New 2 Door!

[2doorfiend]

Howdy,
First post on the forum but i've been lurking for a while.
Just need some advice in buying an old 2 door tahoe 4x4

A little History: I have owned a 1997 2 door tahoe before, but it only had 50,000 miles, so no problems whatsoever. Traded it in (regret it now) for a sportscar (cadillac cts), but i'm going to be moving back up to alaska and plan on driving up.

I have been looking everywhere for a 2 door again. Seems like every one i see is either way overpriced or high miles. So i'm going to gamble with a high mileage truck.

>>I am not very mechanically inclined, so i dont know what to look for. I was wondering if you guys could help me out as to what to look for when buying a high mileage truck. I've never had to rebuild an engine or transmission, so i dont have a clue on what kind of budget to give myself. I've currently got my eye on an all black 1999 2 door tahoe with 180k miles, looks like its been repainted recently, but clean carfax. interior is thrashed. I put carpet in my old tahoe, and a sound system... but that is as far as i went in taking things apart and tinkering.

What would an engine and trans rebuild cost?
Do i need to rebuild/maintenance the transfer case or differentials?
What would it cost to have the seats and headliner redone?
Are there any suspension or drive train parts that may need to be replaced?
can i do any of this work myself in my garage?

any other handy information i may need to look for or know?

Also, anyone from up north have advice before i head up? remote start? block heater? Oil pan heater?

Also, the dash is cracked in a few placed I've got my handy LMC magazine next to me, but the only fix would be a plastic dash cover. any ideas?

Thanks in advance!
and sorry if i sound like a novice... i am!
-Fiend

 

[SunlitComet]

If the interior is trashed I would keep on looking. Nothing wrong with a 4dr either you get more room. And you will find a lot better ones. Engine new $1900 tranny remaned is $1800 roughly. 1997 tcase about $700 remaned. There are whole parts just swap them in. IF seat are leather you might be looking at $750 for new covers on front seats alone not including $125 for each bottom cushion. $750 for the whole rear set. Dash will be a pain. I would rather recommend you find an excellent body and interior with a block and tranny that may be damaged.

 

[2doorfiend]

I appreciate it! gives me a good idea on prices for the bigger drive train parts. i definitely under assumed.
here's a link for the truck.
http://www.fallcreekmotorcars.com/detail.aspx?id=3241498&PrefID=0&.aspx
When i said thrashed, i may have been over exaggerating, because only the rear carpet was really beat up... and I've been spoiled with the leather and weather tech's in my caddy.

 

[SunlitComet]

so based on pictured and add on if f mechanical are in excellent condition and it is just a cracked dash and rear carpet I would offer $7500 out the door taxes/fees included. I only say this because of the rarity effect that attracts some one to it. Body and bumpers do look good. Includes cost to lose those blacked out lights, they are very bad.

 

[1999hoe]

Offer 6000 and see how far they come down

 

[HortonHiresAHoe]

^^^ This, worst they can say is no

 

[Gzes]

It's overpriced for being in tx..

 

[RedCrush]

hell i sell you mine for way cheaper than that... lol

 

[God]

thats a pretty steep price but its a damn fine looking 2dr.

 

[nicliv]

Too steep

I just paid $5500 for my Texas truck and it was pretty(clean too)

 

[Chevrolado]

From that seller..
I say you buy this monster instead.. haha.

So sick. hah.

Sorry, that doesnt help you at all.. I just had to point that thing out. I love it.

 

[00Caddy]

It's overpriced for being in tx..

Why is it over priced for Texas? If it is a texas truck and no rust and everything is working well enough for an old truck then its worth every penny he pays for it. Had a 97 2-door yukon with 140k on the clock, intake mani leak, bald tires, ripped drivers seat, bad carpet, blown speakers and i pad 7250 out the door and that was in 2009.

 

[2doorfiend]

New 2 door

Thanks everyone for your feedback, i have noticed that every 4x4 is overpriced in texas, but as a 2 door lover i was willing to bite the bullet. Haha i found that monster too, drove it, loved it, almost changed my mind!! But it wasn't exactly what i wanted. I ended up buying one sight- unseen in Oklahoma, with 90k miles and the exterior/ interior were in almost perfect shape... Until i took off those ****** chrome fender protector things. One small rust hole. Its below the body line, so im going to try my hand at body work and prime, then rhino line it. Other than that i have finally found my 1996 2 door yukon. Ill post pictures as soon as i finish the body work.

Again, thank you for the replies, i appreciate you guys sharing the knowledge.

 

[SwampHound]

Thanks everyone for your feedback, i have noticed that every 4x4 is overpriced in texas, but as a 2 door lover i was willing to bite the bullet. Haha i found that monster too, drove it, loved it, almost changed my mind!! But it wasn't exactly what i wanted. I ended up buying one sight- unseen in Oklahoma, with 90k miles and the exterior/ interior were in almost perfect shape... Until i took off those ****** chrome fender protector things. One small rust hole. Its below the body line, so im going to try my hand at body work and prime, then rhino line it. Other than that i have finally found my 1996 2 door yukon. Ill post pictures as soon as i finish the body work.

Again, thank you for the replies, i appreciate you guys sharing the knowledge.

Good luck on the body work, can't wait for pics!

 

[nicliv]

Congrats

Glad you got what you wanted. Hope she treats you well. Enjoy and have a safe trip. Block heater a must

 

[2doorfiend]

Pictures are in

Finally got around to getting the pictures off my phone... So far it's just been cosmetics, havent done enough research in the performance mods section yet.

Question: in the 2nd photo, can anyone tell me if this truck has a trans or oil cooler? or both?

Ebay photo: before

Immediately ripped off the side moulding and running boards and installed a new grill and lights

 

[SwampHound]

I really like that grille. Did you smoke the turn signals?

Sent while drivi-

 

[Chevrolado]

Check to see if, from your oil filter, you have these two lines running off of it. They should actually run up and plug into the drivers side top and bottom of the radiator.
If you have that setup (which I believe you do), that would be your oil cooling.

 

[2doorfiend]

I'm in the Houston/Magnolia/College Station area of Texas, anyone know a good place to get headers and dual exhaust done? I figured i could just order some online, but i cant seem to find any duals *out the back* and everyone i know that knows anything about cars (few and far between) says i need to get them custom fitted. I've read a lot in the performance section, I think i'm going to go with the blackbear tune, and volant cold air intake. I've already trimmed the air dam on my intake (I know this is probably piddly shit to you guys, but i felt like a badass)

Here are some pictures of the rust spot i found under the trim. once i started grinding away, the inside caved in as well! luckily a small sliver of the actual corner steel was still in place! I dont know if i could have mimicked the corner otherwise.






I was really impressed with myself at how simple body work is. Saved $300 and the supplies were only about $50
*with bondo, that is, i know nothing about welding

I was so impressed that i took off the bumpers, removed the molding on those, and after scuffing the crome with 80 grit filled in each one. then i primed them with self etching and epoxy primer and the truck is now at a shop being bed lined (rocker panels and bumpers) and tinted.

 

[2doorfiend]

I blacked out the corner lights, wheels, and third brake with plasti dip
I absolutely love the stuff and cant get enough of it.
The actual turn signals are just black housing LEDs though
*my last car also god dipped in similar places


This baby is still for sale if anyone wants to take it off my hands!