Old rig vs. new rig...

[u2slow]

Well... my Pa is dusting off the old truck 'n' camper for huntin' season. Well sheeee-it... the brakes are sticking, batteries are shot, tires are cracked, coolant's leaking, rear main's leaking, and the th400 leaks too He got an estimate for $2300 of work Truck is a cherry looking 79 C20 454 crewcab w/ only 102,000km on it and packs an older 11' camper.

My Bro's a mechanic, still lives at home and won't touch the truck. "Get a new SuperDuty" is all he says. I can pull a wrench for the odd job or two but not for the TLC it needs this season.

What's the verdict guys? Stick with the classic gas guzzler? Bone up for some modern diesel power? Beat my Bro with a big stick? ( )

[tomw]

Originally posted by u2slow
Well... my Pa is dusting off the old truck 'n' camper for huntin' season. Well sheeee-it... the brakes are sticking, batteries are shot, tires are cracked, coolant's leaking, rear main's leaking, and the th400 leaks too He got an estimate for $2300 of work Truck is a cherry looking 79 C20 454 crewcab w/ only 102,000km on it and packs an older 11' camper.

My Bro's a mechanic, still lives at home and won't touch the truck. "Get a new SuperDuty" is all he says. I can pull a wrench for the odd job or two but not for the TLC it needs this season.

What's the verdict guys? Stick with the classic gas guzzler? Bone up for some modern diesel power? Beat my Bro with a big stick? ( )

Have your Pa tell your Bro to fix the truck or move out

Then once he fixes it, sell it for a Superduty

[DRM]

Originally posted by u2slow
Well... my Pa is dusting off the old truck 'n' camper for huntin' season. Well sheeee-it... the brakes are sticking, batteries are shot, tires are cracked, coolant's leaking, rear main's leaking, and the th400 leaks too He got an estimate for $2300 of work Truck is a cherry looking 79 C20 454 crewcab w/ only 102,000km on it and packs an older 11' camper.

My Bro's a mechanic, still lives at home and won't touch the truck. "Get a new SuperDuty" is all he says. I can pull a wrench for the odd job or two but not for the TLC it needs this season.

What's the verdict guys? Stick with the classic gas guzzler? Bone up for some modern diesel power? Beat my Bro with a big stick? ( )

So your dad should go into $30k debt over $2300 worth of repairs?

List the repairs in order of "needed to drive" on down to "that would be nice to fix/replace someday".

Start with the batteries... replace them if they fail testing.


Brakes are sticking? May be as simple as needing some good lube on all moving parts to free them up... Little more than an afternoon of simple wrenching per end, taking your time.

Tires are cracked? cracked as in surface dry rot, or cracked as in small rodents are living inside the tires? Air them up and see how long they hold air. If they are too bad, try to find some good used ones to put in their place.

Coolant Leak? A leaky hose is no big deal, and a radiator can be repaired by a shop for reasonable fees... again, little mroe than an afternoon worth of work.

Rear main and tranny leaks - problems, but not something that needs imemdiate attention unless they are pouring out.

[Joe_W]

Originally posted by DRM


May be as simple as needing some good pube on all moving parts to free them up...

LOL...what are you thinking of today David?

I have to agree....sounds like a nice enough truck that your dad likes, put a little money and time into it and have a good truck. Your brothers lazy
]

[rusted]

Originally posted by Joe_W


LOL...what are you thinking of today David?

I have to agree....sounds like a nice enough truck that your dad likes, put a little money and time into it and have a good truck. Your brothers lazy
]

P is not even close to L

Sounds like David needs to go home early today...

[u2slow]

Have your Pa tell your Bro to fix the truck or move out

If I had a nickel for everytime I made that suggestion... Family is funny (fawked up) that way

So your dad should go into $30k debt over $2300 worth of repairs?

Yeah, I hear ya... and I made that argument too. I can't stand debt or payments (mortgage is okay though ). Just making sure I haven't lost my sensibilities.

List the repairs in order of "needed to drive" on down to "that would be nice to fix/replace someday".

That'll have to do. I will be wrenching on it this weekend. Hope I can knock off the essentials. I haven't had a close look at truck yet, but going from the shop estimate, the brake hoses are collapsed, e-brake is seized, intake gasket leaks coolant, and the tires have cracks from UV-light damage.

[demonranger]

heck fix it sounds like your dad doesn't need the truck all the time so why would he spend 30-40k on a new one or 1/2 that on a used one your brother is just being lazy

[TEX]

Originally posted by DRM



So your dad should go into $30k debt over $2300 worth of repairs?

Not to mention the fact that it took nearly 25 years for him to top 60,000 miles on the current truck - gee, that Powerstroke option will pay for itself in fuel savings somewhere around the year 2045


TEX

[u2slow]

Originally posted by demonranger
sounds like your dad doesn't need the truck all the time...

Yeah, only for about 2-3 weeks a year

it took nearly 25 years for him to top 60,000 miles on the current truck

... and I think it had 40,000km on it when he bought it slightly used in '81.

Thanks for the fresh set of eyes guys. I knew mine weren't seeing straight anymore.

[Paul Gagnon]

Originally posted by u2slow


Beat my Bro with a big stick? ( )

Yes beat your bro with a big stick!

Fix it!

[u2slow]

The old rig got some attention this past weekend. A new front brake hose, rad hose, 16" wheels, and some new Michelins.

The tires were really bad... cracked deep between the lugs revealing the steel plies

Greased the front suspension too... Pumped a whole gun's worth into it. Doesn't look like the 10-minute Lube N Oil places do their job One badly worn balljoint and a shot idler arm.

Oh well, at least its getting fixed - even if I only have time for some of it.