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

[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.

[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