70's 1 ton VS early 90s 1 ton trucks?
As I understand it they kept the square body on the 1 ton trucks until 1991, right? I'm curious what the differences and upgrades might be between the 73-80 style truck and a 1991 model? Did the frame ever change?
I'm starting to restore my '79 1 ton, but I'm thinking I might be better off starting with the newest one I can find. I know people like to swap the early 90s front end onto the older trucks, but I prefer the 73-80 body style. Would it be just as easy to swap an old front end onto the newer truck? |
Re: 70's 1 ton VS early 90s 1 ton trucks?
The only big differences(to me) other than obvious body and grille changes in the newer trucks is in 1985 GM started using a hydraulic slave clutch instead of the mechanical linkage used on 1973-1984, and in 1987 TBI(throttle body injection) came out and replaced carburetors. I don't believe the frame itself changed, just different length wheelbases.
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Re: 70's 1 ton VS early 90s 1 ton trucks?
It really depends on what your goals and priorities are. If you can find a clean late model 1 ton you might save a lot of time and money.
You will need the entire front clip, core support, and frame horns to do the 73-80 conversion. |
Re: 70's 1 ton VS early 90s 1 ton trucks?
Older one tons are cooler; but the newer models feature extended cabs..... which are nice for families.
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Re: 70's 1 ton VS early 90s 1 ton trucks?
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While GM continued to make 4 door square body trucks until 91 the 1988 model year was the last year for 2 door square body pickups and this was in 4 wheel drive only.
Here is a pic of my 1988 V30 2 door regular cab pickup built in May 1988. |
Re: 70's 1 ton VS early 90s 1 ton trucks?
also got the 4l80e on the last year
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Re: 70's 1 ton VS early 90s 1 ton trucks?
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Re: 70's 1 ton VS early 90s 1 ton trucks?
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Dooley - is your truck VIN'd and registered as a 1988 model year vehicle? Does it have 1988 (or 1987) model year literature in the glove box? I thought 1987 was the last model year for 2 door R/V pickups. Everybody - there were no (significant) frame changes between '73 and '91 for the C/K/R/V models, btw. K |
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Re: 70's 1 ton VS early 90s 1 ton trucks?
Ah - I think it's coming back to me now.
Maybe the breakpoint was not 2 door vs 4 door, but the last 1/2 or 1/2 and 3/4 tons were in '87 and we continued the "heavy duty" R/V trucks into 1988. It's all a bit fuzzy. That was 20 years ago! K |
Re: 70's 1 ton VS early 90s 1 ton trucks?
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Re: 70's 1 ton VS early 90s 1 ton trucks?
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Thanks. I remember now. It was the dual wheels that was significant. So - '87 was the last year for R/V two door pickups with the exception of dual wheeled vehicles (GMT400 "LD" pickups introduced in 1988). The R/V Suburban and Blazer, and 4 door pickups carried on through '91 with the GMT400 versions being introduced in 1992. Makes sense (...well, not really...).:lol: K |
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