I'm considering adding another to the herd. The thing is, it's been used in a working environment (read *dusty*) and the interior is trashed. Assuming the price is right, miles are low, and it runs/drives, how bad is a little dust on our babies?

Edited to add, it's a "boy" truck. Not an automatic transmission.

 

It’s not the dust on the truck I would worry about it’s the dust IN the truck I would be concerned with.

what air filter is on it now and does it have any record of being serviced regularly ?

as far as how bad can it be ? Think of dust as sand paper inside your engine, it will score the cylinder walls causing oil to get past the rings, result is oil burn, blow by and loss of compression. Dust that gets in the oil also scores engine bearings causing a loss in oil pressure which of course is going to shorten the service life of the engine.

Moral of of the story, Check compression, blow by and oil pressure should tell you how good a job the PO did at keeping air filters clean and sealed and dust out of the engine

 

My truck had a previous life living between Texas and Louisiana. It was very dusty and needed some TLX when I bought it.

Despite having the original air box in a dusty environment, I was not put off because the air box still closed well and the compressor wheel looked like this after 2xx,000 miles.



Sharp edges and no signs of dusting.

So, to answer your question, it could be really bad, but it also could be really good as well. Pay close attention to the signs of neglect or love.

 

Will do guys. Thanks! I'll post up a build thread if/when I get him home.