What options & worth buying????

[Gregs71]

I am looking at a 1988 (square body) GMC 3+3 (crew cab) dually 4x4. It is some distance away and the owner could not answer these questions...

What transfercase would it have? The 205 like the 1987's or a 208. I have heard the 88-91 one tons have slip yoke style extension housing. Is this good or bad and again is it a 205 or 208.

Also, which axles would it have??

The body is relatively straight (one fender has a crack), original 80's stripped paint, 454 TBI motor, and a TH400 all with supposedly 99,000 original miles.

The interior is all aftermarket wood grain (which I would replace). I was just wondering if at $2500 this is a fair deal??? Has A/C but is "disconnected".

Thanks guys,

Greg

[dammitmitchell]

well if the ac is "dissconnected" it will need some definite love to get it back alive again..
but 2500 in my opinion i wouldnt complain too much
you can always pick up a beater truck to you fitting and throw all of the goodies into that one instead..

[special-K]

It will have a Dana60 front and a 14-bolt rear.

[Jtrux]

I think it will have the 241 xfer case but I might be wrong, I don't think you can do wrong for 2500.

[71swb4x4]

See if you can get a boardmember to look at it for you. They can take pictures of any bad things they find, and give you an independent review of it.
If it checks out, you will feel reasured that this is the deal you want. If it doesn't check out, you will save a lot of cash and time.

[Dooley]

My 1988 2 door regular cab V30 pickup has a slip yoke 205 transfercase, Dana 60 front and Dana 70 rear.

[Gregs71]

Jtrux-thats what I figured I couldn't go wrong for a running 454 3+3 dually 4x4.

Apparently the wife thinks I could go wrong!
She thinks because I already have a 87 chevy and a 95 gmc (both single cabs), I don't need this. I try to explain with three kids (one already and twins on the way) the other two trucks won't cut it. Of course, I don't want to sell either of the other two too...

I think I am going to go look at it tomorrow. The way I see it, I should be able to break even when I decide to sell it down the road whether it be a whole truck or as a parts truck.

I am pretty familiar with these trucks but anything else I should look for let me know...

Greg

[Jtrux]

Just buy it and take it home, she can't do anything once it's home.

[dammitmitchell]

not trying to hyjack but what is a 3+3????

[Dooley]

GM used to refer to their 4 door cab with rear seat and amenities as a 3+3 as in 3 people up front and 3 people seated in rear. They called the 4 door cab with no rear seat or other amenities a Bonus Cab.

[1969 GMC]

it will have a 14 bolt if its a cab and chassis or a D70HD if it's a pickup, I didn't see if you said which it is. It will have a 205 transfer case.

[Dooley]

Originally Posted by Gregs71

The body is relatively straight (one fender has a crack),

Thanks guys,

Greg

The "one fender has a crack" statement led me to believe it is a pickup.

[Gregs71]

Well I went and looked at it and came back empty handed. The truck had a pretty straight body with a little surface rust on the top of the cab, no big deal. But.... it had a van style conversion. Wood everywhere. The A pillars were carpeted over. The stereo had been relocated to an overhead wood console with a built in radar detector. Captains chairs up front with a wood console that held an old VCR and TV (which the PO had removed) and fitted with multiple dome lights, 6-8 interior dome lights. Under the hood was a mess of electrical wires to power all the above mentioned. A couple of wires had overheated and completly melted away from the plastic coating and were corroding.

In the end I would of bought it, but I considered it an electrical fire hazard. Way to many wires for me to the point where I thought it was unsafe, not to mention the headache of locating an electrical gremlin should one arise.

Oh well, I'll keep looking. Thanks for your help.

One thing though? Is there any consensus as to what TC a 88-91 square body would have? I figure its a 205 for 88-91 sq bodies and the 241 for the "new body style".

Greg

[1969 GMC]

Originally Posted by Dooley

The "one fender has a crack" statement led me to believe it is a pickup.

good call. i didn't think i had seen it, but wasn't sure.

Originally Posted by Gregs71

One thing though? Is there any consensus as to what TC a 88-91 square body would have? I figure its a 205 for 88-91 sq bodies and the 241 for the "new body style"
Greg

The 88-91 one tons would have the 205. This is the era that had the rare vss-equipped NP205's, and in '91 was the only year for the 4L80E/NP205 combo. the burbs and k5's had a pass. drop NP241 for these years, though.

[Gregs71]

thanks 1969 gmc. It's nice to know about the 1991 with a 4 speed auto.

Greg