I've owned several squares, they're only as good as the owner makes them.

So many of the things you mentioned are due to poor ownership. Mine has all working gauges, working stock ac, hood pops easy, seats move easy, hood is aligned.. it’s only as good as the owner keeps it.

“No radio, no ac, no wiper fluid 😫” All those things are easy to install.

I love my squarebody, daily drove it for a few months. Never broke down. Never had 90% of the issues you spoke about. It’s been a great truck

I daily drive a lifted 79 K10 in London UK, get 9mpg, no ac or heating, none of the dash gauges illuminate or even work, headlights are awful yet I wouldn't swap it for anything, truly are king of the road, and if I have no issues on the tight roads of London I can't imagine any city in the USA being difficult to drive in

I daily drove a 1969 Chevy truck for several years. I had everything squared away and right....and it took me everywhere i wanted to go. Never had any trouble with it. The old trucks are as reliable as your willing to make them. Just gotta fix all the bugs.

Adjust the hood, replace rag joint steering shaft with a shaft from an XJ jeep, replace the printed circuit on the gauge cluster, and sending units, AC is easy to fix, crossover steering is worth the cost if you off-road at all, and swap in a 6.2 diesel. I’m getting 28-30mpg average in my c30 dually with a flatbed. Drive it six days a week with no issues. It’s ugly but mechanically sound

This is actually a good truck , let's all remember a youngster is saying what he hates about it. His grandpa or dad would say it was the best thing of his time.

These are all fixable problems that are only on your square, doesn’t apply to all squares out there.

This video intro should be title "5 things I hate about my specific truck". Not all square bodies are the same. Some have A/C, power windows, power locks, cruise control, and radio. Some have adjustable steering column and adjustable seats. This video is a poor example for square bodies.

Don't blame the truck, blame on the owner

Wow my first 3 vehicles I owned were all square bodies and I never had any of the problems you encounter. I kept care of mine and dud maintenance. I learned how to drive in a 78 Scottsdale k10 4x4, 3" body lift and 35" tires. Parallel parking was never really an issue. If you can parallel Park an old Chevy you can pretty much parallel Park anything. I learned this when I was 16 and that was 31 years ago.

One thing that really helped on my 88 k5 was the redhead steering box upgrade and the jeep xj Cherokee steering shaft, it gets rid of all the play in the steering. The xj shaft has u joints rather than rag joints, massive upgrade, and the redhead was absolutely worth the price

Suck it up buttercup, I have been driving a '75 C-20 since it was new of the show room floor. And mine still rocks the 16.5 rims. 35x12.50x16.5,, four inch body lift. 82134.8 on the odometer for the sixth time.

I kinda miss my old square, but I really wish I had my grandpa's square more. Unfortunately it's long gone now.

Feel like it really comes down to how past owners took care of the truck. My suburban was used mostly by the government so it was pretty decently maintained. It’s super reliable and easy to drive, but yeah with the aerodynamics of an actual refrigerator it’s expensive. Mine is on stock ride height, i run about 10.5mpg in the summer and 9ish in winter. The size isn’t really an issue for me, you just have to know how to handle it and it’s no big deal. The width is the only issue I have. If there are cars parked on both sides of the road and there’s oncoming traffic, I won’t be able to fit and have to let the other cars pass first. The thing is 79 inches wide without the mirrors on it.

If you can't /wont work on them, You should buy new instead of trashing one of the very most reliable trucks on the road....

I think you just need an electric car

I have a 78 K30 crewcab longbed, with an 8" lift and 37" tires. She may handle a bit tougher than a sedan or little sports car, but she still parks fine. I did have to build a garage for her though.

You would REALLY hate my 73 GMC C25! Manual steering, manual brakes, manual windows, manual seat, manual mirrors, manual 3 speed trans, 292 Stovebolt 6. I love it.

I was on pins and needles when I saw the approach on that obstacle at the end...nice driving of a capable rig!!

I just drove an 85 gmc sierra 7000 back from st Louis yesterday. Drove very nice for an 85 model truck not to mention it was a grain truck with the dual rear axels. I would have been completely comfortable rolling on at 75-80mph if it wasn't geared so low. 427 spinning 3100rpm at 55mph. so that's what I ran it at the 7hrs home. It was kinda weird because the interior looked just like a nice stock 85 chevy... But with a 427, air brakes and a 5 speed with the 2 speed axel lol

I have owned my 89K 5 Blazer since February 2003…and I’m the 3rd owner owning it the longest. I have pretty much replaced any and everything on it, somethings a couple of times. These squares were never produced for fuel economy, so that’s that. AC systems were subpar from design but will help when not above 90° (live in Florida so….) I had issues with my steering on my K5….Best money I spent was putting on an Off Road Design steering box brace and having the cross member at the front of the frame welded in place. The factory rivets had come loose and there was a crazy amount of flex in the entire front frame as you would steer back and forth. You can also drill these rivets out and repair this with heavy duty bolts with nuts and lock washers. The welding was much easier and quicker. I also replaced several other worn steering parts and now it has no slop in the steering and will track straight down the road, by the way I also run 35 in tall tires but only a 4 inch lift. The design of the power windows for the square bodies were even worse then the AC system, they all are pretty much slow as anything and the new/remanufactured ones are not much better! There are 100 ‘s of other little quirks about square bodies that could be discussed for days…( poor breaking!!!)...Bottom line, they are a piece of old GM history. They turn hands where ever you go wether it’s a pickup, Blazer or Suburban. Parts are plentiful and usually not to bad on price,plus the sky is the limit if you have deep money 💰 💵💸💰💵💸 pockets on upgrades and full blown restorations and restomodding one….Enoy owning one as clean as the one you have!!! Stay safe and take care, from Florida here….

Replaced my steering box and it’s straight as an arrow now at 100k. Basically same truck as yours. Only thing is the wheel shakes, I’m getting ready to upgrade the stabilizer and start there.

I know I’m a little late but I figure I’ll go ahead and put in my two cents. Now I do have a 83 C10 SWB so I can really say much in the steering and suspension area of things but I can recommend the steering box reinforcement bracket is a absolute must. For A/C look into a vintage air system and for reliability look into doing an LS swap. I did one on my 83 and in total came out to around $5000 once said and done. But you’ll make way more power stock than a SBC and have a big fuel mileage increase as well as A/C.

I love my 1975 C25 camper special with a Lance cab over camper.. I get alot of people asking about it..

I have 84 model. Bought new in Dec 83. It was my daily driver till 97. Motor [305] went out in 2000. Had a company truck for 3 yrs so I let it sit. Put a 350 create motor in it in 03. Custom Deluxe, stick shift like yours. Drove it everyday in Memphis, not as tuff as your home but tuff enough. Poor thing has been hit more than Joe Louis and painted twice. Finish is bad cause of pine trees. Air went out over 30 yrs ago, radio quit before that. All gauges work fine. Would not sell for small change. 4wd works fine. It is like driving a tank.

I've drove my square Daily for over 4 years and going, and I'm a good owner so everything works. Everything is great I drive it on the free way for hours to school.

I own two square bodies,an 84 c10 long bed and a 91 K5 blazer. These trucks were made for real men, made of steal not plastic and fiber glass! Back when trucks were trucks! They were no frills meant for working hard not creature comforts. But they're cool and get plenty of looks and questions

My 78 Suburban is a wonderful Square Body. I am in the process of putting a BBC in mine as the previous owner took the BBC out and put a Sbc in which gives it worse fuel mileage due to its size and weight. The BBC will work less than the SBC so it will make a difference at the pump. It will also tow better with the BBC with the added tourqe. You need to get a new steering box as they take a lot of abuse in a lifted Square Body. A power steering fluid cooler will also help reduce the problem of steering pump failures. I installed a cooler and it quit destroying my steering pump. The problem people have with the belts is usually misaligned pulleys or bent pulleys.

I'm 68. I grew up on a dairy farm in wisconsin. I should say small dairy ( we only milked about 32 cows ) had 180 acres. The truck my day went to the mill to grind the corn and oats was ford f 100 & later some f-150's. So all these years I never knew there was a thing called a square body that went from 1973 to around 1987 or so. I didn't know that in 1975 sold 750,000 in one year. I was looking at an add today where a guy has a mechanically sound, original paint job 1975 4x4 3/4 ton looking to get $1000. I wish I hadn't bought a couple old farm tractors and as you say throw away cars over the summer , maybe I could still talk the wife into getting it. Like you say there are a lot still around, another one will come by, but not in as good of shape, as this farmer said it's mechanically sound.

Cross over steering with a new steering box and new tie rod will do wonders. I did it on my 79 K30 .

That’s why you just refurbish everything and it’ll be like a brand new truck. I have a square body, Scottsdale 82 and I love it.

In 1985 I bought a brand new Silverado long bed 30 series 4 x 4 454 engine live in San Francisco never had any problems parking I drove it like I was driving a small Pick up trucks it was my daily driver in the city of San Francisco now I have a 74 suburban with a manual and it’s still easy for me to drive i’m 61 now 🤠

Dude this is freakin awesome. Lol !! Proud owner here of a ‘84 K20!!! 😁😎👍🏻

There is adjustment you can make on the steering box that will tighten it up a little. Give it a try before buying a new box. Just go a little at a time.

She is a fixer upper big dog, I got a 65 c10 and stock it is not an optimal daily driver. Once you put some money into it and some love it’s all of a sudden the dream whip

i am a new owner of the ole square body and everything you have said is so true i have replaced al of the steering in it and it is still bad i also have a 454 and the gas mileage sucks as well

The whole reason why I bought my 76 Jimmy was because I didn't want all the modern comforts. All the shit they're putting in vehicles today, you really don't need half of that and when it goes wrong I just don't want to be that person... one time, just one time in the 19 years I've been driving I looked at new vehicles maybe 6 years ago and I was very unimpressed.. Salesman was really pushing tech, you can connect to Wi-Fi and you can plug in your laptop and it's all touchscreen...honestly don't care about any of that crap, I just want something that isn't a turbocharged four-cylinder and doesn't have a giant flat-screen in the middle of it.

I have a 69 f250 that I drive daily. I never break down, I get over 20 mpgs, all my gauges work, I have AC, a soft cushy seat, the windshield washer nozzles work…. The trick is that when you fix something, take the time to do it right and you won’t have to revisit your repairs over and over again like billy bob with ham hands is always doing.

Damn Cuz. My 89 Jimmy has everything working. Stock 350 NS 4SP auto. Fuel sucks but you're right, it's cooler than any of the new things.

Only thing I hate is empty parking lots tends to eat my tires more 😂

I've owned a 79'gmc and 87'chevy for last 6yrs and I have never had problems daily nor did I ever have to store tools in the trucks😂

ive learned that the bigger the tire the more of a pain they are to keep in your lane

1: That's because you are in Chicago, you don't need a lifted truck, or even a truck at all. 2: It is because you have NOT fixed it, it will get better if you correctly fix it. 3: IT IS JUST YOUR TRUCK, YOU CAN FIX IT, not a common problem on square body's 4: I only agree on the gas one, the tires one is because it is custom 5: No, you don't always get breakdowns, my sister only gets breakdowns because she had cut off the exhaust right in front of the muffler, which vapor lock the gas tank If you feel you need to correct me, then reply what you want to say.

Five things I hate is ford, dodge,Nissan,sugar free cookies and my neighbors cat

Squarebodies might lack immediate driving luxury and convenience, but it will last longer and it will be repairable by anybody with a toolbox.

My very first truck was a 73 Chevy C10 3 speed on the column 350 4 bolt Main I love that truck and so just really would love to have another except I do want four wheel drive

Glad you got one with a gear banger

You build a classic truck right you’ll never have to worry about breaking down on side of the road. I have two one has a stock 350 I’ve been driving it for 10 years now and never had to replace anything that isn’t general maintenance

Delete the rag joint Ac is optional it can be easily installed Cruise control is optional it can be installed Straight 6 is optional and it gets pretty good milage, otherwise the desil version will get you about 30 miles to the gallon In short you can easily find stock parts to make it as luxurious as any modern vehicle, it depends on the model but all squarebody parts were basically interchangeable, there is almost nothing a modern truck does that a stock top of the line squarebody didn't do I have several rusty but trusty squarebodys and I can confidently say they will be on the road longer than almost every 2022 pickup truck being bought today, but in short with any vehicle it all depends on what you do to or with your vehicle. Hope I don't sound preachy, love your videos man!

I have my great grandpa truck it's a 1986 gmc c2500 and it still sounds like a beast and still handing is still amazing

The beauty of owning a piece of history.

I bought a tbi 89 suburban, I had to change head gaskets, all the bearing in the front axle but that was just stuff that's been overdue big time, plus easy and on the cheap, since then it's been 0 issues and might I add I never changed head gaskets before and I had no issues, that's why I love my suburban.. I know it's going to be relatively easy and inexpensive to fix so I don't have a heat attack.. but yeah tires are ridiculous

I drive a square body Chevy every day And I have no problem parking it pretty much anywhere making tight turns It does drink a lot of fuel But it has no issues at all and I wouldn't trade it for the world and it's a full world an it a 4wheel drive manual

The fact that your radio is missing, (you can see that it used to have one), and that your dash instruments don't work has nothing to do with the fact that it is a squarebody. It has to do that your truck needs repairs, and you haven't done them. It is YOUR fault, not the truck's fault. As for the loose steering, this is not rack & pinion. If you really feel that your's is too loose, there is a back-lash adjustment, (manual steering, not sure about power steering). Make sure the lash is within specifications. If it isn't, adjust it so that it is. If you can't, you need to rebuilt the steering box. Also, your steering linkage - tie rods, pittmann arm, idler arm, could be worn. If they are all loose, replace them, and your steering will feel tighter, but remember, you have to regularly grease your steering linkage and your king pins/bushings, your spring shackles. You have to maintain a vehicle that you want to keep indefinitely, or else components will quickly wear out, requiring repair/replacement, unlike a new vehicle that you will replace in about 2 years, where the next owner has to deal with the repairs.

I daily my 1985 c10 with no tools, AC blowing cold and no worries. Can’t kill a 350 small block

I’d take this bow tie legend in a heart beat

I have an 81 with none of those problems. Steering tight, 16 mpg, reliable (has not failed on road at all). It is big, but I can park it wherever I wish to go. WhatsammataU?

Ive got a squarebody suburban since ive got 3 kids and like having the extra cargo room plus an extra 3 seats in the 3rd row if i wanna take my frienfs and their kid with us somewhere. The only thing i hate about daily driving mine is the fuel mileage, ill eventually get a 5.3 for it to get a few more mpg but the way it is rn, badass, 2500 4x4 suburban, gonna get a 2 inch lift on it. The way your steers has to do with the steering box, mine has tight responsive steering and everything is stock

Millennials like this that don't have the true knowledge or appreciation should not be allowed to own a vehicle like this. Back in my day, we never complained about our truck, even if we should. But im happy he got his views and pushed a sponsor.

Love my square, she's my daily.

I drive a 98 k 2500 3x4 ton, manual, extra cab long bed. Used to the giant turn radius, 10mpg. Love it but need a more economical form of transportation.

They don't rot out as fast as the new trucks do . I had an 02 chevy truck and an04 avalanche. Both of them rotted out didn't matter how clean you keep them . I have an 86 chevy scottsdale that is still in great shape and never got washed much .

Most of the things you hate about this truck is because you have a lemon.

I know this is a relatively older video but I thought I would get my opinions anyway. I've had my 82 Chevy Silverado for over 7 years now it only had to replace the oil pump and get the carburetor rebuilt the 305 holds strong I have not had any issues out of it for any of those 7 years other than that i drive it daily it's a long bed like yours. But as for the loose sloppy steering I really haven't had that problem with mine I can hold it in the appropriate Lane with one finger on the Wheel. But I guess maybe it's a four-wheel drive issue since my C10 is a two-wheel drive there could be as simple as the truck is up to high our needs an alignment done many issues could be causing loose steering but you are correct the square body is gone up substantially and I can remember at a time when you couldn't hardly get rid of the square body cuz no one wanted them but the last 10 to 15 years I noticed they've got to insane prices. But really it's because it's so simple with the square body that makes them special no fancy gadgets to go bad and you don't have an AI put into them either. But I think you should keep that square body of yours it looks nice now I see in the future a square body probably will be worth as much as those Hemi cudas and those muscle cars since it seems like the square bodies are going that way.

Looks like this is all owner maintenance.. Square body’s is 1 of the best trucks ever made.. Change my mind !!! Lol..😂

Change the idler arm in the front suspension and, It will tighten up the steering.

I have a very similar truck but its my back up vehicle. I daily a 1990 c1500 and that thing is like a Cadillac compared to my 86 k30, a/c, power windows, over drive transmission. My steering on my 86k30 is very tight, dont do the crossover steering that isn’t going to help anything i did that in a 85 k5 blazer and pretty much made it worse

Number 1: be a mechanic and never have a complaint, or setting your purse down helps too if you have a purse problem

I have 2 of them rite now 85 and 86 my 86 was a 2wd till front frame went baby now its a 4x4 3/4ton with 1 ton rear springs and half ton over load shocks.

i drove my 85 k20 for 3 years after rebuilding everything mechanical on the drivetrain with no problems . until a BMW decided i didnt need it anymore . im rebuilding it AGAIN though at the moment . its a 85 k20 with a 454 and the sm465 trans , 6in on 35s .

I can take my new GMC elevation which by the way I love and very rarely anybody will say anything, however I take my 83 Scottsdale rust free Southern truck I get more thumbs up and hey man love your truck comments! oh yeah and my big standard poodle loves the old Scottsdale better than the new one, single cab bench seat and she can snuggle right up with Dad LOL, when I first started watching this video I just wanted to give you a good backhander but I waited cuz I knew where this was going LOL love your truck long live the square body!

My truck is stock and mostly mint I got everything on it but AC and radio I got a after market radio I thought was cool I have a 84 Chevy k10 square body 4 inch lift with 33's and I love it and the steering I don't gotta mess with it it is straight as an arrow I don't got your problems in my truck just mess with the steering and it will be better and you have a beautiful truck and I get 16 miles per gallon

I love mine 80 k10, but I've driven very few modern vehicles so I'm used it. Out of the 6 or 7 years I've owned it the only problem I've had was vapor locking at one point. And its far from being properly maintained. It looks like a rust hunk a junk honestly. Maybe I've just been lucky though.

I have a 72 chevy Cheyenne.refurbished 454 Chevelle motor K20 3/4 ton locking splicer hubs. Love

I bought a squarebody a year ago that needed and engine and trans. Nothing worked. Only problem I have with it is power steering belt constantly comes loose, a slight transmission leak and fuel gauge don’t work. Minor stuff I can fix I just don’t care to fix because I don’t drive it every day. If you can’t handle an old car don’t have one🤣

Love it.... i daily a 98 k1500

The more one of these gets modified, the more you have to mess with them, once you have the basic mechanicals sorted. The design from the factory was for reliability and simplicity for farmers. Leave them stock and they are one of the best trucks ever built. A 2023 Chevy won’t be around in 50 years, guaranteed. Btw, your rig is cool!

I have a 85 with 35 and a 454. I don't have your issues,mine gets 14mpg and steers excellent. Need to just fix it.😂

Do you have a sway bar? Would definitely recommend adding one back on if you don't.

First of all I know you like old-school since I see one in your garage and you drive an old-school Chevy so I know you like all the cars but there’s something you need to know when you’re building or have an old-school ride whether it’s Chevy box or not you need to have three things number one patience number two time number three you need money to work on the vehicle to build it to fix it to reupholster it to paint it for parts for chroming for just basically anything to update it in modernize it and make it look advanced, and the old body engine and mechanical are primary and then secondary is aesthetics. We all know VA are gas guzzler, so when you get an old-school ride, you know that a V8 engine is going to use a lot of fuel regardless most cars now are electric and we all know the advantages of an old School box Chevy I have a 1993 van and I built everything from the ground up and it’s all new but guess what I don’t have no car payment and I can go anywhere in my new engine and new transmission later

I set my Toe in on a set of 44 " tires 3/16-1/4 " toe in to tighten up the steering. Also LS swap it fuel mileage will go way up. I get 15 miles to gallon with 44" boggers

my grandfather dailys a 1974 Suburban RWD, on the first comment about the steering, def looks hard lol

I got an 86 ram charger with a 4 inch lift on 35, sounds about right

I get out of the 18 wheeler and into my C30 and it feels tiny. 😂

I bought one for 500 title in hand not a lick of rust but that baby got three flat tires. And something at the wiring up. It is a work in progress but one day it’ll be road worthy.

Replace the steering shaft with on from a Jeep XJ or check your steering box crossover won't do nothing for you. Keep up with maintenance like hoses and belts and spend a day actually fixing the dash and electrical stuff. They are a great truck to own and only will go up in value

I love driving my 1976 3/4 ton 4 x 4 Suburban . Except like you I can't pass a gas station since I have the 14 bolt free float rearend and a np 203 transfer case.

Everything stated as a negative is exactly why I rather drive an old truck. Built more durable. But yeah the quirks is what gives them character. Every new truck feels the same as the other. They all feel like a prissy fancy SUV/minivan with power and a bed. Hell, I gave up driving my XJ Cherokee due to major rot in the rear (fixing) and bought a 2011 FJ Cruiser. I hate new cars. They are boring as hell. I miss my clunky noisy XJ. As soon as I can I am selling the FJ and getting a square body. I like something that is cheap to tinker with.

Very cool man. I'm 17 looking to buy a square body.

Don't forget how old these squarebodys are getting. A new truck will never make it to 35-40 years old.

Just trying to see over the cowl induction hood lol Your suspension needs work if you have loose steering. My 85 M1008 is lifted on 35's and I have no "wander" steering issues.

You don’t have to double clutch an SM 465 in granny low or first

Always braking down lmao good one it's the most reliable vehicle I've ever driven, worst thing that's ever happened is the rocker broken in half seems like you have a pretty bad maitance routine

Let me know if you want to sale

Wow. That's like me complaining about ground clearance in my corvette. Or it can go fast so there's a chance I'll get tickets. What a MOMO

Literally everything you mentioned doesn't exist in my square body

I have a 78 chevy londbed lol you are right but I love it 😆 🤣

I think the problem with your hood is that it's too floppy. They made these with a crumple point in them about halfway along the length in case of head-on impact. Over time, normal closing of the hood can cause the hood to sag at the crumple point, resulting in misalignment and difficulty.