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The Chevrolet C-Series was the companys full-size truck line for 1985, including pickups and Suburbans. C-Series trucks were rear-wheel-drive, whereas "K" model designations were given to the four-wheel-drive versions, which were otherwise much the same. The C20 was rated as a 3/4-ton truck, between the carrying capacities of the 1/2-ton C10 and the one-ton C30. The C20 was available with a range of body styles and options.
Body Styles and Trim Levels
The C20 came with a long (8-foot) or short (6.5-foot) cargo bed, as either a Fleetside or a Step-Side, or without a bed, as chassis-and-cab only. It was also available in Fleetside form with four doors, as either a Bonus Cab or Crew Cab. The two-door truck rode on a wheelbase of 117.5 inches for the short bed, or 131.5 inches with long bed, while the four-door version had a wheelbase of 164.5 inches. The C20 designation also applied to the four-door wagon-bodied Suburban, which had a 129.5-inch wheelbase. Custom Deluxe was the basic trim level, Scottsdale was next up the food chain, and Silverado continued to rule the roost as the top-of-the-line trim.
Powertrain
The base engine was an overhead-valve V-6 displacing 262 cubic inches, or 4.3 liters, which had a four-barrel carburetor and a compression ratio of 9.3-to-1, and produced 155 horsepower. A 292-cubic-inch (4.8-liter) inline-six was also available. Eight-cylinder options began with a 305-cubic-inch (5.0-liter) V-8 producing 150 horsepower, continued with an overhead-valve V-8 producing 160 horsepower from displacement of 350 cubic inches, or 5.7 liters, and included a 454-cubic-inch (7.4-liter) V-8 which was good for 230 horsepower. Finally, a fuel-injected diesel V-8 displacing 379 cubic inches, or 6.2 liters, was available; it produced 130 horsepower. The standard transmission was a four-speed manual synchromesh unit with a floor-mounted shifter. An automatic was optional.
Other Specs
The 85 C20 had a semi-floating rear axle and used power front disc and rear drum brakes to stop. Its curb weight was just under 4,500 lbs. for the two-door long bed, about 5,250 lbs. for the four-door pickup and about 4,700 lbs. for the Suburban. For two-door trucks the recommended tire spec was LT215/85R16C; for four-doors (including the Suburban), it was LT235/85R16D in front, LT235/85R16E at the rear. Options included two-tone paint, power steering, tilt steering wheel, air conditioning, power windows and locks, custom wheels, pinstriping and AM/FM radio.
