- Joined
- Feb 15, 2024
- Posts
- 65
- Reaction score
- 153
- Location
- Linden, Alberta, Canada
- First Name
- Shaine
- Truck Year
- 1981
- Truck Model
- C20 LWB Scottsdale
- Engine Size
- 350
I am a farm-raised, central Alberta boy who has been a gearhead since I was a kid. I've rebuilt a few old vehicles in the past (one was a 55 Dodge 1/2 ton on an S10 frame with a 350 under the clam-shell hood). I built a nice shop, I have the tools and equipment to work on stuff. I have been riding motorcycles for decades and have rebuilt a few of those too. I still have two kids at home for the next few years so they are out in my shop working on things and learning. I'm part of a lawnmower racing team with three old machines - one of which wins (not mine). I've been a journeyman partman for decades with some of that time at a GM dealer - I've always had some GM product in my collection.
I haven't been behind the wheel of a square body for a few decades. My dad had one back when I was a wee lad of 1 or so. That truck followed us from the Fraser Valley to start its life as a farm truck in the early 80s. I learnt to drive in that truck, fed cattle by pitchfork in that truck, learnt how to do donuts in a field, and even learnt just how far you could roll one onto its side without tipping over (got the right-hand mirror dipped in the dirt and landed back on the wheels).
Fast forward +35 years and my old arthritic body has told me it's time to sell my motorcycle and get on four wheels with a heater and a better seat. So I started looking for some old truck to have fun fixing and driving. I spent time looking through Kijiji and Marketplace, talked to coworkers and friends and even did some driving to look at trucks. I knew I wanted an old Chev - we looked at a few from 1967 to 87. Decided that we liked the idea of a 3/4 ton so we could haul the next RV trailer (currently have a bunk model that our Yukon tows) when we kick the kids out of the house and go back to camping with just the two of us in a few more years. My wife said she would even go on dates with me again (she hadn't been on the bike in over 6 years) and mentioned to a few people that she is looking forward to being a "two-headed Mennonite monster" again (those of you who know will know).
So fast forward to today and I have purchased a 1982 Chevy C20 from someone who has a few sitting around. Little rust, far less speed-holes than others we looked at. They had swapped panels from their project truck to this one - I'm not doing a restoration, we just want a fun "going to town" truck so it will be good or maybe a moving noise violation. It should pass an insurance safety with only a few issues. Going to grab it in the next week, get it home on the lift and start getting it ready for a summer of cruising to the coffee shop in my small rural village. I work out the kinks and mechanical/maintenance issues then worry about painting it next winter. Maybe lower it while I'm at it...
I haven't been behind the wheel of a square body for a few decades. My dad had one back when I was a wee lad of 1 or so. That truck followed us from the Fraser Valley to start its life as a farm truck in the early 80s. I learnt to drive in that truck, fed cattle by pitchfork in that truck, learnt how to do donuts in a field, and even learnt just how far you could roll one onto its side without tipping over (got the right-hand mirror dipped in the dirt and landed back on the wheels).
Fast forward +35 years and my old arthritic body has told me it's time to sell my motorcycle and get on four wheels with a heater and a better seat. So I started looking for some old truck to have fun fixing and driving. I spent time looking through Kijiji and Marketplace, talked to coworkers and friends and even did some driving to look at trucks. I knew I wanted an old Chev - we looked at a few from 1967 to 87. Decided that we liked the idea of a 3/4 ton so we could haul the next RV trailer (currently have a bunk model that our Yukon tows) when we kick the kids out of the house and go back to camping with just the two of us in a few more years. My wife said she would even go on dates with me again (she hadn't been on the bike in over 6 years) and mentioned to a few people that she is looking forward to being a "two-headed Mennonite monster" again (those of you who know will know).
So fast forward to today and I have purchased a 1982 Chevy C20 from someone who has a few sitting around. Little rust, far less speed-holes than others we looked at. They had swapped panels from their project truck to this one - I'm not doing a restoration, we just want a fun "going to town" truck so it will be good or maybe a moving noise violation. It should pass an insurance safety with only a few issues. Going to grab it in the next week, get it home on the lift and start getting it ready for a summer of cruising to the coffee shop in my small rural village. I work out the kinks and mechanical/maintenance issues then worry about painting it next winter. Maybe lower it while I'm at it...
