Well my g/f is in the market for a new vehicle and insists she want's a truck since she like's mine so much, she has a '94 Exploder right now.

We found a '97 4.2L Manual, Roush with 118k for $7500, it look's awsome, owner state's he has never had any mechanical problems and that it run's great.
Think this is a good deal? I think I might try working the price down because of the high milage.

Anything I should look for before handing over the money?

I've been seeing the horor stories about this 4.2L engine in the early years 97-98 with the the intake gaskets and stuff(I know those are a easy fix) ...is there anything else I should expect to eventually have to fix or keep an eye on?

What do ya'll think?

 

You definitely want to read about the head gasket problems with the 1997 V-6. I was very fortunate to read it before I bought mine and found a nice 2000 in my price range. Getting the V-6 and a manual tranny will save you as much as $1500 if you don't mind shifting gears (which I don't).

The V-6 has plenty of power for me. It pulls my little camper and hauls everything that I've ask of it.

Hunt4Fun

 

It's also sitting on a brand new set of 20's and tires....this is going to take some thinking.

 

Even with full documentation of service history, I'd budget for new top end gaskets right away in my negotiation.

I did my homework and got a '99 instead of an earlier model.
The V-6 rips. Love it. Blazed up the grapevine at 85 no problem, had lots of motor to spare there too. That was with a truck with 110,000 miles on it running the original sparkplugs.
Since a tuneup things have gotten worlds better.
That truck you're looking at should be great once the gaskets get dealt with.

 

Funny you say that, I live right at the foot of the grapevine, I head up it almost every weekend to go to Bakersfield.

Even though this truck look's awsome I think I will pass on the head ache of having to go through with it's problems.

Thanks guy's.