[sammons]

My mechanic buddy has a new mission, collect up on Square body K20 and K30s. Large local rancher (30,000 acres)has had it with the newer pick ups. In the last 5 years he has went from ranch standard Chevrolets, to Dodge and Fords.  Constant repairs and many not covered. The frequency at which they have been breaking down is rediculous, the parts are taking for ever to get in if at all.

The father/grandfathers that started the ranch in 1947 have always ran Chevrolets and ran the square bodies for almost 3 decades. He said if they did break down they were simple and cheap to repair.  So he wants Travis to locate and rebuild about 5 to start with.

The idea sounded good to me, a whole lot cheaper than new trucks.

[sixball]

Sound like a plan as long as the parts are there. Way cheaper to rebuild an old one than buy a new not a tough one. My 2006 Silverado is getting a new transmission. I'd probably even go for a new engine when needed but I won't go any newer. I can almost work on it. My '68 C20 & the '70 K5 are lifetime rigs.Everything is still available fir them.

[TFoch]

Great idea!  Up here we'd have a problem with rust.  The older trucks were much easier to repair!  These newer vehicles have too many unnecessary bells and whistles which make them harder to repair in your home garage.

[sammons]

I was by there last friday, he had brought in a mid 80s 1/2 ton with pretty nice sheetmetal. Also a 79 or older K20 with out a bed. Looked like a straight body with only a 1/2 dollar size rust hole on the cab corner. He was out on a service call so i didn't get to talk to him.

Around here, most the k20-k30s are pretty rust free. I suppose because most don't leave the farm/ranch often. Lol, i knew one rancher that drove his Cadillac back and forth from town and kept his pick up in the barn😁

Last winter Travis had a 2019 F350 out of warranty in there. The ECM was bad. It took 8 months to get one from Ford, then it wouldn't let him flash the new one. He had to trailer it to the dealership to get them to flash it. Big $$$$$

[TFoch]

Just imagine trying to repair one of the new Ford F150 Lightning EVs!

[sixball]

My son is putting together his "Forever Truck" It is an early '90s Ford 350 crew cab 4x4 with the International turbo diesel. That engine is purely mechanical, no electronics. It can be tweaked to run on several fuels. Same body & chassis parts for years. We towed a car & trailer over the Sierras with a two wheel drive NA version and it didn't know it was hooked to anything. The engines are everywhere parts will be around for a long time.

My plans are for my '70 K5 blazer and my '68 C20/30 flatbed. I'm building a "truck" 292 six for it. Lots of parts around for both.

Probably looking a blackmarket fuel down the line.

[Rattiac]

You should see some of the crap that's under the seats of these modern trucks.  All sorts of electronics,  seat heaters,  airbags,  lumbar,  headrests that have airbags themselves,  not to mention the air system to cool your butt down.  Alot of people think thier seat has AC,  No it's not.  Just a tiny lil fan that blows air through channels in the foams and through the "perforated leather".
It sucks the cold air coming out of the vent in the floor. 😆

I wouldn't even want a new jeep. 

Ford went and got super cheap.  Since 2017 they only manufacture one seat for all trucks/cars.  All the way up to the F-450 .The standard mustang seat which breaks springs alot. 
I fix these on a daily basis.
Used to be a bigger truck had stronger seats.  Not anymore.