Chevy vs Ford trucks

I am kinda looking (aka watching Craigslist for a really good deal) for an old truck ('70s) but I was noticing that it seems like the old Chevy trucks look a lot rusty then the same price Ford trucks. Do the old Chevy's just rust in more obvious places or are they just worth more then the Ford trucks so in the price range I have been looking at the Chevy trucks rougher?

Honestly, the 60's to 70's ford trucks are better. Chevy's may have had the mullet fanbase and more engine power, but the fords generally had more torque, and lasted longer.

Finding 4wd fords in that era is alot more of a challenge. Chevy's have an inflated price due to more people looking for them with the "Let's berkeley up the rest of them" attitude

I think that bodystyle Chevy truck is more popular to modify, making them more desirable, and thus the price higher for clean examples. I think people also prefer the 350/350 combo in the Chevys to the 335-series motor and C6 in the Fords

Personally I'm more of a Ford guy, and I happen to really like the late '70s F-series bodystyle, so the Fords being cheaper I'd just see as a bonus.

They are both so old that condition will matter more than anything.

bravenrace wrote: They are both so old that condition will matter more than anything.

It just seems that the Fords seem to be in better shape then the Chevy trucks.

yamaha wrote: Finding 4wd fords in that era is alot more of a challenge.

I am looking for RWD mostly.

93EXCivic wrote:

yamaha wrote: Finding 4wd fords in that era is alot more of a challenge.

I am looking for RWD mostly.

In Fords, you'll find buddy rust primarily in the rear wheel wells. No big deal. The leaf springs are crap. Check them out real close. The drive line may be a bit rusty and need the usual replaced. bankbrakes will be rusty. That being said, I always go Ford. Never had a Chevy truck.

N Sperlo wrote: In Fords, you'll find buddy rust primarily in the rear wheel wells. No big deal. The leaf springs are crap. Check them out real close. The drive line may be a bit rusty and need the usual replaced. bankbrakes will be rusty. That being said, I always go Ford. Never had a Chevy truck.

Add firewall to the fords....

I have had experience with all three makes, Dodges had MAJOR rusting issues(As in, everything rusts 2x as bad), and the Chevy's generally had disposable interiors and cab corners/floorpans/suspension mounts rusted.

This thread is like asking what's the best religion.

I cannot say for older ford and dodge trucks.. but I remember as a kid, my parents bought a brand new Chevy Custom Deluxe 10 so we could carry our "snowdoggies" around to shows and sledding... within 2 years it was a rust bucket

Tom_Spangler wrote: This thread is like asking what's the best religion.

Yes it is, and everyone will argue their side to the end of the world.

I've owned chevy and ford, and the rest of the family swears by ram's.

Realistically, I'd buy the 70's ford(I can't say much, I'm buying a J10)which in a race would rust just as fast as their Dodge counterparts.

Tom_Spangler wrote: This thread is like asking what's the best religion.

I am only really asking about the rust on the trucks. But in reality, it should be better for me since I don't live in the rust belt.

Tom_Spangler wrote: This thread is like asking what's the best religion.

And each side will argue their case to the end of the world.

I cannot say much, since I'm in the process of buying a J10.....and we all know how AMC stuff likes to rust.

Edit: Basically, if it has been used/abused/sitting outside, they'll have rust somewhere. The best old trucks you can get like that would be ones only used on farms at estate sales. Generally, most farmers keep their stuff indoors and maintained. That explains my dad's F150......'87 with 53k on the clock, no rust, no dents, looks like new.

Only thing I don't like about the Fords is the old kingpin/i-beam suspension and finding out you have a Modified. Wonder if you could update to the newer ball joint/spindle setup, plus gain better disc brakes easy.....

Given everything else, I would go for the cheapest and latest model Chevy, especially if you are going RWD.

I would really look for the best price vs least amount of rust.

I'd find the least rusty truck you can find with the cab & transmission option you want, everything else is pretty easily changed.

around here, you see a LOT more 30 year old Chevy/GMC trucks than you do Ford or Dodge.. and the ones you do see have more miles on them.

they all rusted out within 20 years, but the GM trucks tend to be more structurally sound in all the ways that are important for a truck and their drivelines hold up better.

Ranger50 wrote: Only thing I don't like about the Fords is the old kingpin/i-beam suspension and finding out you have a Modified. Wonder if you could update to the newer ball joint/spindle setup, plus gain better disc brakes easy.....

My truck is the first year for Twin I, and I have no issues with it. It's very simple, very few parts to wear out and there's nothing wrong with the disc brakes from that era. If you're into modifying, they don't lower without changing the beams, but lowered trucks are stupid anyway because they cease to be useful as trucks.

To me, trying to decide what the best 40 year old pickup truck is, is kind of silly. They all suck compared to todays trucks. So determine what you like, and go find the one that is in the best shape you can find for the lowest price. My opinion is that the Chevy's drive better than the twin I-beam Fords, and I think their engines in that era were better.
I've found that the popularity of pickups is regional, meaning that one is more popular in one area and the other in another. From what I've seen in old trucks, I'd think you'd see more old versions of one in the areas where they sold more and visa versa. I've had quite a few old Chevy trucks. One '77 I had I bought in Texas, so it was rust free. I garaged it in the winter. Every time I went out in the garage it was in, there was rust on the floor under it. That said, Ford bought my Dad's Country Squire back because it rusted so badly, and I'm pretty sure the metal in the trucks wasn't any better. Like I said, they all suck, and I own two 35 year old Chevy trucks.

Tom_Spangler wrote: This thread is like asking what's the best religion.

I'd rather push my Ford than drive a Chevy!

That's what you were looking for, right?!

Sky_Render wrote:

Tom_Spangler wrote: This thread is like asking what's the best religion.

I'd rather push my Ford than drive a Chevy! That's what you were looking for, right?!

You probably will - Found On The Road Dead!!!!!!

bravenrace wrote:

Sky_Render wrote:

Tom_Spangler wrote: This thread is like asking what's the best religion.

I'd rather push my Ford than drive a Chevy! That's what you were looking for, right?!

You probably will - Found On The Road Dead!!!!!!

You mean "First on Race Day."

In reply to Sky_Render:

Yeah, that too.

ddavidv wrote: but lowered trucks are stupid anyway because they cease to be useful as trucks.

For offroading yes, but for most street truck use, not true in the SLIGHTEST. As the past owner of a number of lowered trucks that still towed, still carried loads in the bed, etc, I know for a fact that your statement is full of crap.

As for the subject at hand, I've always thought the Chevys looked better, but the Fords worked better. Both will do everything I'd need them to do, so I tend to go with what looks better to me and the Chevy's do, especially the '67-72 era trucks. But I also like the follow up round headlight versions of the '73-87s.

bravenrace wrote: To me, trying to decide what the best 40 year old pickup truck is, is kind of silly. They all suck compared to todays trucks. So determine what you like, and go find the one that is in the best shape you can find for the lowest price.

I think the other problem with this era of trucks is that people have started to figure out that they are cheap to restore. So value has now gone up. It's kind of surprising to see so many restored 70's era trucks- it's not as if they were any good in the first place.

BTW, when I was a kid, we had a '67 that just had faded paint, and a '76 that had worse paint- both were from Idaho. When I moved to Michigan, I picked up a '78 that was scary rusty.

(note the lack of brand- I agree that it's more irrelvant for condition reasons than relevant for design)

If you really want one, get the best one you can find- if it's made it this far, I'm sure its either a great truck, or one that will take some basic suspension maintenece quite well.