Parts availability

[big dan]

Wasn't sure if this was really tech or lounge b.s. but I figure its more tech dealing with the mechanicals of old trucks.

But does anybody worry about a decrease in parts availability for their 73-87s?

I ask this because right now my dd is an 85 with 3/4 tons, 4.8 vortec and th400. I am going to look at a 78 1/2 ton later for use as a dd/work truck. I like these trucks, a lot and with the ability to swap in later model engines/trannies for increased fuel economy and driveability I really see no reason to buy a newer one. But I worry about being able to find things like wheel bearings, u-joints, brakes and other common wear items.

These things are between 27-41 years old now. The vehicles that my dad used to drive when he was my age are now hard to find common wear parts for. Even my 69 scout is dang hard to get parts for (which is why its all chevy drivetrain) but I just figure that's because its a scout and they are all hard to get parts for.

Will it be the same for these or will the aftermarket keep them covered? I like to think that 10 years from now Ill still be able to walk in the local parts store and pick up a set of brake pads and wheel bearings without having to wait 3 weeks for a special order item that costs 10 times what it should.

 

[K85 Octane]

I think in 10 years, my overly spoiled "square body" selection at the junkyards will dwindle to nothing but junk. That is a sad thing to think about, cause for me... right now... I have all the perfect sheet metal I could want available.

But for aftermarket parts, I think we have a ways to go. They are still popular, used, and saved. Because they made so damn many of them and for so long, we should be good.

But yes, the manufacturers will only make parts to match demand. You should buy everyone you know a truck and hope they keep them running

 

[eagle mark]

For the near future? Like 10 years? I doubt there will be any/many issues. Plus LMC does a great job at keeping up too.

Comparing the amount of these Chevy trucks made and still out there compared to Scouts? Apples to Oranges...

 

[Zane M]

I see no reason to believe there will be a shortage of common items in the near future.

As recently as 5 years ago I was able to get items like brake drums and shoes for a 1964 Ford pickup I had--which was not nearly as popular/modern as the 65 Ford. There are a lot more squares on the road, and the aftermarket will continue to support them for quite some time.

 

[Metrodps]

For the near future? Like 10 years? I doubt there will be any/many issues. Plus LMC does a great job at keeping up too.

Comparing the amount of these Chevy trucks made and still out there compared to Scouts? Apples to Oranges...

This why we need to support companies that "cater" to our trucks. LMC discounted parts for the Dante's Peak Suburban but even before that I bought from them.

If we say I can get part x from company A a little cheaper and they only have a few parts for my truck then company B that has crap loads of parts will eventually go out of business. Dealers are only keeping ten years back basically and Auto salvage yards are "Oh the price of scrap went up lets clear the old vehicles out". Been told by several near me (100 miles) they only go back 20 years.

If I won the lottery I would buy land and put a fence around it. Then start buying all the older vehicles to put in it. Problem who would I leave it to.

So in answer to your question... Yes, Yes I do!

 

[big dan]

If I won the lottery I would buy land and put a fence around it. Then start buying all the older vehicles to put in it.

Same here. Wish I could buy them all. And I agree with you about supporting companies that cater to these trucks.

One thing in the back of my mind that makes me think parts will continue to be available is not only were there hundreds of thousands of them made but Chevrolet drivetrains are one of the most popular swaps for jeeps and other offroad vehicles. Even if people aren't driving the trucks, they'll be buying parts for them.

Other good news is that some things like 14bff rears continued to be produced and used in new vehicles. Even if the parts don't interchange with the old ones they can easily be swapped with a spring perch move.

I still worry that the parts availability will slowly start to dwindle. Guess I could always swap the entire drivetrain from a late model ifs truck into my old ones

 

[Carcinogen]

I still worry that the parts availability will slowly start to dwindle. Guess I could always swap the entire drivetrain from a late model ifs truck into my old ones

That is my plan eventually. Well, except I want to keep solid axles

 

[diesel4me]

Few salvage yards here keep anything over 10 years old now--if they do get an older truck in,if your lucky they might let it sit in the yard a few weeks before its shoved in the crusher--otherwise they will stuff it in instantly...since the number of square bodies still registered and used here dwindles more every year,I guess they feel its not worth it to strip and keep parts,or even let the truck take up space in the yard..

So if I see one and want anything off it,I have to act quickly...(and it seems to me the parts DO sell,and have a high demand,so it baffles me why they are so hasty to scrap them all!--after all,the fewer there are to pick parts from,the more people like me who still own one have to act fast or lose out)..--old trucks ARE heavier though,so they tend to want to keep them intact to get full scrap value..the only exceptions are when they get a one ton with a Dana 60 or other high value & demand parts like hydroboost brakes,they might keep those and then scrap the rest..

Forget finding any decent body panels or parts here--most are rotted badly by the time they get junked,and any that did have doors or fenders that were good,get destroyed by the guys in the loader--they stove them in while moving them around,or shove the truck up against another vehicle...your lucky to just find a useable engine or tranny,and axles here lately...

I doubt we'll have any trouble finding usual wear items like u-joints,bearings,brake parts,etc,for a long time still though...prices will likely go up as they get fewer people buying them though probably..the tough part will be finding a good frame or complete axles here as time passes,and fewer and fewer old square bodies are available in salvage yards--we'll be moving spring perches on other types of rear axles when fewer "bolt in's" are around..

Its already hard to find a manual tranny here for an old GM,and automatics too,a lot of yards now rather sell them as cores to rebuilders,than to have potential comebacks selling them to customers...there are more on craigslist being sold by "backyard" truck scrappers than at salvage yards here for a lot lower price,but you have no recourse if it turns out to be junk..