http://raleigh.craigslist.org/car/123929837.html

its a friend of my gf's and she said she'll sell it to me cheap if i wanted it. Since i got the M3 i could really use a truck for a little more utility.

How much would a head gasket kit cost for this? I assume its a 4cyl, but my gf is checking tomorrow to be sure. No telling what that seal is.. I'm sure i could fix it, but i want to make sure it makes sense to do so.

Any ideas? i'm thinking like $500.. ?

1/11/2006 7:58:48 PM

gasket set should be no more than $50 at the most. doing a head gasket on those motors isn't too bad. i'd find out specifically what seal it is that's leaking... could be the rear main, which would be a pita. front seals and pan gaskets aren't any real joy either. i wouldn't pay anymore than 400-500 bucks for it at the most. you can find mechanically solid trucks for 1000-1500 all day long.

1/11/2006 8:03:20 PM

hrmm yeh that seal is the kicker i guess. i was originally told it was just the head gasket. i'll dig further

1/11/2006 8:46:33 PM

usually it is the oil pump seal that goes out on those, assuming it is a 4-banger, so plan on a belt, water pump, oil pump seal , cam seal, and crank seal, and a head gasket set, and about a day to get it running

1/11/2006 10:10:11 PM

also if the head looks bad, does anyone know a cheap shop to have it resurfaced/decked and cleaned? i should fit that in the budget as well

1/11/2006 11:15:22 PM

ivan is correct. its not worth touching for $900 inital investment.

1/11/2006 11:28:55 PM

yeah im thinking a "cracked head gasket" may actually be blown and scarred the block or head, and a "busted seal" may end up being a lot more than that. call advance or someone and price a long block, and factor that into the cost of the truck, and decide if you still want it...

1/12/2006 8:56:47 AM

if you buy it your life will be just like that Hardees commercial

1/12/2006 9:09:49 AM

^haha except that broke bastard needs a whole pay check for a headgasket. haha

1/12/2006 9:29:39 AM

Why not just get a junkyard engine for $500 and put it in?

1/12/2006 11:18:59 AM

i have a 95 s-10 you can get for $1500

1/12/2006 11:35:46 AM

^ I guess in comparison to that $1400 + hours of work isn't very appealing.

1/12/2006 12:18:10 PM

yeah, no reason to put that much time/effort into a motor swap when you can find trucks that already run/drive just fine for 1k or so.

1/12/2006 12:51:53 PM

Alright...now here's one for you...

I have a chance to score an F350 cab/chassis combo for $1900. DRW (4.10 gears), 300 6cyl, C6 tranny. Actually a favorite combo of mine...I have a weakness for sixes.

The cab needs paint something bad. No rust-through that I can find, though there are a couple of really rusty spots on the fenders right behind the wheel wells.

Needs a little exhaust work and likely a fuel pump. It's a '90...one of Martin-Marietta's old quarry service trucks.

Looking for something like this to put a flatbed/toolboxes on.

Would you? Wouldn't you?

[Edited on January 12, 2006 at 1:13 PM. Reason : more info...]

1/12/2006 1:12:53 PM

i wouldnt touch it.

1/12/2006 1:18:12 PM

So what are your reasons?

1/12/2006 1:19:20 PM

^^^freakin $texas. tell them to put the crack down. you know it's been ridden hard/put up wet all its life as a quarry truck. plus you've gotta dump money into the repairs/upgrades. beds/boxes ain't cheap. i'd go 1k maybe...

[Edited on January 12, 2006 at 1:21 PM. Reason : .]

1/12/2006 1:21:24 PM

Yeah, what I'm thinkin.

Friend of mine bought it to fix up for another fella, got a dually short box to put on it and found out that the cab/chassis has a narrower axle than the pickup. Won't work. He's just trying to get out of it what he's got in it, but I'm having serious doubts he will. After I saw the truck I had really serious doubts.

And I wanted a second opinion. I got a good one. Thanks.

1/12/2006 1:25:23 PM