Welcome back! We’ve got another pair of vehicles chosen by my lovely wife Erika, a pair of pickup trucks, one each from the two states we passed through today – Utah and Wyoming.
Yesterday, we had a blowout – and I don’t mean of the tire variety. That poor Camaro absolutely got slaughtered in the voting. Some of you wondered if that Yukon was, in fact, a scam, because it sounded too good to be true. I doubt it. I didn’t include the photo, but that front bumper has seen better days. I bet that turned off a few prospective buyers.
I have no use for the Yukon since we already have a newer one, but it is definitely the better deal here. If the Camaro were a manual, it might be a different story, but automatic V6 pony cars are just dull, purple or not.
All right, let’s turn our attention to trucks because really, that’s all you find for sale out here. We’ve got a Ford and a Chevy, but they’re not exactly comparable, because one has thirty years’ worth of advancements over the other. Of course, not everyone considers advancements a good thing, especially when it comes to trucks. There is something to be said for a simple machine that you can tune with a flathead screwdriver. But comfort, convenience, and efficiency count for a lot as well. Which one will prevail? That’s up to you.
1982 Chevrolet K10 Scottsdale – $3,000
Engine/drivetrain: 305 cubic inch overhead valve V8, four-speed manual, part-time 4WD
Location: Casper, WY
Odometer reading: 231,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Here we have the classic Chevy stepside 4×4 truck, a vehicle that probably exists in greater numbers in toy and model form than in full-size. Add a roll bar with lights on it and some crazy graphics, and this thing could be a Stomper, or an MPC model kit. But we all know the vast majority of squarebody Chevy trucks were fleetsides, and long beds. It’s cool to see an actual stepside 4×4, even if it is a bit rusty.
Even better, it’s a V8 and a stick! This truck is powered by a 305 cubic inch small block – not the most powerful weapon in GM’s arsenal, even back then, but it has potential – and our old buddy the SM465 four-speed manual gearbox. Even better, the rear axle is a 12 bolt with a Positraction limited-slip differential, though we don’t know the gear ratio. The seller says it runs and drives well, despite the high mileage.
It’s the mid-level Scottsdale trim, though this is well before the era of luxury trucks. The “fancy” trim on this truck consists of carpet and maybe nicer door cards. It’s in pretty good shape inside, though there’s no telling what’s under that seat cover. The seller says everything inside works, though again, “everything” doesn’t entail a whole lot in this case.
Outside, it needs some help. Rust has been busy on this truck, though the rare part – the stepside bed – doesn’t look too bad. To me, this looks like a cool project waiting to happen, and something you can actually drive while you work on it.
1998 Ford F-150 XLT – $2,888
Engine/drivetrain: 4.6-liter overhead cam V8, four-speed automatic, part-time 4WD
Location: Provo, UT
Odometer reading: 238,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well, but needs new tires
For something a bit more modern, we have a tenth-generation Ford F-150, a polarizing design that’s chock-full of advancements that could only be dreamed of when the K10 was built. An overhead cam engine, fuel injection, electronically controlled everything, and massive improvements to noise, vibration, and harshness make this a much nicer truck to drive.
This truck may be modern compared to that old Chevy, but it’s twenty-six years old, and is rapidly approaching a quarter million miles. Wear and tear are inevitable at that age, though this one doesn’t look too bad. There’s a hole in the seat, and the headliner is drooping, but I haven’t seen a ’90s car with an intact headliner for years. They all seem to droop eventually.
Mechanically, the seller says it runs and drives well, but it’s in need of new tires, and the heat doesn’t work. They suspect a plugged heater core, which is a possibility, as is a failure in the HVAC controls somewhere. But hey, it’s June; you’ve got time to sort it out before winter.
There is one major annoyance with this ad. The photos show a bed-mounted toolbox, which would be a nice little bonus, but the text says it isn’t included. If that’s the case, take it out before you take the photos. It’s not quite false advertising, but it isn’t far off.
So that’s what we’re dealing with today – a couple of old high-mileage trucks from different eras. Both run and drive, and both need a little help. Will it be the old cool model, or the newer and easier-to-live-with pickup?
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
My heart wants the Chevy, my head wants the Ford. In a split decision like this, I always consider the wife factor…she would likely never step foot in the stepside, so Ford by a rounded nose.
I couldn’t have put it better myself.
The Ford is objectively the better truck, but the Chevy is what I want. The rust is a bummer, but I have a feeling there is probably a fair amount of rust we can’t see on the Ford. If I’m going to put the effort into rust repair, it will be on the Chevy, not the Ford (though I do still like the Ford and nearly bought an identical one a decade ago).
The Chevy is the epitome of a beater truck — buy it, use it hard, drive it until the wheels fall off, then replace the wheels. It’ll still be running (maybe not well, but running) long after the 25+ year-old electronic and electric bits in the Ford start dying and render it unreliable.
I usually prefer FoMoCo to anything GM, but I’ll take the cool vintage beater with the smells of rust, unburned fuel and agriculture over the jellybean-era F150 with its sad, aging interior any day. I’ll bet the seats in the Ford smell like stale McD’s farts.
If the frame is solid and you can prove to me that the plugs have been done in the last 50k, I’ll take the ford. Already have a rusty red square body I paid $500 for in similar condition. But saying that, I’ve had 2, 2001 F150s, both $500 or less, first frame broke, had it welded up by a frame guy for $600, hauled countless loads of scrap metal and vehicles heavier than the tow vehicle on a double axle trailer, took it to Florida keys from buffalo, worked it like a dog for years til it got a misfire. BTW, it was more rotten than the red chevy, long story short, triton motors suck for spark plugs, 04-07 3v, plugs actually break off in the heads, 2v triton motors the steel threads seize to the aluminum heads and strip out. That’s if you can even reach the back 2 plugs.some guys know the trick, me, I cut out the converters, saved the tires and scrapped the body and converters separately and came out ahead
Ford for me. Had enough bad memories of those square bodies from childhood, I don’t need more with the added ingredient of rust.
Chevy is easily the cooler of the two, but I would want a truck to do truck things, and a full width bed can do more than a stepside. Reluctant vote for the jellybean.
Not pictured: The odor of hay, cows, and sweaty boots that is assuredly part of the package for the Chevy.
That said, Chevy all the way for me. That looks like the kind of truck well-maintained by the guy who just needs it to do work and happily replaces the oil every 3k with the same oil his tractor gets.
The K10, it is super low gear manual, and the NP208, although not as stout as the predecessor NP205 does have a lower t-case gear. with a 12 bolt out back, it could be a pretty decent Truggy Platform since the body is bad anyway. add some E-Lockers and G2 Axles, and go off road. the 305 is OK on torque and you really don’t need much HP to crawl around with those gears.
Good call!
It’s the k10 for me, although I’m biased as I have a square myself, or maybe that just means I put my money where my mouth is. Small lift and some mud terrains and this would be one sweet rig. I do have a bit of a soft spot for the jellybean F150s, my dad had one growing up and I have fond memories with it.
The Ford is the better truck, but something about that Chevy was tugging at the heart strings. That and the step side is very appealing, for practical reasons. Reaching over the bed sides on modern trucks is such a pain. That step they’ve added behind the cabs of the 250/2500 models needs to make it’s way down to the 150/1500 models as well.
Taking a walk on the stepside today. That is quintessential pickup essence right there. Drive it till we both drop, then give us a.Viking funeral together. If the truck dies first, please wait until I’m done before lighting the match.
Ford is boring. Chevy has been subjected to significant weight reduction, so even though the 305 almost killed it for me, I went for it just because it’s less boring.
The Chevy is more of step-THRU at this point, but it could be fun for a little while.
Unfortunately the rust on the Chevy is well beyond patina. It has lost metal low on the passenger door and at the bottom corner of the driver side cab. The Ford is less interesting, but a simple and honest truck for doing general truck stuff. I’d slap some cheap tires on it and put it to work.
Step side for the win.
Roadkill the Chev into a muscle truck, it’s the only way.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjYII99QqFs
In this instance I’ll take the blue pill
I will take the Chevy, but I would probably offer the seller only $2500. Seller is open to offers and has “no intentions of dragging out the sale of this truck” so I think the seller might go for it. This is a cool truck that probably has the best combination of options (single cab, stepside, manual, 4×4), but it has issues that are going to be very expensive to fix. There is a ton of rust that we can see, so I presume there is a lot more rust we cannot see. I’m not sure this truck is a great restoration candidate, although it could be presentable with some effort. I would drive it as-is, though. It is a bit beat up, but it looks like a lot of fun.
Jellybean Ford trucks were everywhere when I was growing up – gotta vote for it here. Also it will make for a much more usable beater even though the stepside is objectively cooler
The F-150 is a way more functional and ready to go vehicle and is the smart choice. But I have several alternatives already so I will take the squarebody. I am sure I will regret it, but despite the rust on the doors it looks surprisingly rot free. That is pending an underbody inspection…
If you need a truck to do truck things, the Ford is the better choice. The full-width bed and more modern drivetrain, suspension, and brakes would make towing/hauling easier and safer. For a fun project, the Chevy wins hands down. Since I don’t do truck things, I’ll take the Chevy and add the roll bar, lights and graphics to make a full-size Stomper.
In MD that would be an insanely good price for that K10. Shortie Stepside AND 4×4??? Easy win.
I’m more of a fleetside man myself, but I’m not turning down a 4×4 V8 stick shift Squarebody!
I have a SEVERE weakness for stepside square bodies. I don’t even care if it has AC!!
Rusty Chevy all the way!!
Stepside FTW