I've been looking for a 1st gen 4x4 but stumbled across a '98, 12 valve, 5 speed, one ton, single cab, cab and chassis, 4x4 with 201K. It's been owned by a small town fire department for the last 15 years as a backup truck and has only accumulated about 1000 miles in that time. Supposedly it's all in working order except the gauge cluster and all of the gauges swing back and forth while the truck is sitting there idling. What should I be afraid of or looking for on a truck like that? They say that it's been fully maintained during the last 15 years. I am aware of the NV4500 5th gear nut issue but that's about it on the 2nd gen. My experience is limited to the 1st gen trucks so I need a crash course (to add to all the searches I'm doing).

 

My biggest worry with that story is the '98 12V uses a 3 month ONLY wire harness.
The other '98s are all 24V.
If the guesses and dash wiring are messed up. it might be hard to find a new dash wiring harness for it.
Other that that problem, it sounds like a nicely optioned work truck.

 

Well, I bought it so now the fun begins.

Looks like the gauge cluster, the right tail light harness, and a slight brake pull to the right are the only major issues.

I'll be spending a bunch of time checking out the stickies and doing searches figuring out what I need to know about this truck.

 

Brakes pulling to right could be a sticky caliper...easy to pull and gear sliders or replace entirely. ..

Sounds like a nice truck.

 

Well, I happened to hit the brakes on the dirt just right this morning and the RR appears to be grabbing so I'm going to bet that my brake pull is due to a wheel cylinder or an axle seal. Guess I need to check and see if the GM wheel cylinder upgrade applies to this truck and figure out what all other upgrades I need to make at the same time.