I'm going to purchase a used T100 4x4. I would like the '95-98 so that I can get the 3.4L V6. I'm looking for advice on what to look for when buying one of these trucks.

1)I've heard about the head gasket recall. Which years are affected? I'm assuming that I can call a dealer with the VIN and have him check if the recall work was done. I own a '90 4x4 with 3.0L V6 that had a similiar recall. I never had a problem but they replaced the head gasket, rebuilt my whole lower half of the engine, and gave me a rental car for free. Didn't pay one cent. I would like to know more about this recall. Did they have a lot of problems, etc.

2) I've heard about the clutch bracket breaking. How can I tell if it has been fixed with the upgrade or if it is about to break?

3) I've heard about the seat belt retractor and that doesn't bother me. Is there anything else that I should be looking for? I saw something written about the rear axle mounts but I'm not sure if this was a one time thing or a real problem. Anything I should look for would be a real help.

As stated above I own a '90 extended cab 4x4 with the 3.0L V6. The T100 seems to have very similiar features in a bigger package. Hope to find one soon. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

Shedman