Buying 87 Freightliner

1. It's a shaker. 2. it's 24 years old. 3. Someday you will want to sell it, and few out there will want it. Good luck though.

 

It maybe a nice truck, but something to think about.

1. Fuel Prices are on the rise again. Fuel economy is a must. One thing I do not like about my Pete. Same with the FLC like driving a BOX through the wind. As you put it, those Junky Century or Columbia they are more fuel economy than a Box. The Columbia I use to have leased with a 500HP Cat was getting 7.4MPG 2MPG better than the 5.53MPG I get now.

2. Unless your going to be home more than on the road you will be living in it. You have no room in that truck.

 

I was gonna say $500 tops!


But seriously...I bought my first truck at 19 with just a couple of years of wheel time. My first ride was a 10 year old Junkliner cabover and I paid $6500 for it.
I wouldn't give more than around $4500 for that truck you're looking at.
It's just too old and the industry today is WAY different than it was when I started.

Even with a rebuilt motor you'll have nothing but headaches and expense with it...Rear ends, Suspension, Transmission, Steering and many electrical issues with the 24 year old wiring harnesses, Not to mention metal fatigue in the frame rails and many other parts.

If you think you can make it...Go for it.

But be prepared to deal with whatever mechanical issues arise!
You're 19 years old and you are young enough to recover if you fail at this...Also you are young enough to maybe overcome it and survive the ordeal.
If by chance you do fail at it...No big deal because failure is a great teacher and is best learned from when you are young.

I wish you nothing but the best luck and hope you make it work!

 

Is that the original speedometer? Air or spring ride? If its air then it most likely has the dbl donut bags which wasn't the greatest of rides but better than spring. I'm amazed by the dash, it isn't broke up and the inside looks well taken care of.

If you can take some pics of the suspension and find out what rears and which Big Cam, 3 or 4?

It would be a good starter truck for you to learn the business on if you can get it cheap enough.

 

dead serious. i wouldnt pay over $2500 its going to need allot.

after sitting it will start blowing out wheel seals and brake cans once it starts rolling.
your looking at 4-4.5mpg which is currently $0.80 per mile for fuel. so yes u have a truck paymwnt, your just putting it in the tank.

those big cam head bolts are $20 a piece. $300 for a head gasket set (there is three heads) and they break alot

in general you will always havw oil running down the motor from the head gaskets. replaacing gaskets vdoesnt fix it. the only way to fix is to buy a new engine block.

local would be good for it. you can usually drag them home to fix whatever broke that trip. ifr you cant fix the truck yourself dont even consider it. you could buy a newerr truck with a payment that gets 6mpg and your operating cost is the same