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Which truck?

Shawn

Shawn

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Looking for something under under $5k. I'll be driving 15 miles side streets to work and back so not a long commute. What would you choose?

68 K20 4x4 $2500
Cons: 4 speed, rockwell tcase issues, rust on rockers and drivers floor, no PS, No power brakes
Pros: Collectable, more valuable over time, newer 350 crate

86 M1008 4x4 (K30) $3750
Cons: Low HP Diesel, needs interior TLC
Pros: Dana 60 front, no rust, nice shape

Or... should I just get something newer with AC, cruise, nicer interior, smoother ride, etc. This is going to be my daily but wife will have nice car for long trips.
 
Well the 6.2L will get you better mpg. I didn't do a lot of city driving with it, but I remember it seemed to get 19mpg regardless where I went - that was in an M1009, don't know if the pickups will be different. I saw a sweet M1008 the other day at Cabela's. Lifted with 40" tires on H2 wheels. I knew it was a 6.2L coming because I heard it long before seeing.

I love driving my 66 C20 with no p/s or p/b but I wouldn't want to use it for city driving. People just assume every vehicle on the road can stop quickly and I find that I feel like people don't give me near the space I would like. On the flip side I think "I feel sorry for your car if my 66 hits it".

If you lived up here in the more rural environs I would vote 68, but where you live I vote the K30.
 
If it's going to be a daily and you're going to drive it as such, then get the nicest, newest truck you can afford. Things like no power accessories, no A/C, rough ride, poor economy etc. can start to wear on you if you deal with it on a daily basis. Additionally, if a truck's old and already has maintenance issues, daily driving will exacerbate those issues and you may find yourself having to deal with downtime on a vehicle that you depend on to get you to work every day. That being said, everyone's tolerance varies.

Now, if you're looking at a truck that you want to fix up, modify, or do double duty as an off-road warrior and you're telling yourself it'll be a daily to justify if to yourself or your wife, then you won't go wrong with either choice.:D I'd wager that many of us have fallen into that trap of "it's going to be my daily-I'm not going to modify it or anything!" And then the reality hits many years, thousands of dollars, and busted knuckles later.
 
I like daily driving cars that are comfortable so something newer would be my vote. Both of those trucks sound like good buys though...
 
I would vote for the later model truck , as a dependable, start whenever you need it to, getting to work on time vehicle, it just makes the most sense to me, though your two choices look appetizing from a project standpoint for sure.
 
Great suggestions! One side of me wants something that has that unique cool factor but the other side of me says I should get something to just "drive" and not work on it or fix it up since I already have too many irons in the fire for projects. And I do agree, it does wear on you over time when you have something thats not comfortable to drive. I wish I never sold my original 84 K30. It had all the options and was pristine. I suppose I could leave the M1008 alone for now although it does need a new heater core. Little worried about doing the speed limit on some of the Colorado highways at high elevation with the diesel although I like the MPG. Down the road, I'd swap it for a more powerful engine gas or diesel.
 
So question... does it have to be a truck? How bout a car and have a project truck? I had a 2013 crew cab sierra z-92 [ 6in lift and 35s] and was comfy... 19mpg... looked sweet.... all luxury...

However $500/m truck payment and $680/m gas... $1200/m to own the truck. Bit my lip...i can afford it with no issues but that is selfish of me.. so i bought a.. cough...cough... preeis...lol...

55mpg in winter...upwards 71mpg in summer... all luxuries..warranty...and low carpayment. 99k miles and 0 done to it. Bought ext warranty to 125k miles...

Most cars get 40ish mpg...
 
Couple reasons for a truck. Tired of borrowing friends trucks to haul larger things. Also needs to tow a snowmobile which really isn't that heavy but would be nice to have some clearance in lots or trails with deep snow. Also may need to tow a T-bucket which weighs 2000lbs plus trailer. When I say newer truck, I mean something under 5k. I found a 96 K2500 for $4k with 90k miles last week but was too late on the deal. Insurance is also taken into account. Haggerty is SO cheap on the classic trucks which also makes the 68 more appealing.
 
Greg Ducato said:
I agree, we have a 2003 in the shop today for a trans build, it has 558,742 miles on the original trans and engine, pretty amazing these 5.3 LS engines are.
Click to expand...

Wow, I thought I did good getting 208k out of my 4L60E. I'm at 260k now, has some piston slap when it's cold, otherwise runs well.
 
Early 2000s Camry. Heat,AC,Cruise,comfort, mileage, etc. I love driving my '68 to work but it beats me up too bad on the roads around here to be a daily driver. So yeah, I get the "cool" factor. :D
 
I know this will sound blasphemy on a GM truck forum, but my daily/company vehicle is a 2000 Toyota Tundra. It has nearly 200K on it and it's a great truck. It has never needed repaired. We've only replaced wearable items like shocks, battery, and timing belt. It rides great. We used to use it for towing 2 snow mobiles up to the Snowy's and it had no trouble doing that. Setting aside my old Chevy trucks, it's probably my favorite vehicle I've ever "owned".
 
Ls swapped cucv

The m1008 you mentioned sounds solid and could be made into a nice daily, I did the nice car thing for the last 15 years, coming from something so quiet you can hear a pin drop inside to Ethel wasn’t as bad as I thought, it doesn’t have carpet and the doors don’t seal but the rest of the truck still works fine, wipers heater etc.. I’d say as long as you know your gonna have to do some stuff a square with the new power plant is the simplest thing.. (not cheapest) but you can fix it with crap you already have around.
 
I'd get the 1008.

You're getting a beef frame and a beef drivetrain. D60/14FF that should have a Detroit in the rear axle. Hydroboost. TH400/NP205... all the good stuff.

You can swap in a SBC or BBC. I believe you have to swap out a part in that TH400 for a gas engine if you do the swap (Governor?).

Parts availability and price will be cheaper for the CUCV, I'm talking sheet metal and such.
 
Personally I'd take the '68 K20,but both those trucks are not great for commuting ,they are both more of the "war wagon" type truck with a stiff ride ,low gearing,and will wear on your nerves after awhile..the '68 would make a good work truck,but no P/S or brakes wont make it good to tow with..and may even make daily driving risky,seeing how most vehicles have 4 wheel power disc brakes and you wont..
You'll need to keep a good distance behind other vehicles..

The M1008 might have the D60 and get slightly better mpg,but it is still a military truck..if you dont mind driving something that reminds of a deuce and a half daily,it would be OK,but to me,they are overpriced--half the value is in the front axle ,T-case and Th400--I'm not so sure they had any beefier frames than a civilian K5 had..if the M1008 was priced the same as the '68 is,it would be a better all around driver,but it isn't a pickup truck either...some things just cant be hauled in a K5 like a pickup..(Quads,Fridges,Stoves,Lumber,garden tractors,etc)..
 
The m1008 is a long bed truck, the m1009 is the blazer.
 
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