chevy big 10

Joel · March 13, 2002

what makes a chevy a Big 10? I saw a truck with Big 10 on the side but don't know what it means or represents.

Joel

76BBSub · March 14, 2002

Don't quote me on this, but I think the Big 10 and Heavy Half were designations for 1/2 ton trucks with heavy duty springs. True 3/4 ton trucks usually had larger brakes, heavier duty suspensions, and bigger frames, so the Big 10/Heavy Half provided a little more load capacity, or maybe just stability with the rated load, but without the extra cost and weight of the full 3/4 or 1 ton setup.

BUT, this needs to be verified by someone who actually knows, I am going off second-hand info as I report this.

Jeff

textruckr · March 28, 2002

I think that one explanation I have heard in the past may explain the designation.

In the mid to late 70's any light truck not considered "standard duty" (i.e. 1/2 ton) could bypass many emissions requirements. It was cheaper to throw in an extra leaf spring and a new decal than to equip a pickup with a catalytic converter and a jillion miles of vacuum tubing!

Colorado Kid · March 28, 2002

Yup, what textruckr siad, and add to that that 1970's attempts at emission controls mostly caused drivability and fuel economy problems. The Big 10 and Heavy Half were for Chevy and GMC what the F-150 was for brand F. There were some F-100's and "Light" C-10's made, eqiped to comply with passenger car emisions, but the heavy halfs were popular because they ran better and didn't cost much (if any) more. Thus the beggining of the upward migration in ratings. My dad's '70 C-10 Custom Deluxe had a GVWR of 5000# (which gave it a payload of about 1500 lbs...500# for driver/passengers and a "half ton" in the bed), and my 74 C 2500 Sierra Grande Camper Special had a GVWR of 6700#, again about 500# in the cab and "3/4 ton" in the bed. The '91 C 1500 Sierra SL has a GVWR of 6100#, and weighs 3800#, more payload ability than the '74 3/4 ton. The C 2500 HD weighs more than that empty, with GVWR of 9200#. It may be a heavy duty 3/4 ton, but its payload is only about 100# more than the '91 half ton!

Anyway, Big 10 = heavier springs and less emision controls than a "regular" C-10 or K-10. Also mean it doesn't require unleaded fuel, which doesn't exactly matter anymore. Same brakes and axels as the other 1/2 tons though. The 3/4 tons used 8 bolt full-floaters, bigger brakes, bigger wheels etc.