1994 Gmc

[Sierra89]

Hi guys,

I'm looking for opinions here. I'm thinking of buying a 1994 GMC Sierra SLE 4x4. It's been in a barn for a while. I may fix it up or part it out.

The thing is in rough shape:

Front fenders are rusted out, bottoms of doors are rusted out, cab corners rusted out but cab still lines up with the box perfect and it need a hood and rear window (although I'm negotiating for a hood to be included)

 

The good:

It has a running 350 with 300,000km no ticks or knocks but a small bit of smoke on start up.

It looks solid underneath and the box is in good shape (had a fifth wheel at some point)

where there is no rust the paint is in decent shape

has almost new tires and decent factory rims

and is loaded with most options for that year.

 

He's asking $700, I'm thinking of offering $600.

 

What do you guys think, does it sound like a fair price?

Cheers,

[GMstrong]

I would pick it up for 600 bucks that truck would make its money back in no time!Thats the normal GM rust too.

[Stevens03]

I wouldn't offer anymore than $500 for a vehicle that can't be inspected

[JeffreyCH]

If the motor and trans are in good shape you should get your money back right there. Anything else is gravy, rear end, transfer box, diff. ect. I would start at 450 and work up slowly to 600 ;)

[wavery]

If you need a hobby. Buy it and have fun. I think that you may be asking for more trouble than it's worth.

 

Have you ever parted out a vehicle before? It's a lot of work and it doesn't sound like it's got much that's worth anything. Sounds pretty wore out.

 

Pretty hard to offer an opinion without seeing it.

[Sierra89]

We've agreed to $600 cash. My plan is to try and fix it up and get it on the road. I was going to buy it as a parts truck for my 89 but its actually a much better truck IF she's workable. Worst case scenario I'll part it out or sell it. I don't think I'll take too much of a bath on it. Hey, gotta live a little i figure.

I'll take some picture's when she's mine.

[wavery]

The fact that it's been towing a 5ver would concern me more than anything. Check the trans fluid. If it's brown, the trans is toast. If it's bright red and new looking, they may have tried changing the oil to fix a problem. Smell the dipstick. If the trans is burnt, it's pretty hard to get rid of the burnt smell. Changing the fluid will not "FIX" a burnt up trans.

 

Weigh in the cost of probably getting the trans overhauled. It may still be a decent deal. Just don't drive it until it breaks. That would greatly increase the cost of an OH.

[KMGZ400]

it could be a fun truck if you have the money and the will to fix it up.. its worth 500.

[Sierra89]

Thanks for all the thoughts, I also think my old blazer has has it. I almost lost it in the cloud of white smoke that poured out the exhaust the other day. I'd rather spend some money on a beat up Sierra with a 350 than a Blazer in rough shape with a 4.3 and a blown head gasket.

[Sierra89]

Just to update: I bought the truck for 600. It just so happens that its sitting in front of a scrap yard so I wondered in as asked what they would give me for it for scrap. The owner estimated around $450. So the new plan is to take off parts I need for my 89:

the good Rims and good tires, exhaust system including manifolds, a newer 4x4 switch, gauges, tail lights and a few other little things then scrap the rest of it.

I think I made off OK in the transaction.

[GMstrong]

I wish i would found a deal like that!my truck is at 270,xxx miles and its still going strong.Altough it will need new fuel lines in time but that will happen to any truck over 20 years.Most trucks dont make it over 250xxx miles.Look at the trucks that hit 1,000,000 miles the half of them are the older gm trucks.Ive seen some GMT800s that are struggling at 175xxx miles.Treat that truck good and will be serve you good!You can get it to pass inspection too throw a new maganflow cat on it with a new catback system and a full tune it,also throw a timing light on it and it will go threw no problem i guarantee it.Ive been there and done it my truck failed inspection because of Hcs was in the 700 hundreds i got down to 200.any thing is possible with time.

[Sierra89]

Ok, here's an update. I was planning on putting a new motor in my 89 sierra because the old 305 is smoking and leaking coolant, and now to make matters worse I pulled up the rubber floor covering and the whole floor is rotten and the body mounts are pretty much shot. I also found a new rust hole in the frame.

Soooooo, it looks like I'm going to restore the 94. It runs, the body is in decent shape with a more solid frame, it has a rebuilt tranny (don't know how long ago) and is a better model (SLE vs SL)

 

There are two things that suck. One is that I already took off the exhaust, 4X4 switch and a few other parts that I now need to put back on and 2, I'm going to miss my 5-speed stick.

I hope to someday restore the 89 again.

 

I'll post some pic's soon.

[Sierra89]

As Promised.