Advice and Tips for shopping for a used truck.

1750 if you buy decent paint. Don't need to be an artist to do a decent job painting a truck. If you take it somewhere you can get it done as low as 3 to 3.5k. Won't be show room quality but will pass the 30 ft rule.

 

You are looking for the model year of the engine...not the truck. My 03 has an 02 engine in it. For detroit, 02 was the last year before egr. As far as egr deletion...we aren't allowed to talk about that on ttr. Google is your friend.

 

Oh I know what your saying. Not everyone knows what to look for but, like the OP some seek advice. I've seen stuff on the road that makes my eyes bulge out, not knowing how it keeps going. I bought the truck in my avatar with a locked engine, it came with a spare engine. I went through the Spare engine and it has all new parts like liners, pistons, bearings, seals, injectors, accessory drive bushing and seal, new compressor, fresh pump, new clutch, clutch brake, new pilot bearing. Finishing the suspension and brakes now. 8 new airbags, 4 shocks, new drums, new shoes, new S cams and bushings, new wheel seals, all new brake chambers / maxi's, new torque arm, new U-joints, and am going to install a new heater core just to be safe. With purchase price I still have less than most pay for a truck that needs all that I have replaced. And I have all the history from the day it was bought new by Sheppard Enterprise in Pennsylvania. But I have a everyday job too so I'm able to do this without hurting. And it doesn't look like a accident waiting for a place to happen with the headlights bungee'd in, or fenders flopping for months because the owner can't afford to fix it. Be safe out there.

 

1750 covers the labor for the prep. Crap the cheapest I had a paint job done was $2300 and that was 10 years ago.

 

I'm going to look at my first truck next weekend probably. I'm in the same price range as the OP. But that's because I'm setting aside a 20k nest egg for emergencies. I will be leasing the truck on with a company who has an age requirement so finding a truck in my budget has been very difficult. But I think I found a gem, just have to verify when I go and look at it. The only downside is the engine is a 14L Detroit (2006) but it had a rebuild 350k ago with paper work and was also upgraded at the same time.

 

That is the cost if you do it yourself. I gave another cost if you take it to a small independent cheap painter. I know two guys in tiny arcadia, fl that will paint a truck for a grand and you buy the paint. But like i said it certainly won't be show truck quality, but will look good enough for a work truck.

 

Yep we are in the same boat lol. The age restriction isnt harshly encorced but they prefer to stay between 10-12 years. But im friends with the owner so hes giving me some leeway to get started.

I'm looking at an 06' columbia mid roof with 950k total miles but 350k on a rebuilt and deleted 14L Detroit with a few upgrades. Paint is perfect, has veey nice interior and receipts cor everything ever done to the truck.

Im going to go look at it and drive it and id i like it i need ro find a shop nearby to do an inspection for me. Then hopedully buy it.

 

So if I go into the dealer I'm hoping to purchase a truck from tomorrow, ( I took a oil sample already will have results tomorrow ) although don't believe its going to tell me much since the oil was just changed, anyhow tell them I want the valve cover removed by their mechanics ( I don't mind Paying out of pocket ) so I can check the condition of the rollers they shouldn't have any issue doing this?

 

Nope. Especially if you are going to be paying the labor.