CCiatteo said:
We are going to look at the truck in person on Monday night so I'll know more then. But my fear would be the trans, and I see a gauge pod so I'm not sure if that means it's been bombed or if the gauges are just for keeping an eye on an otherwise stock truck???
Don't be frightened off if it's been bombed - it still ONLY has 81k miles on it. Ask nonchalantly "wow what kind of modifications does it have?" to see what the seller says. If it's not the owner selling and the person says "I'm not sure?" Ask them to contact the owner on the phone while you are there. If they give you a line "ah, he's out of town" then I'd think your spider senses should start tingling :-laf
It can be bombed and still be good deal if you can get the price in an area you want it to be. Heck, the previous owner may have saved you time and money based on what was done and how it was used and taken care of. Probe, probe, probe with the questions. Then if you are interested/like what you hear chop that price. As far as the trans. best thing you can do (outside of have the pan dropped to check for debris) is pull the stick, is the level high or low, is it nice and clean all the way to the top, is the fluid cherry red - can't really go by smell that much anymore as the +4 has it's own distinct odor. Does it leak, are there signs of leakage under the cab/bed body and around the actual trans? Are there wrenching marks on the pan bolts? Check the level cold and after it gets up to temp. remember to "look" at the whole stick both cold and hot for signs of foaming and/or debris. Is the 1-2 shift firm? Is the 2-3 shift a little less firm? is the 3-4 shift just a little nudge? and when it goes into OD does it "slide in" or another little nudge. The progression in shifts on a trans that has been "done" should be firm to less firm as you go up if any lower shift (say 1-2) is smoother than a higher shift (2-3 or 3-4) somethin ain't quite right - MHO
I still think you can better the price. Most sellers put up an "asking" price with a bottom line in mind. So, if this one is "asking" 21k he probably is hoping for 19,500, start out at say 18, wait till the seller is looking you in the face before you say anything, let there be an inpatient pause say 7 - 10 seconds then state firmly your figure and watch the eyes and facial expressions for the immediate reaction.
It depends on alot of things though - most of all your gut feeling based off of what you see, hear, smell and feel - I've heard of guys tasting but yuk - not sure what that does other than allow you to say you used all your senses :-laf
Good luck - said it before I'll say it again "nice looking truck", short bed too hauls more arse. :-laf
Keep us in tune and happy test drive to you.
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