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I'm looking at an '83 LWB, Crew Cab, C20 Custom Deluxe. It's a stripper, only a very small amount of cab rot in the back corner on the DS. It's got a V8 with a HUGE Edelbrock carb on it, dual exhaust and new tires. 4 speed manual trans.

I need a little help identifying the engine, most of the truck is in faded silver and primer and it's obviously not stock. There are no labels under the hood anywhere. I'm pretty sure it's a small block, but I'm not sure if I'd know a big block if I saw it. Is there a quick way to tell them apart, besides the size of the block? I feel sort of stupid for asking, but when I went to look at it, I had no frame of reference. That engine bay is huge.

Next, I'm curious if there is a 5 speed that will go in this truck. I'm perusing the 73-87 chevy truck site too, but I already know and trust several of you here.

The idea behind this truck is to replace 3 other vehicles, possibly 4. I have the Olds Wagon (#1), a '93 AWD TnC minivan (#2) and an '80's Ranger truck bed trailer (#3). The minivan is my primary commuter, but it only gets about 19 mpg and I just bought it's replacement ('85 Saab 900, which I expect to get about 30 mpg). A huge truck like this would be impractical to commute in, and we've used the minivan to go camping becuase it has a hitch and is logistically easier to manuever our children in (vs. the station wagon). Vehicle #4 is our pop up camper. If I can find a decent cab over camper, I can use the truck for only camping, dump runs, etc. and use my 'new' car for commuting to work. So I'd sort of be trading in 4 for 2, so to speak.

Hope I'm not rambling. This is a bit of a big deal, as my wife's '00 Voyager has a really questionable trans and no hitch. The plan would be to possibly trade the wagon for the crummy. If he won't take that, I think he'd take the '93. The idea is to snag this truck with as little cash outlay as possible and then sell the remaining vehicle and put the funds towards a fresher van for the wife.

The asking price on the '83 is $750. It is a real stripper though, 2 speed wipers, no A/C, no dually, paint is crap, windshield is cracked, and the bed has a large metal tear down the passenger side.

BUT it runs like a banshee and it's a 3+3.

Ideas, suggestions, and input appreciated. I'm trying to consolidate, it looks like my job may be going away in the next couple of months.

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"If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves" - Thomas Edison

Gas mileage will be low, even with a small block. Big blocks have 7 bolts holding each valve cover in place. Some of the 90's 3/4 ton trucks have a 5 speed, but I don't know how rugged they are.

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FIAA!

SFPP!

Thanks mytmouz. I'm thinking with the carb that's on it, the truck would only get 10-12 mpg. I do have a few tricks up my sleeve to improve that, but best case I might make a 50% improvement. I could approach the 19 mpg of the minivan, but I'd be happy with 15-16, I think. The 6 pack is what's got me interested, and decent crummies are hard to find in the NW. It's a little beat, but I don't plan to use it as a daily.

Thanks for the big block tip.

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"If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves" - Thomas Edison

Sometimes people would replace the quadrajet carb with a Holley Carb because they could not work on the GM carb. If they put the right Holley carb, then gas mileage should be the same, or a little more or less. Some of that depends on the nut between the steering wheel and the seat.

It you sell the cars you don't want, you may get enough to fix up this some. Make sure someone "good" gets the Olds station wagon. IIRC it was a ok one.

Dicker with the guy on the truck. Windshield is not a big problem or cost compared to other things. Make sure everything works on this truck. Headlights, taillights, wipers and such... It could be a light bulb or ?????

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75 Luv, 350 V8, TH350, Camaro rearend. New 1975 Luv Step side. Stock for now.
Grandmaster of the "Shade Tree" way.. I can't see the yard for all the cars. Come on down and we will sit on the porch and watch the grass grow.

I'd be real suprised if it gets 12 mpg as it sits. If you can get it up to 19 mpg, please let me in on your secrets. Most of the 1/2 ton regular cab trucks with the small block/auto combos I have had came in around 10 and the 4 speeds around 12. That tank weighs a lot more. Not being sarcastic, just giving my input from the many (around a 100 or so when I used to trade a lot) that I have owned. Good luck and I sincerely hope you can get that mileage up.

_________________
If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



FIAA!

SFPP!

If you get the mileage up let me know too. I have an '88 Chevy 1 ton dually with the big block. I get 4.5 - 5 mpg pulling a 24' enclosed car trailer and hauling an 8' slide in camper. And I only get 6 or so just driving the truck empty.

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A couple of more questions here...

This one is a small block, 2x4. Custom Deluxe C20. I think the C20 indicates it's a 3/4 ton?

Is the limitation in mileage related to the gearing? Obviously, no amount of improved engine efficiency will overcome that...I need to look at some theoretical numbers in combination with the 4 speed trans.

How do I check the numbers on the rear diff? Is there a code I can pull from somewhere? Anyone got a link to run the numbers? I know very little about differentials, and nothing about chevy rearends.

Waiting to close the sale on one of my vehicles and I'm hoping to cinch this truck. If this flies, then I can sell my utility trailer too, and eliminate a lot of clutter in my yard. lol...

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"If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves" - Thomas Edison

The rear will be a Dana, most likely. The C20 disignated it as a 3/4 ton. If you can look at the rear axles, look at the flange where the lugs are. If it's flat like a passenger car, it's a Dana 60. If it has an extension with a ring of bolts on the end, it's a Dana 80. The sticks usually have 3:73's sometimes 4:10's. The autos usually have 4:10's, sometimes 4:56's. There are always exceptions though. Most of the time, the gear ratio is in the assembly codes in pasted on the inside of the glovebox. This assumes the rear hasn't been changed. IMO, the mileage will have to be lived with. The trucks are geared low for towing.

_________________
If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



FIAA!

SFPP!

Keep in mind the truck weighs about 6000 pounds and is square,you will be lucky to get more than 10-12mpg.......I had a 79' single cab ex diesel gmc that i put a 472 caddy in that would get around 12 on the highway with 3.08 gears,and it made a ton of torque and didn't have to turn any rpm's to run down the road. I just dont see the sbc getting any better but that's just my opinion....

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72 luv v-8 owned since 16!
240" rear engine dragster
traded the circle track cars for a blown 496 chevy
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29 dodge 4 dr sedan (project)
84 ranger 2wd "tuff truck" with 350 sbc

My other truck is a '82 Sierra K2500, over the years I've done a bit of research on the 73-87 Chevys.

The 5 speed you want to look into is a NV4500, the 90s Chevy's had that.

The 3+3s had Dana 70 rearends. Big monsters because they are duallies. For axle ratio I would guess 4.10. You can get mileage with higher gears (3.73, etc) but you will be hurting in the power department...the crew cab has to weigh almost 6000 pounds empty. The C in C20 means 2 wheel drive, the 20 means 3/4 ton for Chevy. (10 means half ton, 30 means 1 ton).

If you haven't found it--the 4 wheel and off road magazine website at one point had a guide to buying 73-87 Chevys, with a lot of axle ratio, engine, etc. data. Their website has had a rework and I hope it's still on there.

Missed you mentioned a 3+3 but no dually--didn't know those existed, so I have no idea what the rear diff may be. Count the number of cover bolts to start, Chevy has a 10 bolt, 12 bolt, and 2 different 14 bolts along with the Dana 70.

I think I'll go out one more time and look it over again. Still undecided, it needs all sorts of nickel and dime crap. It would solve a couple of problems for me though...

The guy dropped the price to $595...

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"If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves" - Thomas Edison

did you get it i think i get it for that price looks good hell for that price the parts off of it are more than i wont it lol

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dangerous-toys4life
73 3-door avalanche bdydropped on 18s
86 1-ton 4x crewcab short bd 15"lift
75 k-5 2x
94 king cab

I decided to, and when I showed up he'd already sold it, apparently just a couple of hours before I got there. Guess that's what I get for waffling around...

_________________
"If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves" - Thomas Edison

that sucks s*it happens theres allways more out there

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http://www.facebook.com/ez.cracker
dangerous-toys4life
73 3-door avalanche bdydropped on 18s
86 1-ton 4x crewcab short bd 15"lift
75 k-5 2x
94 king cab