What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

No More Square Bodies

If you think squares are getting more rare in the USA, try finding one here in Belgium. I did, restored it and it has now become my daily driver as a replacement for a Benz ML 270 diesel, which was a darn fine truck too. So now i'm visiting clients with the K5, about 25 Kmiles each year.
 
My '82 stepside has a wood bed floor (or HAD one I should say,I had to put diamond plate aluminum over the remains if the weather beaten oem boards )...its not "that old" !..35 years old,its just getting broken in..:D..
 
Maybe some day I'll get another one. But I drive 35 miles one way to work, and wont be able to afford putting gas into it. My Tundra does good, even that is getting expensive. Also it would pretty much have to be a crew cab, as I have 2 kids, and fitting a car seat in a regular cab square SUCKS. Had to take the ex-wife and my daughter to work/day care when her Jeep wouldn't start when it was negative f'n cold, but the 'ol 79 fired right up!!!!! Not a fan of burbs, and k-5s are getting stupid priced too. I drove a 3/4 ton back and forth from just outside DC to New York every weekend, 5 hours one way. Only problem I had was when spark plug wire kept hitting the header, and when I changed it out on the road, somehow I snapped the inlet off the radiator and had to get a new one. It would take both tanks to go one way, but with a 408, 400, 4.10s and 35s figured that wasn't too bad.
 
It's about a passion for the SB.

If I could I'd dedicate part of my 8+ acres to SB's

I'd like to have a K10 ShortBed StepSide in my possession but I'm out of covered room.

Raising my 3 year old granddaughter and getting older has put a kilter on things also.

To each his own but it kills me when I see those who chop up or ruin a decent square especially a Vert, unless they are a complete basket Case.



Around me, quite a few younger generation kids are running around with Squares and bringing them back to glory.

LS swaps, lowered, lifted and stock.

I see different ones show up all the time on my commute to work, even the rottted Clampit junkers (chug chug chug) get my attention.
 
Last edited:
My 74 K5 was a basket case. That's why it has a gas door, the rear quarters I put on it are from an 81 about 21 years ago.

Would not recommend that as an easy solution.

Still plan to graft back in the correct ⛽️ filler.
 
FOR MUD said:
I don't agree 100%... If your comparing two completely stock trucks of both eras with lets say 50,000 miles on the clock....I remember those days of trying to keep the engine running on any kind of hill cause the carb would flood, the same if you hit bumps at speed. Ground clearance... don't forget stock tires were only about 30" tall and the axle housing in the front hung pretty low. Run though some mud, ever try and stop a truck with only the front brakes because your rear drums stopped working because they were packed with mud? Flex...The front end has that sway bar that fought you every step of the way and the shocks of that time were marginal at best. Component strength goes to the old trucks hands down.
But if you comparing, Carbs to FI, Drum brakes to disc, Old tech leafs/shocks to independent/struts.....I don't see the old stuff as better off road in any way.
You do have a case if your talking about modified older trucks compared stock new trucks ( And most modified new trucks too ) which is what I believe you are doing with your dune story.
Click to expand...
Actually my K10 is 100% stock save for stock size mud tires and for general off roading (slowly navigating rough terrain; not pre-runner baja stuff) i prefer the k10 over anything newer and ive driven every generation since then. My second choice would be the gmt400 since it rode very nice but also didnt feel like the IFS components were flimsy like the gmt800s. I had a 98 z71 with a 2" tbar crank, 285s and a g80 and it also did quite well. But youre right, i was arguing from a standpoint of potential with modifications and squares are easy to improve upon. Ive also never had a problem with the qjet climbing hills, just a lack of power from the 305 haha. Granny gear more than makes up for that lacking in most scenarios
 
Last edited:
blazer74 said:
It's about a passion for the SB.

If I could I'd dedicate part of my 8+ acres to SB's

I'd like to have a K10 ShortBed StepSide in my possession but I'm out of covered room.

Raising my 3 year old granddaughter and getting older has put a kilter on things also.

To each his own but it kills me when I see those who chop up or ruin a decent square especially a Vert, unless they are a complete basket Case.



Around me, quite a few younger generation kids are running around with Squares and bringing them back to glory.

LS swaps, lowered, lifted and stock.

I see different ones show up all the time on my commute to work, even the rottted Clampit junkers (chug chug chug) get my attention.
Click to expand...


Well said, it is about passion.
If it was easy everyone would do it.
 
I am down to one square body after having purchased dozens. I've had every year except 1983 and 1976 as far as I can remember.

I do miss it and I might get back into it someday. I definitely have the money now to be into it, but my wife isn't and all of my friends have kids. So, I play around with boats nowadays.

I prefer my 2015 GMC with a 6.2L and and 8 speed for daily driving. I doubt I'd ever go back to daily driving a 73-91. It's not that it was bad. It's just that the K2XX platform with a 420hp motor is way more enjoyable.
 
I live in a pretty remote area in Orange County, California, very close to the Holy Jim trail and there are 4 square body K5s on my street, one of course being mine. Oddly, there were none on the street before I moved in a year ago. I like to think my full vert motivated a few neighbors to save a few squares. It seems that square bodies are certainly gaining popularity among guys my age and prices for certain models have gone from affordable to ridiculous. I have been seeing more and more nicely restored and modded examples pop up at local car shows and cars and coffee too.

I have been buying junk cars for years, to restore them and sell them after a summer of enjoyment... well that changed with my Jimmy. It has been 3 years since i finished most of the restoration and will never part with it. I have wanted one since I was a kid and now that I have one will keep it forever. In fact, I probably drive it more than any of my 3 other cars.

But to counter what some guys are saying about new trucks not being as good or whatever, I disagree sort of. I can't speak for modern day Chevy trucks as I have never owned one and would probably never buy one, but I do also have a Toyota FJ Cruiser, easily the most reliable and capable 4WD I've ever owned. It's lifted now with BFG T/A ko2 tires, but even before the lift and tires, in stock form on stock tires it would do everything the Jimmy could do and then some... and on a few occasions have put new trucks to shame in the mud. Nothing is more gratifying than pulling a lifted new 4WD truck out of the mud with a bone stock FJ on bald tires. I wheel it pretty hard and with 73,000 miles on the clock I haven't had to fix or replace squat on it. Oh and maybe my favorite part... no leaks! Still feels and looks like brand new. Sure, it's not made of steal as thick as a squarebody, but it's still very tough, lighter, faster, more comfortable, more efficient, has a more rigid frame and it's got an awesome 4WD system. As for plastic bumpers they make tough steel aftermarkets...
 
broflow said:
where did you get that sticker? I want one! I've still got 2 . My orange truck I've had since I was 18. I dont see ever getting rid of it and it hasn't had a motor in it for more than 10 years! I gotta get it back on the road, once the Blazer is trail worthy again.
Click to expand...
blazer74 said:
X2
Click to expand...

The irony of that sticker and the timing of this thread couldn't have been more perfect.
I am going to post a thread about it. I'll let you know.
 
Maybe "better" was a bad word choice on my part. The new stuff is certainly well engineered i just dont think there will ever be the off-road following for them that squares have. a few simple design changes on newer trucks would go a long way imo. (Things the EPA, NHSTA, and people that use their trucks to get groceries might not agree with)
 
1975Jimmy said:
I live in a pretty remote area in Orange County, California, very close to the Holy Jim trail and there are 4 square body K5s on my street, one of course being mine. Oddly, there were none on the street before I moved in a year ago. I like to think my full vert motivated a few neighbors to save a few squares. It seems that square bodies are certainly gaining popularity among guys my age and prices for certain models have gone from affordable to ridiculous. I have been seeing more and more nicely restored and modded examples pop up at local car shows and cars and coffee too.

I have been buying junk cars for years, to restore them and sell them after a summer of enjoyment... well that changed with my Jimmy. It has been 3 years since i finished most of the restoration and will never part with it. I have wanted one since I was a kid and now that I have one will keep it forever. In fact, I probably drive it more than any of my 3 other cars.

But to counter what some guys are saying about new trucks not being as good or whatever, I disagree sort of. I can't speak for modern day Chevy trucks as I have never owned one and would probably never buy one, but I do also have a Toyota FJ Cruiser, easily the most reliable and capable 4WD I've ever owned. It's lifted now with BFG T/A ko2 tires, but even before the lift and tires, in stock form on stock tires it would do everything the Jimmy could do and then some... and on a few occasions have put new trucks to shame in the mud. Nothing is more gratifying than pulling a lifted new 4WD truck out of the mud with a bone stock FJ on bald tires. I wheel it pretty hard and with 73,000 miles on the clock I haven't had to fix or replace squat on it. Oh and maybe my favorite part... no leaks! Still feels and looks like brand new. Sure, it's not made of steal as thick as a squarebody, but it's still very tough, lighter, faster, more comfortable, more efficient, has a more rigid frame and it's got an awesome 4WD system. As for plastic bumpers they make tough steel aftermarkets...
Click to expand...

I lived in Mission Viejo California in the mid 70's to early 90's. I have been up Holy Jim canyon 100 times are more back in those days. I have also been up Silverado Canyon, Trabuco Canyon Saddleback Mountain, and Valley of Fly's. I went to high school with a number guys who's families owned farms and ranches in the canyon areas going back close to 100 years ago.
 
1) First off, to the OP: Really?

2) Even here on the east coast i see at least one square a day and not the same one(s) either. i think this is the most popular used vehicle around. i might see a G or B body here and there and on very rare occasion, like once every 3 months see a 2nd gen trans-camaro.

3) i don't do it because so much because i like squares. i do. But more so because they are cheap and easy to maintain and work on. i am open to a newer truck---i think a new colorado would suit me. The advantage to me is time and convenience.

But it boils down to a trade off: Large $$$ savings vs. time savings. Do i want the convenience and thus gain the ability to do other things, but have to pay, dearly, for it. Or save a TON of money, but have to get my hands dirty?

The other advantages of a newer truck = airbags (but how many times will you have to use them?) and the newer trucks tend to be "tighter" and quieter. Although, with some improvements any older truck could become "tighter."
Other than that, i don't see any advantages to a newer truck.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom