Im looking at a 1992 3/4 ton 5speed manual with 238k. I need to know if im going to need to rebuild the front end as soon as I buy it. Like drivetrain, balljoints, axels, transfer case. Cause everyone I know says Id need to rebuild all that

 

Well I'm assuming it's 4x4 since you say transfer case. They don't have ball joints. They are king pin axles and last longer than ball joints. Has the truck been beat on? If not you may just need tie rod ends

 

Hard to tell from hear...
But the ball joints will NOT be a concern as they use kingpins in the 1st gens.

Have you tried jacking up the front wheels...
Is there any play in the king pins?
Wheel bearings noisy or loose when you spin them?

When looking at the steering tie rods and steering box when steering, on flat ground and NOT moving the truck, does anything have a lot of play in it?

Have you checked fluid in the trans, T-case or axles.

Oil in the motor?

Radiator full?

This would give you some answers you seek.

Asking people if the think a truck with 238,000 miles will need a complete rebuild, that they have never seen will not get you good answers....

 

My advice would be to check the truck out as you would any used car. Is it 4X4? 238000 miles is nothing for these trucks. Was it taken care of? If it meets buying standards, buy it. More concern should be rust, IMHO. Do you work on them yourself? If, you can do the work yourself, none of the front end stuff is that expensive. Welcome to the board, by the way...Mark

 

Where are you located?

 

Washington state

 

I dont know much about 1st gens sorry and im possibly seeing it in person tonight. Thank u for telling me what to look for

 

Ha figured out how to reply. Haha. My fiance does the work. Its for 4,000and from the pictures it has no rust. It was from arizona they used it to move up here. I havent purchased it yet..

 

My fiance wasnt wanting me to get anything over 150 because id have to rebuild. He does all the work on my rigs. He has only owned 2nd gen and a 2010 idk what gen that is. But his grandpa had to rebuild his front end around 200k.

 

1st Gens in my opinion are can take more of a beating than any of the newer trucks.

 

Can you post up pics? Or copy and paste a link to the ad?

That would give us a visual clue to it's condition. Where abouts are you located in WA state?

 

It seams like the second gen trucks earned the rep for replacing drivetrain parts as a scheduled maintenance item.

Being able to do your own work seems to be the key to these older trucks, they arent bad to work on and there is directions on here to change out just about any component on the truck. If your hauling then its worth buying quality parts and having most of that stuff done anyways, then you know its good for another 250K and you dont have to worry about it again.


When you go look at the truck be sure to check the cab above the windshield for signs of rust, they rot from the inside out and its not an easy fix. even southern trucks rust there from condensation I guess.

 

If it is truly an AZ vehicle, it has no rust. Get a carfax on it to see where it's been. For 4k, It's worth it, if all they said is true, it's cheap, IMHO...Mark

 

Post a link, I'm always check here on craigslist. If it was here in the past year I will probably remember it.


Gotta ask by your screen name, snuff or that long butt junk? Define "angle"?

 

93flatbed
angle? or angel...