Anyone know of a surf specialist from

[Arkamelis]

hi to all
does anyone know of this surf specialist guy called rod from miadenhead, he has two surfs up for sale which im going to have a look at this weekend, there on autotrader, both light blue/silver. spoke to him today and he seems very clued up when it comes to them, even told me what to look out for when buying one. nice bloke just wanted to see if any of you guys have dealt with him ?
cheers Matt

[Koi]

got a link to the ones for sale.
I have had a quick look on autotrader but the only ones I can see are imho overpriced.

What did he tell you to look out for?????

[slobodan]

I think I bought mine from him many moons ago.
He told me that the water around the top of the rad was nothing.

[Arkamelis]

re

got a link to the ones for sale.
I have had a quick look on autotrader but the only ones I can see are imho overpriced.

What did he tell you to look out for?????

hi Koj
yes they are on autotrader priced at £3290,both of them are light blue over silver theres two of the them one with 98000 ?miles and the other 119000 ? both of them from "surf specialist". he wont budge on the price, have tried but he says hes already drop the price because nothing selling well at the mo

said most of the usual things to look out for oil in water, knocking and vibration but also said to check for signs of oil on the back plate just behind the rear drums, said the seals can go and its expensive to fix, i guess he ment at the end of the dif where it attaches to the rear drive wheels ?

[Surfboy]

signs of oil on the back plate just behind the rear drums, said the seals can go and its expensive to fix

I had both my axle seals replaced [by Vince] - they were leaking oil onto the inside of the drums. Not sure if that's what he meant? I wouldn't say it was an expensive job though for any reasonably priced garage. It's a DIY job if you are confident taking drums, shoes, cylinders etc apart.

[BUSHWHACKER]

If they are early 3rd gens ('96) don't give more than 2.8k for them regardless of how clean they are.

Get the engines up to temp and look for frothing in the expansion tank which would indicate head problems.
Rear axle oil seals are only a couple of quid to buy, but probably around 150 for a garage to fit them, so get that amount knocked off the asking price if the handbrake doesn't hold the truck on a steep hill or lock the rear wheels when rolling.

[Arkamelis]

re

I think I bought mine from him many moons ago.
He told me that the water around the top of the rad was nothing.

oh dear
what was the outcome ? of the water, and what about the rest of it was it any good ?

hes names rod and comes from maidenhead

[TonyN]

said most of the usual things to look out for oil in water

When the heads go on the Surfs it never mixes oil with the coolant, don't take clean coolant as no head/gasket issues, actually IMHO be more suspicious of new Rads and hoses on a Surf you're looking at than a clean looking orginal parts.

Buying a used car a big gamble, it's so easy to hide most problems, normally if a car 'feels' good it usually is, if any seems to good/cheap to be true, its usual is...

Make sure it starts quickly from cold, with little smoke, pulls smoothly through all the gears from idle and stops and drive in a straight line. Make sure the exhaust isn't about to fall off, and the tyres are good, the rest is just being lucky (or unlucky in reality...).

Try and leave it idling while chatting as long as possible after a test drive, then look for drips from the expansion tank overflow, or bubbles/foaming in it like Vince said, is all you can really do to check the head.

[slobodan]

The rad had a hairline split in it.
I ran out of water a few days after I bought it..
I soldered up the rad, drove it to Serbia and it's been great for the last 4 or 5 years.

[Arkamelis]

re surfs

Thank you all for your info, i will for sure take it onboard, the only places i have been looking is on autotrader and ebay, there are a few on ebay at the mo, some i think are well over priced and a few seem to be fare. if anyone gets a chance to take a peek, could you give some views.
( sorry bit cheeky to ask that, i will take on board your views and help ) im sure i carnt go that wronge now i know some of the main things to look for, once again thanks, matt )

soon to be full surf member

[BUSHWHACKER]

soon to be full surf member

Only if you have a blue star.

[Arkamelis]

re

Only if you have a blue star.

let me get a surf first bw. il catch you up one day

[Jay_jnr]

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[Sancho]

What's wrong with this one?

http://www.hiluxsurf.co.uk/showthread.php?t=75809

I've seriously considered buying it as a matter of principle.

[Surf77]

maiden head surf specialist

I test drove one of his surfs in august this year, he has a nephew in law who sells gen 2's in high wycombe (also on autotrader as a auto specialist), test drove one of his too on the same day. Both of them new there stuff about surfs, both ask top dollar for there trucks .