![]() 09/25/2020 at 12:10 • Filed to: None | ![]() | ![]() |
Decided it needed some exercise. I don’t like to let it sit too long.
It’s noisy and slow, it guzzles gas, and it’s a pain in the ass in heavy traffic... but man, I just love this old thing.
(
And please note that I only took this photo after I parked...)
![]() 09/25/2020 at 12:18 |
|
I maintain that those early GMT400 clusters are some of the coolest gauges ever made
![]() 09/25/2020 at 12:18 |
|
lmao at your avatar, also what truck is this
![]() 09/25/2020 at 12:26 |
|
I always liked them. They’re super easy to read, too.
The stupid
HVAC controls I’m less enthusiastic about. But at least it has AC.
![]() 09/25/2020 at 12:30 |
|
1989 Chevy K1500, ex-USFS ranger’s truck. 4.3 V6, 4 speed stick.
Here’s a bunch more photos, and David Tracy gushing about it:
https://jalopnik.com/why-this-ex-forest-service-chevy-k1500-may-be-the-perfe-1844339625
![]() 09/25/2020 at 12:36 |
|
Your gauge cluster is way different than what I have seen. Both of my trucks don’t have the idiot lights stacked like that. And the gas gauge is on the lower right side. No tach on mine either. Learn something new everyday. Cool.
![]() 09/25/2020 at 12:38 |
|
Those Forest Service trucks are so “perfect”. It led me on a search using keyword “forest service” on our local car selling site and found these!
https://cars.ksl.com/listing/6690184
https://cars.ksl.com/listing/6663169
Did you get yours through a private seller or government auction?
![]() 09/25/2020 at 12:43 |
|
I love those gauges. My dad had an ‘88 K1500 when it was new.
![]() 09/25/2020 at 12:44 |
|
I think there were 3 versions: this one (which I think was only in the Cheyennes and fleet-specials)
, the one with the speedo in the center and 4 gauges surrounding it (most common, also used in the Astro vans I think), and the one
with 4 gauges and a tach. But the tach one may have been the later style...?
![]() 09/25/2020 at 12:53 |
|
I got it from a private seller. I’m 2 or 3 owners after the government. Got it for a song, but I’ve had to do a bunch of little repairs to it.
The green paint is almost like a secret club: I see a few other old Forest Service trucks around town (a couple of Cherokees and Dakotas
, at least one other Chevy,
a Bronco, and a really nice V10/manual
Ford Super Duty
) and we just smile and nod when we see each
other.
![]() 09/25/2020 at 14:16 |
|
oh yeah i remember reading about it couple months back... didn’t realize it was YOURS! so cool. one day i hope to own a 90s F150 or F250
![]() 09/25/2020 at 14:21 |
|
I looked at a couple of F250s before I bought this. One was a 7.3 diesel and one was a 351. Both manuals. Nice trucks, but HUGE; they were both extended cabs with 8-foot beds, and I thought that was a bit much for my needs.
![]() 09/25/2020 at 14:52 |
|
single cab + 8 foot bed is the way to go!
![]() 09/25/2020 at 19:14 |
|
Moonies! I learned to drive stick on a 1990 K1500.
![]() 09/25/2020 at 20:02 |
|
My dad’s was an auto. His business was doing well, so he replaced his ‘79 K10 with no air and a 4 on the floor, with an early build ‘88 K1500 with an automatic and AFTERMARKET air conditioning. He really should have waited a year to get that truck. Also had aftermarket power windows, power locks, and cruise control. It was ... Not good.
It did have sweet 80's stripe graphics on it though, and those gauges were sweet :)