1976 Chevy Silverado C20 Camper Special
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- čas přidán 23. 07. 2024
- What was a Camper Special? This video has everything you ever wanted to know about the 1976 Chevy Silverado C20 Camper Special. This truck was featured in the music video for the song Look Around by the Bonazzoli Band. www.Bonazzoli.com
- Krátké a kreslené filmy
I call that the "grand-pa special" with every option available from the JC Whitney catalog! But seriously, it's a beauty!
Thanks! When I was a kid it wasn't my grandfather who owned one, it was my dad. :) I still remember him talking about "The Silverado" model because it was a new thing then and most trucks were still bought to just work.
Bought mine about 4 months ago. Has some interesting features like no other. Shocks in the bed that extend through cut outs to the cab, roof rack, bars mounted the length of the bed on the outside of the bed walls, and three heavy duty evenly spaced handles mounted on the nose of the hood. Love it!
It sounds like you may have a rare Super Camper Special. They came with additional suspension mods and tie downs. Very cool!
Nice to see studebaker is still recognized, gotta love the orphan cars
That truck is a thing of beauty. Brings back memories. My grandad had a 77 Silverado camper special.
Pretty much looks the exact same as a 1976.
Love the truck and the dual exhaust and tinted glass look great on there.
Five years ago, I bought my first 4×4. A 1976 K20 C/S. It was built in Fremont and so was originally equipped with the 400 cid engine that was replaced with a 350 crate motor in the early 90's. With the fully self-contained 1991 Western Wilderness 11.5 Alpine, 35 gallons of water, 40 gallons of gas, 10 gallons of propane and all of my gear including telescopes I am in excess of 10,000 lbs. Well beyond the 8,400 GVWR plate rating. I have added a leaf on the rear leaf packs as well as airbags. It's a pig on the highway hills but climbs every dirt road I have asked it to.
Yes, even with the original smog engines they could easily pull a house. Too bad overdrive wasn't a thing back in '76.
That would be a big help. I would like a stick shift more. An old school 4 speed would be good, a modern 5 speed would be better. Retrofitting would mean finding and installing all of those clutch components. Just too much trouble.
@@normcox5223 A 4 speed manual would be great. Lots of C30s used as commercial trucks had them. My brother has a 1988 Scottsdale short bed with a 350 4-speed with granny gear that was factory so they're out there.
I'm not necessarily a car person, but I love the ties to history and the visuals! Even better that this vehicle is tied to your music video, Look Around - nice job!
Wow! What a truck!
my p30 chevy thm 400 its in the house ha ha thanks for the video and the the info about the transmission!!
Good production. I have the same truck, but it's a 85. Your right about needing the two 20 gallon gas tanks. Defiantly not a daily driver. All the same,…it's a nice truck and everything you said.
I have a 1986 Chevy customers deluxe k20 3/4 ton 4x4 longbed,camper rated heavy duty c6p suspension stiff riding truck it doesn't ride much better fully loaded than it does empty,but has hauled anything I needed it to,has front swaybar,heavy duty rear springs vin m medium and heavy duty 350 chevy v8,and m40 400turbohd medium duty 4x4 transmission. my truck also has the dual 20 gallon tanks,it is the only custom deluxe I've personally seen with a.c. that isn't aftermarket it has gauge package but no tach or clock,but not complaining most custom deluxe trucks had idiot lights,had tilt steering ,delay wipers, vent knobs,crank Windows And sliding rear Window it has no domelight in the roof not even a hole for one. has the heavy duty 3 core with a.c. specs radiator with heavy duty trans.cooler, and had I was told a dealer installed curt Reese hitch,truck was ordered to be strong enough for farm use, and setup to haul a sprayer setup in the bed,ran off the truck's electrical system. but mine bein always used and worked as a farm truck don't look no where near as nice as yours,mine was midnight blue and frost white 70's style two tone,instead of most 80's gm trucks two tone paint schemes.
Chevy & GMC produced those generation fullsize truck models from 1973 through 1991, except the half & three quarter ton regular cab pickups were discontinued in 1987 & the one ton regular cab pickups were discontinued in 1989. Also those generation fullsize pickups were the first to have optional bigger cabs which were the crew cabs introduced in 1973.
That's good info! 👍 the last few years of the square bodies were somewhat confusing. In 1991 both square and OBS 1 tons were built if I'm not mistaken.
@@Bonazzoliband yes both squares & OBSs were in production at the same time from 1988 through 1991. In 1987, the C/K series were dropped on all models & renamed R/V series to make a distinction between the squares & new upcoming OBSs for the 1988 model year because both of those body designs were gonna be in production at the same time which lasted up through 1991. They wanted to help people avoid confusion with the two different body designs. Not to forget 1987 was the first year for gasoline fuel injected motors. So from 1987 through 1991, all of the square models were R/V series. The square pickups are the third generation C/K series & the OBSs are the fourth generation C/K series. The one ton regular cab pickups were the only models with both of those body designs that were produced at the same time which was from 1988 through 1989. The OBS crew cab pickups & SUVs didn't come out until 1992 because the square ones were still in production. The square Suburbans are the seventh generation Suburbans & the square K5 Blazers & Jimmys are the second generation K5 Blazers & Jimmys.
@@kevinrichards3288 Thanks for the additional clarification.
@@Bonazzoliband & what's interesting is the half ton & three quarter ton regular cab square pickups that were sold down in Mexico were also in production up through 1991. At first I thought 1987 was the last year for them worldwide.
@@kevinrichards3288 Kind of like how when GM stopped selling the shorty 4x4s in 2017 they were still available if you lived in Mexico. I hear they're making a comeback though.
Fantástica troka felicidades saludos desde México!!!
I just got a 79 C20 Trailering special.
Is there a difference between the trailering and the camper packages?
@@Bonazzoliband Campers have upgraded shocks & sway bars and tie-downs - Trailering rigs have a hitch & wiring harness & heavy-duty battery, standard power brakes/steering, rear step bumper.
Very helpful video!
I love this video. Yeah, I feel that the 454 and Turbo 400 and dual exhausts is the best way to go with these heavy mid-late 70's Chevy/GMC trucks. The 350s in the same trucks didn't get much better gas mileage, if any better. And the 454 big Block for shear low end torque, while the 350s had plenty of that, there was no substitute for what the big block provided. I think the 454 was unfortunately offered on 2-wheel drive trucks only. All the CZcams vids I've seen of the 4X4 versions of these square bodies only show the engine lists going up to the 350 and/or the 400. I had an '83 3/4-ton w/ 2WD a 350, and a 700R4 for 15 years, May 2005-May 2020. I sold it because I'd rather get nickeled and dimed to death by my lighter weight '69 2WD half ton and my '64 Impala SS than an '83 with more electricals and sophistication. But these videos make me want another square body for taking off of the paved roads onto some rugged terrain. And this time, I'd rather go for a late 70's Chevy/GMC with either 2WD or 4X4, manual crank windows as opposed to power which my '83 had and a 3-speed turbo-hydramtic, preferably 400 over lesser stout Turbo 350 which my still do the job with any 350 SB application, because the 400 may've required 8 more horsepower to than the TH350, it was still more durable. I know of a common mistake people make figuring the TH350 for being pretty much the same thing as the TH400 and bolting one into applications like this one and going all out with the workhorse stuff with it. Then they find out the hard way that it's not the case and them lesser stout TH350s don't hold up.
Interesting. I did not know the 454 may not have been offered on the 4x4. I’ll need to look into that.
@@Bonazzoliband Since that last comment of mine, I have seen other vids of Chevy 4X4 pick-ups with factory 454s under their hoods.
I see a lot of street rods with 400 or bigger engines with turbo 350s. They get made when I tell them that you should use the turbo 400 with a 400 or larger engine, or use a manual transmission with a 11 inch or 12 inch clutch.
@@michaelbenardo5695 Yeah, you and me both, except, I haven't actually told them they should've gotten the TH400 and had any of them say anything to me about it. But it's like they'd rather avoid it and get either a TH350 or 700R4 and spend a bunch of extra money on top of that. They would tell me that's for building it up more. But then I met one guy who did get a big block powered '66 El Camino that had a 700R4 in it at the time, then swapped it out for a Turbo 400 because the TH400 holds the torque better than any of them. And that's what I would've done too, if it were mine. It does kind of amaze me how the 2 automatics that I've found to be the sturdiest ones (right out of the boxes) are the 2 least popular ones, the TH400 and the aluminum Powerglide (in my view 2nd only to the TH400). I've recently heard one argument that the TH400 is the hardest to fit under a pre-'65 Impala. But I've seen it done many years ago. Or they just maybe get a '63 Impala with a 327/250HP w/ Powerglide and decide to drop in a 400HP 409 just for show and bolt in a 350 tranny or 700R4 instead of a TH400 which I would've done because it's a 409 which was more of a torque monster than many have given it credit for over the last 30 years or so. And that also would've made the horsepower & tranny both 400. I recently got a Red '64 Impala SS. It had a tired 327/250 motor and a Powerglide. I swapped out the motor for a remanufactured 327 with 330 HP and am keeping the Powerglide indefinitely. I decided I'd rather put a 4-speed stick in it than change to a different automatic. And I've never been afraid to tell anyone that. I'm a Washington State native. And what I just shared in my reply as almost all I'd ever see in the Northwest, Washington and Oregon. We're both knowledgeable minorities.
My dad ordered a 76 camper special Silverado new. It was equipped like this one but with a 350. It was black over silver with red interior. The Illinois winters weren't good for it. It had began to rust out within a few years. I noticed you have the sport mirrors on this truck. I believe they were all equipped with the flat camper mirrors.
This truck still has marks in the paint from where the camper mirrors had been mounted. I didn't know if they all came factory equipped with camper mirrors or not. Good to know.
Yeehaw!! Now that's a good looking truck. Love the 454 power but hate how thirsty it gets. I'm building one now at a "low budget" getting a Diesel swap soon. Love them square body trucks!!
That would be in interesting diesel conversion. I think heavy truckle this would fare better with a diesel. Good luck on the build!
Thats beautiful square body c20
wow Matthew you know a lot about this vehicle is love pick ups 🙏❤❤
Hi.Sweden calling. I got myself a -75 Silverado with the 454. I wonder if you can advice me where i can find grained dashpanel and the panel above glowecompartment?? And yes, you got a really nice truck there..
Hi Johan, There's a company called LMC Truck (LMCTruck.com) that should be able to hook you up with the dash panel. I'm not sure what you mean by the panel above the glove compartment. If you're referring to the wood grain panel that goes around the vents either LMC or if not, then try ebay. So, you've got a '75 Silverado over in Sweden? I bet that gets a lot of attention.
Johan Johansson
Hi again, sorry for really late answer..Well i´ve checked LMC for woodgrained daschpanel, no luck there so it´s Ebay...Yeah, really, lots of positive attention, cuz it´s veeery little rust, and everything is what i call original, it´s a worktruck..Original wheels with hubcaps 4 example. I wish i could show you a pic.
Sorry to hear that LMC doesn't carry that. let me know if you find one on eBay or not.
What's the color code on the green outside?
The Canadian army uses the 1976 chevy k30 11/4 ton with a 350 and a turbo 350 with full time 4 wheel drive neat ole trucks
Are those the M1008s? I've never driven one but I hear they are pretty loud and leaky without any sound deadening or weather proofing materials.
@@Bonazzoliband nope not a m1008. It predates the cucv all together. It basically a 1976 chevy c30 with k20 axles with a ton of military equipment
@@oldcroneysgarage9739 That sounds like an awesome truck.
I got a 73 c20 Cheyenne super need the bed panels any idea on lmc don't have the right side for that year only left side
Jonathan Huerta Any bed from 73 to 87 will work. They're all the same.
Countrymouse is correct. Any bed from 1973 to 1987 should bolt right in.
That Coleman cooler, WHERE?! HOW?! Please let me know. I need one for mine.
You can get one from lmc truck
Very nice truck, man, I bet you are asked all the time if you sell it. I was hoping you could tell me where you got those aluminum wheels
Love to see more of your truck.
Thank you. I got the aluminum wheels locally at a place called Steven's Tire. They are made by ION. You can get them at Tire Rack and other places although I don't recommend them. They require routine polishing or else they corrode very quickly. The truck is featured in this music video too: czcams.com/video/vbbYRq3iOvc/video.html
Where did you get the digital maintenance booklet?
Hi Jacob, are you referring to the brochures? I got them on ebay and scanned them. I can send you the files if you want them.
Do ya still have this truck?
So how much are you selling it for ????
Do you have any idea how much they weigh? can't find anything on the camper special
A C20 Camper Special should weigh in at about 5700 pounds. A K20 should be about 6200.
@@Bonazzoliband Ok thanks bro
Nice truck. I have a 73 gmc c35. And also have a question. I had the 454 rebuilt and trans. New fuel line, pump. Rebuilt carb. Thinking it would ride like new but not staying on. The truck stalls at 30mph. Have any idea what is going on? Anybody?
I recall my father telling me back in the 1970’s that those 454’s were finicky. Do you have HEI? It could be an issue under the cap. Mine would run great but cut out under acceleration until I went and swapped out all of the ignition components. Next to check is that the muffler or exhaust could be plugged up. To test, disconnect at manifold or crossover and see if it’s still happening. I’ve seen a bad muffler bring a Pontiac 400 to a standstill.
@@Bonazzoliband thank you for the response. Also what is a HEI?
@@mr.badluck8004 High Energy Ignition as opposed to a distributor cap, rotor and points. HEI came out around ’76 but many vehicles were converted because it’s more efficient. Another thought is intake airflow. In my video you’ll note that I have the lid on the breather flipped. This enables the engine to pull additional air in when required. It was an old school hot rodder trick. If your air filter is old or plugged up change it. If it’s good, flip the breather lid.
Thanx. I'm going to have to work on it my self. I'll keep you posted. Stay safe
I would consider swapping out the Quadrajet for something better, a square-bore 4 barrel. Theoretically, the tiny primaries of a quadrajet will give you better mileage at lower speeds, but if you have to dip into the secondaries more often, you will get worse mileage. With a square-bore, you probably won't have to dip into the secondaries unless you want blast away.
Nothing sounds as good as a 454 with dual exhaust. Yeah it sucks down gas but dang don’t it just add to that real old school truck feel with raw carbureted power.
Agreed. I do recall when I was a kid my father commenting on how difficult it was getting the mid 70's 454 engines to run smoothly and this one made me understand what he meant. It was a bitch keeping it in tune but when running right it was really awesome to hear.
My 1977 c20 has a 454
1977 c20 cheyenne 350ci
My 1982 has a Cadillac 425 big block
1982 k20 custom deluxe 350 700r4
“Buckle up”
*doesn’t buckle up* lol
Is it 2 or 4 wd
It's a two wheel drive with a detroit locker rear axle.
What one that nice worth?
+Chuck Taylor My guess would be between 8 and 10k. Keep in mind, these trucks are mostly the same all the way through 1987 so deals are out there still.
Those original factory HP numbers were mostly due to emission controls, lower compression and ignition timing being retarded. A good tune up will wake them up a lot.
Also milder cams. The net horsepower instituted in 72 was said to be 33% lower by the automakers, but according to old shop manuals of mine, was in reality about 12% lower, so a 73 - 79 350 with a 2 barrel and 145 horsepower would probably produce about 180 Gross horses with optimal ignition timing and optimal carb jetting, and plugging the vacuum line to the EGR would greatly improve part-throttle performance, and the optimal timing and jetting would dramatically improve how it feels. The pre-emissions 2 barrel 350 made about 250 horsepower. Even if Net really was 33% lower, that would still leave a mid 70s 350 with about 200 horsepower vs 250 horsepower for the older ones.
So where in Florida was this filmed??????
+Lawrence Eich Hi Lawrence, this video was filmed in and around Ormond Beach, Florida. A good portion was shot in Tomoka State Park.
I knew I recognized the scenery
Where can I get those bed rails?
Wyatt McKay I got them on Amazon. Dee Zee Stainless Side Rail. part number: DZ99603.
Thanks!
@@Bonazzoliband do you happen to have a link to the side steps and the cab visor? I have these same exact truck and am wanting to do this look..
Wyatt McKay Summit Racing sells the cab visors. P/N: SUM-480004. Dee Zee sells the diamond plate running boards but you’ll need to call to be sure you get the correct number. Those were on the truck when I got it. Good luck on the restoration. I’d love to see pics when you’re done.
Bonazzoliband I will for sure send pictures your way! Picked up the paint this week!
P rated tires on a 3/4 ton truck ?
Hi John, yes. This truck rarely did any heavy hauling and these tires gave it a much smoother ride. Here's some info I found on TireRack.com:
The Rugged Trail T/A is BFGoodrich's On-/Off-Road All-Terrain Light Truck tire designed for pickup, jeep and sport utility vehicle drivers who desire aggressive off-road looks combined with low rolling resistant, lightweight construction, along with low noise, and year-round traction, even in light snow. While the Rugged Trail T/A was originally developed to be meet the Original Equipment requirements of vehicle manufacturers, its size range has been expanded to fit a wide range of light truck applications.
The Rugged Trail T/A molds an all-season tread rubber compound into a computer designed symmetric tread pattern tuned to meet the needs of each Original Equipment vehicle with independent intermediate tread blocks to provide the biting edges to enhance foul weather traction. On the inside, the Rugged Trail T/A features twin steel belts reinforced by BFGoodrich's Equal TEnsion Containment System (ETEC System) to enhance durability along with a flexible, shock-absorbing two-ply polyester cord sidewall to provide a comfortable highway ride.
I can’t tell if you’re strange or seductive....regardless I’m subscribing
Why not both? :)
Sa-weeet!!
👍🏁🇮🇹🤠
put your seat belt on
Have. To. Find. A. Truck. With. A. 8. Ft. Bed. Like. This. One
This. Is. Perfect
You'll find one. There's still a lot of them around and the 8' bed versions go for a lot less than the shorty's. Good luck!
Not period correct mirrors
Philip Thayer true hey which looks better 1977-1978 ford f100 or a 1977 Chevy c20 Cheyenne f-100 so rare this days
@@AlejandroP1980s C20
Philip Thayer even better than a f100 which are rare this days
@@AlejandroP1980s I gotta stick with the C20.
I prefer the sport mirrors since I don't carry a camper. The doors still have marks from the trailering mirrors but fortunately never rusted through.
Turn down the damn music I can’t even hear you
There is no music when I'm talking.
About a minute and a half in there is...
And also the ice box you put in the truck is awesome
that shit is old af
What's wrong with it being old
1.Silverado was not a Cheyenne.2.The Chevy Cheyenne Camper Special, has Cheyenne20 lettering on the fender.
Not Silverado.3.The real Cheyenne has tripod mirrors.4. The real Cheyenne has orange and black lettering that says Cheyenne on the dash.
The Silverado superseded the Cheyenne Super for 1975 or 76.
I know about real Chevy trucks, I have a real 1978 CHEVY CHEYENNE20 CAMPER
SPECIAL. All factory I won 1st place at a car show with it and have been offered
$40,000. cash. for being honest.
Silverado is not a real Cheyenne.1. The real Chevy CHEYENNE20 Camper Special had to be custom ordered through GMC.2.Simple Silverado was always bought off GMC car lots.
3.Real Chevy CHEYENNE Camper Specials had a 5th wheel hook up in the bed.
Camper Special packages could be ordered on pretty much any trim level. Most Camper Specials were not 5th wheel. I don't know what you mean about GMC and Cheyenne. GMC had their own Camper Special packages as did other makes.
1. He never said this was a real Cheyenne, he called it a Silverado from the very beginning. 2. The Silverado was the highest level trim option at the time - one step higher than Cheyenne. 3. Chevrolet dealerships were loaded with “simple” Silverado pickups, you did not have to go to GMC dealerships to get a Silverado. Are you talking about the simple “Custom Deluxe”? Starting in the mid 70s, that was Chevrolet’s base package. And you didn’t have to go to GMC dealerships for those, either. 4. Not all new Cheyenne Camper Specials had 5th wheel hook ups in the bed, that was not a requirement at all. In fact, most 5th -wheel Chevrolets and GMC pickups I ever saw were non-factory add-ons (including Cheyenne).
Wait, I think I may have figured this out - are you thinking “Sierra” when you see Silverado here? That was GMC’s base model package in the mid 70s.
I know I’m commenting on an old post but first off, nice truck! Back in 77 my dad bought himself a brand new Sierra Grande 25 camper special 4x4 with the 8’ bed.And my older brother owned a 77 Sierra Grande 15 4x4 short bed My dad’s truck had a single gas tank, only got about 120 miles. Lol, never went on fishing or hunting trips without those 5 gallon red metal gas cans. So many memories.
By the way, no fifth wheel hook ups on either truck.
I am NOT impressed at all with your truck. All you did was switch lettering off other trucks.
That makes you truck fake.
Wrong.
DISLIKE! This is literally trash. You should never go with Chevy. Always go with dodge.
Nothing against Dodge. They did have the fastest truck in the 1970's.
garbage comment. all vehicles have pros and cons. so go fuck yourself