Well, my girlfriend and I were driving the other day and came across an '88 pickup x-cab for sale. The thing looks mint, 22RE, 4x4, 5sp, body is immaculate very little rust on the undercarriage (only surface), maybe a slight lift, hydraulic plow, and the surprise was the odometer that read 52XXX?! The guy wants $7000cdn certified, for it which doesn't seem crazy but I wouldn't pay more than $4500-5000 for it. I phoned him and asked about the mileage and he said that the odometer isn't right but the engine runs strong (no burning oil, leaks...da da da) timing chain done a year ago, new clutch brakes. He said the odometer works but when his son put gauges in (oil pressure,temp) it didn't work for a bit...whatever that means. He was up front and saying it was "up there" in mileage and I asked "so around 200xxx to 300xxx?" and he said ya around that. It's just so tempting cause it looks like it drove off the lot and mine is pretty rusted...the body that is, but the frame is good with a thick layer from being undercoated the past ten years. What do you guys think? I've researched the laws in Ontario about odometer tampering and it's illegal but the guy is admitting to it. Any thoughts or opinions appreciated. Thanks....wow that was a long post, whew!

 

Sounds like the son didnt plug the speedo cable back in when he took the cluser out to tap wires for the guages...

vehicle is a "TMU" (true mileage unknown) and thus its" book value" is pretty minimal.

surface rust is usually an indication of deeper rot.

Any truck with a plow on it was worked and worked hard.

Thats alotta moola for a 88. Since the son added guages I assume it is NOT an SR5 trm but probably a DLX... cost NEW in 1988 dollars was probably in the low teens?

Sounds like too much to me. 22RE with over 300K on it is rather tired and in need of a rebuild (IMHO)

 

Did he tamper with odometer? Or was the instrument cluster changed from idiot lights to the gauge style?

 

I gave $2600 USD for my '88 Xtra Cab 2 years ago and it has a lift, updated interior, 33's, and had a fresh rebuild.

Rob

 

Ya, it seems to me the son just didn't plug the odometer back in. The original cluster was in it but there's a gauge on the A pilar and one or two more on the dash in the middle if I remember correctly. I don't know if it was neccessarily tampered with or they just didn't want to go back in and connect it. Ah, I'll save my money and touch up what I got...it all seems too sketchy to me even for a lower $. Thanks for the responses.

 

Yeah, deff. sketchy. When you asked the mileage, and he said "Yeah, something like that." That sends off a total red flag for me. I wouldn't touch it, even if it was the cleanest truck around. If you really do your looking, something else will always come around.