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Ive seen a few of these trucks in the $1600 to $2500 range which is my price range only problem is that have 100k+ miles on them, I know this question is vague but am I getting myself into a money pit?
Reply:If it's all you can afford, then you have a choice. Either set aside money as you go for repairs, or save up more money to afford a better truck before you take the plunge. A couple of years ago I had a 96 3500HD which treated me well. It had the 6.5 turbodiesel - I got around 10 mpg at 12,800 lbs loaded weight. The main issue with the 6.5's is you'd better buy a spare injection pump control module (might have been called an FMU, I can't remember) and keep it in the glove compartment, because they're a regular failure item. EDIT: Forgot to mention, this part was between $300 and $400 and when it died, you were done driving wherever it happened.If I were you, I'd set aside money into a "repairs / funds for a newer truck" account on a regular basis, maybe as a percentage of profit. With an older truck, it's not a question of whether it'll leave you broke down, it's a question of when, and if you'll have the money for repairs. My very first truck blew an engine two days before my first decent contract job. I ended up buying a $600 junker so I could get the job done. Original cost of the junker, and then repairs to keep it running soaked up the profit from the job. Once I was done I sold the junker, replaced the engine in the original truck, and sold it too. That's when I "moved up" to the 3500HD.You can throw away a lot (or all) of your profit on a vehicle, whether you're buying new or buying junk. Choose wisely, keep money set aside for repairs, and cross your fingers.
Reply:Thanks tbone, I bought a 1990 k1500 for offroading for a good price but I lucked out it had a rebuilt engine, still had to replace the rear diff a year later & tranny 2 years later....I'm usto cars breaking down however I would hate to blow the motor on the dually before I even get a welding gig, I'm wouldn't be able to afford the repair ...but as u said I guess its a risk I'm going to haveto take. I guess ill try & pick wisely.
Reply:i HAVE AN 89 K3500 AND A 2002 3500 HD 2WD,BRAKES AND STEERING ARE VERY EXPENSIVE ON THE 3500 HD,4WD REPAIRS ARE EXPENSIVE ON THE K MODEL,I ALSO REPAIR TRUCKS WHICH BRINGS MY COSTS DOWN,BOTH ARE 6.5L,THEY ARE CHEAP TO BUY COMPARED TO FORDS AND DODGES.THE K3500 HAS A TOUGH TIME PULLING TRAILER WITH 2 LINCOLN 400 AND TOOLS AND 13HP COMPRESSOR,TRAILER IS NEAR 13000 LBS.
Reply:Have you considered the F350? I have 2 of them, a 1995 gas crew cab 4x4 I got for $3000 (95,000mi) and a 1999 diesel crew cab that I paid $11,500 for (150,000mi). These trucks just go.I am not into religious rants about truck mfg, but I have had good experience with the larger Ford trucks.I tend to buy on the cheap/worn side - the key is to not be in a hurry, do your homework and have the money ready for when a truly good deal appears - not a minute before.Hobart LX235Victor 250 Oxy-Acetylene Rig (welding and cutting)Bobcat 773F-350, 1999, 4x4, 16' 10K# trailerOutdoor Wood Burner - 10 cords/year
Reply:The 99-98 (up to 03 in a HD) Chevy/GMC trucks, also known as the GMT400 are great trucks. For a welding rig you need to look into the 3500HD, this is not a 1 ton dually, and you will not find one for less than 5-6 grand. They are the best bang for your buck available, and given the choice between a 2011 GMC 3500 and a 1994 3500HD you will find me in my 94!The HD has a full 8" C channel frame, not a feature you can get on a Chevy made after 03. It also has a 10 lug Dana 80, and rides on 19.5" wheels. It also has a I-beam front axle with leaf springs, not that cheesy IFS junk they started running in 88. To give you an idea, my 94 3500HD has over 400K miles on it, and it is still a great truck. Personally I hold to the belief that GM quit making them because they were lasting too long. Mine has lived its life up until now as a wrecker, which means it has had the snot worked out of it, yet instead of looking for another truck I'm going to stick a welding bed on it now and continue to run it. You want to get a 93 or newer, and no older than 1999, you want to get either the 6.5 or the 454, the TBI 454 is a descent motor, it came in the 94/95, in 96 they went to the Vortec 454, which is an awesome motor, and you can still buy that engine new from GM for about 4300.00 The 6.5 is a turd, but it is a workable one, I have one in my truck, its a love hate relationship to the effect that I love to hate it. The pumps go out, the PMD goes out, and the truck quits, it is a matter of having spares preferably on hand. you have 2 transmission choices in the HD, either a NV4500 5 speed, or a 4L80E automatic. I prefer the NV4500 for a very simple reason, you can swap the input shaft and mate a Cummins out of a 94-98 Dodge directly to it!This is what I will be doing to my HD this winter. It does require some modifications, but it is very doable. Here are 2 videos I did on them.[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcpaDyQFHZY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcpaDyQFHZY[/ame][ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPsBtj6AxO8"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPsBtj6AxO8[/ame]If you have any more questions on them feel free to ask. - Nick
Reply:Thanks wiley, the 95 doest sound like a bad deal, is it automatic & where r u located?
Reply:Here is a good one.http://www.truckpaper.com/listingsde...?OHID=2668419&It says that it has a new engine, will be worth looking at.
Reply:Also this truck has the Vortec 7.4 and a 5 speed. http://www.truckpaper.com/listingsde...?OHID=2205720&Has a utility body that could be modified into a nice welding bed.
Reply:Originally Posted by JLGaeta1985Thanks wiley, the 95 doest sound like a bad deal, is it automatic & where r u located?
Reply:Found a 91 extended cab with a crate motor (80xxxxMi) with a blown tranny power everything he was signing it over to the scrap yard when I called..he's gonna ask his friend at the scrap if he will sell it to me for $500.
Reply:Originally Posted by aarcweldingi HAVE AN 89 K3500 AND A 2002 3500 HD 2WD,BRAKES AND STEERING ARE VERY EXPENSIVE ON THE 3500 HD,4WD REPAIRS ARE EXPENSIVE ON THE K MODEL,I ALSO REPAIR TRUCKS WHICH BRINGS MY COSTS DOWN,BOTH ARE 6.5L,THEY ARE CHEAP TO BUY COMPARED TO FORDS AND DODGES.THE K3500 HAS A TOUGH TIME PULLING TRAILER WITH 2 LINCOLN 400 AND TOOLS AND 13HP COMPRESSOR,TRAILER IS NEAR 13000 LBS.
Reply:Found a 91 extended cab with a crate motor (80xxxxMi) with a blown tranny power everything he was signing it over to the scrap yard when I called..he's gonna ask his friend at the scrap if he will sell it to me for $500.
Reply:It's a 454, I found the tranny for $1000 with 6 month warranty I would put it in myself but the guy never called me back :-l I'm thinking about calling him and asking what scrap yard he took it too.
Reply:The bad news is if he took it to a scrap yard, it is probably crushed already.
Reply:The gas engines are the way to go. They are cheaper to maintain, plus the older diesels dont get enough improvment in milage or horsepower to pay for the diesel premium. I've seen those mid late 90'2 454s with 200k on them pulling big loads there whole life.Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:My "89 4x4 dually is still ginning along just fine. It has a 350 and an automatic in it. I just put a new motor in it this year. It was way cheaper than another truck and I know the history of this truck. Plus I'm too old to build another bed. I've got this one just like I want it.Just plan on spending some extra money on an older truck when you buy one and you will be fine.
Reply:Honestly the best deals on wheels right now are the 88-98 F-800's i just bought one with a 24' flat bed in very decent shape. Just needs The A/C fixed and i uses the same parts from the smaller F-series trucks. Paid $1700 for it with good tires. its going to need brake linings within 20K miles but thats no big. 5.9L cummins Alison auto. If you want a REAL truck for truck stuff.I have a 1989 GMC 3500 flatbed, with the 454 and a turbo 400. Has 90K On it. Needs a complete front end, thats shot, and the engine is about wore out. its been a good truck to me but the horrible fuel millage and bad steering/turning radius make it the bastard child of the fleet.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:I'd nail it if it were a 454. Me likes big blocks even more than small blocks.What's insurance etc run on an F-800?
Reply:Plus whats the gvw on f-800. In MN you would have to get it inspected annually as a commercial vehicle. But if you thought you were going to push a 1 ton to its limits would not be bad. We bought a little single axle semi tractor for pulling gooseneck trailers for 4000 300hp L -10 will out pull any 1 ton.Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:Dualie how would the 5.9 be set up? What is the horse power? Which Allison? Will it have a pto?CAT 220
Reply:Its a basic spec truck 235 HP Allison 4 spd auto. No PTO, but it is PTO ready all you have to do is get an 8 bolt pto with the right speed reduction for what your going to run and bolt it on. Does alright down the highway gets around 12 MPG @65 mph. which is better than my 93 F-450 IDI 7.3L diesel that gets 8. GVW is 26K which is under the CDL so i can stick one of the employees in it and not worry. The only down side to the whole rig is its juice brakes, I would MUCH rather it have air brakes. Insurance isn't to bad i don't know exactly how much more$$$ as its lumped in with my general liability and other insurances. I bought it from a bankruptcy sale with a 98 international 8100 2 axle and a 30 foot single axle flatbed. C-7 caterpillar 275HP 10spd air ride. pretty decent little tractor. Paid $3500 for the whole lot.I have seen REALLY NICE F-800 cab and chassis with 6spd Allison's, air ride, air brakes all the bells and whistles go though the auctions for less than 6K thats a steel. Even some with 8.3L cummins ISC's which would be a real nice driving truck.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Originally Posted by BobMy "89 4x4 dually is still ginning along just fine. It has a 350 and an automatic in it. I just put a new motor in it this year. It was way cheaper than another truck and I know the history of this truck. Plus I'm too old to build another bed. I've got this one just like I want it.Just plan on spending some extra money on an older truck when you buy one and you will be fine.
Reply:My rig is a 94 model 3500 with a 454. It does the job okay, but you need to calculate operating expenses along with buy in price. That big block absolutely destroys fuel. I'm getting 8-9 mpg from it. I came from using Dodge Cummins trucks, so this mileage is about half of what I'm used to. It hurts to feed the thing.Kevin- Springtown, TexasTruck:Chevy cab/ chassis 1 ton dually, big block and flatbedMiller BobcatVictor cutting rigTool boxes crammed full of stuffShop:Millermatic 250Lincoln 135Lincoln 225AC tombstone
Reply:I am not a GM guy, but if you can find an 88, 89, 90 GM 3500 4x4 that is the old body style, with a 454, or a 350 gas job backed by a TH400 and a 14 bolt rear. Cheap to fix, heavy duty, and lots of parts out there.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."Originally Posted by DualieHonestly the best deals on wheels right now are the 88-98 F-800's i just bought one with a 24' flat bed in very decent shape. Just needs The A/C fixed and i uses the same parts from the smaller F-series trucks. Paid $1700 for it with good tires. its going to need brake linings within 20K miles but thats no big. 5.9L cummins Alison auto. If you want a REAL truck for truck stuff.I have a 1989 GMC 3500 flatbed, with the 454 and a turbo 400. Has 90K On it. Needs a complete front end, thats shot, and the engine is about wore out. its been a good truck to me but the horrible fuel millage and bad steering/turning radius make it the bastard child of the fleet.
Reply:Air brakes would require proper endorcement. Unless your going to work the he11 out of it you won't have a prob. Lot of old farm trucks out there that go 10K over gvw with no probs. I would rather have a high milage gas than a diesel. Just ask anyone who has had to buy injectors.Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:Originally Posted by farmshopAir brakes would require proper endorcement. Unless your going to work the he11 out of it you won't have a prob. Lot of old farm trucks out there that go 10K over gvw with no probs. I would rather have a high mileage gas than a diesel. Just ask anyone who has had to buy injectors.
Reply:Originally Posted by TozziWeldingI am not a GM guy, but if you can find an 88, 89, 90 GM 3500 4x4 that is the old body style, with a 454, or a 350 gas job backed by a TH400 and a 14 bolt rear. Cheap to fix, heavy duty, and lots of parts out there.
Reply:Ok guys I think I found a winner, 1993 k3500 dually 17,000 on rebuilt motor recipes on hand crew cab she went from $2700 to $1700 5 hrs away I'm looking at it tomorrow.
Reply:Sorry,I was nt yellin,I am just bein lazy with the caps lock on,my appologies,does anyone know how to rewire the fuel sender for front tank only operation?i will be quiet now |
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发表于 2021-9-1 00:15:21