What 'aircraftmechanic' said - pretty much is my opinion. The '73-87's I consider a more 'modern' vehicle than the older Chevy's. I prefer the styling on the newer 73-87's, myself. It's all a matter of personal tastes, and preference.

One thing that drove change was the use of 'curved glass on the sides. Other features were - Improved aero-dynamic body design, Power Brakes, Power Steering, Fiberglass hardtops, Electric windows & doors-starting in '78, bucket seats, removable rear seats, swing-out spare tire carriers, Hei Ignition, Fuel Injection, and a sepentine belt system on the later models. - I may have missed a few things.

Engines offered on these were all the way from a straight 250ci 6-cyl, to 305, (307-on the '73 to '75's), 350, 400, and 6.2L (379ci) Diesel. Other packages were available, but these were stock engine options.

Axles used on the '73-87's were primarily the Dana 44 or GM 10-bolt in front. (The Dana being the better of the two), and GM 10, or 12 bolt axles in the rear. (the 12-bolt being the better there). As with everything, there were optional feature packages on these models, but these were the factory basic packages.

I'm not familiar with the factory Axle models on the 60's- '72's. Although I belive the Dana 44 was one of the models offered. Maybe someone expert in these model years, can let us know.

www.lmctruck.com these guys have a boat load of parts for any year truck you just request your catalog and they send it to you free you can pick oem from these guys

I LOVE ALL THE CHEVYS AND GMC'S.

New or old...I just cant afford a new one, but I would have to say that the late 70's and late 80's are my favorite, not only because they are tough, easy to work on and modify but they are comfortable.

If I drive a FORD or DODGE it just don't feel right. The Chevy interors are nice, they have really good heaters and when you live in BC you need a good heater believe me!

I love the look of them...espesially when beefed up, but I hate it when somebody goes over board....like 12 big PINK KC lites on the roll bar, that's a crime, no Chevy should have to put up with that!!!

An old Chevy with massive meats, winches, roll cage and a tonne of body scratches is my kind of Chevy.....no show all go!!

If the 70's to 80's Chevys dont get picked for the best "real" 4x4 on the planet, I will lose all faith in man kind!

Cheers all.

Put together a group of "stock" form trucks, and see what comes out of it. Land Rovers, K5/10, Bronco's(1st and 2nd gen),early 80's Yoyas, FJ's, Power Wagons/Ramcharger, CJ/YJ/TJ, M37.

Each have their highs and lows. Get out there and use them for their intended purpose. Back country exploring,work,rescue/recovery.

edit: after wirting this, I got home to see the june issue waiting for me. Excellent choices, but one I would change. In place of the Nismo, I'd put in a Xterra. I drive a Ford, but if I had to pick a vehicle to drive across brutal terain, it would be the Defender or a FJ90.

i think that jones has a very good list. but i would like to add one. the FSJ all of these jeeps are tuff. they come with v8's and pretty stout axles. mabe not #1 but should be in the list. my name is ryan eberle and my jeep is on pg42 of june edition. check it out. it is a tuff unit and i didn't spend much on it

I don't agree that the ranger Fx4 is the best stock off-road vehicle from ford. the 66-77 broncos are way better! the EBs (Early Bronco) can come with 4.57 axle gears, 289 or 302 v8s, limited slips front and rear, heavy duty axle packages, a ford 9 in. which is used on many modified off-road vehicles, a dana 30 or 44 depending on the year. Dana 44s are used on tons of jeeps as upgrade axles too. the only weakness of a bronco is the bad street tires and its lowness, but you can't find an EB with its original street tires unless you get a restored one, but why would you buy a restored one to tear up. and, yeah i have seen one uncut, thats nothing five minutes with a sawzall can't fix. i took my bronco down moderate trails stock with open diffs, 4.10 gears, and a 302 with hardly any drama. i've never seen a stock ranger on a moderate trail, let alone seeing one stock off-road!  

I know i'm a ford guy,but why did you pick the rubicon unlimited for jeep's vehicle? Why not the wrangler Rubicon? I off-road with jeep guys, and one guy just bought a brand-new unlimited and it kept getting hung up everywhere! before the othe guys modded their jeeps they didn't get hung up like that!  

You guy got it all wrong. Its all about the 77 to 79 ford f-150-350. Ya I know found on road dead but how can you go wrong with hi pinion 44 and 60 witht the venerable 9" and D60 rear, it is perfect material for a great trail rig. Even the engines are good. You got the 302, 351,460 amoung others. Chevys are good but they are way to common up here with just about all of the high school hics driving their beaters. Fords in my opinion is the only way to go. Did I mention that they also prodced the Bronco.

I think the 1996-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee is the the best 4X4. It has front and rear solid axles and coil springs all around. It is a perfect platform. I personally think it looks great because it isn't rounded off like all the new Jeeps. The Selec-Trac transfer case has all the right options. 2WD for good fuel economy, 4 All-Time for slick roads, 4 Part-Time for snow, sand and mud, and 4 LO for rock crawling. It might not be high-tech, but it is just a really good platform. With the transfer case in 4 LO and front and rear lockers (easy to get for the two solid axles, no IFS), it could could outcrawl any new Jeep (excluding the Rubicon) or any other new 4X4 any day. The reason I'm arguing against the Rubicon in the the first place is because my favorite type of 4X4's are medium sized SUV's. I attached a picture of one.   

The 1960-1987 Chevy and GMC trucks are the best trucks out here. They have nice body lines and versital about parts swaping.  

'Zactly.
I just sold my 3rd F-150, after many good miles, and I'm still sad.
As for the "suckyness" that many say exists, sure, if you attempt to make it into something a structural engineer would cry over, ANY rig will fail. Do it right, and you're golden.
I will always have Ford trucks, and it's not just because I'm a Florida muddin' hick... :-)
Also, As for his assertion on the AMG H1 Alpha, I would stack that truck against ANY rig you want, and it will come out breathing fire, crawling over the rest of the rides stuck helplessly.
I'd love to have one of those!

Peace,
JOSH, a FORD guy!  

I'm really an old Chevy K-5 fan, but I agree with you on the original Bronco's. I've always wanted one of these rigs, but finding one here in Md. that's not rusted real bad is a hard thing to do as I live in the rust belt.

By the way I have a stock Ranger 4x4 that doesn't do too bad off road. I know it's not the best 4wd in the world, sometimes it's more driver skill than vehicle.

I also agree with you about the 03 FX4 as not being one of the top 4x4's. What is Jerrod Jones thinking? Somebody must have put something in his coffee that day.

Also some of his other picks were off the wall too!!!

From: 4x4puller   Apr-15 7:55 pm
To: ALL (25 of 27)
2495.25 in reply to 2495.1
The 1960-1987 Chevy and GMC trucks are the best trucks out here. They have nice body lines and versital about parts swaping.

1960-1987 covers 3 different body styles of trucks. Some of which do not swap parts. Mainly 60-66 with 73-87..

no offense, I'm not saying that Rangers suck off-road, I'm just saying that i don't see them on the trails i take my bronco on. I'm sure you could make a sick ranger with some time and mods.  

I like the 78-79 Ford Bronco. Solid axles front and rear with coil springs up front and leaf springs in back. Ford 9" in the rear and high pinion dana 44 up front. Gear driven np205 transfer case,bulletproof c6 tranny, and torquey engines to go along with it all. These trucks are easy to modify with lifts,lockers,even swap in a 460 or a diesel if you want. They have a short wheelbase for trails but you still have lots of room for people and gear as they are fullsize.  I love these trucks!