I'm looking at a '92 F-150 Supercab, 4x4, 5.0L, 5spd. When I went and looked at it, I noticed a few things which give me pause...
1) Rust bubbles over the rear wheel wells. Both sides, rather extensive, completely under the paint. If I were to buy it I'd probably grind them down right away and spray primer it. Can't afford the real paint right now. How much should I require them to take off the price and how bad a problem do you think this really is?
2) Underbody rust - mainly surface rust, but all the underbody brackets and such have lost their paint or are losing it. I'd want to get underneath with a wire wheel, take it all off and spray primer it all again. Another suggestion as to price issues here?
3) Ripped exterior panel just below the windshield - driver's side, above the hood (on the side). Someone had something mounted there, but it obviously ripped off, and the holes and ripped edge are rusty.

Most of the running gear and interior look good, looks like most of the suspension bushings are new, coilover shocks look like the coils are new, maybe the shock, don't know.

Anything else to look at with 135K miles? I feel that the asking price of $5000 is too much, with only a 30 day 50/50 warranty. I was thinking more between $3500 and $3800. Opinions from the more experienced?

 

my advice, try a private seller instead of a dealer. even being 4x4 . . . in that condition, its not worth 5k.

i bought my 94 for 1800 in rough condition. a few dents here and there and a scratch or two. the alt wouldnt hold a charge and i either have a bad alignment or a bad suspension part. thats pretty much all thats wrong with it. it was rebuilt recently by the looks of it(within 2 or so years i would say) and the interior is perfect etc. extended cab . . . a 92 with a hole in the side and rust everywhere is NOT worth 5k to me . . . that might just be me. look around some more. just my $0.02

 

I think NADA says they're worth around $3K. I bought my 92 a year ago for $1500 from my brother and NADA had it at around the $3K mark. I wouldn't give more than that.

I just looked at NADA and the low retail is $4K, avg is $5K and high retail is $6K. I'd shoot for that low retail value.

 

I agree, I don't think its worth $5000 either. But I haven't tried any haggling yet. I'm trying to get a feel for what people think reasonable price adjustments would be for these problems. That way I can go into some discussions well armed.

And just so you know, the "hole" isn't big - two screw holes and a 1-1.5" tear in the panel between the hood and the windshield.

 

I would suggest forgetting this one and finding one with a better body. Mechanics are easy to fix compared to body work.

Also primer does not stop rust at all.

 

primer helps rust, frederic did a good write up on repair of wheelwells.

if you hit them with a grinder you would have no wheelwell, they disintergrate.

all that frame and underbody rusts will be big time trouble later.

at most this is a $2000. truck.

and we do not know about engine or trans and what will be the cost to go fix anything wrong.

better deals around, look some more.

 

Primer won't stop rust if you take a wire wheel to the thing and grind it all away?

I don't need to make these things perfect, just keep them from getting worse.

But I am looking at two other options. By chance they all happen to be '92's with identical setups...

 

you want to know how to buy a truck properly . . . this is the kind that you look at and say . . . "ehh ill ask anyway, . . .how much?, 5k?" *chuckle . . walk away*

 

primer absorbs water. it is not meant as a finished coat.

once you hit them with a grinder they will be worse.

i hope minus the rust on the other two trucks.

this is a buyers market, plenty of trucks around.

 

With gas prices the way they are, SUVs and trucks are plummeting in value. $5k is way too much, like others have said. If he's not even asking a fair price, that tells you he's not honest. There may be other problems he's not telling you about.

 

The price is high because people EXPECT to deal. It'll go for 3500-4000 imo.

The rear wheel wells and the bottom outer edge of the ext cab tend to rust alot. The rear wheel wells comes from the inside out so you need to replace the panles to do the job right. Definitely look up Frederic's post if you plan on doing it.

Check under the engine for oil leaks and rusty oil pans, another known issue. You'll need to practically take the engine out to change the pan.

The frames, springs & mounts, shock mounts, ect all like to rust too.

 

Thanks everyone. I will probably pass on this, but at the very least can get a rough estimate from a local body shop on the repair. That way I can haggle well-armed.

 

The one tip I can offer is: haggle, shop, and shop some more. In my area (PA) I see widely varying prices. I've seen $8k and $3k for basically the same truck, and now that the winter weather has rolled in, anything with 4x4 or 4wd is in higher demand. Or at least the sellers think so.

Take your time, get to know these trucks, and find the right one.

Dave