yooper
SILVER Star
Looked at a '94 with lockers today. Green, gray leather, no roof rack, running boards. Only rust was a tiny bubble at the base of the rear lift gate window and the running boards are rusty. Undercarriage amazingly clean for a midwest truck. DS axle shaft recently replaced, not sure why, PS birf was repacked by the same small mechanic shop. There is oil on both knuckle housings, but the seller says the mechanic says that is old oil (wouldn't you clean this up?). The axle housing part of the knuckle (the sphere) was pretty dry, as was most of the knuckle felt. I can't quite tell if there is current leakage. He showed me the receipt from the local mechanic and it had all the seals, an axle shaft ($619), and other appropriate stuff included - $1300 total.
A few tiny scratches in the otherwise nice factory paint and a cracked tail light lens. Leather is worn and cracked.
New Michelin Cross Terrain tires.
I couldn't get the lockers to engage after a couple minutes of trying. I basically drove a serpentine path down a gravel driveway, then went in a circle about ten times, then reversed direction. Backed up a couple times too. Seller knew they were there, but didn't know that his new-to-him '96 didn't have them! Says he's never ever used them.
I could not see any leakage from the head gasket area. Engine looked pretty clean. All fuids fresh appearing. Green coolant, though. Truck drove great on road and off - no weird noises that I could find and no handling oddities. Brakes worked great.
The guy listed this truck at $10,750 three weeks ago, came down to $9750 after a week, then $8750, now the ad in the local paper says "first $7500 takes it". I think I could get it for $6000-6500, especially if I wait another week.
Nice guy, pillar in the local community, I trust him, but he's not mechanically inclined and though he loves Cruisers (he's owned four now) he doesn't have a clue about the details that make them great or that his front axle isn't perfect.
What should I do? Is this a steal at $6500 even if I have to redo the axle? Should I worry about the lockers, or go back and try again?
Being able to buy a local vehicle is a big plus for me. As a business owner and the prime mission critical employee it's very expensive for me to travel. I want this to be my DD but of course it will get lifted, bullbar, sliders, tires, etc.
I'm thinking of bringing it to the car wash and pressure washing the knuckles to get the oil off, then having him drive it to work for a few days and see if I can see any leakage.
I didn't take pics - wouldn't be much for you guys to see. Looks like a stock green 80.
thanks!
A few tiny scratches in the otherwise nice factory paint and a cracked tail light lens. Leather is worn and cracked.
New Michelin Cross Terrain tires.
I couldn't get the lockers to engage after a couple minutes of trying. I basically drove a serpentine path down a gravel driveway, then went in a circle about ten times, then reversed direction. Backed up a couple times too. Seller knew they were there, but didn't know that his new-to-him '96 didn't have them! Says he's never ever used them.
I could not see any leakage from the head gasket area. Engine looked pretty clean. All fuids fresh appearing. Green coolant, though. Truck drove great on road and off - no weird noises that I could find and no handling oddities. Brakes worked great.
The guy listed this truck at $10,750 three weeks ago, came down to $9750 after a week, then $8750, now the ad in the local paper says "first $7500 takes it". I think I could get it for $6000-6500, especially if I wait another week.
Nice guy, pillar in the local community, I trust him, but he's not mechanically inclined and though he loves Cruisers (he's owned four now) he doesn't have a clue about the details that make them great or that his front axle isn't perfect.
What should I do? Is this a steal at $6500 even if I have to redo the axle? Should I worry about the lockers, or go back and try again?
Being able to buy a local vehicle is a big plus for me. As a business owner and the prime mission critical employee it's very expensive for me to travel. I want this to be my DD but of course it will get lifted, bullbar, sliders, tires, etc.
I'm thinking of bringing it to the car wash and pressure washing the knuckles to get the oil off, then having him drive it to work for a few days and see if I can see any leakage.
I didn't take pics - wouldn't be much for you guys to see. Looks like a stock green 80.
thanks!
