Jump to content

Need a reality check guys...


BootsNTrucks
 Share

Recommended Posts

So I was cruising Craigslist and stumbled across this: https://flagstaff.cr...5192497825.html.


 


I emailed the guy and he provided the following additional information: 160K, 2nd owner, truck has never sat, tires are bad with minimal tread depth (no belts yet) and some minor ballooning, save for the tires he would have no doubts about jumping in and running 500 miles in it, says the motor stays cool.


 


To me this truck is about a $500-750 truck with the but the bad tires (I figure about about $400-500 for a decent set), the generous amounts of bondo, non functioning  seat belt, the dents, and the no locking doors all worry me. I asked him if he was willing to deal and he said "Compared to what else is on craigslist right now, for more money, $1000 is a steal for a good ruining truck. I'd work with you at $900 but that's more than fair in my opinion." While there is only one other MJ on craigslist in the area (the crack pot wants 4500 for this http://flagstaff.cra...200209167.html)I feel this $900 is a bit high for this truck. 


 


So I come to the experts....


 


Also side bar, stuff to look for if I go to look at it?


Link to comment
Share on other sites

those kind of mirrors are sometimes a sign there might be a d44 rear. the rust sounds bad but maybe not .... how's the clutch and is it internal or external slave? posi? condition of oil and coolant. rusty floorboards. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

AC belts are not on, so I dunno if it works.

Unpossible. The '89 4.0L uses a single, serpentine belt. If the belt isn't running the A/C, it also isn't running the water pump, cooling fan, or alternator.

 

I agree with you -- that's a $500 truck.

 

{Edit to add} Looked at photos again and the ad. It's only a 2WD. It has the "station wagon" steering wheel, so it's a base model with idiot lights, no gauges. He has dash covers, so I'll bet the vinyl dash is cracked from AZ sun. Looks like bucket seats, so I wonder what they came out of. The passenger seat belt is flopping around loose, so my guess is that the retractor is fubar as well as the latch (which, BTW, cannot be repaired, only replaced).

 

The guy is dreaming.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just wanted to ask the experts, and it would appear I am on the correct path. I don't really need the truck I just miss my MJ back in California. Plus I figure this would be the perfect truck for blasting down dirt roads out here. Guess I'll monitor it and hit him up sometime next week and see if his song has changed. I want to say this truck has already been listed at least 2 weeks. Can't imagine many people are jumping at this 2wd truck out here 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

those kind of mirrors are sometimes a sign there might be a d44 rear. the rust sounds bad but maybe not .... how's the clutch and is it internal or external slave? posi? condition of oil and coolant. rusty floorboards. 

I wasn't aware you could get a 44 in a 2wd....i thought it had to be towing and 4x4

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

those kind of mirrors are sometimes a sign there might be a d44 rear. the rust sounds bad but maybe not .... how's the clutch and is it internal or external slave? posi? condition of oil and coolant. rusty floorboards. 

I wasn't aware you could get a 44 in a 2wd....i thought it had to be towing and 4x4

 

 

Nope, because I just picked up an '88 SporTruck, 2WD with the Peugeot BA-10/5 and to my surprise, it has a D44 with LSD.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Update:

 

I was going to set the guy stew for a bit and earlier today he emailed me asking if I'd like to come take a look at the truck. He as also changed the CL price from 1000 to 900, been listed 13 days now.

 

-Asked about AC/Serp belt and he said "come to think of it, the truck never had AC. I'm sorry, I've been working on an old Ford I just bought, and it has AC that's broken." 

-As I am from California (just going to college in Flagstaff) my other car is registered in CA. It would cost me an extra $15 a month to add the MJ BUT it has to be registered in CA. So I asked about the smog  and was told "never passed smog. It's been in Flagstaff and Winslow it's whole life, where it's not required." Simple solution is leave it registered here in Flagstaff, but I am willing to bet it will be more expensive that $15 for it to have its own AZ policy. Or I buy it and drive it all the way back home and get it smogged risk it failing and then have that mess on my hands....

-He does say that there haven't been any modifications to the emissions.

-He confirmed it has the standard cluster, no tach.

 

Frankly the more I think about this truck, the more of a headache this is giving me. Is this $500-$750 truck that I'm just planning on using to haul a little bit of stuff and fly down dirt roads with worth this much trouble? I am beginning to think no it is not.... 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IIRC, in AZ you have 30 days to insure the vehicle. Insurance in AZ may be a little more, but I'm almost sure reg will be less than CA. 

From the pics, the bed looks solid, check the frame for rust. Look for the hexagon diff in the rear. If round, then its a turdy5. AS far as interior, if the dash mat has been there a while the dash top is probably okay. 

If all the smog stuff is there, and looks OEM, and it runs good. A tune-up should make it run like a champ and pass the sniffer easy. 

Since it is a 1989, depending on build date/chryco it could have either a BA10/5 or an AX-15. If you do not already know, a BA10/5 has a case that bolts together side to side. So, if there is a seam with bolts running down the body of the trans front to back its a BA10/5. Either will internal slave of this vintage. 

Basically, if this truck has an AX-15, D44, and a decent bed, maybe rear bumper  you could make your money back, and maybe some if you decided you didn't want it in the end. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...