Guys i started a thread in the four wheeling section along these same lines but anyhow, I'm thinking about buying a off road toy to play in and most are a 84-86 chevy 6.2 powered ex military trucks. What do i need to know about these when I look at these trucks, some start and run and some don't.

 

I wouldn't worry. Just yank the motor and put a good ol 350 in it.

 

 

well im shooting for one that starts and runs, so if it ends up dying on me and i don't wanna rebuild it then yeah i'll throw a 350 or something in there

 

Put a 350 in it! Yea you would be with stupid.

I would not buy one that isn't running you just don't know what you are getting in to. If you can be there to see the truck before you buy it. Make sure to start it when its cold and see how much and how long after it starts it produces white smoke. Some will be expected but it shouldn't smoke you out or stick around for a long time. After it warms up slowly rev the engine to around 2000 rpm let it hang out there for a bit and slowly back off of it. It should be able to do this smoothly and hold a steady rpm. Then everything else is pretty standard excessive blow by, strange knocks, low oil pressure, oil leaks stuff like that.

 

I've had my 87 Chevy one ton for a few years now. I live in the country and we have to haul water for a cistern, up steep, country gravel roads. I carry a 1000 gal. tank on a flat bed and filled with water weighs in at nearly 9000 lbs. Engine has never given me any problems. In the summer time I haul water, all over this county, to fill peoples swimming pools. Hot weather or cold, no problem. I love it.

 

goona make this short and sweet

These trucks are money pits unless you work on it yourself. Don't buy one unless you are willing to get greasy, and learn about the truck. Pretty much anything that breaks will be 500 dollars or more if you were to take it to a shop.


If this doesn't scare you off, I will give you a list of what to look for....