Opinion 1989 GMC 2500 4x4 5.7 Plow truck

Since the Dodge disappeared, I now am considering this one. Unlike the Dodge, this needs mechanical help. It won't start. Claimed fuel pump. Plow won't go up and down but motor turns so needs a hydro pump. Western plow. Comes with a complete brake line repair kit but brakes don't need it, yet. Colored in red primer. Has a utility box that needs help, of course. Rust really isn't bad. Frame and under carriage have surface rust but no serious pitting. Rockers, cab corners and 1 front fender are shot. Also has a crack in the windshield. Opinions/concerns?? Oh and $1100 firm.

6 or 8 lug wheels? 3/4 come in 2 flavors. If its a 8 lug, get it. It will have a 8600GVW = heavy duty everything. The 350TBI won't set records for power, but its simple to fix and very reliable.

6 lug. Same as our 1500 suburban. Wierd I hadn't thought about it.

GMT400s are generally good trucks and that's a good price for anything with a plow this time of year.

My biggest concern is that it isn't running right now. How stupid am I for considering this? Wish I was better with pictures. I can text them.

This Bronco seems pretty much fully functional and isn't much more.

http://harrisburg.craigslist.org/cto/5912142275.html

The Bronco doesn't need work but is crustier, further away and more money.

pics?

markwemple wrote: My biggest concern is that it isn't running right now. How stupid am I for considering this? Wish I was better with pictures. I can text them.

I wouldn't sweat it too much. Everything for those is cheap new or cheaper (and widely available) used. Even if it needs an engine you should be able to find one for a couple hundred. If it is the fuel pump you can probably get it running by whacking the bottom of the tank with a big rubber hammer while someone cranks it. If it does start like that there is a good chance it will get you home. Fuel pumps were fairly common failures in those. At that price for what you're describing I would say it's not a great buy, but not a real bad buy either. The biggest thing to remember with plow trucks is to use them throughout the year. Take it to Lowe's every other weekend or something. Sitting around is rough on them. Another thing to keep in mind is those trans (assuming auto) weren't great, and plowing is hard on a transmission, so there's a decent chance it will crap out at some point. But yet again, you should be able to get one for around $150 on CL.

After re-reading the original post, I would tell the seller that it won't run, the plow doesn't work, the windshields busted, there's rust holes and nobody wants a messed up utility bed and offer $700. Maybe $900 if it has new tires. But my guess is there is a lot of deffered maintenance you will be dealing with.

It seems cheap to me. Just the truck in running condition should be 1000 easy, 2000 once tax season arrives. Plow would be 750 to a grand working. The cheapest used plow for my f250 has been 2250 and I rather not put my diesel through that.

I'm just not the best gambler. My $750 2002 325xi is at 2500 and counting.

gearheadmb wrote: After re-reading the original post, I would tell the seller that it won't run, the plow doesn't work, the windshields busted, there's rust holes and nobody wants a messed up utility bed and offer $700. Maybe $900 if it has new tires. But my guess is there is a lot of deffered maintenance you will be dealing with.

Has newish tires, new battery, new injectors and new hoses on the plow, along with the brake lines. FWIW, I'm not the best haggler. All help greatly appreciated.

If you are looking at something that is a project, why not look for a snowblower attachment for the tractor?

Something like this: Bolens Snowcaster

Fuel pump was a common issue, and its pretty easy to diagnose. Hold the schrader valve open on the fuel line while someone turns on the key. If you get sprayed, its not a fuel pump. If you don't get any fuel, its probably the pump or some electrical thing with the pump.

But not hearing it run is scary for me; rod knocks, piston slap, collapsed lifters, wiped cam lobe. Just make sure you get it at a price assuming you might have to do a longblock and you won't be disappointed.

TBI fuel nozzles (they aren't injectors - pet peave of mine) sometimes leak, but its an easy fix. Expect puffs of blue smoke at startup. If they go away quickly, don't worry. Valve seals like to let a little puddle drip in when its not running and then burn it off at startup. Fix it, don't fix it, it doesn't matter. If it smokes all the time, then you have either a really bad valve seal or bad rings, but the TBI 350 in there only made 180 hp, so its not stressed and they tend to last a very long time.

Here is the big drawback and it may or may not be an issue for you. If its the 6-lug, it has a 4L60 (700r4) transmission. Plow use is torture for an automatic, and the 700r4 is already at or above its limit in a truck like that. If its a three-speed auto, its a TH400 and it is a good box. The 4L80E didn't come around until 1991.

Otherwise, great trucks. Boring as vanilla, but one of Chevy's more reliable trucks.

So if he's "stuck" at 1100, how low would you guys go, with what you know. Which is as much as I know

Without seeing it, based on your description I would think $750 is a bargain. I could still replace an engine or transmission and still have a viable vehicle without too much money.

I guess I'm asking what would you offer?

I'm not a big fan of Western plows but that's based on decades of excellent Fisher experience rather than any bad experiences with Western. Be sure and take a second and third look at the frame. That's a significant weak spot on those and I've lost track of how many broken ones I saw when I lived in Upstate NY. I'd be shocked if a truck in the overall condition you're describing has a good one.

The plow is much newer than the truck. I will take a closer look. I agree that western is a low end plow. I wouldn't use one for commercial purposes.

I wouldn't waste my time on that truck this late in winter, by the time you sort it it will be spring and you'll have to sort it again next fall. If you can I would look in the 3500 range which will be useable right now trucks that MAY need some work summer/fall.

Valid point. At around2k there are enough choices that 3.5k wouldn't be necessary