think I've ever driven a Buick, we get Ford over here, the odd Dodge like my fire engine, but that's about it.
all that truck needs is a rattle can spray job, white is pretty easy to paint. good enough for a 50 mph paint job atleast haha
I rattle can white my 2000 C3500 😂😂😂
@@heartlessangel7 hell yeah, honestly you can get a pretty damn good finish if you block sand the paint with some 2000grit paper then clear coat and sand agian. Hell ive even used extrior pain on my hunting truck to camo it 👍
A little tlc and it would be mega!
I just found this channel, I love this guy! Great videos!
Thank you very much, glad you are enjoying the content!
Ford had the dual fuel tanks back in the day too. I own one not friendly with the fuel
That's the best terminology I've ever heard! I like it 😂
Lawrie's Mechanical Marvels drinks it like a camel in the sarhara my dodge with the 360 gets better gas mileage
At least Ford did their dual tanks right and you don't have to pull around to another pump to fill the other side.
Nope not friendly at all. My old ford (460 - 4 spd) got 8 mpg. It didn't matter whether it was pulling a heavy load, or just hauling a box of kleenex.
John, I didn't consider you'd have to do that. What a laugh.
I do like the switch from one tank to another though!
Jim, so it doesn't matter what it's pulling, still drinks the same 😂
a 6'x8' bed is standard here. if you can't carry a 4'x8' sheet of plywood in it with the tailgate closed, it's a shortbed. i have a 1993 ford f150 4x4 with a 300 straight 6, and a 1993 chevy 1500 extended cab 4x4 with a 350 v-8. the chevy has a short bed that i used as a work truck, and i use the full size bed ford to haul scrap metal, and as a firewood hauler and log skidder in the woods. it was a farm truck, and has a 3" suspension lift, a 2" body lift, 31" deep lug tires, and with the winch on the front, there's not many places it won't go, or pull, and will carry a full ton of whatever, no problem. i don't need to jack it up to change the oil either. it's just a pickup here, rusty but trusty. nothing special at all. and it gets 15-18 mpg avg. while doing it. oh, it has dual fuel tanks as well. it was a camper special, i think. you could put a european auto in the bed, and still have room for luggage. i know, i hauled a geo metro to the scrapyard whole once. had to leave the tailgate down though.
That's absolutely bonkers.
We have nothing on that scale over here.
I rather like the concept though. Go anywhere so anything carry whatever 😂
@@lmm absolutely bonkers is what we do best. 20 years ago, i had a 1972 buick electra 225, it had a 455 cu. in. engine and it was over 25' long. the trunk, i mean boot, was huge. fun fact, we call it a trunk because in the early days of motoring, you used to have a real steamer type trunk attached to the rear of the auto to carry things. i'm 5'11" and i could lie down in it without touching anything but the floor of the trunk. it's what we lovingly call a land yacht. that monstrosity got 7 mpg, but when it was new, gas was less than 50 cents a gallon.
Not every one of those trucks are automatic I have 2 that are 4 speeds
yup 454 with a 4 speed is hard to beat. pulled 15k easy too
@@johndowe7003 mine aren't 454s one has a 6.2 or will have a 6.2 diesel and one has a Cadillac 425 big block
@@oldcroneysgarage9739 never reqlly cared for the 6.2 i found it to be anemic . The 454 i used was a vortec one
Casey Croney You gotta share man I can’t find these anywhere
@@TheMrMegaSlow what do you mean?
The reciprocal view of vehicles sold overseas makes American's laugh so it balances out LOL .
It's amazing the difference between the size of vehicles - have a look at my 106, I think most Americans would just think its a model 😂
@@lmm yes your probably right , still we do have Smart Cars and other small models here , some do buy cars that get high mileage like hybrids .
You should have looked at the American RV 's including converted vintage Buses . I bet some are as long as the Narrow boats over there .
@@lmm and its a shame you weren't driving something newer and in better shape , so you could have had a better example to judge by.
he should tryout a new one.. the weights go up, get a little more luxury and power too
Yeah, I hear that they're much better.
I really did like this!
I love my c30. 454/ 4 speed/ 4.11 gears ... 20 foot 4 inches, 103 inches wide ... 8 mpg. love it. I once got 12 mpg, hooked up a 6 ton 5th wheel camper and could finally lift off the throttle going down hill
Hahahahs, that genuinely made me chuckle.
We really couldn't afford to run one in the UK, but it was an awesome truck!
Lawrie, most Americans duallies are diesel and get between 15-20 mpg
Oh really? That's not so bad then.
@@lmm no no joke and some of the newer models get better than that
That's greatly improved on this thing for sure!
These days the Diesels are really popular. Before the 1980's diesel engines in pickups weren't even a thing and they weren't popular until the 1990's. The Cummins 5.9l in the Dodge trucks was a game changer followed by the Ford Powerstroke.
I have a 6.0 powerstoke single cab truck that sits on 22in semi truck wheels and tires. It gets about 35-40 mpg, it’s a 5 speed manual with a diablo sport chip of 100hp!!
So I was in England a few years ago, and the rental car guy was having the exact same reaction I’m having right now watching this, as I was geeking out over getting to drive a Peugeot and a Vauxhaul. It’s awesome getting to see how things are away from home, and more importantly enjoying the experience! Keep on making these fun videos, it was great watching you have so much fun!
Hahaha, I'm glad you get it! The vehicles and even the attitude towards them is just so different, it was really exciting to be able to sample it!
Glad you're enjoying the videos, loads more exciting stuff to come!
Just find a single cab K30 without the lift on it and it should fit on the roads in your home town
It's alot wider too!
I have a 1983 K30 short wheelbase, single cab dually, Custom flatbed. And it can make shockingly tight turns. Unloaded it does sometimes buck a little bit going down the road at highway speed, but it's not bad. 350 C.I engine bored .30 over, 3 spd automatic gets 8.7mpg hauling 7,000lbs or more. Edit: in response to how much fuel you used while filming on a short drive; at constant highway speed these trucks don't do too terrible mileage, but stop and go GUZZLES that fuel.
It really did guzzle 😂
Great video! I loved the sense of wonder
We had one with a manual. When we had the engine rebuilt the engine was souped up to 400 horses and 550 torques. It was rapid and the noise was biblical! It had great brakes too, it could stop shorter than most cars while towing a 6000 lb (3 tons!). We could go 180 miles on a tank hauling the boat or the horse trailer.
That poor thing needs some TLC.
It's just so different to what we have over here! I really would have liked a manual.
Your one sounds absolutely amazing!
@@lmm It's sadly no longer with us. Somebody ran a red light and t-boned the poor thing. It could fit all 3 of us and our German Shepherd.
Keep up the good work man!
Oh what a shame. :(
Thank you, we'll do our best!
A 454 with headers a decent carb and intake can easily be 400 horsepower or more I'm not motor had an intake a carb and headers
And at least 500 ft lb torque
I'm sure with an engine of that size it could be made to generate wayyyy more power.
When you said “let’s have a look under the hood”, I was really surprised because I completely expected you to call it the bonnet..😂
I was trying to be local 😂
Rare front end trim, have the same on my squarebody
Oh really? I had no idea!
Thank you for the inspiration I got into making some basic daily vlogs about my Jeep. I’m trying to keep it consistent with the uploads but its such a struggle but I love doing it.
Something ain't runnin' right if that engine is drinking so much fuel and making such little power
Thats a textbook misfire
I'll let the owner know!
Mines wanting to stall while accelerating, I’ve replaced just about every fuel related thing but can’t seem to figure it out.
@@coleray5044 check the accelerator pump on the Carburetor, there's different settings in the linkage, it's an arm with 3 o 4 holes in it, you might have to connect the linkage to the next hole up, just remove the cotter pin from the throttle arm and move up one hole and connect it back up. That's always solved my hesitation issues with a carb anyway 👍
Classic Reddit Stories I actually rebuilt the carburetor since then and it has power, but now it has to much, It idles high and I didn’t even touch the idle screw.
Edit: I think it might be the IAC sensor
I've been through a couple of those "square body" Chevys as they're known among their fans. I currently have a 1984 Chevy K5 Blazer powered by the ubiquitous small block 350 CID V8 (5.7 liters) The engine bay is almost big enough for two engines and to work on it I have to stand under the hood with the engine. The way the steering is setup on these trucks, when you hit the brakes and the front squats from the weight shift it will want to pull the truck to one side, even when everything is in good condition. There are tons of parts and kits to fix all of the known issues with these beasts as they're very popular with offroaders and super easy and simple to work on.
I can believe it, there's a load of love for the things in the comments. I can't get over how big your engines are. 5.7 is a huge one by our standards 😂
This is great! A huge fun factor for me, when I visit the states is the cars and trucks. They are just mental.
I think you were born in the wrong country ha
Really enjoying you’re videos 👍🏻
It was the main point of our trip, looking at all the bonkers vehicles!
I tend to agree 😂
Thank you - glad you're enjoying it!
My F150 4x4 super crew sits so high I have to stand on a short step stool to check the oil. And I had to install a kick-down step in the back corner of it so I can actually get my aging butt into the rear of it. But it's the best highway trip vehicle I have ever owned, comfortable, quiet, actually quite quick and can do... anything. 375 hp, 17.5 mpg around town and I've gotten over 24 mpg on the highway at 70 with the AC on. Pickup trucks truly are THE American vehicle. You should drive any of the current full sized US pickups and you'd be shocked how good they drive.
I'd be up for giving it a go!
You need to review a 2020 Chevy Silverado 3500
I'll see what I can arrange next time I'm stateside.
Lawrie's Mechanical Marvels also look up a Chevy 3500 Extended 15 passenger van. 6.0L LS, 6400 pounds curb weight, fits four generations of your family, no special driving license required. Essentially a 1996 design still being sold new in 2019.
I'll have to have a gander
This is any European reacting to any thing in America. Very entertaining and enjoyable.
Thank you, everything is so very different!
How do people across the pond move 4x8 sheets of plywood?
Normally on its side in a van.
Or we get two smaller bits 😂
Lawrie's Mechanical Marvels
So, plywood sheets come 4 by 8 ft in England? Is it the same with sheet rock?
(Might be called gypsum board in your neck of the woods). I never thought about how construction material is sold there.
I’m safe in assuming that wattle and daub are not a thing anymore?
😂, yes we have moved forward from there!
You can get plywood in pretty much any size, and most people just have a van, and load it on its edge.
@@lmm you shoulda said you put it on the roof of your mini and hold it down
Hahahahs
Would have been better
Guess I never realized how badass our vehicles are LOL, my buddies and I always referred to big trucks like this one as "cowboy limousines"
That's just what Americans drive. That's not the biggest I've seen on the hwy.
Apparently so, just very different to what we get over here!
@@lmm trust me, I've genuinely seen bigger. K6500 crew cab pickup. parked my Saturn Ion (effectively a sedan version of an Opel Astra) next to it and the roof was barely up to the doors lol
Oh I bet the comparison was quite spectacular!
@@lmm I have a pic of it still if you'd like to see it lol
Yeah definitely! Drop us an email!
Great video man, I had a huge grin on my face the whole length of the video. Your enthusiasm for this truck made my day :)
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. It was really quite awesome!
Funny you talking about the size of the truck being so massive, I grew up around big trucks, full-size, jacked up, 4x4, whatever, what I can never get over is how small the little European cars are, I sat in an MG for the first time the other night and hit my knees on everything and felt like I was in a sardine can, I drive a 20 ft Chevy van for work everyday, it gets 11.5 mpg and usually has an 8 1/2 ft wide trailer behind it
You get why I was so blown away then.
Old MG's are small, but more what I'm used to than these behemoths!
Haven't even clicked to see what other videos you have, but I'm subscribing. If you ever make it to Texas, holler.
Thanks! Glad you're enjoying what we do, I hope to get back to the states next year!
It’s amazing how much fun he can s having in one of our normal trucks
It's just so different what we have over hear!
This video is amazingly entertaining in the fact that this is a everyday vehicle here in the US. I actually owned a 1979 Chevy K10 Silverado (1/2 Ton) truck with a 400 small block Chevy and turbo 400 3 speed transmission with the same transfer case. I regret selling it. The truck in this video is an amazing setup considering there are not too many crew cab square body Chevys around anymore.
I had no idea of the rarity till after the video was released 😂
To us, its bonkers you guys have these as dailys!
i have a1983 version of this exact truck. while it is slow, many of the problems are just from disrepair. (lack of power. poor steering, loud noise and bad brakes.) properly maintained it has quite powerful brakes and with a reasonably maintained engine you can get about 10 mpg. I love it. very capable but meant to be used for tasks that require such a thing. effectively a commercial vehicle.
I certainly loved driving it. Though I would be very interested in having a go in a *good* one.
It's always awesome to see how people react to what other people drive around the world
It's just so much bigger than what we're used to over here!
"It transforms gas into noise". That and heat. But such *wonderful* noise!
As to the gearbox: Be glad it was an auto. I have the Saginaw 4Spd manual and It. Is. Cursed. The single worst manual I've ever dealt with, and I drove commercial trucks
I found your channel because of this video when I was first looking for my Squarebody. And I stayed for the locomotives.
Thank you
Is the manual really that bad?
And you're welcome - glad you're enjoying the content!
@@lmm Short answer: Yes.
Thorough answer: For a start it doesnt have real bearings, just bronze bushings, so it wears out quickly and is city bus loud. 1st is more like .5th gear, which is great for towing, but has no synchros. 2nd and 3rd, and 4th DO, but said synchros will randomly forget what their jobs are and then it just grinds. It doesnt help that the shifter throw is alarmingly long, and so vauge I keep grinding bits off 1st when trying to grab 3rd and I swear the gears wander around on their shafts (Probably related to that whole no real bearings thing).
...Writing this I found myself questioning why I bought this impractical beast with a severe drinking problem, and then remembered it's because my inner child wanted the monster truck he'd been promised
The neighbors had a C-30 crew cab doolie (the RWD version of this truck) growing up. They used it to tow a 3 axle fifth wheel combined horse trailer and travel trailer, and their boat to the lake and back. Same color white. By the way, the reason most of these were automatic is because automatic transmissions improved the towing capability!
We saw alot of that, pickups with 5th wheels. Just does not happen over here in the UK!
I suppose that makes sense for the auto box.
I drive a K30 and I'll admit, it's a bit bigger than a Raptor or an F-350, but dang is it powerful. I work in construction and I'm usually the guy they call when they need to get something. No joke I had to carry a few steel beams for a building and they fit in the back of it. Actually hearing you talk about it reminds me of all the changes I've made. I swapped out the engine, the brakes, the gauges, and probably some other stuff. Yeah, the stock engine, brakes, and gauges aren't the best (Except for the song it sings). It's fun.
My late Stepfather owned the SUV version of this. We went up a 20-degree "road" up Sulphur Mountain in NW Arkansas that was more ruts and potholes than road. You had to wear your seat belt!
What that shake you are feeling is, is called "Death Wobble" it means something is loose in the front end, old trucks tend to have that issue once they get well worn.
I like that as a term 😂
I guess it just needed some time and effort being spent on it
@@lmm I suspect so, probably king pins, if they are not greased regularly they will wear out fast and the front wheels will have a lot of slop in them, also those leaf spring trucks could have the bushings in the springs go bad.
Oh, and that body style of truck has an issue with the frame cracking behind the steering box, which makes the steering box eventually fall off the frame.
I love older trucks.
I drive a 1999 GMC Suburban K250p 4x4 with a big ole 454 dropped in it. It's a 4 speed automatic and it has push button four wheel with 2 HI, 4 HI, 4 LO and 4 wheel auto, meaning that if the trucks computer senses tire slip in the front the 4x4 will kick in and start spinning with the back wheels.
You'd probably love the hell out of it. The motor is louder than the truck your driving in this video even though mine is fuel injected and that one is carborated.
Old trucks are the best and easy to work on.
I think I would love it! Sounds epic!
Truck gets 6MPG... Greta Thunberg: “you have stolen my dreams and my childhood... how dare you!!” The guy driving: floors it... Greta: “HOW DARE YOU”! Lol. Great video👍🏻
At the time this truck was made gas mileage was at it's worst. Pollution controls and mechanical changes were to to keep the exhaust cleaner but horsepower was just sucked away. After changing the timing gears in my 76 Ford Torino to a pre-emissions set it was such an improvement in performance and mileage.
Yes, the laws out there really strangled development
Dude I enjoyed this so much. It was like a breath of fresh air.
Thank you, really glad you enjoyed it!
We’re seeing a Man lose his virginity when it comes to Big Awesome Trucks. Now let’s see his face shooting Guns for the first time. XD
It'd be something like argh, ahh, ooo
Back when I was about 4th grade my family and grandparents went on roadtrip with 72 Chevy with a cab over camper and 18 foot travel trailer
Oh that's cracking!
There is absolutely no practical reason for a vehicle this heavy and over powered. It's wonderful!
I loved it!
i got the chance to drive a 90's chevy pickup with the tbi 454 through my work and man. its not fast, but the sound, and the feeling of that instant torque was incredible.
Proper truck!
I wish my girlfriend reacted like this. Your a great actor!!
I was just really excited by it 😂
We all wish we had girlfriends like that.
@@lmm indeed, American trucks are something worth getting excited for!
Oh she does she does....
Them were the days back then I'm glad I was around to live it . I would not trade them for now . I really like your review and I like English humer very funny
GM made this body style from 1973 to 1987, for 1/2 tons and 3/4 tons. And ended in 1991 on the one tons, like this one, k5 blazers and suburbans. The options list for these trucks were several pages long.
Where there really that many options? That's mad. What kinda thing could you get?
I wonder how much it would have been to spec it all 😂
@@lmm Thier was at least 6 engine choices. 2 inline 6s, and 4 v8 engines, the 305 (5.0L) the 350 (5.7L)
the 400 (which was a stroked 350 used in the high end 4x4s which made more torque then a 350 but was lighter then a 454.) The 454 (7.4L) And then the 6.2L diesel.
I'm still wondering just how expensive you could make one 😂
Good news Lawrie! I just found my 1975 and 1980 GMC dealer brochures.
These are some of the trim packages you could get for the GMCs, from the 1975 brochure. These were intended to jazz up the inside, because the base models had some seriously Spartan interiors. Sierra, Sierra grande (Z62), High Sierra (Z84), Sierra Classic (YE9). They had some pretty groovy designs back then.
Loved the video brother i love big trucks because the small cars always give you the road and they let you go first i have 2013 silvrado HD2500 regular cab with the long bed its just fun to drive than any race car 🤣
It's certainly mega fun! We just don't have things like that over here!
I guess you get so accustomed to seeing trucks like this on a regular basis and their dimensions just done surprise you any more.
Yeah I suppose so, it's just so very different to what we have over in the UK!
If that big block actually made 1 horsepower per inch, you’d love the thing a lot more. 200hp out of a 454 is Little Tikes power
Oh yeah, you expect with an engine that sized for it to be monstrous.
Only thing monsterous is the fuel efficiency 😂
RE: being wide, this is why the five yellow lights are on the cab roof. It's actually required here on vehicles that are over a certain width 😉
Oh really?
Thanks for letting me know, never knew that.
I wonder if that's a good indication of too wide for the UK!
Mine weighs in at 7500 pounds. Steel flat bed, 454/400. Just swapped a 12 valve cummins and a 10 speed eaton fuller so we will see how heavy she is now.
Wow! You need a truck licence to drive something like that in the UK!. What a monster!
@@lmm man. Over here we can drive anything we want with nothing more than a normal drivers license as long as it's under 26,001 lbs. With the exception of a school bus or motor home for personal use. Most motor homes round here weigh between 35 and 45 thousand lbs
That used to be similar in the UK, but the changed it in the 90's
Standard licence is 3.5 tonnes max, 7 or less seats, no trailer.
Pretty rubbish really.
@@lmm no trailer? Wow I dont know what I'd do without my trailer lol
My grandfather had a crew cab dually with a 12 valve cummins swap with a 5 speed dodge transmission. He loved the truck but he sold it at about 180,000 miles, and the guy who bought it hauled lots of farm equipment with it and put a million miles on it. We don’t know what happened to the truck after that.
The pushrods has little to do with consumer preference and is more ease and cheaper to manufacture. Also has a smaller footprint, lower cg.
With the cam in the middle of the block, you only need 1 cam to drive both heads, no big cam gears on the heads, no camshaft on top of the heads....but you do need all the valve train in between to open the valves.
These were also sold in KSA / Kuwait / Qatar / UAE / Oman / Bahrain / Iran / Iraq and many other surrounding countries. There's a ton of em still driving around.
Oh really? I had no idea
That truck says no bullshit included when buying it 🤘🤘🤘
I see he's adjusting well to old Chevy steering...sawing the steering wheel back and forth to keep the truck going straight.
I am not a Chevy guy but I like the older ones
This is cool!
That big block sounds amazing.
It did sound pretty impressive 😂
lol it is fun watching you enjoy a true american jewel! I daily a little newer four door long bed dually with a 454 and it is so fun to drive :)
I did absolutely love the experience!
It's crazy to me how amazed he is. America is about power. Lol. We all fight over brands but America is known for loud, arrogant power lol.
It's just very different to what we have over here in the UK.
That it was 😂
Back in 1989 I dailied a 1969 Delta 88 sedan, yeah it did not weight as much as that truck, but it did have a 455cid V8. On the highway it was not bad but in the city if it got 6mpg it was lucky, but on the bright side and unlike the truck this Delta 88 could smoke pretty much everything in the city that I lived in at the time, fun car 😃 until the cops got involved. Because of that car I was barred from going down a certain neighborhood.
There is definitely a story behind that!