Hello everyone! My name is Thomas, and I am currently in northern california. I have been in the market for a hilux/pickup for quite a while, and finally found one that fits my criteria. It is a 1984 diesel 4x4 with 5-speed, and the car looks pretty sound. The only downside is that it has 266k miles on the clock. The present owner claims that the car has never given him any trouble and runs strong, and I am going over there to test drive it, but before I did I thought I might ask anyone on the forum if there is anything I should be especially wary of. I don't need the truck as a daily driver, so if it ends up breaking down, it isn't the end of the world, but obviously I would prefer to buy a truck that works. Also, I am not afraid of tearing it down and rebuilding it. I have successfully rebuilt a '72 454 corvette engine, and my dad and I have done a V6 Jag and a 4.5L porsche engine. We've restored several cars, so I am about as mechanically inclined as they come. I mainly just want to know what I am getting into.

Is the transfer case/transmission likely to be solid at 266k, or is it going to need redoing as well? Are there any trouble spots I should be looking out for when I give the car a good look-over?

Thanks for everyone's help. Hope to soon be a part of the community!

Thomas

 

First off it's not a car -------------it's a truck!!
Now --welcome!
And I say go through it completely, a lot of miles on that baby!!

 

im with the haulic if its yours you want no more probs from it ,,,, rebuild it the right way !!!!

 

Ask the current owner if they have replaced aything or if they know if the owner before them did and go from there. Id say if its original engine (most likely if its a diesel) ask if its ever been rebuilt. It the transmission is the original ask when the last time they replaced the clutch or if the trans has ever been rebuilt. If the original trans has 266k with an old clutch Id probably replace the entire trans as its pretty cheap part to get in relativity. Id def do a very thourough tune up.