83 GMC 4wd 1 ton?

Casey in Ky · Apr 22, 2010

I saw an add for a real sharp look 1983 GMC 1 ton. 4wd, steel flat bed, manual shift with bull dog, and the straight 6. I think thats a 250, but I'm not for sure. Question is how underpowered is this thing?? I'm assuming is either a 3 or 4 speed and I know gearing can be everything, but I have to wonder how it'd handle 10 or 12k pound trailer on the hills around here. Anything else to look for?? The truck has NO rust and is very clean looking...asking $2800.

Dean · Apr 22, 2010

Casey:

It's most likely a 292 rather than a 250. The 292 is a torquey beast but a 12K trailer in KY hills is a lot to ask.

Why not try it out?

Dean

ryanwheelock · Apr 22, 2010

my dads got a 69 chevy 3/4 ton with the 292 and its all in the gearing. the truck has dana 60 axles and a 4 speed and can pull just about anything. Never tried 12k though I think it could do it.
Ryan

dhermesc · Apr 22, 2010

It will pull it, but you'll be working the gears and breaking a sweat whenever you load it up. No way you can "cruise" while using it.

Compared to "new" trucks you will be very disappointed with its highway manners. Its rated about about 140hp, the base line Chevy V6 is currently rated about 200 hp.

On the other hand if its only going to be used occassionally and not loaded up very often its a cheap second or third vehicle to have sitting around.

Wilson · Apr 22, 2010

what is a bull dog in a chev truck??

old · Apr 22, 2010

It will not be a rig you want to drive say 1000 at a time but if you want to get into some bad places and pull about anything out it will do it. Off the line a straight 6 will out pull any V-8. The reason is the 6 gets max torque at just above idle and a v-8 has to be spinning up around 3500rpm for max torque and not clutch in the world will handle being dump at that RPM. Now if yo8u want an open road truck that will go 70 or so yes it will do that on flat ground but up hills you will be finding the gears. Guess how I know the 6 cylinders. I have a built 250 sitting in my shop. Bored 40 over has a cam and milled the head has less then 300 mile on it since I rebuilt it but broke the frame on the truck it was in

Stuart · Apr 22, 2010

We use to farm with a 1976 Ford F250 with a 300 6 cylinder in it. Use to do a lot of antique tractor pulling and had a gooseneck trailer that would hold 4 tractors. We took out the 6 cylinder and put in a 302 V-8. Made a totally different truck out of it. There were alot of people who told us we were nuts for getting rid of the 6 cylinder. This 6 cylinder had a performance carb and intake and some head work done to it but it was no match for a stock 302 V-8. Take it for what it is worth I guess. That does sound like a very nice older truck. The biggest problem with the chevy 4 speed trans was to big of a jump between gears, if they would of put a 5 speed in them it would make a sweet pulling truck out of them. Do you have any pics?

Georgetown · Apr 22, 2010

One of those things that goes, "Grrrr, Bow Wow".

Sorry, I couldn't resist it. I vaguely recall hearing the term, but I have no idea what it means. And I've been around Chevy pickups for 50 years.

ericlb · Apr 22, 2010

in 83, it will be the 292, belive it or not i had one in a c-50, it will pull the load, it will not pull it very fast and you will be busy shifting in the hills, the gas milage is the same or worse than the 350 , my c-50 had a 2 speed rear end, which made it better able to cope with the hills, but it would be ok if you only need to pull that trailer once in awhile, good thing is, parts are everywhere, and not as expensive as parts for the newer trucks, and you can fix it yourself

Mike M · Apr 22, 2010

I like those year of trucks to look at and they even drive well , BUT I had a new 1983 K10 and that was the most troublesome truck I ever had !
All kinda problems big and small.

If you are going to pull much and in hills get a 454 in Chevy ,or 460 in a Ford or get a Dodge with the diesel. I have a 1996 Dodge with a 360 gas and it does really well and has held up good too,but that darn front end design wanders all over kinda like a Ford.

dhermesc · Apr 22, 2010

I agree with the Ford wandering all over the road, the "Twin I Beam" suspension never did seem to work right when they were new and only got worse as they aged. The solid front axle trucks (one tons and some 3/4 tons) drove so much better in comparison.

Southtowns27 · Apr 22, 2010

You don't want that truck. Send me the info and I'll go get it.

2x4 · Apr 22, 2010

bulldog is first gear. Also called granny gear. Very low, in case you need to plow your garden with your truck. Unless heavily loaded or in a bad spot, we usually start out in second gear with these transmissions.

Anonymous-0 · Apr 22, 2010

I can't speak for the Chevy sixes,but my 1995 F-350 w/300-I6 will pull 12k all day long.

Wilson · Apr 23, 2010

we just call the gears first second third fourth fifth and on up

83 GMC 4wd 1 ton?

Casey in Ky

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