Hello all. I'm in the market for a good ol' boy truck. Half beater half project truck. My heart is set on a 1997/98 5.9 diesel manual. I know this year was a good one for this truck but is 2014 too late to buy anything worth using? The last thing I would want is to buy a rust bucket on its last leg.... I'm trying to put some power into one of these babies. Any common problems I should look for or steer away from? Thanks for any help. Cheers.
-Travis

 

Get an early 98 12 valve 5 speed manual Southern truck if possible (long bed if you want to haul trailers with it). Get A 4 wheel drive IMHO. If you just want a beater there's plenty of 97's cheap enough. K.

 

If it's a "southern" truck it will have greater affinity for rust....as compared to one out of the "southwest".


What kind of "project" we talking about anyways? rice burner, wheeler, hauler, mud races, tow competition....

 

You can buy one from up in New England! Oh wait, you said you didn't want rust.

 

Rust isn't as much of an issues as bad internals... injectors, hoses, etc. I'm currently based in Northern California so I wouldn't go much further than a thousand miles or so.

 

The best advice I have in all seriousness. Look on your local craigslist, find a truck ya like. Take her on into the garage for a full check. I know my mechanic will do that for 35 bucks or free(depending on his schedule for the day).