well im lookin at buyin a 1st gen. i had planned on a 2nd but money wont allow it right now and i know mostly about 2nd gen. so what to look for in a 1st gen?

 

You have a split in 90.....89-90 are non intercooled with bigger inj.
90.5-93 are intercooled with smaller inj ........but both have the same HP rating!
autos will req a lot of performace part to hold up or get the power to the ground when the bomming starts.
the getrag, make shore it isn't growling or poping out of gear!!!!!!

If your really wanting to thro some power to it then i wound rec. the intercooled version cause the non intecooled have a head craking problem when abuse........ but there's some guy with some pritty inpressive numbers that haven't cracked a head!
92-93 you could get the club cab? ....extended cab any ways!

 

alright thanks yea im gonna get a std. cab long ben 5spd 4x4 its just finding it is the problem but i will go with the intercooled one for obvious reasons and thats about what i was lookin for thanks

 

That question right there depends on exactly what you plan on using it for? Daily driver, Farm/Work truck, Long distance heavy pulling.
Obviously if you're just looking for a truck to use around the farm or whatever, then you'd probably be happy with someone elses farm truck. But the same truck most likely wouldn't be right for you if you're planning on dragging a 5er around the continent.
Now, based on my experience from what I've learned personally, and from this site. I'd reccomend you METICULOUSLY check out any truck before purchase. If you're not the mechanical type pay a mechanic to give it a good once over before purchase. It will be money well spent, or saved depending on how you look at it.

Just remember, If you qot questions THIS is the place to ask them. Because there are no stupid questions about these trucks. Just stupid preivious owners who Jimmy rigged everything on the truck and you were too stupid to look at the truck thoroughly enough to spot most of them so you ended up sinking a ton of money into a 14+ year old truck and your wife is about to put a foot in your rear because it's taken you so long to get that "stupid truck" running/driving again and.............Oh! sorry. that was me. Hopefully not you!