Hey Novaman

Sorry I didnt return your call, I was slammed at work today. I hardly had time to call customers back. I dont know too much about the old styles like that. I know I wont have many if any parts for them. I would think you would know more then me. Being that age, the driveline is more like your nova then any car I deal with. If you need anytype of specific help, like interchangability, or finding a hard to find part, let me know.

Q

Just wondered if there were any common problems I should look out for, besides rust and exploding sidesaddle gas tanks. Thanks just the same.
Anybody else know of any common problems with late 70s/early 80s Chevy and GMC trucks?

If it's 4X4 or has large tires, it is common for the frame to flex and eventually crack at the steering gear mounting location, it can be welded and reinforced if broken, only prob/issue I can remenber right now

Thanks. I never would have thought to check that! Why is it that when I'm following one driving down the road, sometimes the bed looks "tweaked"? You know, the front is level from side to side but the tailgate is not--like one corner is bent upward?

I have an 89 that is like that, I assume most happened the same way, one of the rear spring shackles rusts & breaks and the bed is twisted when is hits(maybe from extened periods driving with the spring against the bed), this is common to most pickups, in fact my dads 94 F-150 needed both(they tore, I found them before they broke completely) the local ford dealer had them in stock! , $25 each!(interestingly enough, this dealer also had fuel tank straps for my old 1977 Lincoln Mark V back in 97)

So does the bed straighten once the spring problem is fixed, or is it just tweaked forever? :(

tweaked forever, all the ones I've seen, it may be ok if it is fixed right away though, without driving on it long/if at all