Buying a "Chevy"

[jake wells]

I'm sure i will get a chit storm for posting this.

I'm been needing a winter truck for quite a while now my buddy is offering his old 82 chevy custom deluxe 10 to me its 2 wd it has a overhauled 350 with a rv cam and has a rebuilt th400 auto with a limited slip 3.42 axle out of a later model truck.

Anything to watch out for on these older square body chevys? only rust i can see is around the rear wheel wells.
it has a updated interior with a split bench out of a 05 dodge truck seems like a good winter truck.

Only reason im going after it is because it gets the same gas milege as my f150 and has a 3x better everything over my current truck which has a cracked engine cradle.

 

[huskihl]

Nah. They're good trucks. The 342 rearend will be a little hard on the transmission, but at least it's a th400. The motors were only good for 65,000 before the cam went out, but if it was rebuilt you should be OK for awhile

 

[Four Paws]

Shortbox?

 

[jake wells]

long bed body is in flat black primer i like the look
its a 82 with the single square head lamps not the dual.

 

[Four Paws]

Sounds like a nice mosheen.

 

[jake wells]

Sounds like a nice mosheen.

i can only hope it does drive really good to be 30+ yrs old. i know if im not careful it will burn the back tires on take off.

 

[TJ the Chainsaw Mechanic]

Nothing to watch out for at all. Good reliable trucks. And since you own a Chevy...if you ever are in the need for parts....the availability will be like you've never seen before. 350 is one of the most common motors out there....ahem...seen a fair share in FORDS myself.

 

[exSW]

Two wheel drive? Make sure the front end is tight.

 

[jake wells]

front end is tight and smooth but it has a mostly new front end with a alignment it rides and drives like a dream.

 

[jakethesnake]

Pretty good ol trucks I'm a dodge guy but those older Chevys are good trucks just treat it nice and usually they treat you nice I've seen one with over 400 thousand on it. Obviously had some tranny work but the motor is original. It's my gramps. He's a mechanic however that motor has not been rebuilt used to tow a light boat with it two to three times a week hundred mile trips in it. Like was said keep an eye on the front end stuff and be easy on the tranny last a long time

 

[skidooguy]

Sounds like it would be a nice whip for you. As long as 2wd works for you in winter.

 

[jake wells]

Sounds like it would be a nice whip for you. As long as 2wd works for you in winter.

yeah if a snow is on i stay home because all the idiots like to venture out in the snow.

 

[skidooguy]

I really wish I had that option. It often takes a backhoe to plow my way to the county road. Hope the Chevy works out for you. The 350 is tough to beat for reliability and simple to work on.

 

[jake wells]

I really wish I had that option. It often takes a backhoe to plow my way to the county road. Hope the Chevy works out for you. The 350 is tough to beat for reliability and simple to work on.

come on down to kentucky it's cheap living here and plenty of places hiring.
plus winters are pretty mild.

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Lots of those old trucks got 3.08 gears as std equipment, remember... non-OD transmissions and small diameter tires were std factory equipment. Higher axle ratios were necessary to facilitate running highway speed and keeping RPM below 3k. Heck, my brother (XP_Slinger) '85 K10 had 3.08 gears in it with the 700r4 OD auto trans...It was too tall for his 33" tires obviously, so he geared it to 4.10. Not really sure how or why 3.42 gears would be hard even on a TH350, let alone the TH400 if OEM tire size is still in place. Bigger tires is another story though.

Good, solid, simple to keep in shape old trucks! I love my '78 K10, it's my summer rig.

350 with full length headers and true duals with cherry bombs, SM465 manual 4spd trans, RV type cam, Edelbrock intake and carb, 3.73 gears riding on 35's with a 4" suspension lift.

60MPH=2450RPM.. LOL!

 

[jake wells]

Lots of those old trucks got 3.08 gears as std equipment, remember... non-OD transmissions and small diameter tires were std factory equipment. Higher axle ratios were necessary to facilitate running highway speed and keeping RPM below 3k. Heck, my brother (XP_Slinger) '85 K10 had 3.08 gears in it with the 700r4 OD auto trans...It was too tall for his 33" tires obviously, so he geared it to 4.10. Not really sure how or why 3.42 gears would be hard even on a TH350, let alone the TH400 if OEM tire size is still in place. Bigger tires is another story though.

Good, solid, simple to keep in shape old trucks! I love my '78 K10, it's my summer rig.

350 with full length headers and true duals with cherry bombs, SM465 manual 4spd trans, RV type cam, Edelbrock intake and carb, 3.73 gears riding on 35's with a 4" suspension lift.

60MPH=2450RPM.. LOL!
View attachment 37781

on this truck the back tires are 31 x 10.50-15 and the fronts are 30 x 9.50-15
it gets about 15 if you stay out of it and do the speed limit which is 55 here and will get about 13.8 interstate.

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Sometime in the 80's they did increase standard tire size a bit. Im curious as to the RPM it's turning at highway speed, say 60mph. But still I'd say you will be just fine with 3.42 gears.

 

[dall]

usually the 2wd trucks was more for road travel and gas mileage i think you will be fine with a 2wd if you dont go anywhere when snow on the roads most 2wd went better than a 4wd in 2wd . my buddy has a 88 2wd with a 305 drives years round he runs winter tires and puts sand bags in the bed and he goes where ever he wants

 

[jakethesnake]

In all honesty most folks don't need 4x4. I've only used mine in my dodge a handful of times but I do have to go out under state of emergency snow situations and such as I have animals to tend that make me money

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Yeah, I admit that my K10 being my summer play toy and all, it doesn't see 4wd very often... but the 4wd trucks just sit "right"...