Parts aren't very easy to find but not impossible. The front axle, on mine anyways, has ton of leaks. Actually it has many leaks all over the place. It starts easily in warm weather without the glow plugs, even without full fuel filters. They are pretty easy to get the hang of shifting even though they are non-synchro. It was the first time I drove a non-synch. The main issues I had was getting into gear! If the truck has been sittng a while or it has a fuel leak expect to have to play with the throttle to keep it running when idling. My truck SMOKED out 3 lanes of a highway when I drove it home. It was enough where I couldn't see the tailing truck/he had to close the windows! The PTO to engage the winch is a PITA sometimes.
When I was looking at mine AMGeneral told me to watch for these:
Driveline bolts working loose,1,R and high range have a tendancy to fly out of gear when they get worn
PTO and output bearings wear out quickly
Make dang sure the oil pump in the drop box works-See if the trans heats up quickly
Does it have the trans oil cooler in front of the radiator? MVO for the later trucks- It would be bolted to the upper grill section
Recognition of the leaking transmission syndrome is easy. As soon as you use the truck enough for the oil to heat up, it starts running out of the bottom of the bell housing profusely.
I enjoy the truck a lot I just wish I had more time to make it more roadworthy. The front main currently leaks about a gallon of oil to cross town and the fuel tanks are full of crud. Oh yea, and it's SLOW so long trips take...longer.