Squarebody pickups are making a well-deserved comeback in America today. They epitomize a time in our history when American cool was pure grit, aggressive styling, and neon lights bolted to a chrome roll bar over that iconic square-body swagger. So grab your favorite cassette tape, don your aviators, and pop open a cold one as we take a trip back in time to celebrate this build’s mix of modern styling and power, paired with pure American bravado.
Spanning from 1973 to 1987, Chevrolet’s third-gen truck earned the iconic nickname “squarebody” for its no-bullshit, razor-sharp styling. Drop in a powerful V8 engine and lift that “sum-bitch” a few inches higher and you have yourself one hell of a pickup. And that’s exactly what this owner did.
Starting life as a stock 1985 Chevrolet Silverado C/K 1500 shortbed, this thing has undergone a tremendous overhaul. A custom metallic gray now clings to the all-steel body. The stock chrome bumpers were ditched for Iron Cross bumpers, and a 13,000 lbs winch hangs out of the nose in case you get yourself into any trouble (as you most definitely should with a rig like this). The short bed sports a chrome Go Rhino roll bar utfitted with the ultra-cool KC oOff Road Nightsfor tate nights on the trail. A bed liner has been applied to protect your pickup when you put it to work. You’ll be tearing up the hills or rolling down Main Street in style with massive 22” forged Black Rhino wheels. Plan on slinging mud and leaving tracks with the beefy 35”x14.50 Super Swamper tires all the way around. The fuel tank has also been relocated and fed through the bed, with a stainless steel gas cap to add a bit of style to the go-go juice.
The interior stays classic with a standard bench seat wrapped in two-tone black vinyl and grey cloth. A dark grey carpet is protected by a pair of Chevrolet floor mats, and the door panels match the bench seat. The 4 x 2 gauge panel is timeless and has been refurbished. Blast cold Air conditioning on those hot summer days while you cruise the backroads and the tunes with a modern Bluetooth stereo. Life is easy in this cockpit with power windows and locks.
Underneath that long, square hood lies a modern 5.3-liter LS motor with only 1,500 miles on the build. A carburetor sits atop this V8 and feeds the beast below. MSD ignition fires the spark to ignite the fuel, while a CVF serpentine belt system drives the front end of the motor. It features an updated radiator to keep the LS cool. An automatic transmission backs up the LS with a two-speed transfer parked behind it. Three-quarter-ton front and rear axles spin the wheels on this monster as you march down the road, assuming dominance over all those below you.
A complete Fox/BDS suspension system is bolted to the heavy-duty steel frame. Custom powder-coated red leaf springs bind the body to the suspension and limit your bouncing while beating on this old American workhorse. Wilwood power disc brakes are entrusted to bring you to a stop when things get out of control behind the wheel of this machine.
So do yourself a favor and join the squarebody movement while you can! These trucks are a physical representation of what every true and blue-blooded American loves and enjoys, rocking badass looks with a powerful punch to back up all that style. And when you’re the one breaking necks as you cruise Main Street, you’ll be glad you won the bid on this ol’ Chevy.
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