are 1980 models unique?

[Blanco_53]

I have a chance to purchase a 1980 k10 sub for a good price, but from my understanding is the 80 model year any different from a 1979?

[nvrenuf]

An 80 is not unique to itself as it shares a lot with the 73-79 trucks (body parts and most of the drivetrain). It's probably better to say an 80 has some unique qualities.

The only transfer case used in 80 is the np205.
The chrome grille option uses square headlights.

[Firebirdjones]

I think 80 was the only year they had those awful looking bug out front parking lights I don't think they were all that popular as I remember a lot of people swapping out the entire front assembly for 79 and earlier stuff.

[69heavychevy]

Originally Posted by Firebirdjones

I think 80 was the only year they had those awful looking bug out front parking lights I don't think they were all that popular as I remember a lot of people swapping out the entire front assembly for 79 and earlier stuff.

The parking lights on my 80 don't bug out??....and yes it has the unique only to 80 model front end

[69heavychevy]

What I've seen is that the 80 model pickup seems to be a transition year between the 73-79 and 81-87 pickups. For example, the body panels are similar to the 73-79 pickups, but the frame is like the 81-87 pickups...back to the original question, I'll have to say yes. Then again, thats a biased answer haha!

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by 69heavychevy

What I've seen is that the 80 model pickup seems to be a transition year between the 73-79 and 81-87 pickups. For example, the body panels are similar to the 73-79 pickups, but the frame is like the 81-87 pickups...back to the original question, I'll have to say yes. Then again, thats a biased answer haha!

sounds like a 'tweener year, as in between two styles, uses some old parts and some future parts

[Firebirdjones]

Originally Posted by 69heavychevy

The parking lights on my 80 don't bug out??....and yes it has the unique only to 80 model front end

Has yours been changed or maybe a different optional grill that might have changed it? Post up a pic and it will help describe what I mean.

[Firebirdjones]

Here you go.....bug out front parking lights. Guys I knew were always switching these out for the earlier models.

http://cdn.speednik.com/files/2014/1...y-trucks15.jpg

[esbstuff]

And the 205 will have a slip yoke on the rear, like the 208's.

Originally Posted by nvrenuf

An 80 is not unique to itself as it shares a lot with the 73-79 trucks (body parts and most of the drivetrain). It's probably better to say an 80 has some unique qualities.

The only transfer case used in 80 is the np205.
The chrome grille option uses square headlights.

[nvrenuf]

Originally Posted by esbstuff

And the 205 will have a slip yoke on the rear, like the 208's.

On 2 door trucks, 4 door / carrier bearing applications still have the bolt on yoke.

Also this is not the first year for the 205 slip yoke, I've seen 79 cases with them.

[LeesTruk]

Good eyes esbstuff. Most folks don't notice there's a difference. Actually, someone in the truck's history did that. 1/4" red striping tape was applied to the black trim stripe, to give it a two tone effect. I think it's kinda neat. You can just see the black base above the red. The cab corner trim and cab back trim were left black





Lee

[80SPORT]

Originally Posted by Blanco_53

I have a chance to purchase a 1980 k10 sub for a good price, but from my understanding is the 80 model year any different from a 1979?

The main change for 80 that would concern a K10 sub is that you get the part time transfer case instead of the previous full time unit ...and the 80 is the last year of the original body style ....so it had the most available options for that style.

[LeesTruk]

When I got my '80, I did exactly as mentioned previously. Took off the ugly square headlight frames and put on '78 headlight frames

Before;



After;



The difference is subtle but more pleasing (to me anyways)

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by LeesTruk

When I got my '80, I did exactly as mentioned previously. Took off the ugly square headlight frames and put on '78 headlight frames

Before;



After;



The difference is subtle but more pleasing (to me anyways)

first of all great looking truck overall, second your photos remind me of those compare this picture with this picture things and see if you can find all the differences, ha ha, yes the changes are subtle, cause to me both trucks look the same, other than one has a license plate and your bowtie is no longer orange

[LeesTruk]

AWW, C'mon, Gregski, look closer... if you look at the upper picture, the headlight bucket continues down and around the turn signal light. It doesn't in the lower picture. Guess ya gotta be a con-I-sewer to see the dif'rence eh?

Didja notice the amber turn signal lenses, or the door mirrors, or the hub caps? Picky, Picky, Picky.....

[bmchevy1979]

Originally Posted by LeesTruk

AWW, C'mon, Gregski, look closer... if you look at the upper picture, the headlight bucket continues down and around the turn signal light. It doesn't in the lower picture. Guess ya gotta be a con-I-sewer to see the dif'rence eh?

Didja notice the amber turn signal lenses, or the door mirrors, or the hub caps? Picky, Picky, Picky.....

Lol it doesn't help that your truck is silver/gray it kinda blends the bezel in. I noticed but I did the same on my 79 I don't care for the 79-80 headlight surrounds it'd be more noticeable if you had swap from square lights to round lights

[Firebirdjones]

Originally Posted by LeesTruk

AWW, C'mon, Gregski, look closer... if you look at the upper picture, the headlight bucket continues down and around the turn signal light. It doesn't in the lower picture. Guess ya gotta be a con-I-sewer to see the dif'rence eh?

Didja notice the amber turn signal lenses, or the door mirrors, or the hub caps? Picky, Picky, Picky.....

Yeah but that's not what I'm talking about. Actually either of your pictures look fine to me, you simply converted it to the stand alone parking lights they had from 73-76.

Look at the link I provided above. Notice how the parking lights actually protrude out from the trim and stick out like a fat lip
That's what I'm talking about. Many guys didn't like that and removed it to either the 73-76 style that you did, or even the 77-79 style looked better than that bug eye thing. I don't mind any of them from 73-79, you could have left yours alone and it would have looked just fine to me.

[KQQL IT]

Originally Posted by LeesTruk

AWW, C'mon, Gregski, look closer... if you look at the upper picture, the headlight bucket continues down and around the turn signal light. It doesn't in the lower picture. Guess ya gotta be a con-I-sewer to see the dif'rence eh?

Didja notice the amber turn signal lenses, or the door mirrors, or the hub caps? Picky, Picky, Picky.....

And black eyeliner vs silver.

[El Dorado Jim]

Originally Posted by LeesTruk

When I got my '80, I did exactly as mentioned previously. Took off the ugly square headlight frames and put on '78 headlight frames

Before;



After;



The difference is subtle but more pleasing (to me anyways)

did the same as you, with my son's truck, like the old school better

[esbstuff]

And red stripe in the side chrome instead of red? Is it factory? Some were, but I've never seen on a non-black truck.

Originally Posted by LeesTruk

When I got my '80, I did exactly as mentioned previously. Took off the ugly square headlight frames and put on '78 headlight frames

Before;



After;



The difference is subtle but more pleasing (to me anyways)

[Blanco_53]

Nice trucks, are k10's rarer in the short bed form? I can purchase this 80 k10 for $1100 running and no major problems. Would it be good deal?

[80SPORT]

1980 Suburban new vehicle info....

[El Dorado Jim]

Originally Posted by Blanco_53

Nice trucks, are k10's rarer in the short bed form? I can purchase this 80 k10 for $1100 running and no major problems. Would it be good deal?

an awesome deal!!!!

[barry1982]

I think the 1980 is kinda cool...... It's the only year that you can tell immediately what year it is. They were a great truck as well... I had a buddy in high school that owned a dark blue/light blue 80 Silverado . Many great weekends spent in that truck, and it always got us home.