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Help me decide, please!

S

sublimobile

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Joined
Feb 25, 2008
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Location
Indiana
So I'm finally in a place where I can justify getting a toy! I've been looking at K5 trucks for a long time, but only ready to buy for a few weeks. I found one that I kind of like but I'm not sure if I'm in love or she's just sexy...you know? I havent been looking for very long, but I dont want to pass up on a nice truck. Anyways, here are the details

  • 1988 Silverado, power windows, automatic trans, 4x4, 350 engine, 135,000 miles.
  • Nice bright red top with gray runners. It just looks cool
  • Red interior I would say is in above average condition. Everything seemed to work including the rear glass, the lights, radio.
  • A/C didnt work. He said it needed to be re-charged. Who knows if that's true though?
  • Brakes need to be replaced. Felt like they were rubbing on the rotors.
  • Body lift kit, I think 4-6 inches
  • Pretty nice looking aluminum rims and oversized tires.
  • Rust in all the usual spots, but less than many I've seen. Many rust spots on the runners, lower rear inner hatch, fenders. Not the best, but I could live with it.
  • Sounds nice, started right up.
  • Looked at frame, seemed solid. No cracks, checked closely by the steering column. all good.
  • Seemed to shift into 4 hi and 4 lo just fine, but couldnt really test without 4 wheel terrain.
  • When test driving, the engine felt weak (but this is the first one I've ever driven...are they all like that?). I couldnt get it to top around 50-55 mph. The owner said its because of the oversized wheels/tires. I've never heard of that. I had to mash the gas pedal all the way to the floor to get any response, and I thought the engine was going to buck out of the truck.
  • He recently rebuilt the trans by himself (supposedly his grandpa knows that stuff, but you get the idea).
  • He said something about it hesitating at 35 mph, and said it needed an injector. I couldnt tell on my test drive, but that was a red flag.
  • The current seller has only had it a few months, said he needs the money. But he is accepting trades on his craigslist posting. (This was a giant red flag for me)

He had it for sale for $6,000. He only had cell phone pictures on craiglist, so the body looked completely free of rust. I went with the intention of paying $6K if the body was a nice as it looked and the drivetrain/engine functioned solidly. There was more rust than expected and several red flags on the mechanicals, so I offered $4500 and he turned it down. I stuck to my plan of using my head and not my heart, but I'm wondering if all of those things are to be expected on a 30 year old truck and I'm being overcritical. What do you guys think?
 
sublimobile said:
So I'm finally in a place where I can justify getting a toy! I've been looking at K5 trucks for a long time, but only ready to buy for a few weeks. I found one that I kind of like but I'm not sure if I'm in love or she's just sexy...you know? I havent been looking for very long, but I dont want to pass up on a nice truck. Anyways, here are the details

  • 1988 Silverado, power windows, automatic trans, 4x4, 350 engine, 135,000 miles.
  • Nice bright red top with gray runners. It just looks cool
  • Red interior I would say is in above average condition. Everything seemed to work including the rear glass, the lights, radio.
  • A/C didnt work. He said it needed to be re-charged. Who knows if that's true though?
  • Brakes need to be replaced. Felt like they were rubbing on the rotors.
  • Body lift kit, I think 4-6 inches
  • Pretty nice looking aluminum rims and oversized tires.
  • Rust in all the usual spots, but less than many I've seen. Many rust spots on the runners, lower rear inner hatch, fenders. Not the best, but I could live with it.
  • Sounds nice, started right up.
  • Looked at frame, seemed solid. No cracks, checked closely by the steering column. all good.
  • Seemed to shift into 4 hi and 4 lo just fine, but couldnt really test without 4 wheel terrain.
  • When test driving, the engine felt weak (but this is the first one I've ever driven...are they all like that?). I couldnt get it to top around 50-55 mph. The owner said its because of the oversized wheels/tires. I've never heard of that. I had to mash the gas pedal all the way to the floor to get any response, and I thought the engine was going to buck out of the truck.
  • He recently rebuilt the trans by himself (supposedly his grandpa knows that stuff, but you get the idea).
  • He said something about it hesitating at 35 mph, and said it needed an injector. I couldnt tell on my test drive, but that was a red flag.
  • The current seller has only had it a few months, said he needs the money. But he is accepting trades on his craigslist posting. (This was a giant red flag for me)

He had it for sale for $6,000. He only had cell phone pictures on craiglist, so the body looked completely free of rust. I went with the intention of paying $6K if the body was a nice as it looked and the drivetrain/engine functioned solidly. There was more rust than expected and several red flags on the mechanicals, so I offered $4500 and he turned it down. I stuck to my plan of using my head and not my heart, but I'm wondering if all of those things are to be expected on a 30 year old truck and I'm being overcritical. What do you guys think?
Click to expand...
If he has big tires and stock gears it will be a dog.
That with some rust, I wouldn't even pay $4500
 
Yeah, I wouldn't buy it. Without looking at pics, it sounds like a $2K rig to me.
Rust always is worse than you first see. May I am low, but I have seen ones here for less than $6K that run good, and only need paint, not rust repair. I understand that you are in the rust belt, but try to keep using your head. I suggest to look at what is available out west and get a frame of reference. You could pay $1200 -$1500 shipping to get one to you.
I have witnessed guys on here, help others find a truck to purchase in other states.
 
But you should get at least premium membership status for that. You'll need it anyway to learn more about you new to you future blazer. Should maybe go for close to stock. It will be much easier to work with. Plus any mods you make will be yours.
 
If you're going in with a decent budget like $6000 than hands down follow the advise of the other members and set aside $1500ish for shipping, and shop trucks in the southwest. There are loads of members on here that would love to have $100-$200 thrown there way to take a drive, have lunch and scope out a truck for you.

These trucks are getting older by the day. Other than stuff that was transplanted from a non rust state to a rust state there is nothing out there thats going to have "minor rust". Especially A pillar to floor rust. I watched a small bit of surface rust at a seam develop into full blow front cab mount rot on my own truck, in front of my own eyes in a matter of 2ish years.
 
Thanks for all the responses. I guess my head was in the right place. Is there anywhere other than Craigslist to find these trucks? I'm just not coming across that many.
 
Check craigslist in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah. U know, the desert. Some of those blazers have been in a time capsule. Like others have said you can get it transported to you. I bought one in Arizona had a friend go get it. I wished I went myself to look it over though. Still, couldn't have come close to doing better closer to home. There is a classified section on this site too. Can't go wrong buying from a CK5 member. These guys all are honest, and the previous owner would know the blazer help you with whatever mechanical questions you'd have.
 
Craigslist, Facebook marketplace and ebay.

In Texas or the Southwest 6k should get youvthe same truck with no rust and half the listed issues
 
4-6 inch BODY LIFT?!?!?!? I'd be RUNNING from any truck with that non sense. I don't like body lifts at all, but there's a reason you don't see body lifts over 3" from the aftermarket...
 
Also in regards to power,it should easily run up up to 55-60 and have a lot left in reserve,although they are not ideal hi-speed cruisers,they will run upwards of 90 or better,if all is good
 
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