Potential purchase - looking for input

[bikersmurf]

It is likely worth more, but I suspect the owner is factoring in some of the patches into his price. It looks good, but more important than the body is the frame.

Carefully inspect the frame above the rear spring mounts (at front end) where they stick out to the side of the frame. The frame WILL crack there in time. Also look for rust there and inspect the inner frame rail (assuming it still exists).
The next rust prone area is around the triangle at the rear shackle mount on the frame. This is a highly rust prone area. Bring an awl, pocket knife or something else pointy and see if you can poke holes in it...

I'm not saying it's not worth it, but I've replaced my frame for these reasons, and don't think you'd have the time to do it with a family... I don't now.

Take off the rose coloured glasses and have a good look at the rig I just bought while you've been sitting on the fence.

 

[KUJO85]

Alright, you guys have been awesome, hope I'm not burning through my alloted of help/questions with my first thread - he thinks the tub was replaced by an outfit in NH, the hood is original, and as for the clutch - The clutch is new ,pressure plate, clutch disk, throw out bearing and both hydraulic cylinders. That being said I wanted to lower the brake pedal because I like where the clutch engages and disengages. According to the manual there is a jam nut and a bolt adjustment above the brake pedal. After 3 very very frustrating hours with the door sill in the small of my back and a brake pedal in my face I could not for the life of me figure out how to get a wrench on the bolt and nut.At that point I decided it was not that important....

I'm going to make another stop - maybe on my way home tomorrow from the in laws - he has a creeper so I'll get under and do some more intensive looking and maybe make a deal at that point

 

[x463]

I don't think the running boards/steps are OEM. They look like flat diamond plate without the sides. Could be wrong....tough to tell from photos.

Again - not a big deal but between the running boards and the rear fenders I'd guess this is not a "all original body, no bondo or patchwork" truck. I may revise my estimate down to the mid-teens. Still a good deal at $10K. I'd go over it with a magnet and check both sides of all the panels where possible.

 

[KUJO85]

I don't think the running boards/steps are OEM. They look like flat diamond plate without the sides. Could be wrong....tough to tell from photos.

Again - not a big deal but between the running boards and the rear fenders I'd guess this is not a "all original body, no bondo or patchwork" truck. I may revise my estimate down to the mid-teens. Still a good deal at $10K. I'd go over it with a magnet and check both sides of all the panels where possible.

Great advice, thanks

 

[honk]

Alright, you guys have been awesome, hope I'm not burning through my alloted of help/questions with my first thread - he thinks the tub was replaced by an outfit in NH, the hood is original, and as for the clutch - The clutch is new ,pressure plate, clutch disk, throw out bearing and both hydraulic cylinders. That being said I wanted to lower the brake pedal because I like where the clutch engages and disengages. According to the manual there is a jam nut and a bolt adjustment above the brake pedal. After 3 very very frustrating hours with the door sill in the small of my back and a brake pedal in my face I could not for the life of me figure out how to get a wrench on the bolt and nut.At that point I decided it was not that important....

I'm going to make another stop - maybe on my way home tomorrow from the in laws - he has a creeper so I'll get under and do some more intensive looking and maybe make a deal at that point

when the clutch and brake are adjusted to spec. (correctly) you don't get the leeway to adjust to taste that you may wish to have. With the brakes especially bad things can happen if the factory clearances are not maintained,; things like brake lockup, abnormal brake wear, and generally poor brake performance. Trying to meddle with the factory specifications will turn out not to have been worth the trouble.

However at 6'2" I know your experience. Two things will help - one is that the more you drive the more it'll seem comfortable, and two is that it's relatively simple to move the driver's seat back almost two inches and that seemingly small amount will help immeasurably.

 

[KUJO85]

when the clutch and brake are adjusted to spec. (correctly) you don't get the leeway to adjust to taste that you may wish to have. With the brakes especially bad things can happen if the factory clearances are not maintained,; things like brake lockup, abnormal brake wear, and generally poor brake performance. Trying to meddle with the factory specifications will turn out not to have been worth the trouble.

However at 6'2" I know your experience. Two things will help - one is that the more you drive the more it'll seem comfortable, and two is that it's relatively simple to move the driver's seat back almost two inches and that seemingly small amount will help immeasurably.

Thanks honk - I should have framed that last quote up - that was directly from the seller (about trying to make the adjustments)

 

[Manwithtools]

So, I'm getting closer to Buffalo.... have you closed the deal yet?

 

[KUJO85]

So, I'm getting closer to Buffalo.... have you closed the deal yet?

Lol no but that's the plan - Hoping to have it firmed up today - will keep everyone posted -

 

[tls3601]

Good luck and lots of good input on this thread!!

 

[KUJO85]

Alright - Going Saturday with cash and a trailer - Will take a closer look at some of the spots everyone mentioned, and by Saturday afternoon will hopefully have her under cover of my garage before the snow starts flying in Buffalo!

 

[JohnnyC]

the tub was rebuilt... previously rotted out... either somebody replaced the quarters with 'Bud-Built' quarters or it was rebuilt by Tyke Moses... could very well be wally... he lives in vt

Poor Wallys Landcruiser Emporium

if they are what they are.... they are 3/16" steel... I have well over 100,000 miles on my Wally built tub... my oem steel and Taiwan fenders didnt last very long lol

Wally uses 1/8" floors and a 1/2" tube that runs from side to side.... overkill built tubs... i broke a few rocks and bounced off a few trees with my tub... as well as other things

welcome fellow NYer

 

[justbecause]

 

[KUJO85]

the tub was rebuilt... previously rotted out... either somebody replaced the quarters with 'Bud-Built' quarters or it was rebuilt by Tyke Moses... could very well be wally... he lives in vt

Poor Wallys Landcruiser Emporium

if they are what they are.... they are 3/16" steel... I have well over 100,000 miles on my Wally built tub... my oem steel and Taiwan fenders didnt last very long lol

Wally uses 1/8" floors and a 1/2" tube that runs from side to side.... overkill built tubs... i broke a few rocks and bounced off a few trees with my tub... as well as other things

welcome fellow NYer

Thanks Johnny! Hoping everything checks out Saturday.

 

[edwjmcgrath]

Hope it's still there Sat. Thought you were firming it up last weekend?

 

[sggoat]

I will! But the more replies that are rolling in the more comfortable I am - I think I will be a 40 owner in the not too distant future...If anything else about this rig sticks out, please let me know! Again, really appreciate the input thus far - you guys are great.

Steering box may have a leaking seal-but small fix--otherwise good

 

[Cleg]

Overall it looks like it's worth $10K.
In the past 12 months I haven't seen one worth going to look at with an asking price under $15K. The car flippers are buying them and asking $25,000.

 

[KUJO85]

Fortunately it's not listed for sale anywhere or I'm sure it would be gone already - we have a handshake deal schedules wouldn't allow us to meet anytime before Saturday (it's about 90 miles away from my my home) - initially I thought I wanted more of a project and therefore wanted to spend less than 10, which was part of the reason for my initial hesitation - but the more research I do and the more input I get, I can see this is an awesome find - and that my initial wants were unrealistic.

 

[KUJO85]

Another question - As I mentioned the engine was rebuilt 2 years ago - he's got $4k in receipts from the job done by someone local. He said that there's a vaccuum leak at the manifold that has "worsened over the last month" - I couldn't hear any obvious hissing. He said the only symptom is an occasional back fire - which I didn't experience while I was there.

Thoughts? Seems troublesome to me that something like this is occurring just two years and 2,000 miles after a rebuild.

 

[JohnnyC]

could happen... depends on the manifold gasket... oem gasket is much better than the felpro that most places use IMO

 

[jim land]

i think johnny is right , those quarters look thick ,circle in red in the back.

as others said , have a good look at the rocker pannels