Looking to Buy 73-80 Tips?

[swissarmychainsaw]

I'm looking to pick up a 73-80 truck and wondering if you guys have some advice on what to look for/be worried of.

Since I live in California, rust issues are more minor, but smog is tougher!
So here is my checklist of preferences:

1. Stock is better.
It's easier to work on stock motor, etc. if it is stock. You know what you are dealing with. The old "I don't know where this 350 Motor came from" is not what you want. Also easier to get a motor you know about to pass smog.

2. Go for options packages.
Lots of trucks I see have hardly any options, it's better to have an optioned truck, as the potential re-sale is better. A/C, tilt cruise, headliner, etc.

3. Cosmetics are everything.
A crappy vehicle with great paint is "worth more" than a crappy "Looking" vehicle with a brand new motor!

It seems that common issues (other than rust) are:
1. Bent Hoods (expensive to fix)
2. sagging doors ($150 per door, kit plus labor?)
3. Missing A/C compressor/parts (expensive)
4. Heater cores or plugged up (cheap, but labor intensive)
5. Torn up seats. (cover it? seems that a full seat rebuild could get pricey!)

I'm leaning towards a short bed, cause space is limited. I'm looking for a little hobby truck to take the dirtbike out on weekends, and take the kid to daycare with. Mom keeps asking "are these safe?" ;-)

Gas mileage is another factor that kinda hurts. I found exactly *one* truck that had a more modern tranny in it (TH700R4).

My grandpa bought a 76 GMC Trailering Special brand new in '76, and I'd kinda like to share the fun/relive the dream with my new boy (even if he's a bit too young still)! 454, th400, 4:11. My dad got it, but sold it right before I turned 16...wonder why! LOL

In terms of projects, having a youngster prevents me from doing much more than TLC, maintenance, and maybe some interior stuff. Just no time!

Thanks!

[78 Big10 454]

Hi Swiss and welcome from SoCal. 73-76 trucks are smog-exempt, so that's not a big concern. 77-80 need to be smogged every two years and, by law, the seller has to provide the smog certificate at the time of sale. A smog certificate is valid within 90 days of the sale. I agree that you should take a close look at any mods made by prior owners. Whether a 350 or 454, gas mileage is less than optimum. As for options, A/C is a definite plus, but not a deal killer since aftermarket units are readily available. I've used my cruise control less than a half dozen times in 30+ years. Tilt is nice to have, headliner is a personal preference. I had to replace mine twice due to sagging. Being a small cab, I don't see the advantage of having power windows/door locks. A sliding rear window is nice, but I've never used mine. Since a lot of sheet metal for our trucks is rust-free out here, finding a solid hood/doors/fenders is not a problem. In short, you should find a pretty solid truck without breaking the bank. There are great people and great vendors on this site that will bend over backwards to help you out. Keep us posted and good luck.

[swissarmychainsaw]

Well, I found one near by that was a real sweetie and so I pulled the trigger.
1984 Silverado, shortbed, very clean 115K miles. 21 MPG on two 4 hour trips I took.

[silvereagle07]

Looks good swiss...hmm...I like the original paint scheme. Welcome to the forum.

[longhorn70gmc]

Are you considering Blazers from that era?

[swissarmychainsaw]

I bought little red above!
I like blazers, but decided against them for 2 reasons, one Child seat, not sure where this would go, back seat is out...
The second reason is 4x4 suspension is not what I want for a daily driver. Those leave springs (in the ones I tested) were not very plush!
--Nick

[longhorn70gmc]

Makes sence! Good Luck on Little Red!!!!