Some questions for '73-'80 trucks

[dawg]

1. What were the rear gear ratios used in the '73-'80 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton trucks with a V8 and a TH350 tranny? What about the six banger and a TH350?

2. Was 1980 the only year to use the '73-'79 fenders and a similar grille but use the squared headlights?

3. What's the difference between a Custom Deluxe vs. the Scottsdale? (other than the name)

4. What's the difference between the Cheyenne and the Silverado? (other than the name)

[apstguy]

1 & 2 I dunno

3 & 4: Custom Deluxe & Cheyenne were base or low trim models. I think the order is Custom Deluxe, Scottsdale, Cheyenne, Silverado. There are other trim levels like High Sierra and what not. Different trim levels did different things and came with different options. If you are looking for anything specific, post it and I will look it up - I have a book with the differences.

[twistedmetal]

yup,in 1980 they offered both square and round it mainly depended on the level of the truck,custom deluxe which was a base line truck i think had the round headlights and as you climbed up on the chart to the silverado line they were square headlights.sierra,high sierra ,sierra grande were all in the gmc truck lineup,and they followed the round to square transition also.hope this helps.

"If Fall Guy only knew how many of these trucks i wrecked,He'd be proud"

[79BIG10]

1. 3.07, 3.42, 3.73, 4.10 latter 2 probably more in a 3/4 ton.

2. Yes I think 80 was the big transition year. They had some with different headlight grile shapes.

3-4. They're the same style basically. Some just had other options than others. GMC and Chevy had same trim levels just differnet names for them.

[Captkaos]

1)Are we talking 2WD or 4WD?
Typically:
73-80 V8's: 3.07, 3.73, 4.10
73-80 I6's: 3.42, 3.73, 4.11

81-83 V8's 3.08, 3.42, 3.73, 4.10
81-83 I6's:3.42, 3.73, 4.11

84-87 V8's 2.73, 3.08, 3.42, 3.73
84-87 I6's:3.42, 3.73, 4.11

2)No, it started later in the 1979 run typically the high trim levels it was an option.

3 & 4)This was saved/copied from KIILew's original post about trim levels. I can't say it any better:

so I am going to recopy my original answer here. It is a long winded answer, so I apologize if it's more than you want to know!
As you noted, for the years 1982-1987 the GMC trim levels were (from basic to top-line) Sierra, High Sierra, and Sierra Classic. However, expanding this answer to cover GMC (and Chevy) pickups for the entire 1973-1987 time frame requires a little more in-depth answer, given numerous name and trim content flunctuations over time.

From a historical point of view, the 1973 to 1981 Chevy/GMC regular cab pickups offered four distinct trim levels, which, for 1982 to 1987, were narrowed down to three as noted above. (Suburban, Blazer/Jimmy, and Crew Cab/Bonus Cab trim options were slightly different.) The names changed several times over the years, but the basic content and "themes" remained generally consistent, as did the option codes accompanying those trim themes/levels. For that reason, it is helpful to look at these trims in the following way...

For 1973 to 1987 the trim level option codes for Chevy and GMC regular cab pickups followed this very general outline. They were:

base trim (no option code) - -

Trime theme: Minimal chrome trim on the outside. Inside, you will find a black rubber floor mat (no carpeting), and basic vinyl upholstery (occasionally custom or deluxe cloth was found as an extra cost option from '82 onward). Door trim panels with basic vinyl finish, minimal insulation, a basic black bezeled instrument panel with idiot lights rather than guages, and NO headliner were part of this trim.

Lower intermediate trim (option code Z62) - -

Trim theme: This trim was a minor upgrade of the base trim described above. A little more chrome dressed up the outside. Inside, the most significant upgrades involved the use of a color keyed floor mat (vs. the basic black noted above, with carpeting only in very special cases) and a choice of "custom cloth" or "custom vinyl" upholstery. These two seat upholstery choices were shared with the higher level (Z84 and YE9) trim packages mentioned below. Interestingly, other woven/striped vinyl upholstery selections were exclusively available on this level in various years and included floor carpeting to replace the usual color keyed vinyl mat. Also, there was a little more floor insulation, and the door panels differed only slightly from base with very minimal wood grain or chrome molding additions. Still, no headliner.

Upper intermediate luxury trim (option code Z84) - -

Trim theme: This was truly a luxury level trim and was only a very small notch below the top-of-the-line option. It represented the greatest price jump between levels, and in most years, appeared almost identical to the YE9 trim noted below. In all years, a more deluxe molding package, along with a tailgate insert for fleetsides, was included. Inside, many major additions to the Z62 level were found, including cut-pile carpeting, and insulated full headliner, and door trim panels with large wood grain or brushed aluminum door appliques. The door panels also had map pockets. Special hood and cab-to-fender insulators were also found here. Because of the near redundancy of this trim with respect to the YE9 level below, I suspect, option Z84 was discontinued after the 1981 model year.

Top of the line luxury trim (option code YE9) - -

Trim theme: A few minor additional exterior moldings complemented those included with the Z84 trim. The most significant outside difference was the inclusion of the V22 Chrome grill/Deluxe front appearance package as standard with this trim starting with the 1980 model year (this package was optional at extra cost with the other lesser trims). Inside, the YE9 level included the BC2 Deluxe Instrument panel (a wood grain or brushed aluminum finish instrument cluster with full guages replacing idiot lights) which was also optional at extra cost with the lesser trims. The headliner, floor carpeting, and insulation features were identical to those found on the Z84. Door panels were almost identical to those found on the Z84, although door pull straps and lower panel carpeting were added to those on the YE9 after 1976. Finally, full vinyl trim covers replaced the lesser trim models' abbreviated covers on the lower kick panels.

The trim codes detailed above were named as follows, over the years:

For 1973 and 1974 - -

Base = Chevy Custom/GMC Custom
Z62 = Chevy Custom Deluxe/GMC Super Custom
Z84 = Chevy Cheyenne/GMC Sierra
YE9 = Chevy Cheyenne Super/GMC Sierra Grande

For 1975 thru 1981 - -

Base = Chevy Custom Deluxe/GMC Sierra
Z62 = Chevy Scottsdale/GMC Sierra Grande
Z84 = Chevy Cheyenne/GMC High Sierra
YE9 = Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra Classic

For 1982 thru 1987 - -

Base = Chevy Custom Deluxe/GMC Sierra
Z62 = Chevy Scottsdale/GMC High Sierra (note this change)
Z84 (discontinued)
YE9 = Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra Classic

Interestingly, the Cheyenne name was resurected for 1988 when it was assigned to the base trim level, replacing the Custom Deluxe name. GMC naming conventions changed entirely to SL, SLX, and SLE. Today Silverado/Sierra no longer refer to trim options, but instead are a model reference to the Chevy/GMC pickup line.

There were some other less common trim packages which overlapped those noted above. They included the Z77 Chevy Sport/GMC Street Coupe exterior graphics packages that exclusively used the Z62 trim interior appointments with the addition of floor carpeting and the V22 Deluxe front appearance option, and the BC3 Deluxe instrument cluster. The Z77 option, which also included N67 Rally Wheels as standard, was available only on 1976 to 1981 Chevy/GMC short bed 1/2 ton pickups. GMC offered some other interesting limited edition models during the 1975 to 1987 time frame, but I won't get into those here.

Also offered were several Chevy Bonanza/GMC Royal Sierra option groups. They were special year-end promotional packages (analogous to Ford's old "white sale" Explorer pickup packages) with special discounted price groupings of popular appearance/convenience options. Prior to the 1980 model year, the Bonanza/Royal Sierra packages were based on the Z62 trim level with the addition of floor carpeting; after that time, the packages offered a choice of Z84 or YE9 interiors. In later years, Canadian customers were offered similarly conceived "Wrangler" packages. The Wrangler packages included some very distinctive and exclusive paint/decal features; really neat collector's items!

Some of the trim items found in higher priced trims were optionally available in the lower level trims at extra cost. Most (but not all) of the exterior moldings found in the Z84 and YE9 packages were either available separately or as part of the various two toning paint options on the base and Z62 trims...ditto for the popular V22 Deluxe Front Appearance option, and BC2 Deluxe Instrument Cluster. Other common appearance options included a fancy 1973 to 1981 bucket seat/console/carpet combination available with (essentially) all trim levels and various wheel/tire options.

Hope this answers some questions!

Ken

[dawg]

Thanx for the info. I always thought of the Custom deluxe as the base package, the Cheyenne as the workhorse package and the Silverado as the luxury package. But I wasn't sure about the Scottsdale. And I forgot about the Bonanza!

As far as gear ratios, seems like most of the V8/AT models don't seem to wind too high when going down the road. So I'm guessing they must be the 3.07 equipped models?

[LOHRTBT]

Good lord Capt!! A wealth of knowledge!! hahaha

[Tom]

my 78 short/step 1/2ton with HD suspension and 350 was 3.42/open from the factory.
My 79 short/fleet 1/2ton with a 305 was 3.42/open from the factory.

[Captkaos]

Dave,
That was KIIlew's info I just didn't want to type it again.

As for the ratios, that was just typical (notice the disclaimer). I assumed everyone knew we were talking about GM here and nothing is definite. Heck, I had a 350/TH350 with 3.42's...

[c10scotty]

my 80 12 bolt has 2.76's