I'm exhausting my search for a truck, I was looking for an older truck that has been well maintained. But even the ones that are somewhat well maintained, are beat to hell. Usually the same issues, being that the rear main seal, oil pan and gas tanks are leaking. I'm fine doing the work, but don't want to buy someone else's project that is half finished. Everyone has been there.
Finding a 4x4 long bed truck in my area seems to be extremely hard. Everything is short bed crew cab.
So I found a 1995, 4x4 automatic. 200k miles. Priced at $995 as is. Dealer is saying has a misfire or a loss of power the dealer is located about an hour away, so I haven't made the trip to see it as of yet. Check to see if the frame isn't completely rusted, etc.
It's got the 5.7/350 engine. I found a completely rebuilt engine if I need to go that route for $1900.
So thoughts?
Misfire could be as simple as needing a cap and rotor, plugs and wires. The TBI 5.7's had such small caps they were likely to crossfire with age and crap buildup inside the cap. Pickup coil or leaky injectors can do it as well. Overall they're very simple to fix. Parts are cheap and available anywhere.
Brake lines rust, but they're easy to replace. You shouldn't expect much from a $1,000 truck, but if it isn't rusted in two, you'll have a truck that is worth putting some money into.
Parts are stupid cheap, comparatively.
The 95's are the last of the TBI motors, and non-Vortec. Good enough, though.
Bobzilla wrote:
Misfire could be as simple as needing a cap and rotor, plugs and wires. The TBI 5.7's had such small caps they were likely to crossfire with age and crap buildup inside the cap. Pickup coil or leaky injectors can do it as well. Overall they're very simple to fix. Parts are cheap and available anywhere.
All of this. TBI injectors go crappy quite often. Good news is, they are stupid cheap AND simple to fix.
The only issue I have with the TBI trucks is they aren't very good for towing more than 6000lbs down the highway (I tow 7k lbs through the mountains, and it's fine, but you definitely have to "manage" it). They also get E36 M3 for gas mileage, towing or unloaded. Of course, a $1k 4x4 truck is hard to pass up, and it'll ride like a dream.
No truck gets "GOOD" gas milage, it's just something to accept and move on. I've found some Ford F250HD's with the 460 motor, but their mileage is even worse then other trucks. I'm told between 10-14, and as little at 4 mpg when towing up hills with something heavy.
Everything you guys are telling me so far is making me more and more want to make the 1.5 hour drive to check it out.
I'm not worried about towing more then 6000lbs. If it's more then that, I'd either rent something or hire someone to tow it for me.
The advice above is spot on, but I'd also look at the fuel lines. Intake manifold gaskets are another common issue.
But where would you ever find parts? Or on-line forums dedicated to them?
Seriously though, unless it's got a very rusty frame, it's worth that all day long.
I've seen similar Fords for that money or close. Hard to beat a 90's American pickup for cheap and easy to fix reliability.
since never are intake manifold gaskets a common issue on a TBI small block.
Check fuel pressure. The pumps should put out 9-13psi for a TBI system. Failed pumps aren't too expensive to fix, but you have to drop the tank or lift the bed.
06HHR
Reader
6/10/14 12:38 p.m.
Tracked down my misfire to simple plug wire routing, one got stuck between the coil mount and the air cleaner base, was arcing between the two. Definitely check plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor. If that doesn't cure it, check the coil, ignition module and pick-up coil inside the distributor. Unless everything below the hoodline is rusted away, you can't go wrong with that deal. Parts are cheap and plentiful, and that should have the later-style interior that's more comfortable. AND, 200k is nothing for these trucks, I think the block is good for 400K +
digdug18 wrote:
No truck gets "GOOD" gas milage, it's just something to accept and move on. I've found some Ford F250HD's with the 460 motor, but their mileage is even worse then other trucks. I'm told between 10-14, and as little at 4 mpg when towing up hills with something heavy.
Everything you guys are telling me so far is making me more and more want to make the 1.5 hour drive to check it out.
I'm not worried about towing more then 6000lbs. If it's more then that, I'd either rent something or hire someone to tow it for me.
That's pretty far fetched unless the O2 sensor is completely boogered, the plugs haven't been changed in years, the wires are arcing across everything, the fuel pressure regulator is leaking like a sieve AND the injectors leak, you'll get 15-18 round town and 10-12 towing a heavy load.
And yes, there are trucks that get good fuel economy. But you're not going to find one for $1000. 
I'm under the impression that dealers won't sell a vehicle that has rust issues, even if it's cheap, because people would not fix it and then tell everyone they know and some strangers that X dealership sold them a rusted POS. I don't really see dealers sell cars under $5K.
