Thinking about a 84 Mazda

[coloradoluke]

Hello everyone,

I am so very happy to finally find a group about Mazda diesels. I am thinking of buying one and I want opinions on them. How long do they lasy and what should I look for and all that jazz.

This truck that I am looking at appers to have been a fleet vehicle beacuse you can still see some words on the doors. And there is a good bit of rust on it, and the odometer has more than 300,000 KM on it. And the people are asking $1200 which I think is high.

But I really want a diesel and I woud love to hear what up people have to say about these trucks. How long will the engine last? the tranny and other stuff? Anything else I should know or check out?

This thing is really loud when you start it up and once it warms up it quiets down okay, but for a few minutes it is pretty dang loud. Is that okay? I really need a vechile that is going to last me for several years, and I don't mind doing some work. But I don't want to be always wrenching on it.

It appers to have recived a clutch at 100,000 Km and the tranny is tight. It moves kinda slow but not too bad, in fact I actucally got the tires to break loose if I let off the clutch too fast. Not a burn out or anything, just a little chirp. however I am not a speed demon in any way

So tell me oh wise Mazda owners, what do you think of your trucks? Is 300,000 KM too many? And again when I go to look at this thing what should I look for? How can I tell if the engine is good, and the tranny and all that.

Thank you,
Luke

[greyfoxx]

Hi
The 84 were good trucks. They should be good for 700k kilometers plus if they were maintained and not mistreated. The only thing you should check for sure is that the frame is not rusted out. Climb under and check the frame just before the back wheels on both side.
cheers
George

[Dieseldavo]

I grew up working salvage yards from 1958 to 1967. I know the sting of wrenches at zero degrees F and have played on motor piles 30 feet high. I've seen the good bad and worthless. You won't find a better little engine. I own 2 and my brothers own 3 (One for parts).

The engine is a Perkins 4.135 made by Mazda. They made the blow-by pipe fitting with too small a hole on the rocker box and the water pump will go after 100 k miles. You may need to change a glowplug once in a while, or at worst the throttle shaft O-ring at about 225 K miles. Black smoke on takeoff is normal.

The frame is prone to fill with wet dirt and rust from the inside out so if you have a good one the only fix is to plug all the holes in it and flood it with oil on a nice dry hot day and put mud flap front and rear.

community.webshots.com/user/dieseldavo

[Mazdadieselsrule]

Agree 100% with dieseldavo. I have had 20 years experiance driving these beasts. Bought new after comparing the other jap diesel trucks offered at the time and went Mazda hands down. The 82-84 Mazda B2200 diesel truck was/is the best little S.O.B ever put on the road. They are great as long as new/used parts will hold out. After that we're screwed. ;D