Are there any good or bad years in this age range?

[snyder66]

I'm just wondering if there are any years that I should avoid in this range of Chevy trucks. I'm still trying to learn as much as I can to avoid any buyers remorse. Thanks

[87 chevy silverado]

biggest thing ive seen is were the truck is from, on how bad the rust is and how well it was taking care of or not

[f.monroe]

All things considered look for about a 78-79. You can change the grille to make it look like any year you want but there are differences that make it a good choice. Seat belts changed in 78 and you can use belts from several years up into the 80's . The bed sides changed in 76 or 77. They added drains over the rear wheel wells that lessen the chance of rusting out above the rear wheels. The A/C controls and function changed a little by the late 70's and added recirculating a/c function with variable speed control for the fan . Early years run the fan at max speed when in the max position . Small differences but they make for a more comfortable(A/C) ,safer(seatbelts),and less agravating(rust issues) truck in the long run. If you like comfort features then shoot for a 77 and later since that is the first year they offered intermittent wipers and electric windows from the factory .
Frank

[THE "10" SILVERADO]

hmm...I have a 77 but I don't have intermittent wipers...

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by THE "10" SILVERADO

hmm...I have a 77 but I don't have intermittent wipers...

That was the first year they were available. They had some reliability issues and stopped installing them until 78, but they were available.

[bigone4242]

its all about the rust....and of corse modernization...the oldies are goodies just have rust issues and designe flaws that made em rust prone...i own a 73 and lov her to death, true workhorse her whole life and still even after 10 years of sitting will fire up netime! Just showing the reliabality of these badboys! but the old man loves 80's and up because of the upgrades both outside and in....

not to mention mpg..hahaha

[f.monroe]

You can see the knob for them in my 77. It has it on the options sheet . I was not aware they were available in 77 until I bought this truck . The owner said he ordered it with almost every option . I wish he had checked 454 on the order list .
Frank

[THE "10" SILVERADO]

Originally Posted by f.monroe

You can see the knob for them in my 77. It has it on the options sheet . I was not aware they were available in 77 until I bought this truck . The owner said he ordered it with almost every option . I wish he had checked 454 on the order list .
Frank

you learn something everyday

[Tx Firefighter]

Best year, in my opinion is the 87. You get fuel injection, overdrive trans and the nice square body.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by THE "10" SILVERADO

you learn something everyday

I found this out from member 7t7. He has a 77 that he bought new and had intermittent wipers. The module failed, and the dealer replaced it with a standard 2 speed switch. He was told the module was discontinued.

The 78 module and switch is similar but not the same. I have one of each that I hope to combine someday.
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[tucsonjwt]

It depends on what you want. If you want fuel economy, then 87 with V6 and stick with highway rear end. If you want performance, then 76-79 with 454/TH400 trans and 4:11 rear axle. If you want comfort - A/C with power windows/locks. As others have said - no rust body only, regardless of what you buy - they do exist. Overall, I would choose the 87.

[justinburnett]

I got a 73. It's about as base as they come. no power anything, no trim, no special anything.

Windows don't roll down, the wings fall out if you try to open them, stereo's broke, dash is gone, gear selector is broken, gets horrible gas mileage, body is full of rust holes, shakes like a sonofa***** over 30mph, only runs on one tank and if you switch them it shorts out the gauges (which don't work half the time anyway). Heater doesn't work, doesn't have a rearview mirror, tailgate won't close right, when it rains, water pours in all over your left arm and leg, and the wipers only work sometimes, as well as the turn signals and brake lights. In all ways, she's a bucket, but I love it. Working on fixing a lot of things right now.

[kelsfine69]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Best year, in my opinion is the 87. You get fuel injection, overdrive trans and the nice square body.

Yup I agree...

[y5mgisi]

Im also of the 78-79 or 87 persuasion! But really, they are all awesome! It really comes down to what your after. Comfort and nice-ness-78-up. ruggged reliabilty with out any bells and whistles-77-down.

[special-K]

You're in PA,so I'd stay away from 73-77s. I think 73/74s are my favorite but I've always shied away from them because of rust issues where we live. I've had a couple '78s and they had the large drain holes as well as better metal. They both had good bodies for many years longer than the prior years. I see earlier trucks all clean with original paint in the drier states and am amazed at how location matters that much. They just didn't survive back east and I don't see a truck surviving long before rotting away,even driven only in good weather,unless maybe it's kept in a heated garage.
Hey,I'm not hating. I just know what I've observed since day-1 and being a Chevy man it's a hard one to take.

[bigblock79]

I love 76,77,78

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by special-K

..... I see earlier trucks all clean with original paint in the drier states and am amazed at how location matters that much.....

Tim thats a very relevant comment. I see guys talk about how bad the squares rust compared to earlier year models. In the south, we see just the opposite. Its not hard to find a rust free 73-87 here, but almost impossible to find anything earlier that doesn't need rockers and cab corners.

[CaliDude76]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Best year, in my opinion is the 87. You get fuel injection, overdrive trans and the nice square body.

X2 ^^ I have an 84 with the stock Q-Jet (ccc E4ME), that's a pain in the butt vacuum nightmare!!!!!

[87 chevy silverado]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Best year, in my opinion is the 87. You get fuel injection, overdrive trans and the nice square body.

yea it is some times

[GmtGmt]

84-91 models
best of everything

[special-K]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Tim thats a very relevant comment. I see guys talk about how bad the squares rust compared to earlier year models. In the south, we see just the opposite. Its not hard to find a rust free 73-87 here, but almost impossible to find anything earlier that doesn't need rockers and cab corners.

In this area anything can rust if not taken care of and will rust eventually if driven through the winter. I always keep after my stuff by mostly washing out underneath and blowing out all the drain holes till water runs clear and just pressure rinse the outer body in the dead of winter. That helps a lot. Trying to keep it shiny takes a lot of effort. There's always run-off that sprays you and a lot of the time the water freezes before you can wipe it down. I've done it but it takes grabbing the opportunity when you can.
But,by earlier I meant 73-77s compared to 76-87s. GM was known to have rust issues then and it really hurt their rep. It's a hard pill to swallow around here for a GM guy,but it is true. I mean 10 or more years is good around here before rust starts and those trucks were rusting at 3 years. My friend's dad bought a '73 and that thing's oil pan rusted out in a couple years. My buddy (now brother-in-law) had the sweetest '77 K/30 Dooley Silverado with all the bells & whistles but was a 4spd. By around '82 he was selling it because it was rusted out. I wanted to buy it to put my clean '78 C/30 Dooley w/454 on it's frame. I could have had it for $1,000 but walked away after seeing how scaled up and flaky the frame,axles,and suspension were. It looked like a shipwreck you see in salt water. It's remarkable to see the difference the region makes. It's not even that bad here. I kept my '90 Blazer rust free for the 18 years I had it. We have people come down here from the North East to buy our stuff because it's cleaner. I love the trucks but would have to live somewhere else. I'm jealous and as much as I like old iron I can't believe I'm still here.
In Pennsylvania I'd go later than earlier. I have an '85 Jimmy with original paint and not rusted out I bought last summer within 5 miles from home. Try to buy one off an elderly gent that was pampered. Their are many of those ,usually garage kept, that are Silverados and High Sierras. Look in "The Auto Locator" they sell in convenience stores. I guess they have a website. I see a lot of stuff for sale in S/E PA,Lancaster,York,Hanover area as well as north towards Harrisburg,Hazelton,and east towards Reading.

[tucsonjwt]

Pre 1976 squares had conventional points ignition - later models had modern pointless ignition, which is better. 81 and up have modern hood hinges without the monster springs - much better - earlier models are subject to "hood crunch" which is when the hood folds in half instead of closing because of malfunctioning hinges - but you can get reinforcement strips for the hood if you catch it before it crunches.

[tymbom]

You really can't go wrong with any year. Everything interchanges throughout the various years with alittle work. I personally own a 79 and an 86. Eventually the 79 will have a matching frontend to the 86. I like the earlier years for simplicity with less wiring and smog crap.
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[bmchevy1979]

Originally Posted by tucsonjwt

Pre 1976 squares had conventional points ignition - later models had modern pointless ignition, which is better.

I believe 74 was the last year for points not 76

[KC_Goose]

I like 75 and older.. No smog in Cali