Hi, Im thinking about my 1st Patrol

[Red Clay Rambler]

Hey folks,

I have the potential to buy a Patrol. It is a little rough but seems to be mostly original, you can see the rust areas/rotted rubber in the photos. The seller says the engine has been worked over using the forklift motor that is the same. He says it runs fine, and is asking $2500. Is this one too far gone for that price? or is that a square deal? I come to you all as a genuine newbie to this vehicle and its community of follwers.

[zed]

Where do you live (the best, first step is to have someone with Patrol knowledge look of the Patrol and do a PPI, pre-purchase inspection)?
Keith

[RiverPatrol]

Can you post up some pictures of it? That would help.

[moore_rb]

Getting a Patrol running is usually pretty easy....

Getting it STOPPING, however - That's the trick.

The best "newbie advice" I offer anyone looking at their first Patrol is: "If the brakes have not been overhauled (with receipts) in the past 5 years, then tack another $500 onto the price..."

Aside from that, Keith's suggestion is a great one- find someone here on the forum that lives near you and who would be willing to take a look at the truck with you.

A Patrol can look rough on the outside, and be an absolute GEM underneath - I have first hand experience there

Likewise, a rig might be beautifully painted and polished, and all that shine might be hiding 10 grand in mechanical issues.

[Red Clay Rambler]

here is the front

[Red Clay Rambler]

the rear

[RMP&O]

Getting a Patrol running is usually pretty easy....

Getting it STOPPING, however - That's the trick.

The best "newbie advice" I offer anyone looking at their first Patrol is: "If the brakes have not been overhauled (with receipts) in the past 5 years, then tack another $500 onto the price..."

Aside from that, Keith's suggestion is a great one- find someone here on the forum that lives near you and who would be willing to take a look at the truck with you.

A Patrol can look rough on the outside, and be an absolute GEM underneath - I have first hand experience there

Likewise, a rig might be beautifully painted and polished, and all that shine might be hiding 10 grand in mechanical issues.

I agree with Rob. 64 plow truck here at the shop, 35,000 original miles. Mechanically it is really sound but so rusty the floor pans were 70% gone back to nature. I don't have an example of a nice body on one that was trashed mechanically though. Unless we consider my 68 to be that way. Mechanically it appears to be sound (and the body is mint) but it did bust a piston after somebody dropped a nut down the spark plug hole and started the truck.


If there was ever water in the trans chances are it is not in good shape. Soft tops that have been sitting outside for years, chances are good the trans will be shot from water damage. With no hard top rain, snow melt and so forth finds it's way right down the trans shifter into the trans. You really do not want to open up a trans and find it is rusty unless you have a good spare one in hand and even then it will put a frown on your face. I got another trans here from a 69 that sat outside on the ground for who knows how many years. Inside this trans it looks like one big lump of rust. Never seen t-cases or axles with this much rust inside them even if water was present.

Cheers

[Red Clay Rambler]

the inside

[Red Clay Rambler]

back inside

[Red Clay Rambler]

under hood