New to chevies, need advice.

[RawkBronc]

Hey, short story, had a Bronco, built it, broke it, sold it.

Now, I am thinking about getting a CHEVY! A blazer or a truck.
I am a Ford guy at heart, but I am quite fond of early chevy (80's-90's, etc.)
I had to go through the tedius activity of torching off the ttb (IFS) set up and bolting up a straight axle. I figure if I just get a chevy truck or blazer, that can help eliminate a lot of the stupid work.

Now to my questions:

I am leaning more toward the truck, and would like to know what years are best candidates for the job?

In a perfect world I would like something with a d60 front, 14bolt rear, np203 t-case, th400, 350, but since I lack familiarity in bow ties I dont know what year that this "perfect" truck was built or if it was ever built like that :D

I am going to build it as a full time rock crawler that I will tow to the trails. I am leaning more toward the truck because I would probably take the bed off, and tube the rear. Something similar to the TTC on mogs a few years back but not nearly as aggressive. I am not interrested in comp.

Now if that "perfect truck" doesnt exist I can get the axles I need or whatever to build it up, I just dont want to start with one rig, and completely change into a totally different vehicle like I had to do with the Bronco. I am really not interested in changing the engine, the tranni, the t-case, and everything else under it.

So give advise to a future chevy guy wanting a solid foundation for a rock crawler. I will apologize for my lack of knowledge in this area.

TIA

[positrack@earthlink.]

Your "perfect truck" would be a '74 or '75 (can't remember which exactly) to '79 Chevy 1-ton. It could be had factory with every piece of equipment you listed. Now why you'd want the 203 over the 205, I don't really understand, but to each, his own. This truck is somewhat rare however (SRW 1-ton 4WD).

I gotta say, it is rather amusing to hear the '80s to '90s trucks referred to as "early" models. I've got a 1-ton'd '76 long-bed as my DD.

Anyway, welcome to the darkside!:smokin:

[cuc-v]

just go with an 80s K30, they are all over and farelly cheap! you will have a 205 case instead of a 203(the K30s had both 208 and 205 cases so just make sure you find out before you buy it...) but that just meens you can whipp some nuts in the mudd!:smokin:

[RawkBronc]

Dont nec want a 203 over a 205, I was just throwing that out there, either one, I would like to find its mate so I could build a 203/205 doubler anyway.

From what you said, it doesnt sound like I will find an "Out of the box" one to my liking, didnt think I would. I am sure finding a later 70's one is about as hard to find a later 70's Ford Bronco, or F150.

Maybe just an 80's K, and roll some real axles under it. I dunno.

Thank you guys for the info.

[florida4x4]

I am partial to the 89-91 blazers with the NP241 TC. you get updated features such as decent low range and OD trans plus TBI fuel injection in the "old" truck body. put axles under it and go.

[skulznbonz]

The perfect truck is the 1 ton military truck. Diesel, th 400, 208 (better low range than any other stock t case save the 241), and 60/14bff. Put on a cheap lift, hog out the fenders, slap 42's on and go.

John

[positrack@earthlink.]

Again, a '74 (I think) to '79 chevy SRW 1-ton pickup could be had factory with a 350/TH400/NP203/10.5" FF 14-bolt/Dana 60. There were other combos as well, but if that's the exact setup you want, they are out there. If you're willing to get it with an NP205, the model year choices expand much further. In 1980, every Chevy truck came with the 205. Of course, you can swap this stuff around pretty easily if you can't find a truck built to your exact specs, but if you are willing to hold out for exactly what you want, they are out there to be had.

If you don't think you will find one of the older trucks, I'd look for an '80s 1-ton w/ the 205. No, they don't have much for a low (1.96:1), but they are the toughest stock case available. If you plan to run a doubler, the gear ratio will not be much of an issue, and in a fullsize, the 205 is the only T-case I would trust to hold up under the increased torque load. Plus they are a compact design so they work well with a doubler.

Happy hunting!

[RawkBronc]

Cool, I will keep an eye out for that truck then and hope that they arent all picked apart already.

Thanks all.