Question for the old hats

Old truck = lots of caregiving.
It is not good for someone dreading their hands dirty with grease and smudged face, spending time underneath the chassis finding air leaks or rotten electric wires.
As a matter of fact, any truck over 500 000 miles and 5 years, pre emission or not.

You had better have a designated fund for maintenance and be good at troubleshooting and wrenching.

With the current flexed HOS, ELDs are not the issue with productivity.
I can do almost as much as those who are on paper - they are not going to make more money because they can cheat an hour or two of more driving in a day or 8 days. Paper logs should not be the reason as to why someone wants a pre emission truck.

 

Get it on a dyno and measure the blowby, bet it is going to be high which means an overhaul in the near future.

I would offer 9k for the age of the truck.

 

I would think if you did a hose party and got all new airlines, coolant hoses, and fittings replaced right off the bat you'd save yourself some headache.

 

Not saying I'm right, but me, I like old iron (pre '95) for a lot of different reasons. One problem is finding one for a reasonable price that's not a worn out, rusted junk heap. The other problem is parts availability; although, parts availability seems to be a problem no matter what year the truck is. They're out there, just takes time, effort, and miles to find one...

 

Engine is only 1 component of the whole unit. Frames have a lifespan, as do cab components, air lines, wiring, diff housings, suspension parts, springs etc.

Look at absolutely everything. You may have a reliable engine but the rest of the truck can sink you in a flash if its worn out. At over 20 years old if it hasn't had harnesses and air lines replaced you'd better be handy with a wrench.

 

You can fix lots of things for the price of one payment. Comp insurance is less and any truck with a electronic engine can run eld with very little cost to hook up.
Now through in the cost of a one box and six weeks waiting for one and the older truck begins to look real good.
I prefer a 60 series for reliability and fuel mileage.

 

Best engine ever.