Holy Grail of Squarebodys

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85K304SPD

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Joined
Mar 29, 2022
Posts
385
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571
Location
Las Cruces, NM
First Name
Richard
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K30
Engine Size
383
A buddy told me about a factory 396 in a camper special. My 350 blows someday that's what I'll put in it.
My '84 GMC has a 402 BBC in it that came out of a '72 truck. I like it better than the 383 in my '85. They are close to the same CID, but everything about a Big block is superior to a small block. I hope you find one.
 

Ron Sebastian

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Joined
Nov 8, 2018
Posts
257
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241
Location
Vero Beach
First Name
Ron
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
Custom Deluxe V10
Engine Size
350
My '84 GMC has a 402 BBC in it that came out of a '72 truck. I like it better than the 383 in my '85. They are close to the same CID, but everything about a Big block is superior to a small block. I hope you find one.
I hope this engine goes another 200K, but if it don't....
 

FireTruck1984

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Joined
Jan 7, 2019
Posts
2,816
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Location
Michigan
First Name
Ted
Truck Year
1984 and 1984
Truck Model
High Sierra K1500 350. Sierra Classic C1500 305.
Engine Size
350, 305
Cool trucks, cool story. Why did they prefer the stepsides? Thanks for sharing.
@85K304SPD Long wheel base- 8’ Bed Step Side
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8’ Bed step side
 

85K304SPD

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 29, 2022
Posts
385
Reaction score
571
Location
Las Cruces, NM
First Name
Richard
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K30
Engine Size
383
Nice looking truck. Looks like about an '81. Was there ever any K30 one ton, single rear wheel, with a step side bed?
 

mcarlo86

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Joined
May 17, 2019
Posts
530
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926
Location
ND
First Name
Brian
Truck Year
1990
Truck Model
Suburban
Engine Size
350
Nice looking truck. Looks like about an '81. Was there ever any K30 one ton, single rear wheel, with a step side bed?
It appears that a stepside bed was not available on a one ton 4x4....at least not in 1987.

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85K304SPD

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 29, 2022
Posts
385
Reaction score
571
Location
Las Cruces, NM
First Name
Richard
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K30
Engine Size
383
Thanks for the info, but that raises another question. Why did GM change from "K" & "C" to "R" & "V"? Confusing and my initials are RV. Also a recreational vehicle is an RV. It doesn't look like the actual truck changed. I guess this is just a rant. haha
 

Old77

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Joined
Aug 19, 2010
Posts
28,220
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8,590
Location
Kansas City, Mo
First Name
Jacob
Truck Year
1977/1990/1991
Truck Model
C10 longbed/R1500 Burb/R3500 Dually
Engine Size
350/350/454
Thanks for the info, but that raises another question. Why did GM change from "K" & "C" to "R" & "V"? Confusing and my initials are RV. Also a recreational vehicle is an RV. It doesn't look like the actual truck changed. I guess this is just a rant. haha
Because of the overlap of body styles in 88-91. I think I read a post by @Keith Seymore at one point that explained with much more detail.
 

oldretiredafguy

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Apr 20, 2020
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Location
N. Texas
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1988, 1988, 1991, 1983
Truck Model
GMC V-Jimmy, GMC Suburban 4WD, GMC Suburban 4WD, GMC-2500 CrewCab
Engine Size
350, 350, 350, 350
@85K304SPD Long wheel base- 8’ Bed Step Side
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8’ Bed step side
Beautiful Stepside truck. Has anyone ever seen a stepside (Short or Long) with a two tone paint scheme? I know some of the late 70's early '80's had striping packages.
 
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GMC trucker

Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2013
Posts
37
Reaction score
64
Location
Louisiana
First Name
Bob
Truck Year
1983, 1989
Truck Model
C1500, R3500
Engine Size
305, 454
Because of the overlap of body styles in 88-91. I think I read a post by @Keith Seymore at one point that explained with much more detail.
That’s exactly the reason. Today getting parts for my 1989 R3500 is hit and miss at the parts stores or online. Most of the time I end up with something for the C3500 of that same year. Most parts counter guys don’t know the difference.
 

GMC trucker

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Feb 5, 2013
Posts
37
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Location
Louisiana
First Name
Bob
Truck Year
1983, 1989
Truck Model
C1500, R3500
Engine Size
305, 454
I guess if I had to pick a grail truck, a 1978 K10 dealer prepared Sand Box Edition would be my choice. Every one ever sold had a different air brushed paint job with custom wheels and 33 inch tires.
That or an impact edition 1975 GMC 1/2 ton. Similar to a spirit of 76 truck
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Here’s a sand box truck I found on the interweb
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Dooley

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Joined
Mar 19, 2014
Posts
364
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947
Location
North Coast
First Name
RW
Truck Year
1988
Truck Model
V30
Engine Size
454
My '84 GMC has a 402 BBC in it that came out of a '72 truck. I like it better than the 383 in my '85. They are close to the same CID, but everything about a Big block is superior to a small block. I hope you find one.
Last I heard the 402 from my 72 GMC 3500 was in a Jeep.
Wish I still had that truck, actually all my old trucks!
I tried finding my 69 after I was told years back it had been scrapped.
I went to the junkyard but, the 396 fender badges were already gone.:(
 

shiftpro

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Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Posts
4,855
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6,085
Location
BC Canada
First Name
shiftpro
Truck Year
73-87
Truck Model
1500, 2500, 3500
Engine Size
350, 383, 454, 496!

Grit dog

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Joined
May 18, 2020
Posts
5,882
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9,622
Location
Washington
First Name
Todd
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
454
Beautiful Stepside truck. Has anyone ever seen a stepside (Short or Long) with a two tone paint scheme? I know some of the late 70's early '80's had striping packages.
I haven’t seen any factory traditional 2 tone models. Some special editions like posted Above and the Chevy Sport models had extra colors. I looked at this pretty hard as I was contemplating putting a stepside on the 86 before I restored it. And I figured I’d need to do something custom on the back fender if I wanted to keep the 2 tone.
 

RecklessWOT

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Joined
Feb 20, 2015
Posts
2,548
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4,744
Location
New Hampshire
First Name
Kevin
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V10 Suburban Silverado
Engine Size
350 TBI
'75 Blazer, 400, SM465, NP205.

There are many many trucks that I would love to have, and as far as squares go I don't really have any one "favorite", especially if you can mix and match and put your own truck together. But in my opinion as far as purely factory trucks go that would be the coolest combo possible because it was the only year you could get a 400 in a full removable top K5.
 
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Ron Sebastian

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Joined
Nov 8, 2018
Posts
257
Reaction score
241
Location
Vero Beach
First Name
Ron
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
Custom Deluxe V10
Engine Size
350
Thanks for the info, but that raises another question. Why did GM change from "K" & "C" to "R" & "V"? Confusing and my initials are RV. Also a recreational vehicle is an RV. It doesn't look like the actual truck changed. I guess this is just a rant. haha
How many times I have to tell people it's really a V10. They tell me Chevy never made V10 engine in 87. OK.
 

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