[1976gmc20]

The IFS 4wd is really nice on the highway, and okay off road as long as you're not doing extreme stuff. I use my 89 for firewood and it's managed to go everywhere I've asked it go, including pioneering trails. I have found that those early IFS don't turn nearly as sharp as an open knuckle solid axle, which means lots of backing up on tight turns. All of my old square body 4wds turned really tight, considering the size.

I had to put a ball joint and new CV axles in mine and it still needs pitman/idler so just be aware that any of that vintage might need a lot of front end work. The axles aren't too bad to change except for getting the old ones out. The new/re-manufactured ones that I got from O'Reilly's are trimmed slightly on the inner flange which combined with more flexible boots makes them slip right in from the frame side of the lower a frame. I wish now that I would have just borrowed a torch and cut the old ones in half to get them out.

The TBI versions are about as simple as you can get and still have the benefit of some modern technology. You can start them up and drive away without waiting to warm up a carburetor.

Still, I'm wanting to find 73-87 K/20 in decent shape to replace my K1500, just because I use it more off road than on road, and I really need more than a half ton anyway.