Holy Grail of Squarebodys

[CheemsK1500]

I think Cummins swaps are universally accepted by many because of the massive aftermarket support. Cummins also is not really exclusive to any of the big three, it merely supplies engines via contract. People often erroneously claim that Ford owns them. This is not true. It has never been true, but yet smooth brains argue with me anyway everytime this subject comes up.

Since Cummins isn't a really a Mopar or Ford owned engine, most GM guys don't find it sinful to use it. A Powerstroke swap would probably ruffle some feathers though, even though we could argue that it's technically a Navistar engine, not a Ford.

 

[fast 99]

What is the "ultimate" Square body? I think that I have it, 1985 K30 "one ton" Single rear wheel, Big Block, 4 speed, NP 205 T-case, Dana 60 Front, 14 bolt FF rear, Silverado, A/C, Power windows and locks, carpet. Black paint, Black interior. I know everybody is different. This is my opinion, I am curious what "everybody else" thinks.
Just for fun, and something to chat about on this forum.

You might not like this. Our shop was repairing a Suburban for a customer. Lots of parts were missing or damaged. There was real K30 single rear wheel truck that had been sitting in the storage area for 10+ years. It belonged to a family member of the owner. Really not much wrong with it, all there, not wrecked or rusty. Had a big block but was an automatic. I cut or unbolted a lot of stuff from it for 6 months. Have no idea if it was crushed or still with us, if saved it would need a donor truck.

 

[bucket]

Lol I do like the Duramax as well but my only personal experience was with an LB7 that liked to eat injectors. A 12 valve 5.9 Cummins is impossible to beat for simplicity, reliability and fuel economy, so that's what I'd go with.

I think I can give an unbiased opinion since I'm not really a diesel guy at all. I've put a lot of hours in running 5.9's, 6.7's and a couple 8.3's, along with all the variations of the 6.6 Duramax. I think they are all reliable, all can make good power and they all can be expensive to repair too, lol. I've had to put injectors in an LB7, but I've had to put them a couple Cummins engines too.

 

[RecklessWOT]

I dunno... if a fellow had a 1987 with a TBI 350 would he really be satisfied? He might want a V1500 short bed. He would probably want it to be fully loaded, power windows and locks, the whole 9 yards. Then he might get picky and insist on the SM465 and 4WD. A Sierra Classic maybe...and with that very hard to find Mahogany interior color too. Yeah, that would be a heck of a truck to find and if you did find it the stupid thing would probably be painted that ugly tan color instead of something cool like red or blue.

I kind of think that while some options and packages are harder to find than others, it is all in what each individual likes. I like almost all of them. I shopped for a long time before Mrs. Redfish decided we were buying this one.

My current "holy grail" is sitting under the carport right now. I love everything but the color.

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Hah, I had a brown/tan '87 Sierra classic longbed with that same color interior. Unfortunately the cancer got the best of it and it was sent to a junkrayd a good decade ago. Drove there under its own power in 4x4 being pulled by the fronts with no rear driveshaft, thing was so rusty that it would just flex all around and spit out driveshafts.

 

[45tt]

My first holy grail moment/attempt, was trying to locate the truck I had as a teenager (fully restored 76 Custom Deluxe short bed 350/sm465 with no options) Only to find out that it had been parted out only 5 years after selling it, due to it going through the hands of several owners that didn’t know how to take care of it. I was sort of heartbroken to hear the trucks final fate after all the time spent restoring it

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Second Holy Grail moment was trying to find a truck close enough to what I had as a teenager and ending up locating my now 75 Sierra Grande short bed 350/sm465 with the only option being a factory tach. I’m very happy with it and it is now my teenage time machine.

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[wanderinthru]

4 on the floor, 5th under the seat. Electric nothing, wires suck. To damn lazy to roll the window down, ride hot, I don't care. Design is fine, don't need the steering wheel anywhere else, shut up and drive. I have my dream truck, twice, in the 84, and 82, if I could find either in a round eye would I buy them? Probably. We all live our own dream, so quit asking me hard questions. Grin.

 

[78C10BigTen]

"Holy Grail" is one that is PAID for, the wife LIKES it, and it RUNS!!!!!.........mine is a 2 out of 3.........only runs on 7

100% truth Perry!!!!

 

[Dooley]

I think Cummins swaps are universally accepted by many because of the massive aftermarket support. Cummins also is not really exclusive to any of the big three, it merely supplies engines via contract. People often erroneously claim that Ford owns them. This is not true. It has never been true, but yet smooth brains argue with me anyway everytime this subject comes up.

Since Cummins isn't a really a Mopar or Ford owned engine, most GM guys don't find it sinful to use it. A Powerstroke swap would probably ruffle some feathers though, even though we could argue that it's technically a Navistar engine, not a Ford.

Back in 1990 Ford Motor Company purchased 10.8% of common stock in Cummins. The company even had a seat on the Board their own Vice President (Kenneth R. Dabrowski)Then in 1997 Cummins purchased the shares (1.3 Million worth) back from Ford and that was that.

 

[BearKing]

For me and actually in production numbers it’s my 1976 Sport Step side. It’s the Blue one with the White stripes. Quite rare. In my 54 years, I have only ever seen one and it was a 2WD version. It was an Orange one when I was about 10. I wanted one ever since that day. My dad was a Ford truck guy but he knew a spark was lit that day. I was a Chevy guy my whole life. My 1976 Sport 4X4 Step side has the factory 400 also. You could only get them if you ordered the 4X4 in ‘76. I also own a 1977 Step side 4X4 and a 1981 GMC K2500 HD. Those are my Holy Grail trucks. The ’76 Step side 4X4 is my Holy Grail. I own 6 Squares but those are it for me.

 

[Shorty81]

Not necessarily the year, but I built my holy grail. No tilt, no air, no cruise, crank Windows, slider window, big block, sm465 and "orange". Just like the old Chevy trucks we farmed with years ago.

 

[CheemsK1500]

Back in 1990 Ford Motor Company purchased 10.8% of common stock in Cummins. The company even had a seat on the Board their own Vice President (Kenneth R. Dabrowski)Then in 1997 Cummins purchased the shares (1.3 Million worth) back from Ford and that was that.

To have any meaningful control of a company to the point of "owning it" you need at least 51 percent or more of the shares. A measly 10.8 percent was nothing more than a drop in the bucket for Fords portfolio. I guess people that don't understand how publicly traded companies work have always interpreted that little stock purchase as a complete purchase.

 

[SK 99]

I don't have a specific "holy grail" truck, but mine comes close to meeting all of my ideal criteria. It's a shortbed 4x4 with 3/4 ton axles and an SM465. I just wish it had a 454 (it's a 350) and wish it had the 70's front end. Other than that, it's pretty much perfect IMO....

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And @bucket has a 454 crew cab that's pretty damn ideal.....

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If we're strictly talking all original trucks, that's a really tough decision. Wayyyy too many options to pick just one!

 

[Khayward]

I wouldn't mind a Starcraft or Ducks Unlimited Suburban

 

[Dooley]

To have any meaningful control of a company to the point of "owning it" you need at least 51 percent or more of the shares. A measly 10.8 percent was nothing more than a drop in the bucket for Fords portfolio. I guess people that don't understand how publicly traded companies work have always interpreted that little stock purchase as a complete purchase.

I am not responsible for anyone's reading comprehension.
If you think I implied Ford had owned Cummins that is your problem.

 

[bucket]

Ford still used Cummins engines in medium duty trucks as late as '06. Using the Dodge logic, they are a Ford engine too.