I have an '86 regular cab long bed. Mine is a 305 with a 350 trans, and it's a one wheel wonder with 2.73's. I have all the power options and bought it for $2,700. You can find short beds, but if you find one in good condition I would expect to pay more, unless you find one in the right place for the right place. And I agree with the others, I would look for an '85-'87. My truck is pretty much all stock. Gas mileage is somewhere around 13-15, I haven't looked at that recently.

I haven't really had anything go out on it, per say, most of what I've done has just been maintaining it -brakes, wires, plugs, wiper motor, etc.-, nothing in the performance direction. If you have a Q-jet, buy a good stock replacement or an aftermarket carb. I would expect to replace window seals, and speaking of seals -and this goes for most- you'll likely have trans fluid leaking a bit out the back, also, be ready for front and rear main seals on the motor -that's where I'm at right now, I'm waiting till I can replace the motor completely. Other than that, it's pretty much general maintenance.

 

Id go with an 87. Its pretty much the last year of that body style (not counting half year stuff), so it should have all the updates if there were any.
My 86 was built like a tank. As long as you find one that hasn't had the frame drilled on...you'll be ok. From what I was told, if you drill on these trucks frame, you'll ruin the corrosion protection - moreso than current trucks.
I liked my 86 moreso than my 99, just because it could haul a WHOLE lot more cargo and could pull a trailer without having a heart attack, unlike my 5.3L.

The most common thing I remember from mine, were the dual tank selector switches that always seemed to fail. Other than that, they were pretty darned durable.
I put Autometer gages in mine, right into the stock bezel. I got some serious looks when all you saw in the dark were a panel of White lit Phantom Autometers and a lumpy cam breathing out 3" aluminized from the headers back into a pair of flowmasters.

 

thanks everybody

 

I had an '87 Silverado. It was short bed 4X4. I would prefer a 2 wheel drive as was stated earlier. '87 is the first year of fuel injection (TBI) and the last year of the solid axle on 4x4's. Mine had a 350 and 700r4. They don't make a lot of power stock but are very reliable. It think my 350 was 180hp. The heads were very restrictive in those years. Quadrajets are good carbs if you get an '86 or earlier. Find someone who really knows how to build them and they are great. TBI is preferred.

 

look for a 87 it will have tbi fuel injection and the 700r4 overdrive transmission which would be perfect for a daily driver. it wont be a powerhouse but it will be reliable and get slightly better fuel economy than the previous years. i have had quite a few of these trucks its the best bodystyle chevy ever built! imo. there is alot of potential with these trucks. i swapped a lq9 6.0 in my 86 and it was a blast to drive. good luck with the hunt!

 

When shopping for a ’73 thru ’87 model ½ Ton GM truck, look closely at the frame rails for cracking in the areas of the steering gear box in the front and the rear shock and leaf spring mounts in the rear. It is very common for these trucks to develop cracks, up to and including the areas to fully break out and usually the repairs were made by welding in a plate over the offending areas. If the repairs were made correctly everything will be fine, but it is something to keep an eye out for.