Chevy & GMC Vans

In your opinion who made the easiest to repair full sized truck?

Some vehicles are a dream to work on, others are a nightmare. I've owned both in cars, but I want a 1/2 or 3/4 ton truck. One of the things of greatest importance to me is ease of repair.

I'm not necessarily giving up on Astro, just getting ready to put it in the garage for while.

wow. Must be a taboo question...

I was trying to think of an answer and couldn't!

Honestly, Ive considered finding a mid to late 80s GM 4x4, crew cab dually to replace my current 99 Super Duty. My thought was to find a TBI 454... this way you have fuel injection, yet very basic and cheap to work on. I'd say the same thing for a 1/2 ton, except go with a 350 of course. But this wouldn't be a mid 90s... so hence my silence!

Yes, I realize that. But anything from the 80s is likely suffering frame cancer and will spend more time in my garage than on the road. Also, have bolts that aren't all rusted and frozen is a huge help. That's why I don't want to go any further back than say 13 or 14 years--preferably 10 or 11...

I need something that will be good for a daily driver and have an overdrive if it's auto trans. Standard trans would be best though...

I'm inclined to agree with Matt. I kept up the maintenence on a fleet of mid to late 80's Chevy 3/4 ton pickups. I think they're about as easy to work on as any.

chemist wrote: But anything from the 80s is likely suffering frame cancer and will spend more time in my garage than on the road. Also, have bolts that aren't all rusted and frozen is a huge help. That's why I don't want to go any further back than say 13 or 14 years--preferably 10 or 11...

I need something that will be good for a daily driver and have an overdrive if it's auto trans. Standard trans would be best though...

Well, you are shopping in the wrong area, that's all!

My brother sold an 80s model 6.2L diesel standard cab 4x4 on Ebay a few years back from here in Washington. The buyer lived in Illinois. The buyer had the same problem... he couldn't find anything local that wasn't rusted out. The guy arranged transport via a car transporter.

It's a hassle, but you could find a solid mid 80s truck from the SW.

And they did have OD transmissions available too! (Of course you'd want a rebuilt one with all the upgrades as they were pretty iff from the factory back then!)

There's about a bizillion of them down here in the south.

i had a 1988 Chevy Silverado pickup that was my daily driver before I got into the Astro vans. It was pretty easy to work on and was a pretty solid truck. 305 V8 with a Getrag 5 speed (with OD) standard trannie.

My friend and I changed the radiator in under 30 minutes after work in the office parking lot one day...

well, anything with a hood, where you can get to the whole top of the engine is easy to repair IMHO.
If I was looking for a truck, I think I'd go for a late 80's early 90's TBI fuel injected model. Not an excess of sensors, and the throttle body fuel injection is simpler to deal with than a carb. Although, you do sacrifice about 50 hp compared to multipoint fuel injection. (fuel pumps are much cheaper though) trade offs trade offs...yeesh. my brain hurts now. ](*,)