Faults:

Everything was junk when I first got it on my 15th birthday.

Blown motor when I got it.

General Comments:

I put a 327 out of a corvette, aluminium heads. bored 30/over. I put a turbo 400 tans-mission with a monster shift kit. Next was the rear end, I went with a 411 12 bolt rear end. dressed the outside with a custom metallic silver, then took seats from a newer Chevy truck that are leather and put a stereo system with 4 12inch polkaudio sub-woofers, and had to run 3 batteries to power them.

This truck runs like a beast and turn heads. You can hear it well before you can see it. I take it to plenty of shows, and though it is not stock restoration people still enjoy it.

Faults:

The radiator had a leak.

The tires needed to be replaced.

The 4 wheel drive linkage had to be worked on.

General Comments:

I bought this truck four years ago for $2500 bucks. I put in around $1500 in maintenance and $1500 in a paint job since I bought it. If you need a reliable, tough, go anywhere vehicle this is the one to get.

However, she needs some TLC (she is, in fact, 25 years old). That means she is an antique. She doesn't drive like one, though. You can still romp on her engine and, even though it is a stock 350, you still get a sense of her power.

She also drives across country very well. To get from Salida, CO to Nashville, TN it cost $100 bucks in gas money. Which is around 10 miles to the gallon. This won't bother you though. When you see a new vehicle with all kinds of computers under the hood waiting for problems to happen you know that if something goes wrong with your baby, it will take a part that costs 12 cents and some pliers to fix it.

I am in iraq right now in support of the war against terrorism. I know this next sentence is going to sound redneck, but... God, I miss my old pick-up truck.

Faults:

Steering squealed like all GM vehicles of that era.

Tires dry rotted.

Wiper motor died.

Heater fan died.

General Comments:

I had to fix the rust holes with Juicy Fruit & White-out to get it inspected.

The truck had sat for almost 2 years and has no pulling power.

The 4WD works great, ran in 4 feet of snow, never got stuck.

Faults:

Nothing to be unexpected for a good ole, hardworking truck.

4 sets of tires in the 310K miles.

Shocks.

Alternator.

Couple batteries.

Wiring Harness.

Couple Clutches.

Belts/Hoses.

General Comments:

We bought this truck from a gentleman in Oklahoma - "The Beast" as we called her.

She was green, with silver trim, and the original owner had work performed on her muffler to make her sound meaner then she was. We'd always liked the sound of The Beast, and thus came the name.

In 1984, she came home to Colorado.

Strange truck, she was, her front end was 3/4 ton, but her rear-end had been rebuilt for a 1 ton capacity with single wheel axle.

That first year, we had to replace all 4 wheels - they were bent and out of round. We also threw on new all-terrain tires and customized hitch.

In 1985, this truck went to work hauling our 10' cab-over, fully self-contained camper and a brand-new 18' Wellcraft 5K pound boat.

The Beast hauled our load from the Great Montana country to the rainy meadows of Arkansas through the many years of ownership.

Only twice, in the 310K miles did she ever break down. Only minor issues - first time outside of Cheyenne, WY, from a blown radiator hose.

2nd time - she blew a tire outside of Casper, WY. We simply blamed it on Wyoming terrain - laughing that the truck just hated Wyoming, her very frequent destination.

See, I was just a child when Dad bought this truck. I grew up, every summer bouncing around in her - we carried friends, dogs, campers, boats, luggage, fish. You name it, The Beast carried and towed it with pride.

Her favorite places were hiding out in the great Rockies, and Lake Glendo, Lake Alcova in Wyoming.

In 1994, we began to realize that our old friend was in need of major suspension work. She'd served us well, and though we didn't want to trade her out; she was honestly too worn for our load anymore. Her suspension was becoming unstable and was drastically starting to show.

We had taken fantastic care of her, and she was our pride. However, Mom and Dad didn't have the luxury of being able to rebuild her undercarriage, nor the availability of installing a 454 - something she really needed, as those rocky mountains were really taking their toll on her old engine.

Dad sold her to a younger man who lived in Alaska and had come all the way to Denver looking for a Scottsdale Chevy. The man had full intentions of installing a 454 and performing repairs on the suspension; and the man stated he was taking the truck to Alaska to live on the Yukon River.

Mom and Dad had always wanted to visit Alaska and Dad felt it righteous for that old truck to be blessed with the pleasure of Alaska - that's where he wanted her to be. As her home, where she ran the best, was in cold weather, tearing up the highway hillside.

I miss that old truck. They don't make them like The Beast anymore.

In 2000, we purchased another 3/4 ton Chevy 4x4. She's a Silverado LS, and you guessed it - she's green.

Although she doesn't sound like The Beast, and rides much too nice, nothing at all like that old truck. She'll suffice; she'll hold up just the same.

What I wouldn't give to see that old girl again, though.

Faults:

Nothing is wrong with this truck.

General Comments:

It is a gas hog as it is in four wheel drive anytime it is under 30 miles per hour.

It is huge and drives like a tank.