What Year Did They Start This - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

*Pardue'sCustoms* · 07-11-2003, 10:43 PM

put the gas door on the 73-87 truck i can't rember thanks i know they started around 75-76-77

**old Rusty C10** · 07-11-2003, 10:45 PM

had to be after 76 my 76 has a cap on the bedside

**N2TRUX** · 07-11-2003, 11:01 PM

Hmmm? I'm pretty sure it was 81 when they changed from the rounded lines to the square side...

78SilveradoSWB · 07-11-2003, 11:01 PM

They started during the summer build of 1978, but they called it the 1979 model year. I have a 1978 which was built in early March of 1978 and it still has the non-door gas fills.

I'll switch bedsides some day to get gas doors.

*mike reeh* · 07-11-2003, 11:11 PM

ive never seen a 78 with a gas cap, always a gas door.

From all the info Ive gathered it started in '78.

mike

78SilveradoSWB · 07-11-2003, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mike reeh
ive never seen a 78 with a gas cap, always a gas door.

From all the info Ive gathered it started in '78.

mike

All I know for a fact is that I have a 78 SWB, it has a gas cap on each side, and every 79 SWB,LWB, & Step I've looked at had the doors, and I wish I had them.

Maybe California trucks had to have them, because of the smog emissions or something.

1974ChevyC10 · 07-12-2003, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mike reeh
ive never seen a 78 with a gas cap, always a gas door.

From all the info Ive gathered it started in '78.

mike

i have a 78 in my dads driveway that has a gas cap and the shortbed i used to have which was a 78 had dual tanks both with gas caps

dally · 07-12-2003, 12:57 AM

my 80 swb silverado has doors

MSL · 07-12-2003, 01:17 AM

My 78 has gas caps too.

*mike reeh* · 07-12-2003, 05:55 AM

Well this sure is strange. This goes against EVERYTHING me and my friends have gathered.

Answer me this, did they start using gas doors on blazers (and perhaps sub's) in 78? In other words, before they started using them on trucks? that might explain some of it....

hmm

mike

*Pardue'sCustoms* · 07-12-2003, 08:35 AM

thanks i thought it was 77 -78 or 79

**N2TRUX** · 07-12-2003, 11:50 AM

I had to go back and look at some pics. I was waaay off. I had a 79 big 10 long bed that had doors. That puts it closer to being 78-79. We all know one thing is certain. When you are talking about GM trucks, nothing is certain.
My guess is changes got made at one plant before the other. That might account for some of the unexplained differences

KIILew · 07-12-2003, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 78SilveradoSWB
They started during the summer build of 1978, but they called it the 1979 model year. I have a 1978 which was built in early March of 1978 and it still has the non-door gas fills. I'll switch bedsides some day to get gas doors.

...BINGO! The '78 model year ended in July; the '79 model year began in August 1978. The filler doors were first employed for the '79 model year, along with the threaded filler necks. This applied to all pickup, Suburban, and Blazer/Jimmy models, regardless of original state of sale.

Ken

78chevstepside · 07-13-2003, 05:52 PM

I have a 78 and i have a gas cap with no door. :p

jay

78chevstepside · 07-13-2003, 06:01 PM

Grim Reaper · 07-15-2003, 05:40 PM

Blazers and I think Burbs started in 78. 78 was a floor change in the blazers. I know it started in 78 for it.

**Captkaos** · 07-15-2003, 06:15 PM

I was going to say just that... Blazers and Suburbans did start the fuel door in 1978. My 78 Jimmy has a gas door.
http://www.captkaoscustoms.com/Jimmy/jimmywash.jpg

*mike reeh* · 07-15-2003, 09:12 PM

Whew, I thought I was going crazy. Figures I shouldnt lump trucks with suv's...

mike

DirtyLarry · 07-15-2003, 11:45 PM

78SilveradoSWB and KIILew hit the nail on the head.

There were several changes in 1979 model year like the nice fuel doors, the introduction of the corporate 10 bolt front axle to replace the Dana 44, headlight trim change, change in sheetmetal stamping on the hoodnose, delay wipers, and a handful of other things.

1981 was another milestone year of changes for this body style trucks…some good…most not so good until fuel injection was introduced in 1987 then the yuppie GMT400 1988 model year truck came out in the fall of 1987 with 4x4 IFS and all that crap.....fuel for another thread.

KIILew · 07-16-2003, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Captkaos
I was going to say just that... Blazers and Suburbans did start the fuel door in 1978. My 78 Jimmy has a gas door.
http://www.captkaoscustoms.com/Jimmy/jimmywash.jpg

Chris..

By any chance, do you know what the build date is for your Jimmy (i.e. just the month and year as shown on the driver's door plate)? As silly as it seems, I'm curious, just because someday, when I write my book on GM truck history, I would like to be able to note any exceptions to my generalized understanding of model year change "rules" that I uncover!

I am 99.9% sure that filler doors were not typical (key word)on '78 model year Blazers, Suburbans, or Jimmys. However, production updates are sometimes made on a "running change" basis in a model year run just prior to "formal introduction" for the next model year. I am wondering if your rig might be an example of such updating in a late production '78 model. Your picture and post are the first hard evidence that I personally have ever seen to suggest this possibility with repect to this filler door issue, so I would just like to explore this a little further!

Your picture (and Mike Reeh's and other posters' assertions) piqued my interest, and lacking access to any of my literature, pictures, and stuff at the moment, I decided to do a quick polling search on eBay for '78 Blazers, Jimmy's, and Suburbans. The pictures there confirmed my earlier impressions.

Anyway, don't mean to rankle anyone here; just curious, as I've said before!

Ken

**Captkaos** · 07-16-2003, 10:41 AM

Ken,
You're not rankling me at all. I was under the same assumption that the trucks and the Blaze/Burbs were updated the same, UNTIL I bought a 1978 Suburban which had the gas door also. I can't check it's build date (sold), but I can check the Jimmy. I will let you know what I find.

77bowtie · 07-21-2003, 10:28 AM

My 77 has caps. My 79 has a door. I'd have to go with somewhere in 78 they made the change....

07-11-2003, 10:43 PM	#1
Pardue'sCustoms Account Suspended Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Jonesville NC Posts: 618	What Year Did They Start This put the gas door on the 73-87 truck i can't rember thanks i know they started around 75-76-77

07-11-2003, 10:45 PM	#2
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,313	had to be after 76 my 76 has a cap on the bedside __________________ 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!!

07-11-2003, 11:01 PM	#3
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,021	Hmmm? I'm pretty sure it was 81 when they changed from the rounded lines to the square side... __________________ Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra"

07-11-2003, 11:01 PM	#4
78SilveradoSWB Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Beaverton, OR Posts: 1,615	They started during the summer build of 1978, but they called it the 1979 model year. I have a 1978 which was built in early March of 1978 and it still has the non-door gas fills. I'll switch bedsides some day to get gas doors. __________________ Mitch 1978 Chevrolet Silverado C 10 454 BB, TH400

07-13-2003, 06:01 PM	#15
78chevstepside Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: lacenter, washington Posts: 718	Attached Images

07-11-2003, 11:11 PM	#5
mike reeh 5 day ban, learn to behave. Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: san diego, ca Posts: 683	ive never seen a 78 with a gas cap, always a gas door. From all the info Ive gathered it started in '78. mike

07-12-2003, 12:57 AM	#8
dally Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: lockhart texas Posts: 13	my 80 swb silverado has doors

07-12-2003, 01:17 AM	#9
MSL Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: So.Oregon Posts: 765	My 78 has gas caps too.

07-12-2003, 05:55 AM	#10
mike reeh 5 day ban, learn to behave. Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: san diego, ca Posts: 683	Well this sure is strange. This goes against EVERYTHING me and my friends have gathered. Answer me this, did they start using gas doors on blazers (and perhaps sub's) in 78? In other words, before they started using them on trucks? that might explain some of it.... hmm mike

07-12-2003, 08:35 AM	#11
Pardue'sCustoms Account Suspended Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Jonesville NC Posts: 618	thanks i thought it was 77 -78 or 79

07-12-2003, 11:50 AM	#12
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,021	I had to go back and look at some pics. I was waaay off. I had a 79 big 10 long bed that had doors. That puts it closer to being 78-79. We all know one thing is certain. When you are talking about GM trucks, nothing is certain. My guess is changes got made at one plant before the other. That might account for some of the unexplained differences

07-13-2003, 05:52 PM	#14
78chevstepside Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: lacenter, washington Posts: 718	I have a 78 and i have a gas cap with no door. :p jay

07-15-2003, 05:40 PM	#16
Grim Reaper Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 1,704	Blazers and I think Burbs started in 78. 78 was a floor change in the blazers. I know it started in 78 for it. __________________ Grim-Reaper 70 Pontiac LeMans Sport Convertible, worlds longest resto in progress Looking for 71-72 2wd Blazer or Jimmy Project

07-15-2003, 06:15 PM	#17
Captkaos www.73-87chevytrucks.com Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 6,935	I was going to say just that... Blazers and Suburbans did start the fuel door in 1978. My 78 Jimmy has a gas door. http://www.captkaoscustoms.com/Jimmy/jimmywash.jpg __________________ Chris Lucas 1973 Chevy C-10 1978 GMC Jimmy (2WD) - SOLD 1987 R10 twin turbo LS 1991 R3500 SRW CrewCab 1985 K5 diesel swapped project 1989 K5 2WD conversion w/ Vette susp Project Captkaos Customs 73-87chevytrucks.com

07-15-2003, 09:12 PM	#18
mike reeh 5 day ban, learn to behave. Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: san diego, ca Posts: 683	Whew, I thought I was going crazy. Figures I shouldnt lump trucks with suv's... mike



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

07-15-2003, 11:45 PM	#19
DirtyLarry Windy Corner of a Dirty Street Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Pueblo West, Colorado Posts: 2,926	78SilveradoSWB and KIILew hit the nail on the head. There were several changes in 1979 model year like the nice fuel doors, the introduction of the corporate 10 bolt front axle to replace the Dana 44, headlight trim change, change in sheetmetal stamping on the hoodnose, delay wipers, and a handful of other things. 1981 was another milestone year of changes for this body style trucks…some good…most not so good until fuel injection was introduced in 1987 then the yuppie GMT400 1988 model year truck came out in the fall of 1987 with 4x4 IFS and all that crap.....fuel for another thread. __________________ Current vehicle collection: 1978 Chevrolet K10, 8.1L, NV4500, NP205 1989 Chevrolet Suburban, 8.1L, NV4500, NP241 1993 Chevrolet C1500 Sportside, TBI 7.4L, 4L60E 2001 Chevrolet K2500HD, Ext Cab, SWB, 8.1L, ZF 6 speed 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ 3.6L Vortec 8.1L because life is too short to tolerate underpowered vehicles Instagram

07-16-2003, 10:41 AM	#21
Captkaos www.73-87chevytrucks.com Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 6,935	Ken, You're not rankling me at all. I was under the same assumption that the trucks and the Blaze/Burbs were updated the same, UNTIL I bought a 1978 Suburban which had the gas door also. I can't check it's build date (sold), but I can check the Jimmy. I will let you know what I find. __________________ Chris Lucas 1973 Chevy C-10 1978 GMC Jimmy (2WD) - SOLD 1987 R10 twin turbo LS 1991 R3500 SRW CrewCab 1985 K5 diesel swapped project 1989 K5 2WD conversion w/ Vette susp Project Captkaos Customs 73-87chevytrucks.com

07-21-2003, 10:28 AM	#22
77bowtie Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New Mexico. Of all places for an Island boy. Posts: 180	My 77 has caps. My 79 has a door. I'd have to go with somewhere in 78 they made the change....

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.