Tips when buying an old 4WD

Shauno’s Perfect Find

After coming across a hidden gem, Shauno took a 10-hour round trip to buy another second-hand turbo diesel 80 Series LandCruiser, a 1995 model 1HD-FT — a unicorn of a 4WD.

This was a bargain that was too good to turn down, so Shauno thought to add this to his shed while also using it to help everyone out there with tips to help you find a quality second-hand 4WD, especially with high kilometres.

What Did Shauno Pay?

This 80 Series was picked up for $15,000. In this day and age (during the inflated vehicle price COVID era) this is an absolute bargain, considering Shauno came across the same model frequently around the $30,000 mark.

Keep in mind, this 4WD does have around 500,000 km on it and does need some work, but nothing that can’t be done in the shed at home. Some factors need love, with things like paint fade, but the big-ticket items like the engine and the automatic transmission are in great condition.

The Engine

At the end of the day, the health of the engine in the 4WD you are looking to buy is probably the most important factor, as they can cost an absolute fortune to fix or replace if you find yourself in that situation.

In an ideal buying situation, you would like to be the second owner of the vehicle, as that means the previous owner knows all the history of the 4WD. The next best thing is making sure the vehicle comes with its original service book, hopefully with receipts from the mechanic too.

High-Kilometre Diesels

When buying an old diesel 4WD, the number on the odometer can be a bit scary when it is over the 400,000 km mark. As long as the vehicle has been serviced regularly, diesel motors can easily live a life into the 600,000–750,000 range without a rebuild and have often been able to do over a million kilometres.

Fuel Pump

Make sure to look out for the fuel pump, as they are very expensive to replace on turbo diesel engines and normally need replacing every 300,000–400,000 km.

With Shauno’s purchase, the fuel pump was replaced recently before he bought it. This would have cost the original owner $3,000+, so looking for a vehicle with a relatively new fuel pump will save you some coin.

Automatic Transmission

If you are in the market for a manual, you don’t have to really worry too much, just consider the life of the clutch and gearbox.

Older autos can be a bit finicky, and normally their biggest issue is heat. You can usually test this by pulling out the transmission dipstick, and if it smells burnt and the fluid is not very good, then there is a good chance it has overheated and is on its last legs.

In Shauno’s case, the auto in this 4WD was overhauled about a year and a half ago, meaning the transmission likely won’t need attention for a while. On the 5-hour journey home, cruising at highway speeds and dealing with some traffic, the transmission and engine handled it smoothly.

Tell-Tale Signs for a Good-Quality Old 4WD

Here are a few little signs to show that the vehicle you are looking at has lived a quality life and has been looked after:

Good condition original under-bonnet insulation, with no damage and minimal dirt. They fall apart from water crossings, breaking fan belts that create tears, lots of mud from 4WDing, etc.

Firewall grommets can be a sign to show how many aftermarket accessories have been added to the vehicle in its life and whether it has been played with a lot. “Grandpa spec” vehicles will have no modifications and let you trust that it hasn’t been abused off-road. If there has been wiring done, check whether it has been done professionally with proper fixings and protection.

Underneath the Vehicle

A common thing you may see when inspecting the underbody of older vehicles is that everything has been coated relatively freshly with spray paint to mask a few problems.

It is better to deal with an inspection where nothing has been covered up, as you will be able to see surface rust, structural rust, and leaks in places like axle seals, swivel hubs, engine oil, etc.

Any underbody issues you notice can mean you will be up for a bit of money in repairs and can either save you from buying a lemon or inform your price negotiations and get you a cheaper 4WD.

Evidence of Off-Road Use

The underbody can be a good way to see the previous use of the vehicle. Look for obvious dents, scrapes, and gashes. Check your diffs, exhaust, and radius arms, but also a sign of minimal off-road use would be if the 4WD has factory aluminium side steps still in good condition, as these are very easily damaged and would be an obvious sign it has been used for 4WDing.

Try to find corrosion on nuts and bolts that would point to beach driving in its past. Try to dig around with your finger in spots where sand may be stuck and not previously cleaned out properly. We all know salt is not good for the underbody of a vehicle, so the cleaner the rig, the better the purchase!

Paintwork

It is very common when purchasing a vehicle that is 25+ years old that paint fade will be found. Often you will find the clear coat fading from the vehicle not being stored undercover, and it may mean you are up for a respray or RAPTOR coating job, but no rust is the main thing when inspecting paintwork.

Checking for Rust

Check in the roof gutters and under the rubber seals of windows and doors, as these are very common spots to find rust in older 4WDs.

If there is a tow ball fitted, and the tow ball itself is rusted, it may be because the owner has towed a boat at one stage. Check underneath the tow bar to inspect the rust further, and make sure the rear of the vehicle hasn’t been dunked under salt water when launching a boat.

Make the right call in your mind for how much rust is too much for you to fix and negotiate with the seller accordingly. If you don’t have the confidence to fix the rust yourself at home, we suggest you walk away.

What To Look for in the Interior

Of course, you want everything to be as nice and clean as possible, considering the vehicle’s age. Also, check the condition of the dash, as some older vehicles have damaged or weak dashes from constant UV exposure—a dash mat is a sign of a caring owner.

Often older vehicles have some interior modifications to make life more comfortable for the previous owner. Inspect to see whether these have been installed professionally, with no visible wires, holes, or cracks from interior work.

Double-check if all the buttons work, including the air conditioning and heating, as these can be costly to fix in old 4WDs.

Our Verdict

Make sure you find a vehicle that has been cared for and looked after. Ideally, the best purchase would be finding a 4WD with minimal mods and that has rarely been used for off-roading or towing.

The most important part is that the engine is in good condition, and you negotiate accordingly to the quirks and issues you find and know when to walk away when there are too many issues you aren’t comfortable fixing or paying for. Hopefully, with these tips, you can find the rig of your dreams for a bargain price!