The SM465 definitely fits the bill of tough and reliable.
Martin
Martin
CK5
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Help a noob out with his first k5 purchase
- Thread starter dieselndixie
- Start date
dieselndixie
1/2 ton status
Good call!!! I wouldnt have even thought about that. Man, im just finding out that there is alot I dont know.
Am I being realistic that I can do this on a moderate budget, and a home garage, with above average home garage tools?
I was riding my dirtbike out at hidden falls this weekend and I went to watch some of the rock crawlers...low and behold, there was a k5 out there and i got to watch it first hand. I am ever more hooked now!
Am I being realistic that I can do this on a moderate budget, and a home garage, with above average home garage tools?
I was riding my dirtbike out at hidden falls this weekend and I went to watch some of the rock crawlers...low and behold, there was a k5 out there and i got to watch it first hand. I am ever more hooked now!
dieselndixie
1/2 ton status
that was my next question. my cj7 had 33s 4" suspension lift, 3" body lift (bought it that way) and I had deflate tires to get it in and out.
dieselndixie
1/2 ton status
All, I just wanted to say, that I went ahead and paid for the membership, just based off of the info you guys have been giving me already.
Im new, im uneducated, and dont even have a k5 in the garage yet, and yall have given me lots of help and good suggestions. Thanks! This is the kind of forum I am needing.
Im new, im uneducated, and dont even have a k5 in the garage yet, and yall have given me lots of help and good suggestions. Thanks! This is the kind of forum I am needing.
dieselndixie
1/2 ton status
well, KTM is sold. I have $3000 in my pocket, and want to spend $2000 or less on the blazer, so i have money for whatever comes my way in the first few months of ownership. Im gonna try and pace myself, and enjoy the project. Now, to find something thats capable and reliable to start..... Austin, TX area btw if you have any ideas. I have seen a couple good ones on craiglist, but nothing that made me jump yet. ideas?
keep your eyes open for anything locally
I bought my truck 4 hours away, cause everything in los angeles was either overpriced or had POitous. Take your time, I watched for about 2 years. Missed some stuff that could have been good, just didn't have the money. Then I picked up my POS when I found something cheap, decent, and local.
It is seventy-something bucks a year for AAA 100 mile towing. Find something and drive it home, with backup of course.
I bought my truck 4 hours away, cause everything in los angeles was either overpriced or had POitous. Take your time, I watched for about 2 years. Missed some stuff that could have been good, just didn't have the money. Then I picked up my POS when I found something cheap, decent, and local.
It is seventy-something bucks a year for AAA 100 mile towing. Find something and drive it home, with backup of course.
Just be patient, you'll be amazed at the deals that do show up. I'd be prepared to 'shop' a 250 mile radius...
For $2K you should find a damn decent K5.
Don't forget our own classifieds here, lots of decent deals and partial builds come up regularly. A lot less bullsh1t than CL as anyone advertising here knows the people looking at the ads are extremely K5 savvy.
Rene
For $2K you should find a damn decent K5.
Don't forget our own classifieds here, lots of decent deals and partial builds come up regularly. A lot less bullsh1t than CL as anyone advertising here knows the people looking at the ads are extremely K5 savvy.
Rene
Jessie James
1/2 ton status
Yeah, I can't stress the "be patient" part enough. I had $2k and bought the first semi-nice K5 that came along. Stupid me did not go over it with a fine tooth comb (hint - buyers guide, in my signature) and ended up with a truck that died a few months later. I then waited a YEAR for the perfect truck to come along and I am VERY happy I did. It had some issues, but I have only spent $100 fixing things, and most of that is for a new EGR valve to make it pass smog.
djtejas
1/2 ton status
Good advice
I took about 3 months to find the one I bought...I paid $3,000 for it in 2004, but t was in great condition. Bought it from the second owner...the only thing not stock on it where the wheels. It had never been modded in any way. No rust, everything worked, all maintenance records were in the console. Only thing I didn't like was it had been repainted Green instead of being the original Black. One day it will be black again.
dieselndixie
1/2 ton status
Oh, wise ones....
I like this one....thoughts?
http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/2143207163.html
I cant tell if I want one already modded, or stock, and I get to do the work. I kinda want a blend of both. This one looks ready for a hunting/fishing trip. Just needs a sweet bumper. where are yall getting tough bumpers at? Or can I just bend some heavy duty tubing and make my own.
I like this one....thoughts?
http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/2143207163.html
I cant tell if I want one already modded, or stock, and I get to do the work. I kinda want a blend of both. This one looks ready for a hunting/fishing trip. Just needs a sweet bumper. where are yall getting tough bumpers at? Or can I just bend some heavy duty tubing and make my own.
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It says it is an '87. That is an '81-'82 grille. Check and make sure it is still TBI. If it has been swapped to a carburetor, it is worth much less.
Martin
Martin
dieselndixie
1/2 ton status
why would someone swap to a carb?
That is a good question, but people do it anyway.
Martin
Martin
dieselndixie
1/2 ton status
I am assuming the one i posted a link to in san antonio might have had a decent wreck....
new paint, grill from a different year, and no front bumper. he mentions a fender bender.
is that a concern? or simply a price haggling advantage on my end?
new paint, grill from a different year, and no front bumper. he mentions a fender bender.
is that a concern? or simply a price haggling advantage on my end?
Jessie James
1/2 ton status
I won't ever buy a wrecked vehicle again. As soon as you go to work on something you find it's not there, or if you take it off you can't get it back on again.
I would strongly recommend you get a CarFax and start asking sellers for the VIN and run it. Don't buy anything that's been wrecked.
That CL truck looks nice, but seems ... odd. I'd have to see it in person. Or see a lot more photos.
I would strongly recommend you get a CarFax and start asking sellers for the VIN and run it. Don't buy anything that's been wrecked.
That CL truck looks nice, but seems ... odd. I'd have to see it in person. Or see a lot more photos.
dieselndixie
1/2 ton status
so, in regards to that one in san antonio i just posted...i am gonna pass, here is why.
here is the email chain i got from the seller:
from seller
"mileage is at 48000, has everything new to to run the a/c but i dont since i use to use it off road...and rust it had NONE cause i bought it off an the orignail owner, even the guy at paint shop told me it was a huge mistake repainting it since the original paint was near kick ass"
from me
"Is that mileage on a rebuild? original trans, and motor? what axles, gears, etc?
i see that is has an 81-82 front grill, was that due to the wreck? What other details do you have? I am in austin, and want to know as much as i can before i drive down there.
Does it still have the tbi? or is it swapped to a carb?"
from seller
"**** man dont really know too much its carb eldebrock carb, edlebrcok intake manifold headers 4x4 gears i think are stock and yea everything else is orignial no man its an 1987 the last of its kind, after that year they changed, umm...it hauls ass....ill take a video how bout that"
i have bought and sold around 20-25 motorcycles...i have learned to read the seller more than the item being sold. if hes an idiot...chances are its crap that hes selling....
here is the email chain i got from the seller:
from seller
"mileage is at 48000, has everything new to to run the a/c but i dont since i use to use it off road...and rust it had NONE cause i bought it off an the orignail owner, even the guy at paint shop told me it was a huge mistake repainting it since the original paint was near kick ass"
from me
"Is that mileage on a rebuild? original trans, and motor? what axles, gears, etc?
i see that is has an 81-82 front grill, was that due to the wreck? What other details do you have? I am in austin, and want to know as much as i can before i drive down there.
Does it still have the tbi? or is it swapped to a carb?"
from seller
"**** man dont really know too much its carb eldebrock carb, edlebrcok intake manifold headers 4x4 gears i think are stock and yea everything else is orignial no man its an 1987 the last of its kind, after that year they changed, umm...it hauls ass....ill take a video how bout that"
i have bought and sold around 20-25 motorcycles...i have learned to read the seller more than the item being sold. if hes an idiot...chances are its crap that hes selling....
djtejas
1/2 ton status
Don't mean to discourage you but, if some one is willing to trade it usually means the truck is not sellable. Take your time and sell your bike , it will give you more options. Also go talk to your bank and or credit union. If you can get a 3-5k signature loan you can keep your bike and have a K5.
