How to Maintain a Truck: Tips When Buying a Used Pickup

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Super heavy-duty front wheel. You won't find these very often but when you do . . . you've probably found a really rugged truck
Super heavy-duty front wheel. You won't find these very often but when you do . . . you've probably found a really rugged truck
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The truck-six in a good-sized engine compartment. Plenty of room to work on everything. You can crawl right in there with the machinery if you want to.
The truck-six in a good-sized engine compartment. Plenty of room to work on everything. You can crawl right in there with the machinery if you want to.
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A typical older pickup with a standard (or narrow) bed long enough to be useful and a few dents here and there.
A typical older pickup with a standard (or narrow) bed long enough to be useful and a few dents here and there.
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All-metal beds are pretty when new but more susceptible to rust and dents than wooden floored beds.
All-metal beds are pretty when new but more susceptible to rust and dents than wooden floored beds.
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Spare tire mounted off center on front bumper by jerry-rigging two pieces of ready-bolt through a 2 X 4 inside the vehicle's grill
Spare tire mounted off center on front bumper by jerry-rigging two pieces of ready-bolt through a 2 X 4 inside the vehicle's grill
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Pickup leaf spring.
Pickup leaf spring.
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Chevrolet front coil spring.
Chevrolet front coil spring.
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 Body rot that has been crudely painted over.
 Body rot that has been crudely painted over.
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Heavy-duty 7:00-15 six-ply nylon tube-type truck tire. Don't settle for less. Sixteen inch wheels are even better.
Heavy-duty 7:00-15 six-ply nylon tube-type truck tire. Don't settle for less. Sixteen inch wheels are even better.
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An easily accessible distributor and coil on a truck six. V-8's aren't this easy to get at.
An easily accessible distributor and coil on a truck six. V-8's aren't this easy to get at.
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Stand at an acute angle and sight down the pickup's surfaces to spot dents you might otherwise miss.
Stand at an acute angle and sight down the pickup's surfaces to spot dents you might otherwise miss.
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Quick-disengage Warn front hub on 4-wheel drive truck.
Quick-disengage Warn front hub on 4-wheel drive truck.

Not long ago the ruggedest, most versatile
farm utility vehicle made anywhere was the pickup truck
manufactured by the American automotive industry. Like most
Detroit brain children, it was a mother-bear to work on . .
. but the body was solid enough to withstand the most

  • Published on Nov 1, 1971
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