Need some advice on a 1995 K1500 potential purchase

[95GMT400TX]

Hey all,

I have wanted a K1500 for as long as I can remember. Been saving for years and finally am to the point where getting one is realistic. I have come across a 95 K1500 regular cab. It's a base truck, crank windows, manual door locks, etc.

The good :
* It's in my budget range
* It has 46k miles on it (verified)
* Everything works on it according to owner
* It's in really solid shape in most areas

The bad :
* It was a Chicago snow plow truck that was owned by a small company that only cleared driveways. That is why the mileage is low and it is the original owner. It has rust, I know that is not shocking but I got two pics the owner sent me and I wanted some advice on if its worth the while (I will most likely own this truck forever) to buy it and invest money into cleaning it up. I intend to use it as a driver and would do minor cosmetic but a pretty detailed mechanical to get it up to ***** for daily driving and working on property. I am going to get a drive and look at it in the next few days I suspect and if there are things to look for specifically (shock mounts, spring mounts, other high stress areas etc) please share anything I should look for and how to best determine depth of damage in the context of a Dallas, Texas Driveway inspection.

I will attach the two pics and would really appreciate any feedback you can offer.

Thanks in advance...

Doug

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[DerekTheGreat]

Since it was specifically a plow truck, keep in mind it's got an additional 46k miles going in reverse

 

[PlayingWithTBI]

keep in mind it's got an additional 46k miles going in reverse

Does the VSS care which direction you're driving since it just sends pulses to the DRAC?

 

[Hipster]

Rust...... run!

In the first picture, in the top left corner, that looks like some serious rust breeding IN the frame seam.. In the second picture, the area to the left of the last crossmember bolt and where the frame angles up it looks to be a hole forming.

When you see rust that looks like layers of flaking dirt, that metal has been seriously compromised. A couple raps with a ball peen will unusually produce big chunks of metal falling off or a hole.

Plow trucks are usually cheap. They are usually also a corroded mess to work on. Rounded and seized fasteners etc.

 

[95GMT400TX]

Rust...... run!

In the first picture, in the top left corner, that looks like some serious rust breeding IN the frame seam.. In the second picture, the area to the left of the last crossmember bolt and where the frame angles up it looks to be a hole forming.

When you see rust that looks like layers of flaking dirt, that metal has been seriously compromised. A couple raps with a ball peen will unusually produce big chunks of metal falling off or a hole.

Plow trucks are usually cheap. They are usually also a corroded mess to work on. Rounded and seized fasteners etc.

I was worried about that. I tried looking online and originally it looked like you could buy a K1500 frame for about $2k. Bad news is I can't seem to find one anymore (it was a stretch I know) but swapping the truck into another frame for the money was an option I was considering. I might just keep looking. I am excited to finally have the money to do it but I need to be patient to make sure I get one worth all of the time and effort I took to scratch the money together. Thanks for the honesty.

 

[Hipster]

I was worried about that. I tried looking online and originally it looked like you could buy a K1500 frame for about $2k. Bad news is I can't seem to find one anymore (it was a stretch I know) but swapping the truck into another frame for the money was an option I was considering. I might just keep looking. I am excited to finally have the money to do it but I need to be patient to make sure I get one worth all of the time and effort I took to scratch the money together. Thanks for the honesty.

No problem, sometimes you're better off buying a better one that's a little more $$ upfront.

 

[Hipster]

I was worried about that. I tried looking online and originally it looked like you could buy a K1500 frame for about $2k. Bad news is I can't seem to find one anymore (it was a stretch I know) but swapping the truck into another frame for the money was an option I was considering. I might just keep looking. I am excited to finally have the money to do it but I need to be patient to make sure I get one worth all of the time and effort I took to scratch the money together. Thanks for the honesty.

But it's more than that. I'm seeing corroded driveshaft, rear end housing, control arm etc. From a bodymans perspective it's more cost effective to find a halfway clean truck that maybe needs and engine then to get into one that needs rockers, cab corners, doors, other body damage etc. When you see rust there is always more behind it

 

[east302]

I was worried about that. I tried looking online and originally it looked like you could buy a K1500 frame for about $2k. Bad news is I can't seem to find one anymore (it was a stretch I know) but swapping the truck into another frame for the money was an option I was considering. I might just keep looking. I am excited to finally have the money to do it but I need to be patient to make sure I get one worth all of the time and effort I took to scratch the money together. Thanks for the honesty.

Usually it’s people in Chicago looking for a Texas truck, lol.

You didn’t say how much it was (or I missed it) but I think you’re better off trusting your gut on this one.

Good luck in the search.


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[Eveready]

The only reason to buy it would be as very CHEAP parts truck for something else. You mentioned that it is a work truck so it might not be worth the bother even for that unless the engine is really good.

In your situation I would check CL around the South for 3-400 miles, find a nice clean Silverado or Sierra and buddy up with someone to go buy it and have a chase car to escort you home. A lot of nice trucks get sold when the transmission starts to go. You can sometimes get a really nice one like that, suck it up for a trans job and have a great truck for years.

 

[Madscientist]

I work on plow trucks for my job ,(fleet service work) I see 2015 trucks that are junk from salt and rust and the wiring/corrosion that goes with it. Unless its dirt cheep and you dont mind always finding something else pop up all the time. Ide say save up and find one that is in nice shape and definitely not a plow rig.