i think i found the soob i'm going to get, it a 87 gl 4wd 5spd dr. it needs a tune up, the carb adjusted, and some little stuff. the guy only wants $400 fot it. going to do a test drive monday or tuesday after work, and do some more looking around. Is there anything i should check? thanx for any info you guys can give and i'll keep y'all posted on how it goes.

 

jim

Jim, sounds like a good deal on the surface. How many miles?

 

Is it carbed? I thought somewhere around 87 they went to fuel injection... but I'm *definitely* no expert.

 

Some things off the top of my head that I would check:

 

--compression

--look at coolant - slippery - indicating oil in water and head gasket problem

--look at oil - water in oil -- possible blown head gasket [HG]

--look at exhaust - blue smoke: possible bad rings; white: possible blown HG

--clutch freeplay

--brakes - mushy? shuddering? metallic sounds?

--jack up front, then rear - apply force on top and bottom of tire to feel if bearings are worn; on fronts move side to side and feel if steering linkage bad

--turn front wheels around and examine inner and outer CV boots both sides - if torn: possible damage to CV joints

--check electrical

--check tranny oil - dip stick under spare tire in engine compartment

--listen to engine -- knocking sounds could indicated bearing wear, piston slap

--run for awhile and see if it overheats

--if it has A/C check that it works and that electric fan comes on when engine gets hot

--how does it start when cold?

--how does it start when warm?

--push down hard on each corner of car to check struts/shock - if bounces more than once - shocks may be going bad

--offer them $100 --- if they take it, get worried... 8-)

 

Good luck. -Rick

--offer them $100 --- if they take it, get worried... 8-)

 

If they take it, part it out and put the money toward an even better Roo.

the 87 motor i have in my 85 is carberated, i think i remember seeing a thread about the years and injection types a little while back and i believe it mostly started the FI in 88

the guy is selling it for that price because that is how much he put in to it. it was his kids that bought a different car and moved out. my neighbor/land lord knows the guy that is the two reasons he's selling it to me for thats price.

also he was driving it up to 4 months ago then parked it.

 

jim

If the body is straight, intereior not bad and your looking for a clean ride... sounds promissing.

 

If your looking for something to take out and destroy by chopping the top, 4x4 up and down the hills and scaring the hell out of the live stock...WINNER!

 

Hey, it's $400. Not the national debt.

 

Live on and ENJOY THE RIDE!

it will be lifted and daily driven, but wheeled on the weekends.