tips for finding a good truck to start with

[mnjb]

Hey guys, i am looking for a 4x4 chevy. I live in mn so finding trucks in good condition is hard to do without spending a ton of cash, my bugdet is about 2 grand for the truck, i know not alot but i am a father or three. I want one i can kinda putz with over a couple years. I really like the 73 to 79, so what things are deal breakers when you look at buying a truck, what are things i can look past. Thanks

[bake74]

     First off, welcome to the site from California.  It really depends on what you want to  use the truck for ?  How much work are you willing to do to a truck over the couple of years you plan on spending on fixing the truck up?
     

[Stewart G Griffin]

Here's a few things i've learned:

1) Try to buy a car from someone older/retired etc.  This is because:

a) They don't tend to stress em out;  You might complain about older drivers when you're behind them, but it pays off when you buy the car.

b) They tend to keep them in great shape.  i feel there are several reasons for this:   They have enough sense (and dollars and cents) to maintain a car,  They tend to have alot of money so taking care of a car is no longer a problem---you know and i know we have to find money in our budgets to allocate money for maintenance among the umpteen other things we have going on---you have 3 kids so you know what i'm talking about.  Their kids are grown and gone.   And, thirdly, i think older folks tend to have been raised in an era where everything was not throwaway like today;  They had to maintain stuff.

c) They tend to leave them totally stock which i feel is a good thing.  Younger people tend to do stupid ghetto/redneck/tweeker modifications that not only not improve the car, but actually screw it up.  Example, EVERYONE including their brother MUST replace the stock carb and put a holley on even though in most cases it does not improve performance.

2) Since you are in MN, recommend considering looking at trucks from the south or southwest.  And flying over and driving back.  If you do not rustproof, then it should last a few years.

[Yankeyspeed]

When I was in North Dakota I saw a ton of trucks there. Lots of farmers and they didnt use salt on the roads.

[Jason S]

Welcome to the site. As for your question, I agree with the above postings.  I personally would prefer a truck that has been kept in stock condition, even if worn out, versus dealing with modifications and wiring issues. 

Ultimately (like Bake74 said), it depends upon what you really want out of the truck, what you are willing to put into the truck and how far you will travel and how much you want to spend on the truck.

[p7387]

i also agree look in the southwest,generally they tend to stay well preserved there.

griffen suggested rustproofing, how would you go about that?
and is the short life prognosis really that grim w/o it??

[Stewart G Griffin]

i also agree look in the southwest,generally they tend to stay well preserved there.

griffen suggested rustproofing, how would you go about that?
and is the short life prognosis really that grim w/o it??

Well, what i meant was if he does not rustproof, then it should last a few yrs in mn.  Of course rustproofing would be preferred.

[p7387]

could you please elaborate on the rust proofing?

whenever i have to do work on  any area of my truck i always spend some extra time scraping rusted areas and painting with POR-15. some areas hold up better than others but its not the end all.

whats the method you are referring to?

thanks

[Stewart G Griffin]

Sorry it took so long to respond as i don't check this section very often.  Not lately at least.

i don't actually know that much about rustproofing, but i think some people are rhino-lining the entire bottom of the truck.  i don't have time to provide a link right now.

[bake74]

     Rhino lining is a coating that if done right seals anything in that is there. 
     If you have a little to mild rust, there are chemicals that will actually stop the rust process ( rust is a chemical reaction on materials formed from oxidation ).  It will "convert " the rust by stopping the oxidation process, then you just prime and paint over it.

[popsthebuilder]

craigslist New Mexico, Louisiana