I know there is another forum for this kinda question but more people read this one so I thought I'd post here.
I've been looking for first gen pickup since my 87 was stolen about four weeks ago. I found a really nice strait 83 that has been owned by the same grandpa for 25 years and is only being sold as he cant drive stick anymore. The seller (his grandson) says it has no leaks at all, rebuilt carb, original drivetrain but it has 213,000 miles. The 87 was my first vehicle and I hadn't even had that a year and high mileage wasnt really a concern at 115k. So for those whos trucks are up in the 200k area, are there any upcoming major overhauls that I should know about? I know the L52 tranny wasn't the strongest, and the front axle seals will leak, but by the looks of it, the truck hasn't seen much offroading in its life, just the commuting of living in LA, and the seller says nothing leaks. I'm going to check it out today but just though I'd ask.

Thanks, Pete

 

Hey man if you don't mind me asking what is he asking for it price wise, and that many miles on 22r isn't bad at all if it was taking care of and wasn't always in a mud hole you can get another 200 k out of it if you do all the proper preventative maintenance and take care of it, these motors can take a lot of punishment and the earlier models have a dual row timing chain that is hard to beat, the main thing you need to check is to see if there is rust and how much, rust is a lot bigger problem than gettin a motor running right. But if the truck doesn't have rust or just minor surface rust and the price is right I would jump all over it that is a nice looking rig, I have a 82 model just like it and it is a wonderful truck and fun to work on. And if you do get it I would put some money aside and get a full tune up plugs&wires,distributor,fuel&air filter,etc. Then I would get a OEM timing kit that comes with water and oil pump and if you get all that done to it and have your carb. up to par you will have a great running motor for many years to come, a 22r will last a life time if properly takin care of and in my opinion is the best motor this planet has ever seen, yeah there not the most powerful motor but they are as durable as it gets. Well I hope this helps or encourages you to buy I just love to see another first gen on the roads good luck!!

 

So I took a look at it last night and everything looked pretty good on the surface. The valves sounded like they were clacking pretty loud but thats easy to adjust. The bed was newly linexed and there was only one small bit of rust on one of the outside seams. The paint was flaking off though so who knows whats underneath. The only other thing of concern to me was there was a loud deep groan when you rev the engine. I was thinking maybe the input bearing on the tranny, but it does it with the clutch in aswell, so maybe just a bearing on a pulley or something. But other than that it was pretty good. THe seller was asking $3000.
The only thing holding me back is a posting for a truck up by my uncle in Sacramento for an 83 with 110k, a rear locker, 5.29s f&r for $2500, what does anybody think about that? Seller told me that it was being built up a little by the PO but he bought it a month ago and now realized the cab is just too small for him.
Also I can handle a little rust, my 87 had two fist size holes in the bed. My avatar is of the truck just after we finished painting it.
Pic of the one with the locker

 

Just depends on.what your wanting are you wanting to fully restore to factory condition like I'm doing mine to get the most value or you wanting to rock crawl and mud ride

 

Really just want a dependable driver that'll get me where I wanna go. I loved my 87 that had 115k cause nothing ever went wrong. I know its a 30 year old truck and it'll need repairs and Im ok with that. Honestly just want another truck too, gettin sick of my dads beater tacoma

 

Man in my opinion I would go for the first truck $3000 is not bad if it has little rust and you can put a little more into it and have a great truck.I hate to see people customize these old trucks. Good luck

 

I'd go for the one with the better body/interior. Other stuff can be rebuilt. Unless you're really good with body work.

Be prepared, though. It could need a rebuilt engine and tranny. Clicking valves could be the timing chain slapping the cover, and the groan could be engine bearings or the transmission. 200K is when things start going on a well taken care of truck. I mean they can go longer than that, but 200k is a respectable time for it to start happening.

Could be that there's just simple stuff wrong and it'll go another 40K or so with no major problems. But it could be that it's time for a pretty major engine/drivetrain overhaul. That's what you get with an original vehicle this old. Unless you want to buy one somone has already rebuilt.

 

Yeah I'm a little nervous about buying one thats been rebuilt, just would feel more comfortable with one that isn't, and thats why I'm attracted to the black one. If I can get my uncle to look at the black one then I'll have a little better idea about which one to go for. The low miles is kinda what sound good to me since my 87 was so nice. Also did 83 have the double row timing chain? Ive read that that was until 84/5 when they reworked the block and head or something but I have no idea.

 

I don't know...I mean it's completely your deal and I'm not going to say which one, but based on my advice I was thinking the blue one. The black one is modified, rattled-canned and pretty ugly. But that's just me.

I didn't see anything about the blue one being rebuilt, other than the carb.



When they stopped the dual row chain is hard to nail down, but most 82/83s do NOT have a dual row.

 

In my opinion, and I think I speak for allot! This one up in Sacramento is a pile of junk compared to the clean blue one. http://stockton.craigslist.org/cto/3768919782.html

 

dependable driver that gets you where you want to go? i go with the first one. Get it down to $2,500 and spend the other $500 on a thorough inspection of the drive train.

Or get a reputable mechanic to provide a thorough inspection BEFORE your purchase it, offer to split the price with the seller or have it taken off the purchase price. Negotiate that in some way.

 

Yep.

My opion, for what it's worth:

Both are likely project. Black one's a beater. Ugly, modified, messed with. Blue one is a well maintained truck, possibly toward the end of it's time with the current engine and transmission.

I know which one I'd rather buy. But that doesn't mean you need to buy either one.

 

That one in SAC sounds sketchy to me.
The cab is too small all of a sudden, that would be a big deal for me before
I threw down the cash. It's a beater and the guy selling it knows it.
Stick with the Blue one, doesn't look like Ivan Stewart jumped it. Good Luck

 

On the black one the guy said he has only had it for a month for whatever thats worth. And the blue one actually needs just about as much bodywork too, several dents, paint is falling off, the interior is pretty much the same as the black one. I think I'll just keep looking local but just thought I'd put that out there.