Ryan Weaver Wanted 2 tone C20/K20 tow vehicle for car hauler
 

I’m not sure if this is the right place to post this?

I put my name in the title as it make is so easy to search in future.

I have been looking for a classic 3/4T truck GMC or Chevrolet,

Years 1971-1972, or 1973-1980
C20 (2WD), or K20 (4WD), 2500, 3/4T
Two tone, a really handsome truck!!
Automatic trans 4L80E swapped would be best
AC would be nice
3.73 or 4.10 gears
350 or 402, or 454, or 6.0L swapped

This needs to be beautiful, reliable, stylish, awesome truck!!!

I prefer regular cab long box, but a crew cab short box 3+3 is on the table too.

Budget 32K CAD plus tax, = 20K USD plus exchange, tax, transport,
Etc.

I am trying to find a truck locally but it’s hard to find one here.

If somebody is downsizing and wants to send a truck and trailer to a good home, I am the right guy!!

I want to take my Cutlass to more races and events and renting/borrowing is not a reasonable option more than once a year.

LMK what you have!!

Ryan W31

I would recommend you take a look over here and see what's out there:

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/

K

I looked back through the for sale C20’s and K20’s, there is a 1969 I love but out of my price range.

Thanks for the tip.

Ryan W31

Paging Scuncio….. can you spend a little time truck searching for me? I need a tow vehicle not a show truck…… but kind of a show truck….

Not sure it's what you are looking for, but an old friend who lives in Western CO has a '71 or '72 C-10 Longhorn (bed is is extended 6", 8'6" total) also known as a Camper Special he's talked about selling but never gets around to it. Been a while since I've seen it, Factory 402/TH400, I believe A/C and tach. Typical Western slope of the Rockies patina. I believe it's blue white a white top. Will likely need some mechanical refreshing.

I can ask for info if you are interested. - Bill W

Sounds like an amazing truck!!

If it is a camper special and a longhorn 8.5’ bed it would be a C20 3/4T

I am looking for a ready to tow vehicleZ

Thanks anyways

Ryan W31

That truck ticks all the boxes.

I’ll look into BAT tomorrow to see what it is bid to so far.

Thanks

Ryan W31

Yes C-20, my bad, zzzz! Good luck with your search!

I've got another pickup forum that I frequent:

https://www.gmsquarebody.com/

In any case you might end up frequenting either of these boards for hints, insights and camaraderie should you make a purchase.

K

Fantastic!!!!

Thx

Ryan W31

Let me know if you need someone to put some eyes on it, I'm only about 25 miles away from it.

----You can store it at my place until you can get here if you need to.....Bill S

That is a nice truck and the real bidders must be sand bagging right now. It would be nice if you could get it at a decent price.

The first thing you'll want to do is install an overdrive trans. A shop I worked at in the 80's had one just like it for a shop truck and it didn't mater if it was empty or overloaded, it got 8 mpg with that carbureted 454 and 4.10 gears.

Looks like a great truck.

You could have shut it off and coasted and would have gotten 8 mpg with that configuration.

K

I have a Black 1995 K2500 4X4 regular cab pickup with a TBI 454 / 4L80E / 4:10 gears I bought new and it gets about the same MPG, but it sure pulls like a freight train. Every time I let someone use it, they always get asked if it’s for sale. OBS (Old Body Style) Anything it bringing BIG $$$ lately. All depends what you’re willing to Pay. Bill

I have a 4L80E swap calculated into my tow vehicle spread sheet. Tracker1 owns a Mr Transmission so I would drop it off for modernization.
Same rations as a TH400, plus 0.75 fourth!!!

Ryan W31

That would be the one, but isn't there a 4L80 without the electronic control ? I guess there are stand alone controllers too, if it is a better trans.

The truck looks like new and anyone could be proud to show up with a trailer behind it...:biggthumpup:

Everything I have researched says 4L80 needs a stand alone electronic controller or you can modify it to full manual control (but I don’t want that)

Ryan W31

Hey Ryan,

After reading this, I would consider selling my older swap meet truck...

It's a lifelong CA truck... I've had it a couple years.

1975 Camper Special - which of course, is a long bed single cab - rear slider.

3/4 ton with the original 454 and TH400 4.10 Dana rear. Front disc. 8 lug. two year old LT tires on newer 16" rims.

And I can corroborate the 8mpg - I bet it's cheaper to ship than drive to you, but it's an option... I'd get you at LAX.

One repaint. replacement fenders at the front, needs a hood, and I have a grill. Original AC truck, not hooked up. Has headers and new exhaust.

Runs like it should, but it's an unrestored truck with no surprises IMHO.

I'll include original GM brackets for the AC compressor.

27K miles - certainly 127K.

clean title in my name of course - will be no issue to import at Port Huron.

I'd sell it to you for $10K CDN - which leaves you 20K+ to transport & import it then fix it up how you like over the winter...

PM if interested - I'm not really selling it, but it might tick a lot of your boxes.

Cheers,
Anthony

What a generous offer.

Let me think about this over Canadian Thanksgiving.

What a well optioned truck!!!

I love the deluxe two tone!!!

Ryan W31

That's right! Gobble Gobble... Enjoy.

Dang, that is a really nicely optioned truck. I bet that Hawaiian blue was gorgeous when new.

The deals always seem to be on the other side of the continent, eh Ryan ...:crazy:

LAX to Port Huron is 2417 miles / 8 mpg = 303 gallons X $3.80 = $1,150. Plus a plane ticket and a couple nights hotel. I think Anthony is right, that it may cost about the same to ship and not take up 3-4 days of your time.
Be interesting to see where the bat price lands to compare.

$3.80 a gallon?!!

You'd have to get about 500 miles away from here to hit that I think.

Not quite double here...

gah!

I don't know how anyone lives in that state. Gas was $3.54 on our Chevelle club cruise today. Non-oxy 91 premium for our cars was $4.50

Looks like a no reserve auction and checks all the boxes except "handsome". If you can get it cheap enough, then a paint job may not blow the budget.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/35509015580...Bk9SR6Dj5oHiYg

Brand new seller; so you would want someone local to lay eyes on it.

And then there is this one, under your budget, and you don't even need to buy a trailer:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/19600980735...Bk9SR_rhloLiYg

Wow, glad that isn't a C30 or I would be very interested.


And he needs a much better description, especially of the engine work. 101k and only the top end and cam done ? No rings, bearings, crank seals ? And is the seat trash under the towel ? No way to know. Pics with the ramps would be nice too. Still a cool truck and a decent price.

I have considered a 3500 as they are cheap, but too thirsty.

I have considered ramp trucks but I want the Cutlass in an enclosed trailer for long overnight trips.

I have spent a lot of time analyzing trucks and anything with DOD AFM is out of the question.

I looked at early 90’s trucks and the TBI were a little low on power, so I ended up looking for 1996 to 2000 with Vortec 5.7 or 7.4, this is likely the best choice….. but then I got thinking why not buy a truck I love?

Ryan W31

That BaT GMC went for $14,251-I was kind of hoping that a 3/4T GMC would fly under the squarebody radar. Guess not.

Yeah, the price stayed very reasonable until the last 37 minutes and then wow, they came out to win.

I signed up for BAT and saw that one sell.

I also spent some time soul searching.

I passed on a local truck.

Ryan W31

I passed on this one for sale locally, one owner, inside its whole life.

Ryan W31

Wow, those are some nice looking trucks!
Not sure what your soul searching turned up, but this is on Hemmings and in Canada too. Extended cab for extra room, roadside naps, 5th wheel mount in bed and a 110 gallon auxiliary tank for extended driving range.
https://www.hemmings.com/auction/199...aire-qc-995930

Funny you should say…….. I have officially changed from 1971/1972 to 1996-2000 and I want a K2500 4WD, regular cab, long bed.
Low miles, excellent condition
5.7, or 7.4
4L80E
AC
P06 wheels

Amy and I had a long chat and we feel it’s best to buy what is practical, reliable, comfortable,
Safe, and to buy what I really want not the first truck that pops up.

Ryan W31

Ryan , You need a 1971 454 SS Chevelle Wagon ! I have pics !

The 2000 was a new body style from the '96-99 and was all LS engines in SBC, but 5.3 for the small block. That body carries over thru 2002. I had a '95 5.7 and went to a 2000 with an LS and it is a world of difference in power and economy between the old TBI gen 1 5.7 sbc and the LS. There were 6.0 and 6.2 LS gas engines in the 2500 series that would be better suited for an enclosed trailer than the 5.3
Keep looking and you will find one you like.

I want to tow an enclosed trailer, I want a 71 wagon of course but my next vehicle needs to tow.

Ryan W31

I think the K2500 stayed OBS in 2000…… I think both new and old versions of 2000 were built.

I am confident with 4.10’s the Vortec 5.7 or 7.4 would be just fine…. Am I right/wrong?

Ryan W31