Looking to buy a Sierra, but need advice please (lockrights)

[fervit]

I'm looking at buying a sierra but i would like to hear what people think. It's a little strange as it's an 84 body bolted onto an 89 chassis with a carby Vitara 1.6.

It has front and rear lockrights, however i found out that the rear has started making a strange noise and is apparently the pinion wheel which means the diff centre needs to be taken out and realigned? What is the pinion wheel anyway? How much can i expect this to cost? Is the car still drivable? Are lockrights alright on the road - i seem to be reading mixed things, some saying they're fine, others saying that a different driving style needs to be adopted. Are they meant to be noisy on sealed roads?

Also, what do people think of the car generally? As i said it's the different chassis, body and engine. The vitara motor has extractors and hyclone air intake. It's got the standard 1.3 gearbox and transfer case. It has had the dash from an 89 model fitted but it has not had any suspension or tyre changes.

ANY help would be appreciated, thanks

[Gwagensteve]

A) is it legal? If it's legal, then it will be fine, if it's being sold without reg/rwc, then it's really only good for parts - the price had better reflect this.

B) I have no idea what a pinion wheel is

C) I have no idea what realigning a rear diff means

D)Yes a different driving style has to be adopted and yes they can be noisy.

E) I have no idea if the car is drivable because you haven't told us anything except vague rumors about the problem.

A guess- the crush sleeve that sets pinion preload as collapsed. This is common. If it has gone far enough to cause a noise then my guess is the gears will be stuffed. get a whole new third member from a wrecker. It's up to you if you get the lockright re installed, leave it open, or weld it. A new third should cost $150- $300 depending on wrecker condition and where you are.

Install on the lockright should be another $250 or so for a quality job.

F) Can't tell you anything about the car. If its legal and the price is right, should be fine.

Steve.