STALKING THE USED PICKUP

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Does the engine you're looking at give the impression o having been steadily maintained over a long period of time . . or has it been "slicked"? Check the installation dates on rebuilt parts. If they're all recent, it could mean that the owner has been trying to cure a problem, can't do it and is trying to dump the headache on you.

Check out the interior of the truck. You're going to have to spend a lot of time there, and you'll want to be comfortable. Are things inside in good shape? Too good? If everything looks new, it may be another sign that the truck has been slicked. Feel the springs under the driver's seat. Are they sagging? That's one sure sign of hard use, no matter what the upholstery looks like.

While you're inside, check out the mileage. Are the figures all in a straight row or are some out of line? The latter often indicates that the mileage has been set back, probably for your benefit. Can the car pass safety inspection? Honk the horn, test the head lights, tail lights, turn signals and brake lights.

Outside, you'll want to check the body over carefully. Does the hood open and close easily? Try it several times. Also, try the tailgate. Some are so badly battered that they won't latch unless you hammer them shut.

Has the truck been wrecked? Sure signs are uneven distances between doors and body or hood and body . . . and distorted reflections of light off the paint. If the light reveals ripples, creases or cracks, you'll probably want to check more closely. Unless you're particularly worried about looks, though, the only thing you really want to make certain of is that the body isn't stuck together with bondo or fiber glass, both of which tend to crack badly when the truck is driven over dirt roads or plowed fields for long periods of time. Also, trucks patched with these materials may leak water, which is a nuisance.

Another thing you want to look for is body rot. Tap around a little with a screwdriver handle on the fenders, behind the wheels, under the running boards and in the bed (particularly toward the front). That area doesn't drain well and water tends to stand there if the bed is metal.

If the box isn't metal, you'll want to check the wood for splintering, breaks or rot. All three will probably be present to some degree, so take the degree into consideration when you're deciding about whether and how much.

Now, check out the tires. Are they good, solid truck tires or are they thin automobile donuts? Is there plenty of tread left on all of them? Examine each carefully—inside and out—for blisters, bruises, cuts or peeling.

Is the transmission a standard shift? If it is, work the gears. Does it shift easily? Does it grind when you shift? Does it stay in gear? Try it on the street in each gear for a distance. Remember, though, that trucks are often harder to shift than cars, so don't make a snap judgment. The problem may be in your shifting, not in the truck.

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