K
Newbie from SC
uncanymitsu
+1y
Looking at buying a 87ish MM and found this forum. I see this is the only one that is active.
I hope to gain some knowledge of this lil' Beast of burden.I love unusual vehicles, you know, the ones that the "other" guys wont drive OR work on. I have modded a 97 Suzuki swift (and tell you it WAS hard finding parts that fit- besides geo) and my last was a 87 Taurus... So this just seems like a good next project.
By the way, is there anything online that shows the different models and generations? Because I have NO idea what I am getting, and I dont think the seller knows either. He said it is a 87 MM, lowered "ghettoly" (and yes that was the word he used) He says it only has 20,000 miles on the original engine. I have only seen the outside, and it about 2 inches off the ground... has a broken windshield, drivers side view mirror glass, not the housing, and a rear tail light it broken. I guess what I am asking, is this truck the same as any other in not "REALLY" knowing if the engine is legit?!?
Even if the engine has ALOT of miles on it, the body looks straight and the only rust I could feel was under the tailgate. He only wants $900, for me to drive it away...he says it will start. Any ideas or "special" things to look out for on these trucks? I know I have wrote alot for a first post, but I know EACH vehicle has its own "WTF" problems, that is why I always research them with a legit forums and REAL owners, not some local mechanic who just wants my money. So to all of you who have endeared a modding love that is "cheaper to keep", as I have, I applaud you and now ask for help in my new quest!!
I hope to gain some knowledge of this lil' Beast of burden.I love unusual vehicles, you know, the ones that the "other" guys wont drive OR work on. I have modded a 97 Suzuki swift (and tell you it WAS hard finding parts that fit- besides geo) and my last was a 87 Taurus... So this just seems like a good next project.
By the way, is there anything online that shows the different models and generations? Because I have NO idea what I am getting, and I dont think the seller knows either. He said it is a 87 MM, lowered "ghettoly" (and yes that was the word he used) He says it only has 20,000 miles on the original engine. I have only seen the outside, and it about 2 inches off the ground... has a broken windshield, drivers side view mirror glass, not the housing, and a rear tail light it broken. I guess what I am asking, is this truck the same as any other in not "REALLY" knowing if the engine is legit?!?
Even if the engine has ALOT of miles on it, the body looks straight and the only rust I could feel was under the tailgate. He only wants $900, for me to drive it away...he says it will start. Any ideas or "special" things to look out for on these trucks? I know I have wrote alot for a first post, but I know EACH vehicle has its own "WTF" problems, that is why I always research them with a legit forums and REAL owners, not some local mechanic who just wants my money. So to all of you who have endeared a modding love that is "cheaper to keep", as I have, I applaud you and now ask for help in my new quest!!
texasfittys
+1y
79-86 was first gens 87&up is 2nd gen. the truck sounds kinda fishy to me..only 20,000 miles? kinda strange to me. if it was "ghettoly" dropped and sits super low then theres a chance alot of the suspension may have got butchered to no end. id definatly go over the truck with a fine tooth comb before before i gave $900 for it...you might even take pictures of suspension parts ect and post them on here and mightyram50.com and if something is bad wrong then it will get picked out very fast. all in all these trucks are pretty good trucks and dont really have alot of problems when they are properly taken care of. their biggest draw back is the tons of vac. lines
uncanymitsu
+1y
I have not been able to take pic until tommorow, but the odemeter reads "040455"... which yes it could have rolled over, but the engine bay is clean, I mean no oil leaks like a 87-89 would normally show. And the rear suspension looks like it has only 1 leaf under it, and the front is so low...it looks like the cooil may have been cut, unless there is any aftermarket "lowering spring" on it (which I don't know if there is one for this MM). The body itself does not show much wear, like I said, but the interior is (obviously) faded and the seat (maybe another model) does not have a lever on the side to fold it forward... Does anyone have a pic of the drivers side That I can compare it to??
Other questions: is there an online book here (or elsewhere) that helps with maintenance? Is 140,000 miles still good on these engines? (He said it was the 4 cyl)
thanks again for any help...pics on the way...
Other questions: is there an online book here (or elsewhere) that helps with maintenance? Is 140,000 miles still good on these engines? (He said it was the 4 cyl)
thanks again for any help...pics on the way...
uncanymitsu
+1y
I got some pics, sorry there are from a cell phone...
I saw a lowering block (I think) and the u-bolt was bent from it being so low:
The engine wasn't bad, for a 4cyl, like I said:
The pics of the front did not come out, but does the front sit low anyway?
I couldn't get a pic of the coils, but the nuts on top look like they have been removed since 1988.
Any help on the VIN for these? I mean is there any info that would help me out, like what "exact" model it is?
I didn't see any markings on the back or sides that would have helped me out... The floor boards and carpert were still VERY decent.
All in all for cosmetics, I will need to replace:
Windshield
drivers headlamp
drivers tailight
passengers door
BOTH side view mirrors (if I replace them)
Front spolier
rear roll pan is bent
The dash is shot- it was "painted" white
I saw a lowering block (I think) and the u-bolt was bent from it being so low:
The engine wasn't bad, for a 4cyl, like I said:
The pics of the front did not come out, but does the front sit low anyway?
I couldn't get a pic of the coils, but the nuts on top look like they have been removed since 1988.
Any help on the VIN for these? I mean is there any info that would help me out, like what "exact" model it is?
I didn't see any markings on the back or sides that would have helped me out... The floor boards and carpert were still VERY decent.
All in all for cosmetics, I will need to replace:
Windshield
drivers headlamp
drivers tailight
passengers door
BOTH side view mirrors (if I replace them)
Front spolier
rear roll pan is bent
The dash is shot- it was "painted" white
texasfittys
+1y
looks like that might be an alright deal. that motor looks like a 2.0, if its an 87 the 2.6 would have a metal timing cover but im not sure about the 2.0s cause i havent had one or messed with any that age just older. might be a pretty decent deal though man if it runs n drives
baha
+1y
Welcome to the site!