2018 Silverado Reaper

[skybolt]

all about getting weight down and streamlined for MPG.

Streamlining?
Have you seen any new 3/4ton trucks? They look like a barn door coming at ya!


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[TheLetterJ]

My experience with trucks at the heavy end of "light duty" (namely loaded down 1 tons) has been that a brand new truck does not get any better mileage than they did 30+ years ago. More power? Hell yes! Cleaner emmissions? Astronomically. Better construction and quality? Check and check. But definitely not better mileage. I know people love to tout the manufacturers estimated mileage figures, but in reality, they all fall in the high-single-digit to low teens for mileage, be it v6, v8, gas, or diesel.

As much as I love American trucks from the '70's and even into the '80's, it's more for their simplicity and nostalgia. There's no denying that a modern truck functionally does EVERYTHING better. It's much like comparing muscle cars of the '60's and '70's to the modern equivalent, sorry, a Hemi 'Cuda couldn't touch a Hellcat, but it would probably still be the more desireable car for most. I'm sure the generations before us couldn't stand the looks of the cars that we love.

 

[BJoe]

Streamlining?
Have you seen any new 3/4ton trucks? They look like a barn door coming at ya!


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Still better aero than this"thumbsup"

Not to mention, better power, better mileage, better driveability, Safer to crash............

 

[BigSki]

^
but that one has soooo much character in it's body styling, not to mention the drive train could take more abuse and survive than any of it's modern "counterparts". That one is all about getting the job done, period. A new one is designed to be more comfy while getting the job done.

 

[Mike Flea]

Still better aero than this"thumbsup"
Not to mention, better power, better mileage, better driveability, Safer to crash............

I'll take THIS, before a newer model, Like BigSki said, these will take more abuse than the newer ones, that's why they're still around.

Older trucks are not only easier to work on, but even an inexperienced body man or a shade tree mechanic could weld the body panels without worrying about burn-through

 

[CM9000]

"thumbsup""thumbsup" Good one Good One. Unfortunately i think this is one generation down the road called Millennial Falcon or whatever the kids nowadays are called. I have heard the saying "Millturd" in offices for Millennial Interns.

i couldn't hear you with your mouth full. you couldn't even catch half of us "milturds" designing that junk. i can speak for at least 20% of us. we want older style cars, and trucks. the other 80% probably to bothered with working crap jobs to just keep their head above the water.

 

[BJoe]

^
but that one has soooo much character in it's body styling, not to mention the drive train could take more abuse and survive than any of it's modern "counterparts". That one is all about getting the job done, period. A new one is designed to be more comfy while getting the job done.

I don't know, I look at that compared to a modern Power Wagon Ram and think I would take the modern one if I had to actually spend hours on the road after a day in the field. That old truck will beat you up getting there and back, besides beating yourself up while there working. Would more likely take less effort to keep running on a daily basis as well.

 

[59sled]

I love what Todd Lemke built.
Old look with all modern drive train. Check out his Instagram @lemkespeedandmarine There are vids where he is pulling his sand car on trailer and with camper doing 75 up a nice grade passing others.

I've seen the truck a few times. It badass. Also had a write up in Fourwheeler a few years ago.
1966 GMC Pickup - Massaged Metal

At A Glance
General
Vehicle: 1966 GMC pickup
Owner: Todd Lemke
Stomping grounds: Lakeside, California
Built time: 8 months

Drivetrain
Engine: ’12 6.7L HO Cummins 800 lb-ft I-6 turbodiesel
Transmission: 68RFE six-spd automatic
Transfer case(s): NV271 two-spd
Low range ratio: 2.72:1
Crawl ratio: 32.78:1
Front axle/differential: AAM 9.25-in/3.73 gears, open
Rear axle/differential: AAM 11.8-in/3.73 gears, factory limited slip

Suspension
Front: Kore Performance HP Leveling Kit, Bilstein 5100 shocks
Rear: Stock with Firestone air bags
Steering: Stock

Tires/Wheels
Tires: 37x12.50R17 BFGoodrich All-Terrain
Wheels: 17x8.5 Walker Evans Street Wheel

Miscellaneous
Armor: Custom front bumper
Cool stuff: ’92 Lance Camper, Warn 15,000-lb winch, stainless side storage boxes and running boards, in-dash iPad, 40-in Rigid Industries lightbar, two Baja Designs 8-in lightbars

 

[Mike Flea]

That's cool, can't even tell the finished product is a Ram underneath"thumbsup"