How did your love of the Square Body start
 

How did everybody's love of the Square Body start?

When I was I kid in the '80s, I loved watching The Fall Guy and Lee Majors driving his lifted GMC 4x4 truck. Then in '02 I was able to ride in and drive a '75 Chevy K20, and loved it. About a year ago, my friend gave me his '75 Chevy K20, same one I rode in and drove back in '02. His dad was the original owner of the truck.

Now let's here all the other fun and facinating stories about how y'all fell in love with Square Bodies and what planted that seed.

Re: How did your love of the Square Body start
 

My Dad, who worked for GM for 30+ years, owned a few trucks. I can remember as a kid, riding in the back of the truck all the time, even when we would take an hour trip to visit family on the weekends. The one I remember the best, was Ole Blue, (except for the exact year) a 70's something StepSide with a wood floor bed.
Fast Forward about 40+ years: About 4 yrs. ago, I was lucky enough to run across an 86 Silverado that was for sale in a small car lot in the small town, where I live now. I knew driving by, it was a nice one. Turned around and took a look and bought it right then. I have always loved trucks and have had newer trucks, throughout the years, but nothing compares to having an ole square body from the Good Old Days.
The day I brought her home. She has gone through some changes since Ive had her. You can check out my build thread link at the bottom of the page.

Re: How did your love of the Square Body start
 

Here's a picture of my truck the day it was given to me, before I drove it home. I took off those steps before leaving my friends house to take it home. Now it's at my mom's and I've gotten the 315/75R16 BFG All-Terain KO2 on US Wheel wagon wheels in 16x10 on 4" backspacing. It's sitting on original 42 year old sagging suspension.

Re: How did your love of the Square Body start
 

Here's one picture

Re: How did your love of the Square Body start
 

Here's another picture. I also added a grille from a '79 GMC K20 that was getting parted out.

Re: How did your love of the Square Body start
 

Working at the assembly plant.

http://www.73-87.com/7387info/Assembly%20Line.htm

You want to buy every one that you see.

K

Re: How did your love of the Square Body start
 

My Dad bought my truck before I was even thought of. So, the truck has been around for my entire life. Took me to school, practices, games, etc.
It was even the first vehicle I drove.

I just always wanted the truck, I am glad I got it later in life though so I didnt do something stupid to it! :lol:
Since it was always around I was always drawn to other squares.

Here it is the day it was bought in November 1975

Attachment 1676435

Re: How did your love of the Square Body start
 

My Grandpa had a '73 that a lot of memories were created in.

Re: How did your love of the Square Body start
 

We had a '75 2wd shortbox like that: black, with rally wheels, Scottsdale, ordered new.

Nice little truck.

Now that I think about it between me and dad we had a '75, a '78, an '80, an '82 and an '87 over the course of the squarebody run: all 2wd swb models (four fleetsides and one stepper).

K

Re: How did your love of the Square Body start
 

I bought a 74 blazer a few months after hs graduation. Than just kept buying and selling them. Not really sure how many I have had over the years, but at one time I know I bought one for $100 and drove it home. I have never been without one since 1981.

Re: How did your love of the Square Body start
 

When I was a kid, I got my motorcycle license at 14 and 1/2 years old. My dad made me do it and helped me by the bike for no other reason than he said I needed to get a job after school. I got a job in a local body shop one day later. The owner had a lifted (and I mean LIFTED) square body Jimmy. That truck didn't do much for me, but the two tone yellow and white '85 short wide he bought as an engine donor for the Jimmy sure did! It was a gnarly 454 setup that would break tires from interstate speeds. The truck was no beauty queen back then, but now days people would love it. Had that survivor/rat look that has become so popular way before it was cool. Lowered 4/6 on some nice looking wheels and everything. I begged my boss not to cannibalize that '85 and take payments from me for it and he just never bit. I thought I finally convinced him it was too cool to tear the heart out of, as he just used it as a wicked shop truck for a while. Until I ran into him a few years ago in the Jimmy. It was loping hard, making BBC noises, and emanating the unmistakable scent of race gas. I knew in my heart that the unspeakable had been done. In his defense though, the Jimmy has come a long way and looks like a legitimate show winner. But my love affair started that day when he rolled up in the '85. Windows down, Beastie Boys coming through the speakers, and rat rail waving in the wind.

Re: How did your love of the Square Body start
 

friend of mine gave me this old truck. took this picture before i drove it home sometime in 1999

http://i.imgur.com/rt0sr8yl.jpg

replaced a few rod bearings and rebuilt the front end and bought some 38 inch tires and had a blast. this thing pretty much went offroad weekly. never really broke and never left me stranded... though i did get stuck plenty of times

http://i.imgur.com/T44Ndfkl.jpg

eventually i had to get rid of it after about 4 years due the body being so rotted and tweeked it just became unsafe. so got a 82 suburban next, then another 85k5 and now my current truck is a 86 k30 i had for about 7-8 years, this one also have never left me stranded.

they have always just been simple reliable vehicles for me

and growing up all my friends with broncos or f150 always had multiple issues with their trucks. always breaking down on the road and on the trail meanwhile i kept on going. i eventually downsized and bought a s10 to tow around to the offroad parks so if i broke it i can just tow it home. got k5 axles, driveshafts and transfercase. the rest is all s10

http://i.imgur.com/l17cNLDl.jpg

so since 1999 ive hoarded parts for s10s and fullsize trucks so im pretty much staying with them as its so nice to just go one of my many piles and grab parts as i need them

Re: How did your love of the Square Body start
 

For me it started as a kid watching a cheesy 80's Mexican movie called "La Camioneta Gris". Literal translation is "The Grey Truck". The movie was based on a song by the same name, the group members were also the actors in the movie.

I told myself when I got older I wanted a truck just like that one because the only thing that could stop it was a train (literally, according to the movie). Thats why also love me some step sides.

Here a link to the music video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMAjSb5v5As

Re: How did your love of the Square Body start
 

I have always seen way to many squares over the years and liked the 67-72 the best but as the squares rusted and started to disappear seemed I like them a lot more, I own a 71 K10 Gmc and a 73 K10 Chevy shortbox, like both...a lot.
:gmc2::chevy:
Mudman

Re: How did your love of the Square Body start
 

Got my license in 1982, bought my first vehicle from my Granddad....a 1975 C10 Bucksin. Just evolved from there:

1978 C20 Blue (worst fuel mileage ever, sold in 4 months)
1976 C10 Bucksin
1980 C10 White
1982 K20 Stepside Bucksin
1982 K10 2 Tone blue (had at the same time as the one above, beautiful truck)
1991 Blazer (never should have sold it)

Grew up on my familys ranch so these were readily available as well.

1974 C20 454
1976 K10 Grey
1980 C30
1982 K30 454
1981 K10
1983 K10 6.2 Diesel
1985 K10 6.2 Diesel

Kinda think there were some others in there I can't recall right now.

These were the trucks of my youth, what I grew up in. Still like them

My current Remuda:
Attachment 1677940

Re: How did your love of the Square Body start
 

When I was 13 my brother-in-law had a Blue 73 Custom Deluxe long bed. It had 10" wide American Racing slotted mags w/31" Wrangler R/T bias ply tires. We pulled the 350 and hopped it up and when I got my license at 14, I was allowed to drive it. That truck also allowed me to get my first ticket and my first "uncontrolled off road ride". Been hooked ever since. My 1st one was a Tan 79 1 ton long bed with a 454 and 4spd trans.

Re: How did your love of the Square Body start
 

My addiction started when I got my first truck an 82 c10.and since then I now have a 87 jimmy 85 suburban and if I had the room and money I'd buy some more.

Re: How did your love of the Square Body start
 

Father bought a '76 C20 Camper special brand new. That truck he traded in on a '78 C30 utility. My First Company truck was a '78 Big 10, 350 auto with NO air, drove half way around the country with it in 80 and 81. Next company trucks were an 84 C30 and then an 87 R30 Stick 350. Drove that for 8 years. Also borrowed occasionally an '88 R30 with a 6.2L and the thing got great fuel economy. Fast forward to the 90s and dabbled in 69-72s and restored a 72 K10 that I kept for 12 years and a 72 K2500 GMC. Rust is an issue here in the Northeast, (really lol) and finally ran out of 69-72s to play with and started over with square bodies with an 85 K20 plow truck and an 88 R30 dump. Bled over to CUCVs and have had about 60 of them since 2005. The m1028a1 I have was my first of many many CUCVs and like that one the most. It was even to Kuwait and back before I got it. Also love the dually CUCV I have which is pretty rare and in great shape. K30 dump is the most useful of them all.

Re: How did your love of the Square Body start
 

bought this '74 Chevy C20 in the early 90's for daily driver.. retired CHP truck came with 350/4 speed.. could hang meat in it with the a/c on..

long horse trade story but in a weekend I put my 4 speed and high perf 12" clutch in a retired caltrans truck and scored a '76 auto donor.. took it's 400 auto, cross member, low hump pan and made a cover, auto column, pedals, etc.. other than carpet, never could tell the difference..

let one of my buddies talk me out of it in the late 90's, even put a new crate 350 in it for him labor free :rolleyes:

https://dl.dropbox.com/s/f14h5vzyxoa...20C20.jpg?dl=0

Re: How did your love of the Square Body start
 

^^ lol, forgot about those ~125hp NA 6.2 dogs.. rolled around in a few of them, actually quite functional just not overly exciting :)

https://dl.dropbox.com/s/hkou5hdumf8...0pool.jpg?dl=0 https://dl.dropbox.com/s/qmakllnv822...0pass.jpg?dl=0

https://dl.dropbox.com/s/yyihy8cv12s...20rok.jpg?dl=0 https://dl.dropbox.com/s/qv6hf6k0j6y...20rok.jpg?dl=0

Re: How did your love of the Square Body start
 

My best friend in high school had a lowered 73 short bed....lol, we went everywhere in that truck. From loud sound systems, street races, car shows, external PA system, engine maintenance....we learned a lot!

Re: How did your love of the Square Body start
 

First vehicle was a 78 flatbed...then second was a 77 and fourth was an 85....thats all it took....forgot my 88 suburban....and had a dually forget year though

Re: How did your love of the Square Body start
 

It was the first vehicle my wife and I bought and financed in 1993 and I still own it and she is currently awaiting an LQ4 and restoration