Looking at 83 pickup. Need advice
 

Ok here's the deal, I've been driving my dad's 93 pickup ever since I got my license and I'm looking to get my own vehicle. I've already been through the ups and downs of looking for a vehicle. Drove an hour and a half to look at an 88 with 7 inches of lift on 35's with a rebuilt 22r. Not only did it look much rougher in person than online but everything was rigged. Did I mention this guy was asking 3,500 for a primered truck that barely gets down the road without shaking? Anyways, I just spotted an 83 with solid axles and 6 inches of lift on 36's. The body looks a little rough and the guy said it needs a little work to become street legal but it does run! He's asking $1,250 and right now I have a budget of about 3 grand. Before I drive down there to look at it I wanted some advice. Is it worth the investment? Will provide pictures tomorrow, comment with any further questions tou have for me.

Needs a little work to become street legal? Interested to know what it needs. Just because it runs doesn't really mean anything. It could crank up and run but is it drivable? Do you need something now or are you still saving money? I'd say pick which ever year range you like but find one stock and not lifted that's just me.

Sorry I don't know that much about it. I just found it tonight and the guy hasn't replied to my message yet. I totally agree though a stock truck is probably better to start a project with. I actually just found a 79 that has current inspection and is daily driven for $2300. Pics up in a few minutes

79 will have the 20r if its stock. i'd love to get a 20r head... :D

Pictures of the 83

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Also thinking about a Jeep Cherokee. To give you an idea of my situation I have $3100 cash right now and I'm looking for a 4-wheel drive that can be daily driven and also climb some trails like a badass. So my first thought was there's basically two choices for my budget and specs.: an old toyota pickup (I can't afford sas) or a fairly new (stock) cherokee. All mods. don't need to fall under my budget as I'm getting a job soon but I'd like to get the best bang for my buck and best platform for a build.

I wouldn't get a jeep just sayin

I thought I'd always be a toyota guy but cherokee's are cheap and probably the newest 4x4 you can get with a stock solid front axle. What's your reasoning?

Like you said there cheap. Do the right thing and get a yote

Can't promise what I will end up getting but no matter what I get I'll make a build thread.

I would be very glad to follow your Toyota build on here but please dint put a jeep thread on here lol

It would be on cherokee forum in case any of you guys wanted to go look at it.

I doubt we'll go look at your Cherokee build I know I'm not

Cherokees are fine for noob trails but due to their unibody design, when they fail the whole rig tends to come apart catastrophically. So instead of (sometimes) being able to limp home, you end up leaving your rear axle attached to the rear hatch and only havin it han on by hinges.

I dont expect you to, just confirming your assumption that CHEROKEE builds go on CHEROKEE forum and TOYOTA builds go on YOTATECH.

So body on frame is definitely the way to go? But keep in mind this rig will see more pavement than dirt for sure. But I definitely can't afford to run into big problems like you were talking about with unibody.

Unibody is horrible for offroad. When you go to weld your sliders and tube bumpers on, where do you attach them? As a whole structure the unibody is stiffer to weight ratio. This makes sense for cars, but you loose a good solid point to mount modified suspension components and armor to.

When checking a first gen, lift up the carpet in the 4 corners of the cab to look for rust.

I have no advice on what to look for in jeeps. But all my friends seem blow up the push rod straight 6 and end up with a lawn ornament.

If you think Toyotas squeak you need to drive a unibody Jeep. I like how they look but I'd never own one because of the unibody.