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Topic: 88 Chevy Silverado C-30 Flatbed (Read 3264 times) previous topic - next topic

88 Chevy Silverado C-30 Flatbed

Check out my new purchase guys.  I've always wanted a flatbed, saw this one for 1,500 bucks and couldn't pass on it.  It has a 454, 4spd manual trans, air, and tons of torque.  I plan on making it a stake bed, possibly using oak or pine.  The only weird thing for me is the tranny.  First gear feels like a low gear on my Blazer's transfer case.  Also the gearing is kind of weird, it screams pretty good at 65 in 4th gear.  I may need to swap out some more highway appropriate gears since it will be used on the highway from time to time.





88 Chevy Silverado C-30 Flatbed

Reply #1 –
1st gear is probably the second gear. It's a 1 tonne dually, so I'd say you have a low gear, for when you're carying a full load. When you're empty, I'd just use the second cog for starts.

Looks to be in decent shape, though. :D I drove my '86 to work today. 19 years old, and still a beauty to drive. (wasn't '87 the last year for the C-x0 bodies? It may be different if this was a fleet vehicle, because I know they continued the C bodies for Suburbans quad cabs, etc.)

88 Chevy Silverado C-30 Flatbed

Reply #2 –
LJS30,
You probably have a "granny" gear.  Most times, they don't even number the granny gear, the pattern goes G-1-2-3 and so on.  You actually take off in what looks like the second gear position, which is where 1st is.  The granny is for pulling away with a FULL load, and it probably tops out at 5 mph or so.  It should pull a house with a 454 and a granny, and I'd say the only limitation you have on what it will pull is traction to the ground.  Anyway, nice looking truck.  And yes, they did continue the 1-ton (3500 and up) C-series up til '91, I think.  Good luck!

Fordman3
 

88 Chevy Silverado C-30 Flatbed

Reply #3 –
The 88-91 3/4 ton Chevy trucks and Suburbans were no longer called C/K series - they became the R/V series. The new style trucks got the C/K name
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

88 Chevy Silverado C-30 Flatbed

Reply #4 –
Does anyone know how I can find out what gears I have in the rear?  Like I said earlier it screams at 65MPH, like it may have 4.10's.

88 Chevy Silverado C-30 Flatbed

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Thunder Chicken
The 88-91 3/4 ton Chevy trucks and Suburbans were no longer called C/K series - they became the R/V series. The new style trucks got the C/K name


Ah, I see. The Silverado trim and emblems are throwing me off though. :confused:

No idea on the rear. I bet it's heavy and indestructable. :) Unlike the pos timex. :yuck:

88 Chevy Silverado C-30 Flatbed

Reply #6 –
Chev 3500 trucks usually have 4.10 4.30 or 4.56 rears.
Most duallies with a towing or hauling package came with the 4.30

On that truck 1 (low) is a "granny gear" used for towing heavy loads, pulling stuff, really steep hills (like loading docks).

For normal driving start in the second lowest gear.  If the shifter is L-1-2-3 start it 1.  If it is 1-2-3-4 start in 2.  Those trucks all have many shifters for the same tranny / shift pattern.

88 Chevy Silverado C-30 Flatbed

Reply #7 –
You may be able to swap a 5 speed with overdrive out of a newer 1 ton truck.  I believe they still have a creaper gear and overdrive.  If memory serves me right your truck has a hydrolic clutch as aposed to the z bar of the earlier years.  That should make the swap easier.
One 88

88 Chevy Silverado C-30 Flatbed

Reply #8 –
One of my first summer jobs involved driving an old late 80s 1-ton GM flatbed. 454 with a 3+1 tranny.

It was handful with 10,000lbs of concrete on the back. Anything above 45 mph resulted in a death-wobble. It probably would have been more fun to drive had it had any maint. done in the last 10 years.

88 Chevy Silverado C-30 Flatbed

Reply #9 –
Quote from: JeremyB
Anything above 45 mph resulted in a death-wobble.


Sounds like fun... :giggle:

Anyhow, Nice purchase, that thing is a beast.  And I agree, pretty nice looking for it's age.

88 Chevy Silverado C-30 Flatbed

Reply #10 –
Hmmmmmmmmm wonder how that 454 with an RV cam installed would perform. :)

88 Chevy Silverado C-30 Flatbed

Reply #11 –
I'm proud of us!  11 replies and no "Chevies are gay!" comments.  Don't think you'll hear them from me either.  We have an '83 project C-10 sitting in the garage that's been there forever.  Anyway, looks like a very tough truck.  Now you need a good hitch and car trailer on it so you can buy more T-birds!  Oh, any idea on the gas mileage?  Something like 6 - 10 or so?  Heh.

88 Chevy Silverado C-30 Flatbed

Reply #12 –
oh sorry, chevies suck,....or are gay I mean.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

88 Chevy Silverado C-30 Flatbed

Reply #13 –
Quote from: Haystack
oh sorry, chevies suck,....or are gay I mean.

They're not gay, they're just... um... confused...
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

88 Chevy Silverado C-30 Flatbed

Reply #14 –
Quote from: Thunder Chicken
They're not gay, they're just... um... confused...


Just because Tucker Carlson wears a bowtie, it doesn't mean everyone else wearing one is gay too.