1975 Chevrolet C10 Custom from North America - Comments

Speedometer quit/inacurate (very common on these trucks that had cable driven speedos).

Water pump blew. It warned me for 2 months, but I neglected it until it failed.

Power steering pump needed replaced.

Brake master cylinder started to fail when I got rid of it.

It leaked oil.

Hazard lights stopped working.

Transmission burned out (TH350).Someone had rebuilt it themselves and it wasn't to good from the start, also I was hard on it and had thrown it into park from drive once)

Had to replace exhaust system.

Replaced stater twice.

I got the truck cheap it was beat up and worn out, it was also severely rusted you could tell it was a 73' and 75' put together to make a truck. It was a plain jane A/C delete 2wd 1/2T longbed with a 350/350 combo (very common) 2bbl carb.

I ignored most forms of maintenance abused it badly (burnouts, drove it into snow piles, through fields, through water so deep it was coming into the cab, ran on no oil a couple times) and put a lot of miles on it.

I got rid of it because I got my use out of it and was going to have to repair a lot of stuff, also the body was a lost cause. It still ran until I scrapped it.

This truck sucked in the snow big time, even with weight in the bed.

Mileage was around 11-14mpg.These truck are known for rusting out and this one had it bad.

Nice things are that it was roomy, had decent acceleration for an old truck, could pull other trucks with no problems. Parts are cheap and relatively easy to replace. Outside of problems I knew and neglected the truck fired up every time, it always brought me to work.

I too love the 1970's Chevy pickups= = very much! The main problem I had with them as you said was rust... I live in the rust belt and it is almost impossible to prevent it. My uncle worked for Ziebart in the 70's and 80's and he said these years of trucks were the only vehicles that they had trouble wih in their rust-through warrentys. My dad bought one new in 1977 and by the spring of 1979 (only one year and a half) = it was all rusted out on the doors, fenders, wheel-wells, ect!= = = What a deal huh?? I sure wish I could buy one of them new now, but made out of the modern galvinized steel. Now there you would have a jewel in my opinion. I have tried more modern fuel injected vehicles and do not like all of the age-related repairs with all the electronics. Example: Anti-lock brakes are great when new- but let it get a few years old and all the sensors, ect... will break the bank (I know from experiance) Is this all progress? I seriously doubt it. I am a male registered nurse, making a good income with all the overtime. I honestly can afford about any new vehicle I want (within reason of course), but I chose to drive simple low-cost vehicles from the 1970's= = they are simple. I can repair them myself and avoid the over-priced mechanics and garages. Also most modern cars are butt-ugly!!! I better stop here, as I am getting on a rant for sure, I do miss the simple life of years gone by= = Jusy my two cents worth...

I own a 73 Chevy short bed with a 307 V8. It was my grandfathers and he passed it on to me. The truck is extremely reliable - especially when maintained. It is cold blooded (cold weather starts) but eventually starts and will drive all day without a problem. I drove it every day for 4 years and had only minor issues that could be blamed on age. These trucks are not bad in the snow if you put enough weight in the back. The heaters are amazing - I love driving around in the low teens with the windows rolled down and heater on full.

Rust! Very sad! I plan on keeping my old truck indefinitely so at some point I imagine all body panels will be replaced. Yes my Turbo 350 blew out also, but they are cheap and I am planning on a 700R4 as a replacement (improved gas mileage etc.). These are great beater trucks and I highly recommend them, especially if you don't mind a nice view of the street from the cab!

I own a 1977 Chevy C10; 350 V8, it is my first car / truck. I LOVE IT. It has the normal rust areas and the transmission needs some work. But there is nothing like the sound of the 350 V8 while sitting at a light. I also own a 1972 Plymouth Fury 3 Gran Sedan. I plan to fix both up. I really like the Plymouth, but I love the Chevy. I wouldn't give it up for the world.

I own a 1979 C10 straight 6 250 CI. I live in London England and I purchased my truck in 1990. It was from a USAF base in East Anglia England. I used my truck everyday to go to work and during the summer I would tow my caravan (travel trailer) to American car shows. I had always wanted a V8 tho' and since I was scrapping a'70 Skylark that I owned I decided to put the 350 In my truck. It is a bit of an oddball swap, but should be finished come spring. I have some patch panels to weld in because the rust round the wheel arches and the bed sides is bad. I welded the floor a few years ago and sprayed it with Wax-oil. I can't wait to drive my truck again, all you see in England are boring rice burner pick ups. My wife and my son (age6) love the Chevy too.

The late 70's Chevy trucks look great! I own two, a '78 2WD, SWB, SB400/700R, 3:42 posi rear. At 440HP & 425lb/ft, it is real fun!!! Steering sector from '78 trans-am with the WS-6 package, a 10 inch steering wheel, sway bars from a '76 LWB 454 camper-special, 2 inch lowering, it handles well. Late model bucket seats, tilt wheel & overhead console make it fun on long horse-trailer pulling trips. The other one, '75, 4X4, SWB, 350CID, 3-spd manuel, NP205 transfer-case, 3:73 gears, mini-spool in front. 3/4 ton springs, 2 inches of lift. At 365HP & 340lb/ft it pulls well. Power steering and brakes, but NO AC (big deal in Mississippi), ride, handling, looks or radio. It will pull a house down! Gets 9mpg, but real good mpg sitting in the yard turned off!

I now drive a 79 c10, it's a 3/4 ton with 4x4, power windows, locks, etc etc. My Grandpa passed it on to my Dad who passed it onto me (it gets horrible MPG, but who cares?). It got a new 350 v8 put in it just last spring. I also own a 69 Plymouth Fury, and drive it during summers, but in the winter? Boy, that Chev'll start up, and go anywhere especially with that 4x4 kicked in! I love it!

Only problem is, sometimes it won't tur over, and I have to get out, pull the battery ut otherwise it will start turning over with no key turning. Very slowly, and I know it won't start, but stil. (this is only if I try and start the truck with the key, it doesn't happen radnomly).

What kind of problem is this? New starter? I hate the GM dealer over hear, so am not sure where to go. Perhaps, I can fix it?

Btw the AM radio stil works! It even has cassetet (I didn't know they made tape players for vehicles in the 70s..).

I also own a 74 Duster, but hardly drive it, its mostly a show car, but I love it, too. But I wouldn't give up the Chevy for anything, except of couse a new c10. Of course I have to say the engineering has gone down in the years, IMO (of GM on a hole, I owned a Grand Am for my first car, but sold it after it had major problems).

Conclusion? Recommend this truck if you own a gas station, if you can pay for gas or if you don't need it for long trips.

I have both a 73 Chevy c20 camper special and a 77 Chevy c10. I have own the 77 Chevy since 84 and put many mile on it. I plan to completely restore the vehicle. I just recently got a 73 camper special and also plan to restore it. I like these styles of pickup and part are easily found. I feed the truck in time will be harder to find due to restoration project my people who loves these trucks.

I have a 74 Chevy c10 long box. It's a great truck. I bought it from the owner two years ago. The truck was never winter driven and still isn't. It has less than 35000 miles on it. I have done a lot of replacements myself because I want to make it even more powerful. I put on a four barrel edelbrock thunder series carb. Edelbrock rpm intake, hooker headers and custom duel exhaust. I have a k and n filter. I had the paint touched up. originally it was bronze, but now its more orange. I put in a new stereo that looks like it was originally, but with a ten disc CD player two subs and two amps. One thing I found with these trucks is that the starter is located too close to the exhaust so they tend to burn out too quickly. I still have to original oak bed, but it will soon need to be replaced. The seat also needed to be re-upholstered. All in all I love this truck and it is a great buy with lots of power and lots of extras to put into it. I can't wait to drive it again next summer

I own a orange 1970 c-10 250 straight six. I bought it from my great uncle and he was the one that bought it new in 1970, it had only seen 63,067 miles of farm fields until I got it, I was the first ever to take her on the road.

Very, very reliable; I have owned and known many other vehicles to quite near 10 years of age, this truck is still going strong.

Of course it does, as with every one else, have bad rust problems, but with LMC's help it will be like new in a short time. With a frame up resto in order to all original specs, yes even the straight six, three-speed, steel wheels with the white hubcaps. she will be perfect and will always be part of the family. Only quarrel; it will only go 52mph but hey, I don't speed.