For $1000, you got a good Beater truck.. Waaaaaaaay too rusty, though. That rust is probably cause #1 to your multiple mechanical failures.

i've been looking for even a parts truck around here and Hunks o Junk that are just shells are 1000$+ now

Curious just where do you live??

Southern Oregon Coast. I found a "parts" truck today for 900$ its not drive able and in worse shape then mine. The guy wont budge but honestly I don't think I would even want to ashtray from it. The rust and other damage it might as well be scrap.

Cyrus, I would fix what you have. Mine is just as bad as yours. Actually it was worse... Is worse. I had to refresh my 22re, because it leaked oil and antifreeze everywhere. The engine is done now, but I havnt gotten it back in yet.

My frame. The FRAME is rotted from the cab back, and it is cheaper for me to repair mine than to buy a truck in better shape. I'm not saying it hasn't cost me money, But it's a 22 year old truck. I wasn't expecting it to be showroom condition, and I don't think It ever will be. It might get close, but you can never make an old car new. Not reasonably anyways.

Keep chipping away at it, and you'll have a nice reliable truck when your done.

With any luck mine will be getting prepped for paint the end of next week.

You need to start looking for a truck about 150 miles away from the coast.

Seems the Salt from the ocean is right there with the liquid brine in fact it looks worse.

Like I said the passenger side in the engine compartment i think was sprayed with battery acid when they had the off roading accident. Everthing in that part of the car is corroded much worse.

I just bought a 89 with the v6 it also came with a 22r but its a 83 model I do believe. which one would be better any opinions on this out there