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Need some opinions on possible purchase of this 85 burb

J

jamacee

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We sold our 89 sub and now have sellers remorse. We really needed it for our fam o 5. So I have been shopping for several weeks now.

Found a possible buyer for my 99 4runner and if/when sold applying proceeds to a suburban as family wagon.

I am going to go look at this 85 as a possible candidate. I have talked to the guy several times and all things considered seems like a fairly solid guy.

Knowing the little I know from my last burb I would have been well over 5k had I done most of the stuff to it as what appears to be done to this one.

$2500 - paint job
rebuilt top end motor
rebuilt 700r4
new seals in 10bolts
new door pins
all new mouldings
2500 miles on the 33/12.50/15 BFG AT on MT II wheels ($1200-1500?)
4" pro comp lift all spring no block
+ whatever cost of the truck was to begin with.

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/3309424725.html

I just wanted to bounce this off the ck5 community and see if the asking price lines up. Also I am wanting to double check my discernment on this one.

I anyone is in Ga. please don't swoop in on this before I can get out there HA!



So CK5 - what do you think?
 
looks pretty damn good to me.as long as the bottom matches how good the top half looks with no rust,should be good.seems like they did a good job on it.got about half life on the engine,trans will be good if it was a good rebuild with putting in the stronger parts.if it has a trans cooler thatll help it last longer.see what gears it has in it.33 isnt a huge step up in tire size from stock but will beat up that trans after a while.
 
hmm, dunno. It seems you are going backwards with the new Sub vs. the old Sub. For what you get with the year difference that is.
 
When dealing with more of a "classic" truck value sometimes it is hard to tell.

Again this is why I was fielding this here.

Our old 89 was tbi I got it from the original owner vs. this one being a 85 and carb'd. It had a crappy maaco paint job that looked great when I got it but faded bad and peeled. Bone stock but a great truck. We gave $2400 for it. Now had I just gone through and done all the basic vanity restorations i.e. paint, window moldings/felt, door pins, all new brakes, 4"lift, and mostly brand new tires - I would have spent more total than this guy is asking.

My hope is that he would come down some on it.

So then what would be fair value on this if everything in fact was as it appeared to be?

I have seen lots of them round here for 2500-4000 but they all look rode hard and hung up wet.
 
The deal now is I have a buyer for my 99 toyota 4runner.

We are selling b/c we need a truck with a 3rd row.

My choices were (preferences) were sub's up to 91 model year, Toyota Landcruisers/Sequoias.

The Subs seem a better choice all around b/c the Toyotas were luxury vehicles and have luxury vehicle part prices + mpg's as good as or worse than the Sub's.
 
lol I hope that was rhetorical.

My old burb was as dependable as the day is long.

However it has been a long time since I had a carb'd truck. Not sure what if any my options are if I wanted to go fuel injected.

I will have to search and upgrade my CK5 account since if I end up with another one will need to have full access to this site finally :)
 
K85 you may have to school me in the future on this EZ EFI setup your running.

Just found your thread.

Argh. Sooo much reading so little time. Eyes are going crossed.
 
I would be concerned about the 75k on the top end. So what's the bottom end have on it? Most top end rebuilds start blowing oil past the rings. I would do a thorough inspection under it. If it all looks good, maybe $4k. Kist my 2 cents.
 
I'd offer 3500 and see what he says. He wants five but maybe he will come back with a Lower counteroffer. See what he will come down to. Even a few hundred will at least get you a better price.
 
I worked it out to go look at it Saturday morning. The guy is a straight shooter - there is a slew of other stuff done to the truck that is not in the add.

From optima yellow top batteries - stacks of services records and receipts for all the rebuilds - sound systems - original owner info

So we'll see how it turns out. We have been talking for going on a month now. He posted it but is constantly out of town on business or races and isn't in a rush to sell it but said he has wiggle room in his price for cash.

Everything sounds good now I just hope it all lines up.

Thanks guys!
 
Well....

1985 k1500 suburban 350 4bbl, 700r4, np208, and 10 bolts

Totally trying to look at it and not jump on it out of emotion. So I went to look at it before I sold my 4runner.

It is actually really clean. Underneath kinda had a crappy krylon type under coating BUT no pitting or rusting. I was all up underneath it. I tried to check everything. Looked at the frame by the power steering and that was fine. No mud caking. No rust in any of the typical places save for at the base of the inside of doors at some of the joints that were treated and painted over.

I think I spent more time poking around looking over everything than I did test driving it. Though it tracked straight and true down the road and the brakes would almost put you through the window.

Everything drive train was really tight. Steering, brakes, drive shafts, no shimmy in the engine at idle or at drive.

The paint job is straight. The body is straight. It has a pretty stout stereo. I haven't had a stereo like that since I was 19. Certainly more than I need. I really like it.

The Bad:

The guy has worked on it a lot but it has also sat a lot because the guy travels.

The tranny (700r4) has been rebuilt but was leaking a little from around the pan gasket. I am not sure if it is because it has been sitting for stretches of time.

The power steering pump appear to be leaking from around where it connects to the steering shaft assembly.

When the guy had it painted he removed all the old window trim/rubber/felt - new needs to be bought and installed. front doors back pass doors and back tailgate = $2-250.00 from LMC?

It had 3 point sideview mirrors before paint - after paint holes had been filled and painted over - now new sideviews need to be bought and installed = $40.00 LMC?

No headliner or board so I can re-felt it. However I can get one free from elsewhere.

Back passenger door exterior handle button does not unlock door but handle on interior will disengage it.

Electric window switch on one interior door is slightly off.

I still want it though.

We agreed on $4300.00
 
Doesn't seems too terrible. I got my tailgate for 250 minus the Chevy logo. The trans gasket and filter is ten bucks to replace. You can get the stuff to fix the rear door at junkyard probably. Or someone on here might have something sitting on the shelf. You can get a felt kit for windows under a hundred bucks. All small stuff it seems.
 
So did the 85's come with pre tapped holes for shoulder belts in the c and d pillars? This one has lap belts and I would prefer shoulder belts for the kids.
 
I don't think so. The K5's didn't get them until pretty late.

As many Suburbans are running around still, I'd wait for an '87+, but that's me.
 
Ok a little update.

I bought the Sub.

$4200.

I may or may not have made a rookie mistake.

I will be starting a thread regarding it in the 'sub' section soon.

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