Faults:

The only stuff that goes wrong with the car are the little things, maybe an old radiator hose, the fuel pump, or the dash lights.

General Comments:

It's a really smooth ride, if you take care of it, it will last a long time.

Faults:

Power assist steering belt broke going down the road.

PCV valve stopped up and the truck kept stalling.

Won't run on regular gas; must have 89 octane or higher otherwise it shakes badly and knocks itself out of gear.

Choke cable is missing from carburetor.

General Comments:

Great little truck. Just casually putts down the road like it should. I drive it about 4 miles each day (sometimes more) and it is great on gas either way. However even though the owner's manual calls for 87 octane gas, it won't run on that as it shakes and knocks itself out of gear so you have to use 89 octane gas in it. The transmission is so smooth when it shifts it doesn't even feel like you just shifted.

This is my first vehicle and it is amazing; as a mechanic I'm very impressed with it and love to work on it. I also love the bench seat as I don't like bucket seats in old trucks like this.

Faults:

Well, at 172K miles while driving on the interstate, the engine lost power and wouldn't restart. A garage I trust found the front of the crank at the pulley for the timing belt had broken off. Asked them to put in a reman short block, but was advised to just replace the crankshaft as all the cylinders had about 160 lbs and the engine was very clean. I questioned them about the sense of just putting a new crank in an engine with 172K vs a $1200 reman, and was told a reman may have a 36K warranty, but they've seen them brazed and with shims that barely last 36K unless you buy a $4K reman. I've had this truck 27 years and love it, so I bit the bullet and for $2200 had it back on the road with a new clutch and the A/C converted to 134, and it sounds remarkably the same as it always has, lifter noise at start up, which has been there for the last 20 years, but if I run 15w-50 or 20w-50, it's been quieter than it was at 60K with 10w-30 or 40.

If you overfill these engines even a little, they will smoke at start-up. I went to buy a 1990 B-2200 with 150K; the guy wanted $750 for because of the smoke. Checked the oil and it was a little high. Told the guy about my experience and posts on bulletin boards about smoke and overfilling the crankcase, and he opened the drain plug with the engine warm and made a mess draining out "a little" and passed on my offer to buy the truck that day. Stopped in to see him about a week later and he said the smoking stopped, not for sale. Sturdy little truck.

General Comments:

Best vehicle I've owned. 85 horsepower, but I towed a 3000 lb 20 foot ski boat in and around the Appalachian mountains when the truck was newer and it never let me down. Only got about 13 MPG towing and 21 not towing highway (can get 24-25 if you only go 55, but...).

It's not a quick truck, but very durable. Other than rear axle seals and a heater/AC blower switch, only general maintenance. Replaced all universals at 155K just because. Replaced the clutch with the crank because the garage said they could do it for no labor since the engine was already out and I was spending so much for the new crank.