Considering an 02' 379 Long Hood 63" Flat top

I would like to clarify my post above. I’m from south Texas and never seen a mouse or rust problem so that might be a big factor that I am not knowledgeable about. My truck also uses 11R24.5 and I haven’t had issues finding them and I paid about $35 more than low pros. I bought my truck for $34k. I spent about $7k getting it fixed up. I spent about $14k with new exterior parts and paint. Will be showroom beautiful and reliable with about total investment for about $55k

Can’t beat that anywhere for a 1999 peterbilt 379 standup sleeper with a series 60 engine that looks brand new.

 

One thing that nobody has mentioned is you can buy a “perfectly” good truck and have the same amount of nickel and dime stuff but you started out with a lot more $$ in it. I have seen this with several customers and I have one of my own. I have in general been way better off buying trucks like the op is looking at and going through them. Usually turns out to be more expensive than buying the supposed to be good truck but you have a much better product at the end. And new isn’t an option for me for several reasons. I say go for it if you can work on it.

 

Any Trucks going to need repairs. This Truck doesn’t necessarily have to be completely rebuilt. You get it going, take care of safety issues, and run it. See what you got. Once you get to know the Truck, you can plan on upcoming repairs. Doing them as needed. There’s no such thing as replacing everything and being done. Too many times a few repairs gets a Truck labeled as a Problem or Lemon. In reality it’s just normal wear. Judging by the low mileage, and being a one Owner. My bets are it’s a very good Truck. Clean frame and good original wiring that’s not been hacked up, would be my only concerns. Maybe the mice issue, Lol. The engines probably fine. Fire right up. Fuel may be contaminated with algae. That can be taken care of. So many parts on a Truck, it seems overwhelming. Really not much, if you break it down, a lot of things would need replacing anyways, on any Truck. Maybe not right away, but soon enough.

 

I have to add. Knowing the history of the Truck goes a long way. Never know what your getting with such an old Truck usually. A lot of folks dream of finding such a Truck. There’s always a market for 379’s. They literally sell themselves. They’re never cheap.

 

That mice thing would be a deal breaker for me no matter how good the rest of it was. You'll probably always get a whiff of that no matter what you do. Rats and mice are nasty little ####s carrying black plague and who knows what else.

 

You got me worried about my drywall in the garage. Saw some mouse droppings on the top sheet. Same with my new subfloor plywood.

 

It will be ok .. it doesn't seen to do that to building materials insulation maybe
That smell is like AIDS once you get it it stays with ya for life

 

Seal it up, clean it up, and put an ozonator machine in for a few hours. It will kill anything and remove all odors.