New 1st Gen for me tomorrow! ...Advise?

[shawski]

Hi all,

I'm driving 6 hours tomorrow to buy a 1st Gen T4R SR5 22re manual. I've been in communication with the seller regularly and have learned a lot about the truck, as far as he knows. It's been in the south west all it's life - body/under carriage are clean. It's bone stock - no worries of backyard mod's. It's missing only 2 things, the radio and rear bumper. So all this sounds good.

However it's got about 320k miles on the 22re. He says up until 1 year ago it was driven regularly. At that time it took the back burner because he lost interest and spent his time on his Broncos (no worries, I asked why...). In the past year it's been driven a half dozen times and started up occasionally to move cars in the driveway.

So my question - finally - what should I take with me tomorrow to be safely equipped for a safe 6 hour ride home? A "prep bag" if you will. i.e. - plan on oil change? plan on coolant? specific tools? misc hoses? fix a flat? tire iron, etc, etc, etc.

At the moment the truck DOES run. He says it's "cold blooded" so it takes a couple turns to get it started. But once started it runs well. No smoke out tail pipe. No knocking in the engine.

I appreciate your advise here! My experience level is novice. I've restored 2 classic broncos in my time, but this will be my first T4R to own.

Thanks!

 

[Link12]

A trailer! No way I would go to get it that far away and try and drive it home.

 

[shawski]

[MENTION=1095]lin[/MENTION]k - Yeah, that's plan B or C, which I'll determine when I get there. If it's too out of shape, then I'll return home and send a truck or drive back next weekend.

Who else?

 

[BigRyan1986]

Hi all,

I'm driving 6 hours tomorrow to buy a 1st Gen T4R SR5 22re manual. I've been in communication with the seller regularly and have learned a lot about the truck, as far as he knows. It's been in the south west all it's life - body/under carriage are clean. It's bone stock - no worries of backyard mod's. It's missing only 2 things, the radio and rear bumper. So all this sounds good.

However it's got about 320k miles on the 22re. He says up until 1 year ago it was driven regularly. At that time it took the back burner because he lost interest and spent his time on his Broncos (no worries, I asked why...). In the past year it's been driven a half dozen times and started up occasionally to move cars in the driveway.

So my question - finally - what should I take with me tomorrow to be safely equipped for a safe 6 hour ride home? A "prep bag" if you will. i.e. - plan on oil change? plan on coolant? specific tools? misc hoses? fix a flat? tire iron, etc, etc, etc.

At the moment the truck DOES run. He says it's "cold blooded" so it takes a couple turns to get it started. But once started it runs well. No smoke out tail pipe. No knocking in the engine.

I appreciate your advise here! My experience level is novice. I've restored 2 classic broncos in my time, but this will be my first T4R to own.

Thanks!

Im with [MENTION=118048]Link12[/MENTION] Might as well try to drive it home than you will see how good it actually runs over the road on a long drive. I would also bring a trailer just in case you run into trouble. Whenever i bought i new car i used to run it up over the mountains to the other side of the state it would be about a 4 hour round trip so good way to stretch her legs and see what happens

 

[CAN-03runner]

A known good battery and tools to replace it. It might have been strong enough to start it a couple of times as it sat there and he moved it in his drive way, but if bad after a few more starts it might not start anymore.

Voltmeter to check the alternator is charging. Again you don't want to be driving it and not providing electrical power.

Check the brakes, or perform a couple of panic stops to test, don't want to drive home 6 hours with bad brakes.

 

[shawski]

@ CAN - Thank you. I've got those materials/tools in the garage and thank you for that reminder as my mind wasn't on the electrical yet

 

[mikekfr]

Looking fwd to seeing her !!!

As already said, top off fluids and check tire press. & brakes. If you DO trailer it, i'd put all new fluids in it, stem to stern, when you get her home. And take plenty of pics !!!

 

[shawski]

Thanks Mike! Brakes, check!

What else people???

 

[3rzrunner]

obvious- check ALL the fluids, make SURE to check the tranny.

if you have the time it wouldn't hurt to do an oil change before the long drive.

also bring some extra fuses in case it blows an important one on the way back.

would also be nice to pick up a new air cleaner for the 22re before you drive it back.

 

[BoatRacer]

Check the tire condition and pressures. They can look properly inflated but be way off in reality, don't forget to check the spare and make sure you bring proper tools to replace a flat if needed. Even if the tread looks decent, check closely for dry rot or cracks in the tires. I'd crawl under it and check the drive line and U joints, do a general under hood check of hoses and drive belts too. Drive it around the block before taking off on the freeway and get a feel for it, the suspension might be worn out? Bring a good fire extinguisher along too, many over looks this and hopefully you will never use it of course, but don't be caught without one and find yourself needing it! Check the water and oil as stated above, stop a couple times on the drive home and check it again or every time you stop for fuel. I'd pack a small assortment of blade fuses too, cant hurt. Mostly, look everything over properly and drive safely, enjoy your trip home and all the little things that these rigs offer. I swear they have a personality unlike any other truck on the road!

 

[shawski]

3RZ and BoatRacer - Thank you! Great advice! Fire ext and extra fuses were not already on my list...but now are!

Anyone else? I'm leaving first thing in the AM!

Thanks all!

 

[DeclansDaddy]

I'd consider renting a dolly at least. I know these trucks are reliable but you never know. I recall a thread here recently about a guy buying a cherry 85 and he got on the road and something happened and the truck burned to the ground. That's a long trip for a maiden voyage. If you do decide to drive it then I'd go for a while then stop somewhere and give it a good look over. Look for fluids leaking or electrical smells. I bought a work van 3 hours from home and it was the most nerve racking trip home. Every noise I heard or scent I smelled freaked me out. Sure enough the alternator took a dump on me but luckily I was close to home. Good luck.

 

[Link12]

Some wire wouldn't hurt. If the switch starts acting up you can hot wire the coil so it will run. Just unplug the coil and put 12v to the pink wire and it will start then but you will have to unplug the wire to get it to shut off. Yea, I've had to do this a few times.

 

[shawski]

Thanks again! I'm prepping the gear right now for the road trip! I've decided to split the drive up and only do 2 hours this afternoon on the way back. I'll stay at a friends house there and finish the drive first thing tomorrow AM.

I'll reach out to you guys if I break down. And if it turns out I need something that you all didn't predict ... well I'll blame you for not talking me out of it! haha

thanks again all!

 

[BoatRacer]

Where's the update man? Did you make the first part of the trip ok?

 

[mikekfr]

Thanks again! I'm prepping the gear right now for the road trip! I've decided to split the drive up and only do 2 hours this afternoon on the way back. I'll stay at a friends house there and finish the drive first thing tomorrow AM.

I'll reach out to you guys if I break down. And if it turns out I need something that you all didn't predict ... well I'll blame you for not talking me out of it! haha

thanks again all!

Balls, you have them !!! Keep us posted

 

[mikekfr]

Thanks again! I'm prepping the gear right now for the road trip! I've decided to split the drive up and only do 2 hours this afternoon on the way back. I'll stay at a friends house there and finish the drive first thing tomorrow AM.

I'll reach out to you guys if I break down. And if it turns out I need something that you all didn't predict ... well I'll blame you for not talking me out of it! haha

thanks again all!

Balls, you have them !!! Keep us posted :wow2:

 

[shawski]

Well, you guys will love this update. Truck is CLEAN! I'll upload photos when I get home (I bought it). But... So I get there, seller is cool guy, very open about history and condition. Tells me I'm crazy to drive it back to Cali. So I go to start it up for my test drive...nothing. We jump it, hold throttle open for 5 minutes to let it warm up, then we can let go so it doesn't die from low idle. Then I tweaked the idle screw so it wouldn't stall on my test drive. I take it out, go to autozone to run an engine light code only to confirm the engine knock (code #12). On my way back to his house, the head gasket blows! Oil all over firewall, inner fender and hood. This happens just after I buy oil, coolant, extra belts, fuses, etc to get me back 400 miles! Someone was watching over me today, no way I wanted to be stranded in the desert!
So now I own a really clean '87 with a dank 330k mile 22re. I knew I'd have to rebuid/replace engine, but just didn't think it'd be right away.
From a different note - this was my first time behind the wheel of a t4r, I'm hooked! So fun to wheel around in! I can't wait to get the engine issue fixed.
So what do I do? Replace head gasket and give thorough tune up to buy some time before replacing engine? Or use that money to ally towards engine now? Also, do I have mechanic in Lake Havasu do repair now, or do I get it towed back to Santa Barbara and do it at home?
Lots of thoughts on my mind now...
Thanks again for the advise guys! I listened to you all and won't forget the lesson going forward!

 

[KidVermicious]

It blew up during your test drive, and you bought it?

Well, ok. Get a dolly and tow it home (don't forget to drop the rear driveshaft). Pull the motor, take the head and block into a machine shop to get checked out. You might get lucky and not need a new block. Don't start out paying an unknown mechanic for a new motor, or you'll be in for a long and expensive relationship with this truck.

 

[DeclansDaddy]

It blew up during your test drive, and you bought it?

Maybe he got that good of a deal??? X2 on yanking the engine and rebuild it. They are pretty simple engines. I considered it when I bought mine but I didn't need a head gasket, just timing chain. Get us some pics of that BIOTCH!!!!