Old Chevy trucks are hard to find

[Gravel Rat]

My dad is looking for a older Chevy/GMC 3500 in the 83-89 range. There is nothing out there in the reg cab long wheelbase cab and chassis 2wd.

I even searched Truck Paper.com for chits and giggles and even in the USA those old Chevs are not around. Either people are keeping them or they are rusted out and in the junk piles.

My dads truck is a 83 its in decent shape except for the rear suspension and rear axle is going and of course it has the Chevy cab rot.

That vintage Chevy used to be common as 1 ton flatdecks. They used to be everywhere. P+D guys used the Chevys in those years because they could pack more weight than the F-350s in the same era. Chevy also had bigger brakes.

The newer Chevs don't hold a candle to what the old trucks used to do. It started when they changed the body style. The trucks also got a weaker rear suspension.

The old SM-465 or Turbo 400 transmission was cheap and easy to fix.

Reason why my dad wants to stick with the Chevy trucks in that era is they can pack some weight. Chevy does use the bigger brakes so you can put 3 ton on the truck and it stops. My old Ford F-350s the same year forget it.

Once you start going over the 5000kg (11,000lb) mark you need to get a motor carrier number etc like I have for my F-450. That is a pain when your only using the truck for your own use which dad does.

There might be no choice if you can't find a older 1 ton Chev. I used to drive a 94 Chevy 1 ton for a guy I know. I wouldn't haul any weight.

Anyhow any of the guys that own the older Chevy trucks don't want to part with them for the reason they are good trucks the replacements not so.

Dads truck isn't legal to haul 6000lbs but it handles it just fine and truck stops good.

[ksss]

Two wheel drive is an oddity. You sometimes find those on municipality auctions. They will likely be stripped down, but you wont be able to be too picky.

Another solution would be to rebuild what he has. If its just suspension and rear end, those are easy fixes. You could easily refurbish what he has and likely be better off. Like you said nothing on that truck cant be rebuilt for cheap.

[Az Gardener]

I have an 82 with no rust :) Az truck. I don't know if its a 3/4 or 1 ton it is a long wheelbase, it has a flatbed and dual wheels. I traded my 70 Chevy for it I only drove it from the guys house to my father in laws place. I haven't even seen it in a year or so.

The 70 was in pieces and I was able to drive this one home. I just have no use for it.

[Gravel Rat]

Even getting parts is hard to find. He would like to find a newer chevy and swap the dump box over.

Almost all chevy dually cab and chassis trucks around here are 2wd. There was a few 4x4 cab and chassis trucks around but pretty rare.

Out here on the rust belt old Chevy trucks the cabs rust to pieces. A landscaper friend of mine had to replace the cab on his old 1 ton Chev but now the frame is rusted out.

Another guy I know he has put another cab on his old truck years ago and has owned the same truck for 25 years. Its been a good old truck but its got bad frame rust. The engine has changed a couple times.

I will let my dad deal with his own stuff he can fool around with the old junk.

I'am just surprised that there isn't that many of those old trucks around anymore they used to be common place 10 years ago. I guess I never noticed that everbody drives a new truck.

You could tell a older Chevy truck with a 350 with the old 465 4spd and gear whine. Or the lifter clatter.

[ksss]

I had an 84 single wheel one ton 4X4, 6.2L, 205 transfer case, Turbo 400 tranny. I put over 200K on that pickup. Synthetic in it from day one which was at 39K. Never had issues with motor, tranny or Tcase. I put about 10 starters in it over that time. I redid the glow plug system other than that "Like a Rock". The door bottoms were starting to rot, other than that cosmetically it was good. It was a Silverado so it was fully loaded. I miss that truck. At one time I was trying to find another like it and pondered putting a Duramax/Allison in it. It would likely turn into a 20K investment on a 8K truck, disposable income not what it was, the plans are postponed but I think it would be a killer conversion. Although I don't miss the solid leaf spring front suspension, with its 8 leaf rear and the associated lumber wagon ride, it was a trucks truck.

[Junior M]

Yeah, tell me about it GR, its even harder to find any truck of that nature down here. In a dream world I'd have a 78 3/4ton(I could go for a 1ton SRW :)) reg cab long bed 4x4(what its powered with doesnt really matter for now). I am having a hard time just finding a 3/4 ton, much less a 4x4.

[Mr. Rain]

I've got a 92 C3500 GMC reg. cab, 350 gas, auto, 8' landscape box w/drop sides and rock gate. Box and hoist new in 03. 76,000 miles, never seen winter. I'm looking to get rid of it if it might be close to what you need.

[Ben@speedbarn]

Wow, I have a 76 chevy 3/4 as my personal truck, and we have an 85 half ton, and an 85 1 ton dump at the shop. There are at least 3 1 ton dumps on craigslist here, in the mid 80s range.

[QualityLawnCare4u]

I have a 71 long wheel base Chevy, with AT and 350 V8 that I inherited from my late father (he knew I hated that truck so he got the last laugh)! He bought it brand new and would not take anything for it but I told him many times he needs to get him a new one. It did run good but have not cranked it in over 2 years, just sitting under the back shelter collecting dust.

[Gravel Rat]

What dad is looking for is something that is the last year it has a carburetor :laugh:

The truck isn't driven every day maybe once a week but it hauls 6000lb load 100kms (62 miles). Then comes back with a load or empty.

He isn't a diesel beleiver so gas pots is all he drives.

His old Chev isn't bad but it is tired the truck was well abused before he got it I think its seen many 8000lb loads. I think the rear axle is bent thats why its making noises.

Trying to find a used GM 14 bolt that fits a cab and chassis is next to impossible. He is thinking of putting a 10.25 Ford out of a F-350 into it.

Dad had a option to buy a 2000 F-450 he didn't buy it he wishes he did. As I said earlier once you get into a truck above 11,000lbs it can be a pain. Also once you get above 12,000lb gvw you need to stop at highway scales and be completely legal. My insurance etc is higher because I haul for money truck is registered as a owner operator.

Now once your over the 12,000lb mark the truck needs to be almost flawless for the CVSE (DOT).

Around here we don't have highway scales or DOT so running legal weight wise you can get away with. You still need a truck that passes inspection thou. Where my dad goes you have to deal with highway scales etc.

You can get away with a little more if you run a truck with 11,000lb gvw and your just hauling for yourself.

I can't do that I haul for profit so what I do I need to run legal.

[Junior M]

Wow, I have a 76 chevy 3/4 as my personal truck, and we have an 85 half ton, and an 85 1 ton dump at the shop. There are at least 3 1 ton dumps on craigslist here, in the mid 80s range.
Details on the 76 please.. :)

[Gravel Rat]

My dad has now decided trying to find a Chevy is going to take too long he will see if he can find a good used Ford F-350.

We are a Ford familly the only reason why he has a 83 Chev was it was cheap so he put a dump box on it.

[THEGOLDPRO]

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=247428478&dealer_id=54947481&car_year=1987&rdm=1249705948394&model=CH3500PU&num_records=25&systime=&make3=&make2=GMC&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1983&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=0&marketZipError=false&model2=GMC3500PU&search_lang=en&sownerid=615963&showZipError=y&make=CHEV&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&filterId=1249705948394&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=06710&advanced=&end_year=1987&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=1147&standard=false

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=250591233&dealer_id=56657869&car_year=1985&rdm=1249705948394&model=CH3500PU&num_records=25&systime=&make3=&make2=GMC&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1983&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=0&marketZipError=false&model2=GMC3500PU&search_lang=en&sownerid=615963&showZipError=y&make=CHEV&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&filterId=1249705948394&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=06710&advanced=&end_year=1987&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=1070&standard=false

[Junior M]

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=247428478&dealer_id=54947481&car_year=1987&rdm=1249705948394&model=CH3500PU&num_records=25&systime=&make3=&make2=GMC&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1983&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=0&marketZipError=false&model2=GMC3500PU&search_lang=en&sownerid=615963&showZipError=y&make=CHEV&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&filterId=1249705948394&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=06710&advanced=&end_year=1987&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=1147&standard=false

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=250591233&dealer_id=56657869&car_year=1985&rdm=1249705948394&model=CH3500PU&num_records=25&systime=&make3=&make2=GMC&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1983&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=0&marketZipError=false&model2=GMC3500PU&search_lang=en&sownerid=615963&showZipError=y&make=CHEV&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&filterId=1249705948394&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=06710&advanced=&end_year=1987&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=1070&standard=false
wow, those dealers arent far away from him.. :hammerhead:

[stuvecorp]

My dad has now decided trying to find a Chevy is going to take too long he will see if he can find a good used Ford F-350.

We are a Ford familly the only reason why he has a 83 Chev was it was cheap so he put a dump box on it.

I'll ship my 350 up to you.:) Too bad about that 11,000 pound rule.

[Gravel Rat]

The 11,000lb gvw reg has been in use for many years because they deregulated the trucking. In the earlier years I couldn't haul legally because I could never get a license for the area.

They changed the regs now you can get a NSC number and be a legal trucking company. So any truck with a GVW over 11,000lbs requires a NSC number.

I'am legal I had to go that way when the NSC number stuff come out or I couldn't insure my truck.

For what dad does he doesn't need to go through that crap.

The truck is only licensed for 11,000lbs so a 6000lb load does put it 3000lbs over the licensed gvw. So if you do get in a accident then the insurance will not cover you.

[CAT powered]

Did you know 90% of Chevys sold are still on the road today?

I guess only 10% ever made it back. :laugh:

Seriously though. Get a Ford.

[Gravel Rat]

Dad found a 94 Chev for parts so he will fix his old Chev for now.