Who here daily drives their square body? (long(

[Texas 454]

I currently have a 2008 Silverado VortecMax LTZ. Its very nice but the payment, insurance, and gas are absolutely murdering me. So, thinking about selling it and fixing up a truck thats sitting at my dads house.

Its a 1979 Chevy C10, single cab longbed, 454 t400 trans. My grandpa bought it brand new in 1979, daily drove it till the early 90's, used it to gather firewood on his property for a few more years, then parked it in his big garage where it sat for 10--15 years.

He gave it to my dad, who had no use for it but let my brothers have at it, one of whom is very mechanically inclined. All it needed was a battery and it started right up. None of them really want to drive it so its sat now with a few issues. It needs a new starter and flywheel.

My brother has already put a lot of work into it, new carb, new water pump, fixed a lot of wiring problems, replaced a lot of the hoses, etc etc. The a/c even works when charged, but the fan is very weak.

Doing some quick thinking with my brother, the basic needs as of now are starter, flywheel, tires are badly needed, suspension could use some rehab, other than that it should be ready to go.

Basic question is, should I go for it? I'd love to get out of my payment, I'm just concerned about the comfort drop off going to a nearly 35 year old vehicle. Is it something I'd get over after a month or two?

Of course if I go this route I do have some performance/exterior plans. New stereo system, a drop, a set of wheels, budget flat black paint job, long tube headers w/ true dual exhaust. Kind of a buudget street fighter type truck. Nothing fancy but impressive none the less.

Anyways, sorry for the extensive rambling and wall of text, just got a lot on my mind with this decision. Main motivation is I lost my job and the new job i've got doesn't pay nearly as much, so keep my current truck is going to stretch me dangerously thin. Thanks!

[bigwheel15]

I daily drove mine for over two years with no issues. I would get things in order on the truck and never think twice about putting it on daily status. No payment and having a truck that parts are cheap/easily available in a bonus imo.

[stock75]

Recently inherited a 75 c10 from my great grandfather who bought it new in 75. Truck had about 52,000 on the odometer when i got it, super clean and well maintained. A week after I started driving it the tranny started acting up, a complete transmission overhaul ran me 750, she is running like a dream so far. The truck is my dd, I will be driving it 800 miles to utah within the next couple days. Any pics of the truck you are talking about??

[gmcmoose]

I have owned my truck for 31 years! Driven ever day, with 325000 miles on it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[frog210]

I drive my truck to work everyday
its my DD
it has a red door, blue fender, yellowish hood
but still drive it, it just depends on you...

[79 silverado]

I daily drive a square and have done so off and on for years... If it tells you anything, I stopped daily driving my Mercedes CLK coupe to drive my c10 instead, but that's more of a mood and a preference thing, don't read that into comfort or handling

Here's what you need to ask yourself in my opinion:

#1 - How much do you drive? I bet the square with a 454 non O/D is going to get half the gas mileage of the 2008 on a good day. Maybe even less. Realistically figure gas around $4/gallon in the very near future, it creeps up every year and if the global economy picks up, esp the chinese slump, they will find an excuse to pop it higher to the $4-5/gallon range.

#2 - Where you live get an insurance quote before assuming it'll be cheap. Part of what they look at it rate of injury and property damage when a truck is in an accident on most general car insurances, so an old square can be expensive if you cannot qualify for collectors insurance (another daily vehicle, stored in garage, etc) It is less if you are garaging in a rural area, but do your homework.

#3 - Expect repairs. The payment will be gone per month, but plan to set aside maybe $75/mo to your repair account so you can pay to fix as things break which they will on an old truck. Some months you won't use it, but that makes up for the months when its a $350/400 bill.

#4 - Think of your travel habits and where you need to park. A big truck like that isn't city friendly and can be hard to park, more so when idiots in their prius who never drove a big vehicle pull in stupid near you and make it hard to leave not realizing you do not have a cab forward wheels to the corners design...

#5 - Finally comfort. The square is a truck is a truck is a truck. Will it bother you to feel bumps in the road and potholes? Does wheelhop bug you? Are you willing to relearn rain driving a bit if you aren't used to driving a square on the highway? A LWB with a heavy 454 up front will be very very light in the rear, somewhat prone to breaking the rear tires loose in heavy rain depending what part of TX you are in... or snow for that matter. There is no traction control or the like in the truck which you may have gotten used to. Also, if you do live in an area that gets cold do you mind sitting for a few minutes on a cold morning for the truck to warm up before driving? Unlike FI that carb is going to need a few minutes to get going on a cold morning...

[Number21]

My '73 is my daily driver, I love it. Only gets 10mpg on premium, but no car payment. I really can't even fathom having a car payment, I'd rather have 10 old trucks instead.

[79 silverado]

Finally, and I forgot the most important now that I see you are in or around Houston, braking performance will go WAAAAY downhill in the square. I drove in Houston once when I traveled there during my New Orleans days... people stop short or cut across the lanes on the highway trying to make a quick exit you may likely hit them - these big old trucks do not stop on a dime and unless you go to extreme expense they will not stop like the new truck you are used to... Keep that in mind.

[Number21]

Originally Posted by 79 silverado

Finally, and I forgot the most important now that I see you are in or around Houston, braking performance will go WAAAAY downhill in the square. I drove in Houston once when I traveled there during my New Orleans days... people stop short or cut across the lanes on the highway trying to make a quick exit you may likely hit them - these big old trucks do not stop on a dime and unless you go to extreme expense they will not stop like the new truck you are used to... Keep that in mind.

Could swap in a hydroboost brake setup if that's an issue, my old C30 with hydroboost had fantastic brakes.

[79 silverado]

My 79 was originally a diesel and has factory hydroboost brakes that work perfectly...

When a 2007 civic cuts you off and stops short, a 4800# 1970s C10 with 40 year old technology small front disks and antiquated rear drums will drive right into it no matter how hard you press the pedal.... Newer trucks have engine management that retards power output and all kind of crazy brake assist technology to speed up application of slower force based on speed or pedal travel and pressure to amplify braking force... I love the old trucks, dont get me wrong, but they are apples and oranges to what someone driving a new rig is used to

[canadian trucker]

I drove my truck to school for 2 years.
Then another 5 years after that.
No mayor problems during that time, just regular maintance.
Now it's getting the rebuild it deserves.
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[frog210]

I used to drive a 96 dodge ram 1500
and well the things i most miss from the dodge and wish i could have in my truck is
the seats
sound system
power brakes
cup holders lol
its just all the minor things
if you really want to make it a dd
you gotta make suit you is all i got to say

[Slonaker]

I drove mine daily for 6 or 8 years. It was my plan to drive it forever as a combination DD/project. Unfortunately I didn't foresee gas prices going nuts a few years ago, and I didn't expect to move out to the country increasing my commute to 35 miles each way.

I enjoyed it, and I miss driving it every day, but there is no way I could afford it as a DD any more. I now drive a $3000 Camry that is more comfortable, and gets nearly 3 times the gas mileage. The truck now just gets driven when I need a truck.

Slonaker

[meter swinger]

Im about to be in the same boat. Im about to give my DD Nissan Maxima to my father in law since hes broke and dosen't have pot to whizz in. I dont have payments and don't want any to make my 80mi a day commute so ill drive one of my trucks or wagons to catch a vanpool.
Once the nissan is gone i'll have six thirsty v8's
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[wklink]

In the winter it is my drive to work vehicle. It doesn't snow much here so it isn't a problem driving it. I usually drive my 65 Fairlane in the summer because the weather is nice but the truck gets used when the weather turns to poo, it handles the cold better and has the best heater in the business. So it is a semi-daily drive.

When my son turns 16 next year he gets the truck, not sure what I will do then.

[Skunksmash]

I wish I could but mine currently has no radio and no AC. You can't live without AC in texas! You'll die!

[rwhit57]

Drive mine every day, have for about 6 yrs. For the last few years it's been my only vehicle. Drive it back and forth to my regular job and use it on my part time carpentry job. It's not great on gas, but not terrible either, Has cold air and good heat and a stereo. It's paid for and pretty darn cool.

[S10Fan]

I don't think the "Square" would be any different than any other 25-30 year old vehicle. Older trucks/cars need regular maintenance and care, they're not as fuel efficient as the new stuff.

I drive my square to work for a couple weeks at a time then I switch to my 50 Chevy. My work commute is only 6 miles round trip so fuel economy isn't an issue.

[Number21]

Originally Posted by 79 silverado

My 79 was originally a diesel and has factory hydroboost brakes that work perfectly...

When a 2007 civic cuts you off and stops short, a 4800# 1970s C10 with 40 year old technology small front disks and antiquated rear drums will drive right into it no matter how hard you press the pedal.... Newer trucks have engine management that retards power output and all kind of crazy brake assist technology to speed up application of slower force based on speed or pedal travel and pressure to amplify braking force... I love the old trucks, dont get me wrong, but they are apples and oranges to what someone driving a new rig is used to

Certainly the brakes aren't as good as a new truck, but after you get used to it you should be fine. Don't expect to drive it like a corvette. It's just as dangerous if you're used to driving something old and you get in a new car, I drove my dad's 2001 Dodge the other day and I kept squeeling to a stop, being used to my old brakes. (2001 is new to me!)

As for maintainence, I'm probably going to regret saying this, but I haven't had to fix anything on my truck all summer. All I've done is add power steering fluid because of a leak in the last 4-5 months.

[Keith Seymore]

Yep - driven daily for 26 years (it's got a birthday in a couple days); 199,000 miles.

Still going strong.

K

[krazy_texan]

I would say definatly think about the gas mileage portion of it my k10 is my dd and to be honest gas prices are killing me but at the moment it's the only running vehicle I have other than gas prices I don't have much complaints about mine as a dd as long as you enjoy driving it
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[JRANGER]

I dont drive mine daily because im still working on it....But soon i will be for the winter...I plan to add some weight in the back....Just an FYI on the cheap paint

Id go with Satin Black from John Deere aka Blitz Black...Its cheap and looks great...Im currently wokring my way towards that

[Edahall]

Squares is all I drive. Mine is 3/4 ton / 4x4 / 8 ply tires so I feel all the bumps on the road but I don't mind it. It also has a 6 speed manual so it keeps me busy. I did install some bucket seats out of a early 90's Cadillac Deville and I instantly noticed now much more comfortable they were than the stock Chevy seats. Another thing that helps with comfort is a QUIET exhaust. My trick for a quiet / free flowing exhaust is to combine Glasspacks with a good baffle muffler such as a Flowmaster. It really does a good job at cancelling out the noise.

[Dieselholic92]

Well I just got my truck this spring, and I used it as my DD all summer. Never had any problems (except the radio keeps giving me fits) and all I had to do was add oil (leaks it everywhere) and gas. I was only getting about 7-10 mpg though depending on how I drove it.

[Jonboy]

I would take the route Slonaker did (I actually did, too). Sell your new truck, and buy a paid for gas sipper. I had been driving paid for older cars for the last few years, after selling my CTS-V. First it was an '87 Mustazng GT convertible, then my '90 Lincoln Mark VII, and a '94 Cadillac Fleetwood. I recently bought a '12 Malibu at GM's fire sale this year, and it is like getting a raise. I have a 70 mile round trip commute, so it is worth it to me. I can drive the truck to work if I need/want to, but have something to drive daily that gets good mileage, is comfortable, and shouldn't have any mechanical problems any time soon.