Possible pitfalls for buying used 80
- Thread starter trd55
- Start date
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hopefully you had a chance to look at the FAQ in the 80's section. do an advance search specifically in the 80's sections for keywords like headgasket, HG, and driveline clunk. There are a few more issues but this should get you started till other's chime in.
head gaskets
birf joints
coolant sludge
intake hose crack between filter and intake man.
happy hunting
birf joints
coolant sludge
intake hose crack between filter and intake man.
happy hunting
Before I got my 94 I searched the forum and learned alot and I got a great truck.
- Thread starter
- #6
Thanks for the heads up. I found one today with a head gasket issue. Knocked $1250 off the price. How does 2750 for a '91 w/ 141,xxx miles sound. We ran it and it ran fine until it started getting hot. Revved good, but had trouble idleing(mu guess cause of head gasket). All else ws good. New alt, water pump(wanna be mechanic trying to solve HG issue). I will look at the faq and go from there,but your input is greatly appreciated. I am new to this 80 thing. This willbe a daily driver. The 60 is for wheeling. ; ). ANy idea on a HG job from the dealer, or otherwise? I do not hink there might be too much messed up with it.
Thanks,
Darius
Thanks,
Darius
trd55 said:
Just picked up a 91 for $500 bucks with 175xxx on it. runs, drives and looks great, interior is solid, need a bit of TLC..... I would keep looking.....the deals are out there.... Not sure I would take on a HG case for that much. Hit the guy with the $600 hammer and do him a favor.... Not worth $1200 with that much work.
Figure out what you want to spend and what year you are looking for. Be patient, one will come along.....
sc40 said:
Thing is ya dont have to look that hard. Folks I run with know I like old Cruisers. Picked up a 60 5 weeks ago for $200 bucks. If yer not to picky and your friends know your into these things then tell tell a friend, then they tell a friend and so on etc....next thing ya know the deals are plenty...... Not sure I can buy any more, but then again ya hate to pass on them....
Mom and dad are happy with the 60.....
Takes some time but the hits just keep on keepin on....
SHREG said:Just picked up a 91 for $500 bucks with 175xxx on it. runs, drives and looks great, interior is solid, need a bit of TLC..... I would keep looking.....the deals are out there.... Not sure I would take on a HG case for that much. Hit the guy with the $600 hammer and do him a favor.... Not worth $1200 with that much work.
Figure out what you want to spend and what year you are looking for. Be patient, one will come along.....
Holy s*** are you serious??? That is a ***in steal! Good work!
Jason Andrews said:
Thanks, I thought the same thing so I got it. This thing was destined for the junk yard, a buddy of mine tells the guy "my buddy loves old Cruisers" ...."he will come take this truck".....my guy calls me up and 2 days later i pick it up, purchased sight un-seen... He was askin 700......I tell him for 5 I will have it gone in 3 hours.....
The good news is there are tons of old Cruisers out there...the owners have no idea what they have and are willing to sell them cheap. Bonus points on the 4" thick folder of service records that came with it... Sold it to a good friend of mine for the gas it took to go get it.......
Head gasket on a 91 isn't that common, I don't think, beause of the cast head as well as a cast block. Head gasket issues arise with the AL head and cast block. Do you see an issue with the gasket or is this a guess? Look at the rad to see how much sludge there is in there. Cooling issues arise with a clogged rad and lack of mantainance on the cooling system. May not be a head gasket.Just an opinion. And I think that price with that mileage is not bad at all.
trd55 said:
why do you think h/g? it's pretty uncommon in a 3FE. check the plugs for oil build up and give it a compression test. there are a lot of things that could cause a rough idle.
- Thread starter
- #14
photogod said:
Well on the way back from the test drive,(stoped at filling station to fill radiator with water)the engine kept wanting to die, and when I looked in the mirror I saw a huge cloud of white smoke. That would lead me to believe it was a head gasket. Radiator looked clean when we took the cap off.
- Thread starter
- #16
semlin said:
I am assuming a basic tune up is in order, and possibly some of the idle control parts might need adjusting or replaced. If the HG went , this could also cause bad reading from the O2 sensor, and cause rough idel as well. Basically as i replied earlier, the white smoke is a dead give a way for the HG. There is no knocking or other issue that a rough idle. Revs up good(until it starts to get hot). Did not let it run to long when it got hot. Again, any idea on a head job. I do not have the time to do myself, as I am moving soon, but would like to get this cruiser to be my daily driver. Rest of the vehicle was good. Steering was good, no slop. No drive train clunk. Regular exhaust leak at the dbl converters. Thanks
- Thread starter
- #17
Dr Gonzo said:
I already have that from my first toyota ('95 taco). I have since had a total of 2 Tacos, and my FJ60. This would be my 2nd cruiser, and have been visiting Slee's site regularly. Lost my second taco in the divorce, and thus gained the 60(it was going to be her rig to drive). I can't wait to get back to my 60 and put my new FI stuffon it.
trd55 said:
coolant low and white smoke are pretty good indicators. unless this has just happened in the past day or two i would find another truck to buy. if coolant has gotten into the block the bearings could be next.