Repairable Chevy Trucks

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A repairable Chevy truck is always a good buy. There are a lot of Chevy trucks sitting in back yards and behind barns that would be perfectly good transportation if you were willing to put the effort into them. It's just necessary to know what you want and need, and where to get it.

There are three categories of Chevy truck that you could consider for repair. Keep in mind that this is repair, not restoration. If you need a heavy truck, 3/4 and 1 ton trucks are almost always worth fixing up. A heavy truck is used for work, not transportation. The 1/2 ton trucks come in three varieties. First is the 1960 through 1972 pickup. Although the body was changed in 1967, the basic truck is the same all the way through 1972. There were changes along the way due to both government regulations and technological advances. Updating the brakes and electrical system in an older truck to the more modern version is something I would strongly advise.

Next is the 1973 through 1987 pickups. This truck is completely redesigned and available in a variety of types. It has a front independent suspension similar to the earlier trucks, but has a leaf-sprung rear instead of the "truck arm" suspension used on 1960 to 1972 2WD trucks. 4WD trucks of this vintage have a straight axle and were available with several different transfer cases. These trucks are the most useful and simple of all the Chevy trucks built. They are available, unlike the earlier and later models, with a six, a small-block eight, and the big-block 454.

From 1988 through1999 Chevy built a new truck with many advanced features. It had an independent suspension in both 2WD and 4WD. It was slightly smaller on the outside without sacrificing carrying capacity. It also had, for the first time in a Chevy, an available extended cab. These changes were made to give you the impression of driving in a comfortable car.

All of these trucks are worth fixing up. It is more a matter of taste and style than mechanical suitability. You will find, as I do, that they are reliable and useful companions. Parts for these trucks are readily available, both new and used, and they are very easy and inexpensive to work on. If you want to avoid dealing with electronics stick to the 1980 and older trucks.