You ever known this is the one...

[kevinr1970]

Lots of pictures
I've been looking around for a few months for a relatively inexpensive truck to buy to use for a commuter(ish). I was looking for a 2wd, but keeping an open mind.
No shortbed 2wd's locally worth a sh!t, a few 4x4 swb's but nothing that was really saying this is the one to buy.
I have been working on this one truck, an '87 Chev 2wd lwb in pretty good condition - repainted a few years ago (dark blue/silver), new tires on 15x8 rallyes, newer carpet, seat, etc. Asking $2995 and won't budge.
I was looking through Autotrader and decided to not select 2wd and see if something didn't come up. Sometimes people don't describe their car very well.
The last truck on the list was an '86 GMC Sierra. Couldn't tell if it was a 2wd or 4x4 from the grainy picture but it wasn't too far away so I took a look on the way home yesterday.
It took about 2 minutes looking at it before I even drove it to know I was going to make an offer. It is a 4x4, light blue/silver(gray?), 22,000 showing and it has to be about the cleanest truck that hasn't been at least in the proccess of being restored I've ever seen.
I swear the door panels, seat, front air dam and bumpers are brand new. I understand that car lots have armorall in a hose, but everything under the hood looks almost new. The decals are bright an shiny, the wiperfluid bottle looks like its never had fluid in it, the jack is bright and shiny, the mastercylinder and booster look brand NEW!!!!
The paint has some ugly scratches and is faded on the hood and it is obvious they had a canopy on it for some time, but a coat of the blue and it would look new.
I drove it around and its needs a tune-up badly, but not a wisp of smoke to be seen. It also needs exhaust pretty bad. When I hit the brakes they felt like the strongest brakes in any chev/GMC truck I've ever felt, they were almost grabby, maybe too grabby....
I'm not too thrilled with the rims, but I have a set of rallyes that came off a 60k original mile Blazer on my '86 diesel I'll be throwing on there as soon as I get a lug wrench that will fit.
I offered them $2k and when all was said an done I ended up paying a few $ over $2500 with all taxes and fees. Anybody ionterested in buying an '86 Chev diesel 4x4!

[Russell]

Man, that truck is VERY clean... I'd say for 2500, you scored big time...

[ElGracho]

Do you have pics of the diesel?

Looks like you scored on the new 86. Seeing that it still has the original upper radiator hose means that mileage is probably accurate...

[kevinr1970]

Originally Posted by ElGracho

Do you have pics of the diesel?

Looks like you scored on the new 86. Seeing that it still has the original upper radiator hose means that mileage is probably accurate...

I just got back from an oil change place and as luck would have it, this truck had been in for service before. The guy let me look at the name, but wouldn't let me look at the address? I did a white pages search and didn't find the persons first name matching the last name. I guess I could just call all of the names listed and ask if they ever owned this truck - there was only like 7 listed.
Not sure about the original hose but the previous service was done at 93k .

I can get pictures tonight of the diesel truck.
What I can tell you about it now is this:
- 4x4, PW, PL, option sheet in glove box says 3.08 locker but I wonder, dual tanks, OD transmission, I think its a silverado package but will check the options when I get home
- smokes alot when it starts up and continues for at least a few minutes after. Runs good once its warm though
- the glow plug start up is controlled by a momentary switch that is wired to only function when the ignition is on
- no front driveshaft. I have one but have never put it in. Transfer case seems to function good
- small leaks in rear-end, tranny and maybe engine
- door window doesn't work
- needs windshield
- has a ugly slider but I have a better one to put in
- truck is painted in primer. Was blue (maybe two-tone?) with blue interior
- some small dents and dings but no major damage. Small rust hole in lower passenger cab corner

If you have any more questions pm me. I should mention that before I sell it, I am probably going to cherry pick some parts off of it but I won't be taking anything and not replacing it with something else, albeit not as nice as the ones I take. The price I sell it for will reflect this of course. I have not thought what I want for it, but will put some thought into that in the next few days.

[kevinr1970]

I also looked at the option sheet in the glove box of the GMC.
Glide Out Spare
Locking Hubs - Auto
Cargo Area Lamp
H. D. Radiator and Trans
5.0 Liter
Overdrive Transmission
Auxilery Fuel Tank
Rear Axle 3.73
High Sierra Equipment
Front Quad Shocks
Tinted Glass
Sliding Rear Window
Deluxe Molding
Below Eye Line (whatever that is?)
Special Two-Tone
Deluxe Front(?)
Chrome Rear Step Bumper

Some other options as well but these were the ones worth mentioning.

[1FaastC10]

122K, that thing is just getting broken in. the last 305 i had has 260,000 mi on it, and never had the valvecovers off of it yet. sounds like an awesome score. now lets see some pics.

[77gmcjoe]

Originally Posted by kevinr1970

I also looked at the option sheet in the glove box of the GMC.
Glide Out Spare
Locking Hubs - Auto
Cargo Area Lamp
H. D. Radiator and Trans
5.0 Liter
Overdrive Transmission
Auxilery Fuel Tank
Rear Axle 3.73
High Sierra Equipment
Front Quad Shocks
Tinted Glass
Sliding Rear Window
Deluxe Molding
Below Eye Line (whatever that is?)
Special Two-Tone
Deluxe Front(?)
Chrome Rear Step Bumper

Some other options as well but these were the ones worth mentioning.

Looks like a nice truck!
The below eye line option is your outside rear views, and the deluxe front would be your bumper guards and quad headlights (I think).

[rolson1039]

congrats many happy miles to ya and your new ride

[kevinr1970]

Originally Posted by 1FaastC10

...now lets see some pics.

Click on "lots of pictures" in first post or try this:
front
side
rear
http://www.downhillspecialties.com/86GMC/index.htm