I'd like opinions on what to do. I could buy an '89 right now, or wait to see what else turns up. Price on the '89 is OK but not irresistable, and I know that Banks wants about a grand for just the intercooler kit. I'm trying to have fun on a budget, not trying to set HP records. Should I buy the '89 now, or wait for an intercooled truck to turn up?

 

what are you planning on doing with the truck??towing??or just HP mods??personally i dont think you need an intercooler unless you will be doing alot of towing....just get some guages to monitor things

 

Add that grand in intercooler mods to the price of the truck. Does it put you into the price range of a newer intercooled truck?<br> I luv mine<br> -RATCHET-

 

Another thing to consider on the '89 is the radiator set up. They have the old down flow radiator and you might find that you will have to retrofit a cross flow from a later model First Gen. to do some serious towing. Add another $300 to $400 for that mod.<br>Bob

 

Buy the 89er! I love mine. It has bigger injectors than the intercooled trucks, and responds nicely with pump mods. All in all theyre all gr8 trucks with some mods. I don't tow heavy and only need to watch the pyro when in 5th and floored passing a powerchoke.

 

As long as it is the manual I would buy it. Intercooler lowers Nox pollution and cylinder temps only so as others have said it only affects towing. If you want the auto, then only the intercooled has the four speed auto which is mandatory in the diesel.

 

It all comes down to money. I set my mind on buying an intrecooled 5spd, but ended up with a non-intercooled auto. <br>I just couldn't pass up the good deal. <br><br>I don't pull much and do allot of driving around town. Hindsight has shown me that I wouldn't have been happy with 5 gear and I don't need an intercooler. Only wish I have is OD.<br><br>My uncle has a 89 350 dually with 315K miles. Its been pulled HARD its entire life with out an intercooler.<br><br>Brian <br><br>

 

personally, I'd rather have a 91-93 for the style and upgrades (newer column, wipers on the stalk, etc). Intercooling ALWAYS helps a motor, doesn't matter what you're doing.<br><br>IMO, it's easier/cheaper to buy POD injectors to put into a 91-93 than it is to put what the 91-93's have into an 89-90

 

remember guys....these trucks are getting few and fewer by the day...sometimes you cant be to picky....i guess that is y i decided to get a fixerupper and get it painted..put new tires and rims....and when it is all said and done i will definitely get more out of it when i sell it ...if that were to happen :'(

 

Thanks for all the input. From the signatures it looks like everyone is happy with the truck they have. Or maybe they bought trucks they could be happy with? I just want the thing to play with and drive back and forth to work, so I guess the absolute max power available is less important than having a responsive truck that sounds awesome. The first thing I'm doing is taking a sawzall to the muffler! I'm gonna try to talk the guy down about halfway to the intercooler, and then I'll probaly buy it.

 

Buy what makes you happy. I am very, very, very happy with my '93, couse it does have the banks power pack, bhaf, and tweeked pump. it'll scream. my dad had a '89. he would probably still be drivin it if he hadn't wrecked it. also had intercooled 91 that he loved. buy whatever is a good deal and bomb the heck out of it.

 

I have a non-intercooled 91 5 spd. I don't tow or haul a lot of weight very often. It has done very well for me so far. <br>I've done some pump tweaks and changed turbo housing to make it more driveable, and right now I'm pretty happy with it's performance. Plus I can't complain about the 24 mpg I get on a day-to-day basis.<br>Yes intercooled would be nice, but for what I do with the truck it's great like it is... my egts are similar or lower than what I read about in these forums.<br>Don't let the lack of intercooling scare you off.<br><br>

 

I believe you are several rungs farther up the ladder now.

 

I wanted a 93, but they are hard to come by and my current truck had the flat bed, air ride, duals, and 5 spd i wanted to I bought it. I tow, just have to watch the pyro, pretty much i back off at about 800(post) and shift into 4th. I can pull our bobcat 773 fine, just really have to drive by the egt's. I really want water meth, seems like more bang for my doller.

 

Hahahahaha, its funny seeing this post, even wanna was green behind the ears once!