New member. Really want this truck....

[numbernobody]

So, I want to buy this 1983.5 4X4 720 and I can for 300 bucks. BUT the engine needs work. It's seized but there's oil where it needs to be and water where it needs to be. Timing chain in tact (not sure if it's interference or not). Owner says it was running, sat, and then wouldn't turn over. He says he couldn't budge a breaker bar on the crank. Maybe he didn't notice a bad head gasket and there's water in a cylinder or two? I don't know. Point is, truck is straight as an arrow, 150k, all stock,clean interior, no teenage redneck frankensteined it and no strange wires hanging about. What do you think? Also, I've heard that the z24 is a gutless piecer. Any thoughts?
Thanks for any input, you guys seem to have the most and best info on these trucks!

[numbernobody]

Also, I want to knock off the step sides. I'd like to put a body lift on it so i can put some 30 or 31s on it. Engine two weak? Body lift too difficult?

[captainzeros]

The body on that truck is worth it for $300 if you are comfortable doing the mechanical work it needs; running engines are common, non-rusted-out 720s are not. I personally have a Z22 in my '81 truck and it's powerful enough to move my rwd truck pretty good, granted it's not trying to turn 31" tires and a pile of supersized suspension parts around either.

Personally, given the option, I'd buy it posthaste.

[bracktheron720]

!!!If I were you i would buy it in a heart beat!!!iv got the z24 in my 84 and its awesome!!!now its no Vtech or anything but it gets the job done!!shoot pezi720 races the crap outta his and its damn quick!!!!now its stripped down to nothing but its a z24 that can get up and move for sure!!!

[PEZi]

shoot pezi720 races the crap outta his and its damn quick!!!!now its stripped down to nothing but its a z24 that can get up and move for sure!!!

yeah... but mine only weighs 2,000 lbs.... and is RWD

'83.5 has the Z24? no? I'd say with a GOOD RUNNING CARB it does have plenty of power to move some 31's... but don't expect to be racing no one in it!

i say buy it... looks like a good body and if you can do the engine work yourself it'll be well worth it in the end!

welcome!

[bracktheron720]

yeah i didnt know how much it weighed i just knew that you had lightened it a bunch!! My point was that in no way are they gutles piecers!!with a little work they can run very hard!!i see a guy at the local off road spot in a 4wd 720 thats just a got a nice weber and a good set of tires and he runs with all the big truck that have way more money into them!!i got a couple hills in town that my RWD pulls up harder than my girls little a$$ civic its floored and screamin to make it up them when i just putter up the hill no problem..Im searching for a nice 4wd one to play with!

[numbernobody]

Right on. Thanks for the input. I'll be on the forums through the duration of the project. I'll need to be. Are these hard to put a body lift on? I don't plan on racing, just back roading. So I'd like to add an inch or two on the tire size if I could get away with it.

[86 720]

GET IT!!!

For $300 I would snag it. In my area, a rebuilt engine would cost roughly $1200 if a shop did it. If you are mechanically inclined, a good core would be around $500 here, and you can put in a slightly more aggressive cam, and weber carb.

[flinterman2000]

At 300, I woulda bought it twice. Man thats straight. Look for a good engine and you're good to go for another 23 years or so. My 720 had a J16 and it pulled a hell of a lot of load so don't worry about the Z24. The Z24 engine has more power and twice the torque than the J16.