1978 Chevrolet C-10

Diesel 5.7

CCZ148Z177834

Clear

Diesel

Please note: I will need a $200 deposit received via PayPal within 24 hours of the close of the auction and the balance of the truck paid within 2 weeks. Please take this into consideration before placing a bid. Here is a really nice 1978 Silverado C-10 Diesel pickup truck. It is a VERY RARE 5.7 liter diesel short bed fleet side! In fact, have never seen a truck quite like this one before. It also has the optional towing and hauling options which includes the super heavy-duty 12 bolt Chevy rear end, sway bar, Turbo 400 Transmission, 8 rear leaf springs on both sides (I believe 4 or 5 were stock), super heavy-duty radiator,and tow hitch . The photo of the options tag lists the additional stock options such as: dual fuel tanks, tilt steering, custom trim, rally wheels and trim rings (which incredibly, are still on it and in good shape), front stabilizer bar, heavy duty brakes, auto transmission, fleetside box, inside hood release, electric clock, chrome bumpers, Silverado equipment, deluxe two tone sea mist paint, tinted glass, air conditioning, chromed grill, etc.. It did originally have air conditioning, but the compressor was taken off for some reason. It would not be a big deal to get another one to put on it if you wanted. I think this is the first year that Chevy made a diesel pickup truck, and this one is in really great shape for its age! For starters, it is RUST FREE, with the exception (of course) of the very light surface rust in a few places on the frame that can be sanded off in a couple of seconds with steel wool. It even has most of it's original paint and undercoating on the inner fenders next to the wheels. As you can see in the photos the previous owner was going to put new carpetting in it so he took the old carpetting out, and other than a few very small rusty areas that could use some sanding, the floor boards look great and still have their original seamist blue-green paint. The body looks fantastic with no dents or dings, and other than a few spots where it has worn off, the paint is still pretty solid and would look really pretty waxed up. The paint on the floor boards gives you an idea of how much nicer the body would look with a wax job! I just haven't had the time to do it. The chrome on the bumpers also looks great, and they are not bent, peeling, pitted or damaged in any way that I can see. The doors, hood and tail gate all open and close smoothly, easily, and tightly like they should without rattles. Not long ago I had a really nice '86 Chevy truck with just over 40,000 original miles on it and everything on this little C-10 feels just as solid. The windshield does have a crack in it and should be replaced, but I know where I can get a good used one for the new owner for $75 if the winning bidder would like. (I have also located a new one for $100.) The deluxe seat with its special pleating is original to the truck so it is torn up a bit on the driver's side, but is otherwise in very solid condition. The odometer says it has just over 28,400 miles on it, but because the odometer seems to work fine and starts over after 999,999 miles I'm guessing that it has a little over 128,400 miles on it. The truck seems to run well and has a lot of power for a little non-turbo diesel in a heavy truck and goes up the hills in my area quite well. It rides smoothly and seems to handle well on the corners for a truck. In fact, it's pretty nimble for a pickup and has sort of a sporty feel to it. It does take a few times to start it up when it has cooled down, so I think it might need to have a few glow plugs replaced. It also smokes some when you first start it and then smokes a small amount when it is warm. I don't notice any smoke while I am driving it when I look back, but it does smoke some when you are making the engine work while you are going up a hill or accelerating quickly. I haven't put many miles on it, but have recently put some injector cleaner and some other fuel additive in it to clean up the injectors, fuel lines etc. in it and each time I take it down the road, it smokes less and less. The fuel additive or something is definitely helping. The truck sat for 6 years before I bought it in an estate sale, so the smoke may be normal for a truck that has been sitting for so long, I don't know. About 50 miles ago it would smoke some while I was driving down the road, but like a mentioned earlier, now it only smokes when I am pushing it hard up a hill or acceleratiing. I think it just needs to be used and after a tank or fuel or so with the fuel additive it may run really clean, I don't know. The turbo 400 transmission seems to shift well and feels really solid, but does make a faint sort of hissing sound when it is in park and when you let off on the throttle. Like I said, it is not very loud and like the smoke it is getting quieter each time I drive the truck. I am not sure what it is, maybe a vacuum line of some sort that is sealing up with use, I don't know. It doesn't seem to be causing any problems so don't worry about it much. I purchased the truck in an estate sale from the owner's daughter who told me that her father put a bunch of new parts on it including the following: injection pump, master brake unit, glow plug relay and interior manual switch to control the glow plugs to make them last longer, fuel pump, fuel filter, and it looks like he may have put a new alternator on it too. I drained the old diesel and put new stuff in so that may also clean things up over time. This truck steers straight and feels really tight and doesn't feel like the front end is worn. It feels like it has been taken care of or perhaps has newer parts in the front end as well, I don't know. As you can see in the photos it does need some trim on one side and the paint needs some spots repainted, but it is not that bad and the truck is amazingly straight and in good shape for its age. You can get the trim on e-Bay or from a one of those parts catalogs that carries aftermarket parts for classic trucks like these. Without much work you would have a really nice, VERY rare show truck that is also very economical to drive. I hear that the cars with these engines in them in the 1980's could get in the mid 30's for MPG so this truck should get around 30 or maybe even better if tuned up right! I have been using a big truck to tow a big heavy trailer or I would keep this truck. It is a great truck for towing, but I feel that my tandem axle trailer with a big load on it is a bit much or I would keep it. I could also use the money, so I just want to find a good home for it. If you have any questions just let me know and I will do my best to answer them. It does come with a clear title, and I will need a $200 deposit received via Paypal within 24 hours of the auction's close, and the balance paid off and the truck picked up within 2 weeks unless other arrangements are made before the close of the auction. Thanks for viewing this auction!