well, my 97 has 265k miles on it. it still runs stong, has great compression and all that good stuff, but i dont wanna be left on the side of the road when it does die. whats the first things to go? i was thinking bearings, seals, rings, headgaskets....

 

Generally the engine itself will give you lots of warnings before it leaves you stranded on the side of the road. Lots of other stuff will die first (fuel pump water pump that kind of stuff..) Look for a junkyard motor if your set on doing a rebuild get a nice rebuild-able core or just find a nice one that fairly low miles and swap it out in a weekend. Thats the easy fast way..

 

Why wouldn't his current one be eligible for a rebuild?

 

i know that, but i bought the truck 5k miles ago and it had alot of new parts. new fuel lines, new brake lines, what looked to be a new water pump. so i have no idea on the age of anything lol.

 

If you have an engine ready to install the down time is less. Of course he could rebuild his old one. Wouldnt have a truck for several weeks that way.. Unless he's super fast.