1979 Chevrolet Bonanza "Big Ten"
 

Okay, here is the story line! this truck hasnt been started in 5 years the guy i bought it from let his WIFE!!! drive this truck after he bought it from one of my friends and after he put a $1200 set of heads on it along with a weiland intake and a street avenger holley carb. she got it hot and then it sat for a month or so the guy drove it another 10 miles from his fathers house to his house. he thinks at the time it was a head gasket that blew so he let it set for 5 years and hasnt been started since. i just got it today for $200 because it has a rebuilt transmission and possibly a 3.73 rear end i plan on putting them in my 77 silverado. i tried to start the truck today but sounds like the starter is locked up so tmoro i am going to pull it off and clean it up a little and grease the shaft and in the mean time i am going to make sure the motor isnt locked up.

this is supposed to be a parts truck for my 77 but im not sure yet if i want to tear this whole baby apart the body is damn near rust free(besides surface rust) and the interior is in damn good condition i dont see myself being able to tear it apart just for my 77 who is a very healthy horse!

Motor:
350 (rebuilt with $1200 set of heads that were mentioned to be aluminum, wieland intake, holley street avenger carb, and only has about 5,000 miles on it all)
im not sure if the motor is still any good but if it start or even if it doesnt start i will pull it apart and send the block off to get tested and even send the heads off as well

Transmission:
Th350 with a shift kit about 3,000 miles

Rear End:
rumored to be 3.73 gears but i will pull the cover soon and check

Re: 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza "Big Ten"
 

Re: 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza "Big Ten"
 

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Re: 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza "Big Ten"
 

nice

Re: 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza "Big Ten"
 

thank you JRANGER!

does anyone know anything about these types of trucks driveline wise? what sort of options these trucks had? i need some teaching on the history of this truck so i know what i got thanks

Re: 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza "Big Ten"
 

Wish I did...Im a simple computer geek learning how to restore mine as I go...Still trying to figure out why a guy dropped a 305 in mine to replace the 350

Re: 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza "Big Ten"
 

^^^ Me too

Re: 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza "Big Ten"
 

The big ten/heavy-half(F44 option) came with a bigger leaf spring stack, bigger rear brakes, and a 12 bolt. They were made to be emission exempt. The GVWR is 6200lbs which fell over the 6000lb emission mark. Basically you got a similar payload rating to a 3/4 ton, but had a 1/2 ton without the the emission crap. I hope that's what you were looking for. Nice truck by the way!
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Re: 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza "Big Ten"
 

Looks like a solid, decent retoration project. I say go for it and get that puppy up and running.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza "Big Ten"
 

If those are $1200 aluminum heads why are they all rusty?

Re: 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza "Big Ten"
 

I have that exact same truck. Dont tear it apart those are like gold of the c10s. They are beefiest trucks in the line.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza "Big Ten"
 

Neat. My 79 1 ton is a Bonanza,,,I haven't seen another Bonanza in years.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza "Big Ten"
 

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Hope this helps. These are all the options mine have.

Re: 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza "Big Ten"
 

im not sure if the heads are aluminum or not but i did notice they are the only metal on the motor that has rust(surface rust) the guy i bought it from said he believes they were aluminum but he isnt sure since it was a good 5 years ago!

Re: 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza "Big Ten"
 

Well aluminum doesn't rust so there's your answer. If there was white oxidation then you'd know.
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Re: 1979 Chevrolet Bonanza "Big Ten"
 

Amen Bro, I thought the same thing...
Ron