Quick, I gotta let the guy know something... 1989, reg. cab, utility bed with all working doors, 190,000 miles, Automatic, good tires, runs good...no a/c , $2250.... is it worth it??

 

Yes! I paid $2400 for a 91 regular cab auto with about just as many miles and tons of dents with poor tires.

 

definatly. any rust?

 

If it's got a decent body you could part it out and get more than that for it.

 

No rust... good tires...all the hubcaps are there... bench seats... all the glass is good... the engine is clean... not a dent on it!! It was a state schoolbus maintenance truck.... so I guess they did maintenance on the maintenance truck as well as the school buses....oil is clean... I will drive it tomorrow.. looks like a new altenator.. I did notice one thing though... the voltage regulator or whatever that thing is on the firewall, right in the middle, just above the last valve cover..sorta to the right... It looks like it is leaking out some kinda green juice.. I am thinking... that waxy type insulation that they use in "black boxing" electronic components... any thoughts on this as an indicator of a bad component or is this "leaking" normal??

 

That doesn't sound healthy but a replacement is cheap.

 

I got her today..shes in the yard... I'll post pictures soon... am really interested in that rear end... little leak on the IP...somewhere... and the linkage on the IP appears to be worn out... same as on my truck... I replaced it all on the one I am driving and probably will have to on this truck. If a truck sits a long time, will that cause ""O"" ring leakage on the IP or is that wishful thinking??

 

I think I am in luck... the little tag on the rear end says ""3.07"... is that good?

 

Philip could respond
Sound like your truck is similar to his and he's happy with it...

 

3:07's means its an auto truck. The best upgrade you can do is a OD trans of some type. A 518 or a 47RH. The 518 is a nonlockup trans. The 47RH/618 is OD with lockup. The 518 would be the easyest one to find most likely. Unixcowboy is doing a 47RH swap soon. Talk to him about a 518.

The first thing I would do is a trans service. Change the fluid/filter and adjust the bands. Most likely they have not been done. Let me give you a hint on maintence trucks. Most of the time they are the last ones to get worked on.

The price you gave is a good price.

 

Actually, I was going to take the 3.07 out of the maintenance truck and put it under my other truck with the 5 speed (3.54's). I spend a lot of time on I-95...

 

If you swap rear gears and put a 518 in the new truck you'll end up with 2.44's...
Heck of a hiway gear !

BTW -- where in S.C. are you?
Charleston, Georgetown, Myrtle Beach ?

 

Downtown Moncks Corner

 

Swap the whole rear axle out. The 3:07 axle housing is different from a 3:54 housing as far as gear interchange.

The Getrag has a OD ratio of .74 compared to the auto's .68. An auto with 3:07's runs 1650 RPM at 60 MPH. Seeing as how your on 95 a lot you would be running 1950 RPM at 80 MPH with an auto. NO one does close to the speed limit on 95.

 

The Getrag 360 has a .78 OD 5th gear. The A518, A618 and 47RH/47RE have a .69 OD.

Look around for a used Gear Vendors. I have one in mine and love it.

Of course, you could just put on some bigger tires.