Just to throw this in, you mentioned early 90s S10/Sonomas, if you go 4x4 I've heard of a lot of those things having problems in the front end. Also my friend has a 82 S15, I guess it'd be the same 4 cyl as the 90s, with a 5-speed, that little thing is fun as h*ll. Takes off pretty quick, too.

xDRx: what is your projected spending limit? that could narrow it down a little bit

I was gonna throw in the Nissans, but they're getting a little hard to find with the i4, which, IMHO, were better than the V6 for reliability.

The Ford i6 is a terrific motor. No horsepower, horrible fuel economy, and you don't really want to take the engine up over about 4k rpm or they shake the truck like a paint mixer, but the torque at the low end is incredible. If I remember right, they actually had more torque than any of the V8s they were putting in Ford trucks at that point.
Look for a 4spd stick, with the granny first gear. That'* what we had in my Dad'* first Ford, and it could haul ANYTHING. You drive it like a three-speed diesel. Start in 2nd, and shift at around 3500. The clutch was rock-hard, but you get used to that. Just make sure to get the EFI, not the carb motor. The EFI makes much better torque off-idle than the carb does.

I'd personally go with one of those 360 CID V8 Dakotas

EagleKammback he is looking for and I quote "I'm looking for a cheap no frills truck thats mainly in good running condition. To use as a beater/backup car"

You keep posting rare or performance trucks etc.

Sorry, I'm not used to talkiing about normal trucks. A V6 Dakota is good, one of the guys on one of the other forums I'm on has one with 300,000 miles

I didn't think the 360 was available for the Dak, just the 318.


Anyway, I would vote for *-10 or ranger. Lots of them around = more selection to choose from and easier to get parts.

not to get off topic any more. but yes, the 5.9 was in the Dakota. and in the Jeep Grand Cherokee in 98.

for just a cheap working truck, look at older F150'*, GMC/Chev fullsize and compact, rangers, Toyotas. Two friends of mine had early> mid 90'* dakotas, between them they had a V8, V6, Stick and Auto, 2wd and 4wd, and nothing was really "great" stuff.

V10 trucks getting 20mpg freeway Turbo diesel would be better for the money in damn near every respect..

Oh spending limit?

Eh... <3k