Mustang sold..now I cant find a truck to buy..

3302 Views 31 Replies 18 Participants Last post by Oo-v-oO, Feb 17, 2012

RED-85-Z51

Discussion Starter · Feb 14, 2012

THe Stang finally sold on Saturday, I called Saturday and the 96 K3500 Id been wanting for so long, sold Friday...

So Ive been looking for a truck since then, my budget it like 3500 TOPS, Id like to be around 3000, and It has to be a GMC...

I looked at 3 trucks today, junk...junk, and more junk.

Truck 1.
Advertised as a 95 C2500 Sierra, Diesel, Automatic "Runs great, drives great, very nice"

When I got there, the body was covered in crumbled body work, like it had rolled down a hill and had all the dents popped. The truck was originally a Polo Green, but it was poorly resprayed Forrest Green. Missing a parking light, grille was rattle canned black and everything up front was oversprayed. He starts by telling me that its been broken into and the column is busted and it has a 2nd key switch to start it...hmm. SO he tries to start it, and it clicks...clicks...50 times, then it turns over and starts..runs 3 minutes and dies, wont restart..."This happens sometimes"...righhhttt. So as Im walking away he tells me about..

Truck #2....
1995 C2500 350 Gasser, automatic..
"Runs great, no problems, the engine is new"

So it labors to start, has a loud clacking sound under the hood, its running pig rich, is missing an exhaust pipe, body looks like a coke can that has been run over a few times, interior is rough. 204K miles...
So I walked away from that one too..he was wanting 2000 each...wow

3rd Truck..advertised as "1990 K1500, 350, automatic, good condition, doesnt start, 1000obo". So I drove out...interior was 90% complete, gauges didnt work, cranked but wouldnt start, engine was an old emissions engine from the early 80's...and it had obvious leaks...TBI was still in place, body was very rough overall, bad dents that exposed bondo...I was going to offer 600 but I decided to walk away, i need a driver not a lown ornament.

Hopefully Ill find some nicer stuff tomorrow.

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1 - 20 of 32 Posts

s10lowrider1994

· #2 · Feb 14, 2012

Hard to find nice 90s Gm trucks anymore for some reason. I looked at a few a while back and had a similar experience to yours. Didnt really encounter the body damage but the mechanical aspect of most was just plain awful. People really run them into the ground.

Boyd

· #3 · Feb 14, 2012

Up to 1996 for F150 and 1997 for F250/F350 you could get them with a 300-6. You won't win any drag races but that engine just won't die. As every vehicle has its weaknesses, I'll tell you what to look for in them:
leaking tailshaft seals in the Mazda built 5 speed manuals. Everywhere you go people think plastic plugs up in the very TOP of the transmission right behind the shifter,,, are the culprit. A sign is oil sprayed on the underside of the bed starting right where the end of the tranny is. Cracked and leaking vacuum hoses going to the EGR. It makes the EGR act like it is possessed. Many people have traced EGR gaskets to make a block off plate. Drill a 1/16" to 1/8" hole in the block off plate so the computer doesn't create a code. If you mostly drive an F150 in town look for one with a 3.55 or 3.31 axle ratio. You will get 15-17 mpg. My 93 has a 2.73 axle ratio and always got 13.5 mpg in town.

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WNYTractorTinkerer

· #4 · Feb 14, 2012

s10lowrider1994 said:
Hard to find nice 90s Gm trucks anymore for some reason. I looked at a few a while back and had a similar experience to yours. Didnt really encounter the body damage but the mechanical aspect of most was just plain awful. People really run them into the ground.

3 words SR.. "Cash-For-Clunkers" Folks ended up with a lot more $$ for thier vehicles than they could have sold them for.. :banghead3

The used car market took a huge hit for a while.. :dunno: They are still out there but they are hard to find.. :goodl: Red!

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matt167

· #5 · Feb 14, 2012

I wouldn't just go for GMC, being that a Chevy can be just as good. The only diffrence is GMC's trim line starts higher than Chevy's.. So whilist you can get vinyl floors and roll up windows in a base model Cheyenne ( or W/T ). The GMC just starts out at basically a Silverado pkg. Carpet, chrome ect...

Fords of that vintage are nice too, but the GM's definitely have a better ride..

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Dude11

· #6 · Feb 14, 2012

Sold sat.your pick-sold fri.Kinda sounds like the fishing thing--Best day to fish was yesterday.Least that what they always tell me"You should'da been here yesterday!!!" Keep your nose to ground,Red,you'll find one that fits the bill.:trink40:

RED-85-Z51

Discussion Starter · #7 · Feb 14, 2012

I wouldnt have a Ford...The interiors were sparse, the front "Twin beam" 4X4 suspension, to me...is awful.

88-98 C/K's have a record of reliability and quality, and acceptable comfort.

Dirty Bernie

· #8 · Feb 14, 2012

I'm in the market also & am having the same problems. some of the trucks ive seen for 3-4k look like they were dragged from a swamp!

I could find better deals in RI but then you have undercarrige rot to deal with.

dodge trucker

· #9 · Feb 14, 2012

It'll be a while before i am in position to be able to buy a truck but my next one will be an 89-93 Cummins powered Dodge.... a 3/4 or single wheel 1 ton, and a Stick!
on the "Has to Be" a GMC; Mechanically there is NO difference between them, identical trucks.

RED-85-Z51

Discussion Starter · #10 · Feb 14, 2012

GMC's were just nicer....

Vonrow

· #11 · Feb 14, 2012

too bad yer down there in FL. up here in MN the chev/GMc trucks are a dime a dozen in the 1500 to 4k cash bracket. decent machines too, some with very very little body rot.

I know how ya feel about the ford twin beam vs the GM setup. I'm also NOT a fan of the way ford does their emission system & timeing controls. ...at least not on their gas engines anyway

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bontai Joe

· #12 · Feb 14, 2012

I've been looking for a couple of years for a $1000-1500 beater truck of ANY brand, and they are just not out there. Oh, I can find parts trucks with missing engines and no titles, but nothing running that I could put on the road. Everything in my neck of the woods starts at $2500 and quickly goes up, and that's for a multicolored rattle can painted, 200,000 mile, oil burning, noise making, wobbly driving truck that has springs poking thru the seats. So my congratulations on selling the Mustang and best of luck in finding a truck.

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MacLawn

· #13 · Feb 15, 2012

I think WNY got it - the cash for clunk program took some great vehicles off the road. I was talking to my local dealer service man and he told me of several great trucks that were just junked. He said you could not buy them once it was designated as a cash-clunk truck - it had to be junked!!

Anyway, Red, you might just have to look a few hundred miles out from your location to find something decent. I traded an excellent '96 Chevy 350 4 years ago. I wonder if it also went to the cash/clunk way.

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johndeere

· #14 · Feb 15, 2012

bontai Joe said:
I've been looking for a couple of years for a $1000-1500 beater truck of ANY brand, and they are just not out there. Oh, I can find parts trucks with missing engines and no titles, but nothing running that I could put on the road. Everything in my neck of the woods starts at $2500 and quickly goes up, and that's for a multicolored rattle can painted, 200,000 mile, oil burning, noise making, wobbly driving truck that has springs poking thru the seats. So my congratulations on selling the Mustang and best of luck in finding a truck.

Thats the way it is around here also.Trucks are priced like gold.

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RED-85-Z51

Discussion Starter · #15 · Feb 15, 2012

Im frantically trying to get ahold of a person who advertised a truck locally on CL last month, 1 time. usually 1 time ads either sell and never get replicated, or they dont sell and the seller gives up.

1994 K3500 Silverado Dually Diesel, Ext Cab. Its a whole lotta truck...but its gorgeous and I can afford it. His cell is off right now, I sent an email as well.

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forkz

· #16 · Feb 15, 2012

good luck red

RED-85-Z51

Discussion Starter · #17 · Feb 15, 2012

Going this afternoon to look at the 95 K3500 Dually. I talked to the guy, he said after he put the ad up last month, the rebuilt tranny took a crap, lost Reverse and 3rd gears, which I know is most likely a Direct drive drum failure, which means it needs to be rebuilt again, so Im looking at 1600 for an overhaul.

Guy says he will take 1500 as is, where is...Im going to offer 1200, as I really dont want to risk any more than that on an unproven truck.

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Boyd

· #18 · Feb 15, 2012

bontai Joe said:
I've been looking for a couple of years for a $1000-1500 beater truck of ANY brand, and they are just not out there. Oh, I can find parts trucks with missing engines and no titles, but nothing running that I could put on the road. Everything in my neck of the woods starts at $2500 and quickly goes up, and that's for a multicolored rattle can painted, 200,000 mile, oil burning, noise making, wobbly driving truck that has springs poking thru the seats. So my congratulations on selling the Mustang and best of luck in finding a truck.

Wow, I parked my 93 F150 about 5 years ago. 201,000 miles. Barely uses oil, 5 speed Mazda tranny leaks a little bit but thats the tailshaft seal,,, oil was replaced about 10,000 miles ago. 300-6, Mazda 5 speed, 2.73 rear, rear spring shackles rusted and springs stick up through the bed, one front locating arm is broke off where the bolt goes on. Hood and a few other parts got donated to my 94 F250HD which is also white. Mice have turned to squatters inside of it. I could still put it on the road at last resort but I have my 09 Ranger, 04 Ranger, 94 F250HD so there it sits. I plan on stripping parts off of it then cutting it up this year some time. And to think in other parts of the country its worth money. In parts and scrap its worth at least $500 to me.

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Hugh-SS/16

· #19 · Feb 15, 2012

Honestly, speaking from experience, the 6.5 has good power, but unless the engine is MINT, get a 350.

RED-85-Z51

Discussion Starter · #20 · Feb 15, 2012

Hugh-SS/16 said:
Honestly, speaking from experience, the 6.5 has good power, but unless the engine is MINT, get a 350.

Didnt you just get a 6.5 Silverado a couple months ago? Hows it working for you?

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