I’m not sure what the production numbers were for 454 cubic inch engine, short box Chevy 1/2 tons from 1977, but the seller claims this is a “rare” combination and I tend to believe them. This truck has 75,000 original miles and looks like a high-quality driver. It can be found here on eBay with an asking price of $12,000. Located in Marshfield, Missouri, there isn’t any information in the ad regarding the history of the truck, but it seems like it has been pretty well cared for. This truck would make a fun drive-it-while-you-work-on-it project. Let’s check it out!
Here is the 454 cid big block. Although this truck was born with a 454, this isn’t the original block. The current block is from 1975 and features the original heads with new valves and original intake. The current engine has 10K miles on a rebuild and although the original engine isn’t currently installed, it does come with the truck! The engine is a turbo 400 automatic which gets power to the tires through a 12-bolt rear end.
The interior is fairly standard and the black theme looks decent. Like most 40+-year-old vehicles, it could probably use a little freshening up. The nice thing about these Chevy trucks is there are a ton of aftermarket parts and/or upgrades for them. The truck also features air conditioning, dual tanks, and cruise control.
The seller says the body panels look really good and there doesn’t appear to be any filler. These trucks are fairly prone to rust in the cab corners, rockers, and fenders, so any prospective buyers would be wise to do a thorough inspection. So what do you think of this truck?
Nice looking pickup, inside and out. Personally, I prefer a small block for a daily driver but there are a lot of guys who’d want a big block truck like this. You’ll need both fuel tanks if you put a lot of miles on it though. Price is probably fair given the condition.
In 1981 I had a 74 C10 short bed with a 454. You’re right, you really do need those 2 tanks. I don’t know about everywhere in the country but honestly back then it wasn’t really all that rare to have a short bed and a 454.
’74 was the worst year for fuel economy (or lack of it). I had a customer who bought a pickup with the 454 and a 3-ton with the 366. He said that the 3-ton got better fuel economy. I tend to agree with him. The pickups were so strangled with lean mixtures and retarding timing that all they could do was suck gas. A little fine tuning got most of them on the positive side of 10 mpg.
Nice truck, I’d like to have it, but I’d hate to feed it.
According to my handy-dandy parts look-em-up system, only 5% of V8 C-10 pickups that year were equipped with the 454. Yes, I’m screwing off at work. Again.
This one also has the RARE fender mounted radio antenna. The undercoating looks to be very fresh. Short beds are VERY popular now. GLWTS! :-)
Looks like an aftermarket AM/FM radio. IIRC, FM radios didn’t like the “antenna in the windshield” very much.
You’d be mistaken here. I would love to install one in my hot rod if I could.
The interior is a little bit better than “fairly standard”- The bright metal band mounted below the rear window indicates it has the “Silverado” package (a top trim level in those days). In addition, I see a power window switch on the passenger’s door, the listing indicates it has Cruise Control, and it may have a tilt wheel (looks like there’s a release lever behind the turn signal stalk).
$12k seems a bit rich, until you check the new truck prices over at the dealer…
$12K is a down payment on a new truck.
I had virtually the same truck, except with a topper. When I bought it I thought it was really cool to have dual gas tanks – then I found out why. If I drove really carefully I got 10 mpg. Box loaded, pulling a car on a dolly, and driving 80 I still got 10 mpg. So obviously, you can guess what I did.
10 mpg? You were lucky! The guy I got mine from threw a lot of go fast goodies in and on the motor of mine. Strong and pulled like crazy but a very consistent 4 mpg in town and 6 on the highway loaded or empty. Even with being young and single with a pretty decent job, that gas mileage got old! Kept it about a year but also bought an early Vega with a stick to use as a daily driver after about 3 months.
Also has the Big Ten package. No cats req’d. Nice.
Oh! How I remember looking at one of these with my dad in 1977 to pull the boat. He didn’t think the c10 would handle as well then the c20. He got the c20 and oh what a fun truck to drive in high school.
Nice truck.
No cats so not smog bound
What was factory horse power on one of these ?
I had a 77 shortbed c10 454. Would blow the doors off 80’s mustang gt’s back in the day. Mine was 2 tone yellow and white. God I miss that truck!
This may be a rare model, but I have a 1985 short box with the 6.2 diesel (infamous) which I believe may be more rare having a diesel in a short box. Not able to find how many were manufactured. Any info. how to find out?
Only one percent of C-10’s in ’85 (as a whole) were diesels.
I had a 77 c10 454 shortbed, it would blow the doors of the 80’s mustang gt’s! Mine was two tone yellow and white. The only vehicle I ever ran out of gas in. Open the 4 barrels up and watch the gas gauge drop. Man I miss that truck!
Today I have Ford Raptor that averages 10.3 MPG. If I don’t romp on it. Guess I don’t really care because the truck is so much fun to drive.
Depends on what the truck is being used for really when it comes to how much torque one needs. The 350 was plenty of engine for most, but those that haul stuff, especially up hilly roads would benefit most with the four fifty four. I’m thinking that engine was more common in long bed work trucks. Clean looking truck.
Hauling azzz requires a ton of torque. That’s what most old cars like to do, so there’s no such thing as too much when it come to needs, ha….
The need for speed!! Ha, yessir, it also requires a little bit of horsepower on top, most stock 454 and definitely 460 Ford trucks I drove/borrowed were strong down low but not really fast at all. Cool response.
I think the truck is priced right. It said also best offer, so maybe a little cheaper? If I didn’t have a glut of vehicles at my house, this would be in my driveway!
Around here, if you go 30 MPH over the limit, car is impounded and license suspended for I believe 2 weeks or so. Don’t need top end if not hitting the track.
Torque is enough for me. My 496 build wild be high compression, super mild cam for torque and mileage. Ha, I said it, mileage and BBC.