1980 chevy c-10 with 81 GMC front end and tailgate - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

1980c-10 mybaby · 02-08-2010, 08:00 PM

hey everyone im a new guy just bought a 1980 c-10 im a college kid so im looking to go as low as i can get her and as fast as she can take me.... i plan on putting a 3.3 v6 from a 70s monte carlo with a 3 speed tranny from who knows what...... looking to upgrade to either a 283,305 or 350 in the future so i can run a turbo on her.

Look..... let me know what you think ill keep you posted on progress cause she is gonna go in storage till i sell my jeep and am out of this semester of college.

b454rat · 02-08-2010, 09:18 PM

WHY IN THE HE!! WOULD YOU PUT THAT POS MOTOR IN A TRUCK!!!!!! I had one of those motors in a car and didn't have enough a$$ to get out of it's own way, and you want it in a truck!?!? Just my $.02, but very bad idea.....

1980c-10 mybaby · 02-08-2010, 10:53 PM

well when its free.... you take what you get the motor has more torque than it seems monte carlo's are just as heavy as this truck if not less than hundred pound difference

i mean i want a bigger motor for sure but it depends how work goes...

**old Rusty C10** · 02-08-2010, 11:34 PM

welcome to the board! Imnot sure you will be able to make it all work without modification but hey you can try. You may want to search CL for a donor car and put the proper stuff in there.

ToughBowtieTruck · 02-09-2010, 12:01 AM

Seriously, a 350 is dirt cheap, even one with some miles will be better than a 3.3.......

I wouldn't wanna open the hood of a pickup truck and have people see a 3.3 liter engine in it-but it's me.

Pyrotechnic · 02-09-2010, 12:13 AM

I agree, you will spend money on making that little engine work in that truck, so why not spend that money on a V8 ? The hidden costs of an engine install just aren't worth spending on that V6, even if it is free.

People give 305's away all the time, even ones with life left in them. I would seriously hold out for a cheap or free 305. Sometimes you can even get a rusty donor car with a running small block chevy for several hundred dollars.

flamingbig10 · 02-09-2010, 12:15 AM

it looks to be a 84-87 , it has a 81-87 plastic master cylinder, 84-87 steering column, 81-87 interior, 84-87 gauge, bezel that means the headlight switch is up higher and the wiper switch is on the column

1980c-10 mybaby · 02-09-2010, 12:54 AM

thanks for all the feed back its really helping me alot...... like i said i knew to all this so any information helps..... im looking at either a 283,305, or even 350 block to get strip down and rebuild...... my far future plans for the truck at to place a 400GT45 turbo under the hood so i can show my older brothers cobalt and and all of his friends that say truck are not american muscle anymore....... well my mission is to prove him wrong...... but again thats for all the information guys its really helping alot

Brendon

87Bob · 02-09-2010, 06:44 AM

If you check on Craigs List you may find the engine and trans combo you'll be happy with for little money. On ours here in Indy there are lots of 350's with 350 Trans. You'll also see manual trans and over drive trans. And all of it will bolt in with standard mounts. Not a bad truck by the way.

b454rat · 02-09-2010, 09:02 AM

Those 3.3 V-6 motors came in 78 and up cars, not the big huge ones I think your thinking of. Those 78-up cars weigh around 3000 pounds being a plane jane. I know a truck weighs more than that.

If you said a 3.8, then put a turbo on that, like a GN, then that might work. but that is still a small motor and would be working pretty hard.

Get a big block and turbo that.

1980c-10 mybaby · 02-09-2010, 04:11 PM

alright so after talking with my father we both agree we are gonna give the engine idea an upgrade....... we have a 305 bord .30 over sitting in our 1961 chevy that the 3.3 liter v6 could more that handle the weight for....... now looking at getting a 4 speed manual tranny for my truck....... and ill drop that new engine and tranny in as soon as i help my dad finish his truck........ again thanks for all the help it means alot to me im a huge chevy fan my first car was a 1977 nova that i sold when i left for college now im back home and wish i had it back..... but this truck is my new baby.......... any one got suggestions on how much i should drop it? the roads here in charlotte are so unpredictable and im not looking to bottom the truck out on the roads...... but any insight would be helpful im leaning towards EIBACH setups because they have the 1 million mile guarantee

thanks again

02-08-2010, 08:00 PM	#1
1980c-10 mybaby Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: charlotte nc Posts: 302	1980 chevy c-10 with 81 GMC front end and tailgate hey everyone im a new guy just bought a 1980 c-10 im a college kid so im looking to go as low as i can get her and as fast as she can take me.... i plan on putting a 3.3 v6 from a 70s monte carlo with a 3 speed tranny from who knows what...... looking to upgrade to either a 283,305 or 350 in the future so i can run a turbo on her. Look..... let me know what you think ill keep you posted on progress cause she is gonna go in storage till i sell my jeep and am out of this semester of college. Attached Images

02-08-2010, 09:18 PM	#2
b454rat Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Binghamton, NY Posts: 3,461	Re: 1980 chevy c-10 with 81 GMC front end and tailgate WHY IN THE HE!! WOULD YOU PUT THAT POS MOTOR IN A TRUCK!!!!!! I had one of those motors in a car and didn't have enough a$$ to get out of it's own way, and you want it in a truck!?!? Just my $.02, but very bad idea..... __________________ 2000 GMC CCSB 454/4L80 6” lift SAS 1999 Chevy CCSB 454/NV4500 6” lift 1999 GMC Yukon 350/4L60 4" SAS

02-08-2010, 10:53 PM	#3
1980c-10 mybaby Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: charlotte nc Posts: 302	Re: 1980 chevy c-10 with 81 GMC front end and tailgate well when its free.... you take what you get the motor has more torque than it seems monte carlo's are just as heavy as this truck if not less than hundred pound difference i mean i want a bigger motor for sure but it depends how work goes...

02-08-2010, 11:34 PM	#4
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,299	Re: 1980 chevy c-10 with 81 GMC front end and tailgate welcome to the board! Imnot sure you will be able to make it all work without modification but hey you can try. You may want to search CL for a donor car and put the proper stuff in there. __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

02-09-2010, 12:01 AM	#5
ToughBowtieTruck Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: MI Posts: 111	Re: 1980 chevy c-10 with 81 GMC front end and tailgate Seriously, a 350 is dirt cheap, even one with some miles will be better than a 3.3....... I wouldn't wanna open the hood of a pickup truck and have people see a 3.3 liter engine in it-but it's me. __________________ -Josh "Mr. Simpson, there are thousands of people like you with no discernible talent." Duff World Records Division "Yeah, they're called Congress!!" -Homer Simpson

02-09-2010, 12:13 AM	#6
Pyrotechnic Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 3,930	Re: 1980 chevy c-10 with 81 GMC front end and tailgate I agree, you will spend money on making that little engine work in that truck, so why not spend that money on a V8 ? The hidden costs of an engine install just aren't worth spending on that V6, even if it is free. People give 305's away all the time, even ones with life left in them. I would seriously hold out for a cheap or free 305. Sometimes you can even get a rusty donor car with a running small block chevy for several hundred dollars. __________________ 1977 GMC Sierra Grande Last edited by Pyrotechnic; 02-09-2010 at 12:14 AM.

02-09-2010, 12:15 AM	#7
flamingbig10 6.0 powered square Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mesquite texas Posts: 3,459	Re: 1980 chevy c-10 with 81 GMC front end and tailgate it looks to be a 84-87 , it has a 81-87 plastic master cylinder, 84-87 steering column, 81-87 interior, 84-87 gauge, bezel that means the headlight switch is up higher and the wiper switch is on the column __________________ Aaron 1980 c-10 short bed lowered, cammed 6.0, 4l80e 3600 stall, smp tune, wilwoods, and flames best time so far best et 7.86 @87 on motor 7.57 90 on a 75 shot Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=283326

02-09-2010, 12:54 AM	#8
1980c-10 mybaby Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: charlotte nc Posts: 302	Re: 1980 chevy c-10 with 81 GMC front end and tailgate thanks for all the feed back its really helping me alot...... like i said i knew to all this so any information helps..... im looking at either a 283,305, or even 350 block to get strip down and rebuild...... my far future plans for the truck at to place a 400GT45 turbo under the hood so i can show my older brothers cobalt and and all of his friends that say truck are not american muscle anymore....... well my mission is to prove him wrong...... but again thats for all the information guys its really helping alot Brendon

02-09-2010, 06:44 AM	#9
87Bob Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Franklin Indiana Posts: 635	Re: 1980 chevy c-10 with 81 GMC front end and tailgate If you check on Craigs List you may find the engine and trans combo you'll be happy with for little money. On ours here in Indy there are lots of 350's with 350 Trans. You'll also see manual trans and over drive trans. And all of it will bolt in with standard mounts. Not a bad truck by the way. __________________ My Truck's not leaking its marking its territory!

02-09-2010, 09:02 AM	#10
b454rat Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Binghamton, NY Posts: 3,461	Re: 1980 chevy c-10 with 81 GMC front end and tailgate Those 3.3 V-6 motors came in 78 and up cars, not the big huge ones I think your thinking of. Those 78-up cars weigh around 3000 pounds being a plane jane. I know a truck weighs more than that. If you said a 3.8, then put a turbo on that, like a GN, then that might work. but that is still a small motor and would be working pretty hard. Get a big block and turbo that. __________________ 2000 GMC CCSB 454/4L80 6” lift SAS 1999 Chevy CCSB 454/NV4500 6” lift 1999 GMC Yukon 350/4L60 4" SAS

02-09-2010, 04:11 PM	#11
1980c-10 mybaby Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: charlotte nc Posts: 302	Re: 1980 chevy c-10 with 81 GMC front end and tailgate alright so after talking with my father we both agree we are gonna give the engine idea an upgrade....... we have a 305 bord .30 over sitting in our 1961 chevy that the 3.3 liter v6 could more that handle the weight for....... now looking at getting a 4 speed manual tranny for my truck....... and ill drop that new engine and tranny in as soon as i help my dad finish his truck........ again thanks for all the help it means alot to me im a huge chevy fan my first car was a 1977 nova that i sold when i left for college now im back home and wish i had it back..... but this truck is my new baby.......... any one got suggestions on how much i should drop it? the roads here in charlotte are so unpredictable and im not looking to bottom the truck out on the roads...... but any insight would be helpful im leaning towards EIBACH setups because they have the 1 million mile guarantee thanks again



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