PennSilverTaco's domestic truck, SUV, and van photo collection thread!

ORIGINAL THREAD DATE IS JANUARY 25th, 2018:

When owners of Chevy trucks find out I drive a Toyota Tacoma, they are a bit confused. I tell them that the truck was a gift from my dad, and that I love Toyota trucks as much (if not more than) Chevy trucks (especially the Tacoma and Hilux).

Ever since my dad bought a brand new S-10 Blazer in June of 1993, I've always had a bit of a soft spot for the 1982-1993 S-series trucks and SUVs. When my dad first told me he was going to sell the aging Pathfinder he originally planned to give me and buy a newer truck, he initially planned to buy used, and my first choice was a 2001-2003 S-10 with a 4.3L V6. My dad took one look at a used '03 S-10 and said no way. We ended up narrowing it down between a new Ford Ranger and a new Tacoma (it's pretty obvious which one I ended up with).

I am not wild about certain aspects of the '98-'04 S-10's build quality, especially the interior fit and finish, and I still believe they are decent trucks. However, those 4.3L Vortec V6s are solid motors.

Some of my previous threads and photo showcases have proven to be very popular, so I figured I'd create a showcase/thread for my S-series photos and see where it goes. I am very knowledgeable about these trucks, so feel free to ask me anything!


I have merged my other three GM truck photo threads into this one...


Original post from Astro/Safari thread (also from 2018):

I've had a lot of success with my non-Tacoma vehicle threads recently, so here's a piece on another vehicle I have a bit of a soft spot for...

The Chevrolet Astro and the GMC Safari!

These vans do have their flaws, but I personally believe that General Motors hit one out of the park when it first debuted them.

The Astro and Safari were designed to be a direct competitor to the hot-selling new Chrysler minivans. Unfortunately, while still classified as a minivan by some, they were too truck-like in their design to even touch the Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager in terms of sales. However, these vans did open up another market segment, and proved so popular that they remained virtually unchanged during their 20-year production run! Anti-lock brakes became standard in about 1989 or so (with 4-wheel ABS becoming standard in 1990 or 1991), all-wheel drive became an option for the 1990 model year, a driver's airbag became standard in 1994, and dual airbags became standard in 1996. A number of other improvements and safety features were also added in the first decade or so of the van's production run.

Wanting a slice of the profitable minivan pie, Ford introduced the Aerostar in late 1985. While also intended to compete with the front-wheel drive Chrysler minivans, the Aerostar was more like the Astro in terms of design (body-on-frame, RWD). The Aerostar is good at doing what it was designed to do, but these vans had an unfortunate habit of developing severe rust. One of my friends, who is a diehard Ford guy, refuses to touch Ford Aerostars. He flips vehicles for money on the side, and has done this successfully with a couple of Astros, but he has completely written Aerostars off as junk. Early Aerostars were underpowered compared to the Astro, and while later versions had the reasonably powerful 4.0L V6, this engine had a tendency to munch head gaskets...

Also, I see Astros and Safaris just about everyday. I've only seen one or two Aerostars here in Pennsylvania, in the last year or so!


Original post from GMT400 Truck/SUV thread (May 10th, 2019):

This time, I've decided to focus on the GMT400 platform, which is more commonly known as the Chevrolet C/K and GMC Sierra. The ½-ton (1500) trucks were manufactured from 1988 to 1998, with minimal exterior changes. The ¾-ton (2500) and 1-ton (3500) trucks were manufactured until 2000 or 2001 I believe. The "square-body" style carried over until 1991 for the crew cab and "dooley" models. The Silverado HD replaced the ¾-ton and 1-ton pickups in 2001, when the Duramax diesel V8 engine was introduced.

In my opinion, these are some of the best full-size pickup trucks out there. The parts are highly interchangeable from year to year, and parts (both OEM and aftermarket) are readily available. These trucks did have a few issues over the years (rusty brake lines being one of them; Come on folks, Tacomas are known for frames rusting out), but overall they are solid vehicles and I see them still on the road everyday.

These are pictures I have taken all over the country (but mostly in Pennsylvania) between 2012 and 2019, and they also include Suburbans and Tahoes.


Original post from square body thread (May 13th, 2019):

I recently started a thread to showcase photos I've taken of GMT400 trucks (1988-2000 Chevy and GMC full-size pickups) over the years. Several members have posted photos of square bodies in my GMT400 thread. I have decided to start up a square body thread!

All photos posted by me were taken by me, unless otherwise noted!

 

@Iamraiderpower

August 5th, 2017:

Carlisle, Pennsylvania

 

@Iamraiderpower

July 25th, 2014:

Pennsburg, Pennsylvania

 

Hey Charlie I had an S-10 Blazer and i loved that truck. Believe it was a 1986 (same fromt end style as above)!

 

@Iamraiderpower

August 20th, 2013:

Yardley, Pennsylvania

 

Have I got a treat for you!

 

“Charlie Says”

 

syclone! Love those, buddy has an 83 S-10 that we boosted and Camaro swapped, things are fun but big big pain to work on.

 

Same Blazer, two different days, two different locations...

I ran the license plate number through Carfax, and if I remember correctly it is either a 1986 or 1987!

September 8th, 2013:

Doylestown, Pennsylvania




September 29th, 2013:

Lahaska, Pennsylvania

 

Boom!

 

August 6th, 2016:

Carlisle, Pennsylvania

 

Found a pic of us posing like dorks...

 

The one thing I didn't like about the 1982-1987 S-series trucks and 1983-1987 SUVs was the powertrain lineup...

GM offered the 4.3L V6 in the Chevy Astro and GMC Safari vans from day one (with carburetors on 1985-1986 models, and TBI fuel injection from mid-1986 onward). The biggest engine you could get on a S-10 or S-Blazer (and the GMC S-15/Jimmy twins) was an underpowered 2.8L V6. It wasn't a bad engine in terms of general reliability, but for lack of a better term, it was slow as shit. 1982-1985 models had 2bbl carburetors and made about 110 bhp. The fuel-injected version used from 1986 to 1993 produced 125 horsepower. If you ordered a 2WD S-10 with the 2.8L V6, 5-speed manual tranny, and 4.10 gears from 1986 onward, it wasn't a bad combination. However, the venerable 4.3L Vortec did not become available until 1988. The 2.5L "Iron Duke" 4-banger was standard in 2WD Blazers until being dropped in 1988. The 2.8L V6 remained standard in 4x4 models in 1988, and was the standard engine across the board in S-Blazers for 1989. What sucked was that while the 2.8L V6 could be had with an automatic or manual tranny, the 4.3L V6 was not available as a stick shift until 1990, when the 2.8L was dropped altogether as an option for the Blazer...

 

I can tell by looking at the S-10 in that picture that it's a 1984 or 1985...

The dashboard is the first giveaway that it's older than 1986...

It is also a Maxi-Cab (Chevrolet's term for an access cab/extra cab back in the day; The GMC S-15 version was called a Club Coupe).

 

Dude, you're the one with that sick red '93 Land Cruiser!

 

Yes I am, also thanks! Love that thing.

The S-10 was a bastard creation, got it for $400 it had pieces from pretty much every year of production in the 80s. Haha

 

Sometimes bastard creations end up being the best ones!

Was it yours?

 

A friend of mine from middle school who lives in middle school got an '87 FJ60 with a factory 4-speed for like $3,500! It may look a little rough, but it runs like a dream, and the A/C blows less than 40°F at the vents!

 

1989 S-10 Blazer Tahoe 4x4, and the truck isn't even best part...

The best part, you ask? The owner of this Blazer was a young 20-something woman who was not only quite pretty, but knew her way around an engine!


August 4th, 2017:

Carlisle, Pennsylvania

 

It was lots of fun. It is my friends truck, bit I worked with him on it since the day he got it. We lived two houses down from each other so I used to go grab it and take it for dump runs and stuff all the time. We did the engine swap together, lift, paint and body work, wheels. It was a total Frankenstein truck but we enjoyed it.