Bought truck. 25k orig miles??? or 125k

[Mild Thunder]

I just picked up a 1989 Crew cab dually. Guy i bought it from bought it from a friend of a friend, who bought it from a guy lol

Long story short, I bought it with the impression of it having 125k miles on it. After getting it home, really looking it over, i have a feeling it just might have only 25k miles on it. The exhaust system is still original GM, with the resonator and all. The only thing that looks like its ever been replaced is the tires, hoses, battery, and a/c compressor and lines. The underside is rust free, bed, cab, rockers, everything, not a spot anywhere. Everthing on the truck works, from power windows, locks, lights, etc. Oil pressure gauge shows excellent oil pressure, no smoke at startup, or at all. The truck does look to have been repainted. Looks like it might have been tan at one point. The truck had a 5th wheel in the bed at one point.

Ran a carfax on it, looks to be a 2-3 owner truck. Mileage in 1991 showed 15,784 miles, and after that, there is no more mileage reported. main thing that made me think this may be possible is the exhaust system. I would imagine even a southern trucks stock exhaust wouldnt have made it 21 years? Truck shows it mainly was in oklahoma till around 2005.

What else would i be able to check that could give me a indication of whether its 25k or 125k? Not a big deal, more curious than anything

[Mild Thunder]

Oh, steering is tight, no slop in gearbox or anything.

[78 Chevyrado]

Nice looking rig!

How are the seats, carpet, and as it been painted?  if not hows the paintjob look.  even if you garage a truck, 125k of driving will show up in the paint.  but if its 25k and no repaint and has been garaged, it should look brand new, especially all the trim.  

My truck only had 93k on it and it was religiously garaged since 78.  The trim was immaculate, but the paint, while in good shape, didnt look new.  also the seat had the usual tear in the drivers spot.  look for wear everywhere people touch while driving, getting in and out, etc...  if you find none, id bet its 25k

They could have gotten a new GM exhaust but i doubt it.  Maybe you can check the part number on it and find out how old it is.  

[Mild Thunder]

The front seat was replaced. Not sure what it came with, but it has captains chairs with armrests, out of like a converstion van or similar. Real comfortable with armrests, plush. Rear seat looks like new. Carpet shows fadingon the driveshaft hump, but where the mats were still looks new. No tears in carpet. brake pedal cover and accelerator look like new, not wore out. Steering wheel has one of those leather/vinyl covers on it, a little worn, but not bad. Id' imagine the wheel itself under that is like new. Door panels show signs of some sun fade, not too bad, and armest on drivers door looks good, again, no tears on any of that.

One more thing i just thought of to check. The windshield. I wonder if it has any GM markings on it. If its a original windshield, at 125k miles, id imagine when its freshly windexed, it should show some pitting from road debris.

The truck was definitly repainted. Paint looks good, but theres some scratches on the rear fender, and whats under that is tan paint, to glossy for primer. Carfax shows it went in a body shop in 2002. The door jambs, everything is red, lower dash, etc. I mean it looks factory, but....

[Mild Thunder]

There was a leaky wheel seal that i had to replace the other day, I should have looked closer at the drums to see if they had any kind of markings on them. The rear shoes had about 60% on them or so. Im gonna clean off the rear shocks real good and take a look at them. They need to be replaced, as they both appear to be leaking oil...

[Mr Diesel]

Probably a very well cared for 125k.

[Irish_Alley]

the old heads on here will tell you to look at the brake pedal and that will tell you the milage post a pic and you should know for sure

[Mild Thunder]

the old heads on here will tell you to look at the brake pedal and that will tell you the milage post a pic and you should know for sure

I will take a pic tonight. The brake pedal rubber has the circle in the center that says "disc brakes" and is not worn at all...

[Irish_Alley]

That just might prove its a lower millage truck if its original

[Stewart G Griffin]

What type of engine?

[Mild Thunder]

What type of engine?

454 TBI

[Stewart G Griffin]

In that case, i would say there is a great chance that there is only 25K on clock.   If it were diesel i would say no way.

[mountaindrew]

I'd like to throw in my vote for original 25k truck.  454 fuel costs A LOT to drive that much unless it's a company truck, which that one obviously wasn't. 125k miles /9mpg =13,889 gallons of fuel x $2.69 (for example) would be $37,361 in FUEL alone!  I could have broken it down to cost per year or month but that's not as dramatic a figure 

[bigblock73]

That truck was NOT cheap brand new back in '89, so I highly doubt any of the owners were pinching pennies at the pump and NOT driving/using this truck considering they could afford this thing in the first place.  Perhaps maybe when gas was 4 bucks a gallon recently.  Gas was "cheap" back in the 90's.

[HIGHPLAINSDRIFTER]

the old heads on here will tell you to look at the brake pedal and that will tell you the milage post a pic and you should know for sure

I will take a pic tonight. The brake pedal rubber has the circle in the center that says "disc brakes" and is not worn at all...

My 79 has either 129K or 229K on it.  I am not sure.  I looked at my brake pedal and it is not wore off either.  I guess it could be 129 then, by 229 you would think it would be flat.