Faults:
This is all what I found after a trip to the mechanics after I purchased it for...$400!
Suspension shot.
Front end steering shot.
Leaf spring shackles blown.
Rust Rust Rust.
Bad oil leak.
Power steering pump is about to explode.
Air filter was wrong size.
Oil filter was wrong size.
No oil cap.
Rear dif has a leak.
Front dif sounds like a school bus.
Seats are worn down bad.
Smells like rubber, pee, and beer.
Front bumper has serious impact damage.
Front dome light doesn't work (prob no bulb)
Rear dome light works manually, won't turn on when you open the door.
Rear seat belts are un trustworthy.
Tires bald.
Axle bolt for the wheel has been broken off on driver's front, so it only has 5 out of six lugs.
Clutch catches real high.
4x4 high pops out when you begin to accelerate (prob bad fork)
Has no power up hills except in 4x4.
No highway power.
Brakes are very soft and front rotors and pads are glazed.
General Comments:
But...
The 4x4 works great and low gear is amazing.
When I get on the highway it gets to 75 but any kind of hill and it decelerates quickly. I'm hoping my recent tune up will help.
Adding 31' tires to 15x8 wheels.
A home made roof rack will appear soon also.
Its not a bad ride despite the complete loss of suspension, rocks and bumps throw you out of yer seat though.
The last Trooper I had was covered in rust and on the first off road adventure I busted the frame. I still drove it's listing hulk around for a year, but after the brakes went I sadly junked it. I love that little truck so much I cried when I walked away...seriously.
But now I have another one and something to work with, the rust isn't as bad and almost everything works!
These little guys are surprising gas guzlers! For such a small engine and standard transmission I would expect better, but maybe 10-12 miles to the gallon. Plus it has a 20 gallon tank.
If you are looking for a cheap rig or something to play around in get one of these! If you need a decent work truck get one of these! If you need something that will run all the time no matter what happens to it (maybe you're in college?) get one of these!
27th Jul 2004, 17:30
Then your tune up should help a lot. I too miss my 86 2 door. I got 20 MPG and yes in highway traffic it also had a hard time maintaining 80 :) at 90 she swayed a bit heaven help me if a strong cross wind got me. But around town I hardly used 1st gear. Misfortune came my way one rainy day, as I had to put the binders on and down shifting to granny. With a small bump to the car in front of me my feet slipped off the clutch and break. I knew I should have replaced those rubber pedal covers. I dumped 1st and mashed the gas then proceeded to walk through the back of the Ford Taurus wagon pushing it into a Plymouth Voyager. The odd thing was that it didn't even act as if they were in its way and kept running even with its radiator holding the fan blade from turning. I sure miss her. PS Never got stuck in Maine winters and always started.