1991 350 TBI Maintenance

Yes, the TBIs are normally that tarnished. If the fuel injectors are spraying good, don't replace them. The connectors are brittle, but still work when broke, and you can get replacements. Ask him when the plugs were changed and what plugs he put in it. If he put some silly Split-V-Ultra-Double-Fire-Plutonium plugs in it, junk 'em. If he used AC Delco, NGK, or even Autolite, and can remember when he installed them, I'd call it good.

 

If the guy is a mechanic you most likely don’t need to worry about much.

I would check and maintain as needed. I know everyone says when I get a new truck I change all the fluids. That’s rarely true. That’s two to three hundred bucks in fluids and filters and hours of labor. More if you have it done.

im not gonna change something that’s not due. If the guy has maintenance records you’re just wasting money. Say he changed the drivetrain fluids at 120,000 and the truck has 130,000 on it. You dont need to change the fluids.
now the guy can’t remember when it was last done....yeah change everything......After taking another thousand off your cash offer.

as far as the TBI...yeah they get dirty.

the injectors can get screens and orings replaced. They are pretty damn solid otherwise.

 

Considering info on the OP, what do you think it is worth?

I'm getting it for a steal, but he doesn't need it, nor the money. It runs well, just dirty from sitting in yard not being used. Work and his work got me delayed in buying it being we work opposite schedules offshore. I'm so damn excited about it, its killing me waiting so long.

 

if the guy knows what he has he’s gonna want good money for it. If he has paperwork on the engine and trans replacement expect a good solid price. A lot depends on the desirability of that model in your area. But short bed single cab step sides are very rare and popular. As far as the dirty...it’s nithung a $200 detail job won’t take care of and add $600 to the asking price.
These trucks are gaining popularity again (they always were popular) and being the almost perfect combo short bed step side 4x4 V8 and looks like it has the loaded power package (well loaded for 1991) I would say you could pay upwards of 6/7k. If it was my truck it would have a asking price around $9000 around where I live. That’s the going rate for a clean title well running clean body short bed. There are yahoo’s asking 5-7k for salvaged trashed junked out three/five different body color panels with trashed interiors but all the ads start with no low ballers I know what I got.

here is how I approach a car sale. I don’t ask price, I don’t make deals over the phone. I personally refuse to even waste my breath if I’m selling and the first thing the potential buyer asks is what’s my price or what’s the lowest I’ll take. I don’t consider you worth talking to as you’re a price driven buyer and you’re wasting my time. And I never answer emails other than confirm it’s available.

Talk about the truck. Ask all the questions you want to ask, maintenance, repairs, what the truck is used for, how long they owned it, why are they selling it. Now let them give you the price. Once they do don’t make any noises, eye rolls etc to discount their number. Simply look at it as business transaction. If their price is insanely outrageous simply ask if there is any negotiation in that. Tell them while it’s a great truck, point out all the major things you see wrong and tell them that it will cost money to do the repairs.
If the price is reasonable and within or close to your what I have in mind price I would do a small reduction. Say he wants 2700 and you say I can do 2400 and I have the cash in me.
I have gotten some really good deals and quite a bit lower than asking prices over the years. And what I found out was I got it because I didn’t try to make a deal from my couch and I showed up to talk face to face.

 

I really appreciate your input!

I work with the guy, and he really doesnt need this truck, nor the money. His wife inherited it after her father passed. He knows i will take good care of it, and is giving me a helluva deal (lets say a small fraction of the price you assessed!).

He has all the maintenance records, and takes care of all his stuff aswell. 267k miles on body, and new engine 15k ago. Transmission has also been replaced but idk how long ago.

Its a steal for me, and I already have guys offering me double the price I'm paying for it if it doesn't work out. Plan is to restore as much as possible aesthetically and it will be my work truck (work offshore rotation). I dont really need it, but I want it to preserve my 2016 f250 platty. It will sit in the sun at the heliport while im offshore 28/28.

Will use it to cruise around and work. Big plan is to give it to my son when he starts driving, in like 12 years lol.

 

Around here, that's a $3000 truck at best. Likely less. But then, there's no such thing as a TBI truck without rust.

 

I have an 88 that's pretty much rust free, unless you count a little surface rust on the frame, ha ha. Never been touched but it lived its whole life in CA and then the last 12 years in the AZ desert


Cheap MAACO paint job done by the PO around 2000

I'm keeping it for a little while longer. Hey OP, let's see some pics!

 

Yeah, but that's not "around here". There's no snow on the ground, but they've already sprayed the streets with brine...twice so far.

 

Nice truck! Havent purchased the truck yet, all pics are in OP.

 

Out of curiosity what general area do you reside?