Owning, maintaining and driving older vehicles
You either love it or your don?t. Sure new vehicles are nice and we own one, bought it new in 2015 and while it had it?s positives it just isn?t the same as the older ones, for me anyhow.
I had that 1994 GMC K1500, never really did like it. It ran like total garbage and I put some work into it. After a new in-tank fuel pump and figuring out that someone who didn?t know what they were doing tried timing it by ear I fiannly got it running good, then I sold it.
Then I found a 1991 Ford F150 on FB Marketplace, it was dead, no spark. I got that rust free truck (faded paint but who cares right?) for $300 and towed it home. Spent a day troubleshooting it, discovered that the new distributor they put in was faulty so I ordered a new one and a new coil. We got spark but no start, just sputtering, new set of plugs and she runs great!!
That 91 had a few other issues, tailgate would not open, so about an hour with the grinder and welder the tailgate works like new. The power windows were dead, about an hour of troubleshooting I found broken wires in the rubber boot between the door and pillar, windows work great now! The hood, they had punched a stationary object and tweaked the radiator support just enough that opening the hood was a difficult chore. About 30 minutes with a mini sledge and a come-along and some massaging that hood opens like new now! Dual gas tanks, front tank was dead so I ordered a new pump after some troubleshooting, dropped the tank, installed the pump and now both tanks work! Suspension, the shocks were gone, well they were there but they did nothing, that truck was all spring and looked like a lowrider on hydraulics when hitting a bump. Also the rear springs, 3 over 1 were shot, put the w 4 wheeler in the bed and she squatted 4?! So I ordered a set of 4 over 1 springs rated at 2600# each for a 3/4 ton truck and 4 new Monroe Gas Matics. Yeah, she rides a little rough now but she is ready to haul the camper and 4 wheeler to the mountain!
Bow that the 91 is done the 1979 F150 is back in my shop, got tired of the brake pedal going to the floor and barely stopping. So today she gets both front calipers rebuilt, 2 new wheel cylinders, new master cylinder, 2 new wheel end hoses and new brakes, drums and rotors all the way around. We should be stopping well tonite!!
Then we have another 1979 parked in the shop, needs a motor. Bought it with a seized motor, was told it sat for a year and locked up, horse manure!! That engine looked like it sat at the bottom of the Atlantic ocean for the year! Found another 400 for it, so that will be the next project!!
And yes, the Chevelle, that poor thing. No plans to tear into it just yet, I do have the Chassisworks rear subframe, narrowed to go into it but my welding skills have me nervous. I can run pretty beads, I can make two pieces of metal stick together but structural welding I have little experiance in. One of these days eh?
So, all this work, I enjoy it. You get a sense of pride going down the road in something you fixed and made driveable. New cars and pickups, nah, not for me!
I had that 1994 GMC K1500, never really did like it. It ran like total garbage and I put some work into it. After a new in-tank fuel pump and figuring out that someone who didn?t know what they were doing tried timing it by ear I fiannly got it running good, then I sold it.
Then I found a 1991 Ford F150 on FB Marketplace, it was dead, no spark. I got that rust free truck (faded paint but who cares right?) for $300 and towed it home. Spent a day troubleshooting it, discovered that the new distributor they put in was faulty so I ordered a new one and a new coil. We got spark but no start, just sputtering, new set of plugs and she runs great!!
That 91 had a few other issues, tailgate would not open, so about an hour with the grinder and welder the tailgate works like new. The power windows were dead, about an hour of troubleshooting I found broken wires in the rubber boot between the door and pillar, windows work great now! The hood, they had punched a stationary object and tweaked the radiator support just enough that opening the hood was a difficult chore. About 30 minutes with a mini sledge and a come-along and some massaging that hood opens like new now! Dual gas tanks, front tank was dead so I ordered a new pump after some troubleshooting, dropped the tank, installed the pump and now both tanks work! Suspension, the shocks were gone, well they were there but they did nothing, that truck was all spring and looked like a lowrider on hydraulics when hitting a bump. Also the rear springs, 3 over 1 were shot, put the w 4 wheeler in the bed and she squatted 4?! So I ordered a set of 4 over 1 springs rated at 2600# each for a 3/4 ton truck and 4 new Monroe Gas Matics. Yeah, she rides a little rough now but she is ready to haul the camper and 4 wheeler to the mountain!
Bow that the 91 is done the 1979 F150 is back in my shop, got tired of the brake pedal going to the floor and barely stopping. So today she gets both front calipers rebuilt, 2 new wheel cylinders, new master cylinder, 2 new wheel end hoses and new brakes, drums and rotors all the way around. We should be stopping well tonite!!
Then we have another 1979 parked in the shop, needs a motor. Bought it with a seized motor, was told it sat for a year and locked up, horse manure!! That engine looked like it sat at the bottom of the Atlantic ocean for the year! Found another 400 for it, so that will be the next project!!
And yes, the Chevelle, that poor thing. No plans to tear into it just yet, I do have the Chassisworks rear subframe, narrowed to go into it but my welding skills have me nervous. I can run pretty beads, I can make two pieces of metal stick together but structural welding I have little experiance in. One of these days eh?
So, all this work, I enjoy it. You get a sense of pride going down the road in something you fixed and made driveable. New cars and pickups, nah, not for me!
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Whewww, that's a lot of work. That made me tired just reading about it. 
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Smitty500mag wrote:Whewww, that's a lot of work. That made me tired just reading about it.
I pay for it, my back one of these days is just going to quit. Even though I?m in pain I?m bullheaded 😎0 -
There's a few parts on me that could either use a rebuild or replacement.... 0 -
I quit owning "older vehicles" (at least those that need so much work) about 5 years ago when it became difficult for me to do that much mechanic stuff.
My newest vehicle is a 2004 Silverado 1500 that I expect to run about another 50K miles. I bought it in 2018 with 74K and it's already over 100K so another 16-18 months will put it in the magic 150K after which the value drops significantly(around here anyway). I'll start looking for it's replacement next year when the new 2021's hit the dealers' lots. I can afford to have the replacement sitting here for a few months rather than be caught short.
My hardest used vehicle is the 98 K3500 and it's showing it's hard life but still does it's job. It requires some TLC now and then but as long as it starts and pulls the loads I put on it, I'm going to keep hammering it until one day it just dies a natural death.
I'm in the process of selling my 01 Jeep (hoping to have it gone before snow flies) because I've run out of parking space. Better to move it along rather than let the rust worms trash it.0 -
I have a 98 K1500 that I got about 8 years ago. Ironically, if I could have ordered one in 1998, it would have been EXACTLY what this truck is. What's even more interesting, is that a guy I worked for at that time slowly started slipping behind on my pay. He was a good guy, and I knew good for it, so I kept working but after a while when I sat down and put numbers to it, I realized I had to do something else. Anyway, to keep me, and to get me caught up, he just signed that truck over to me. He still owed me about $1200 at the time and I knew he had a WWII Luger. I kept after him but long story short, I didn't end up with it yet he still owed me. Kinda annoyed me.
Anyway, I digress. Back to the topic, Mine was getting to the 175k mark a year or two ago and I just new it was about to start costing me some money. So, I spent a month or so looking at vehicles and came to the conclusion that I'd have to likely spend 30k before I would find a vehicle that I liked any better. So, since then I have had the rear differential and transmission rebuilt. I have always had steering issues and I finally had enough so I am getting the entire system (lines, gearbox, pump, and adding a cooler). I also replaced the foam bun cushion in the drivers seat. That should cover everything for a while. I have no reservations thinking that I'll probably still be driving it at 300k.0 -
older have cheaper taxes(till this year) and kansas must be among the highest...2000 tacoma xcab 4 cyl 4wd ....registration $40--plate fee(little sticker) 0--khp staffing and training fee $2--law enforcement tm ctr fee $1.25-- dvm modernization fee $4-- county service fee $5--vehicle property tax $24---total $94.25 to get a yearly license plate....2008 nissan 4d-4wd frontier total $129.02 for a yearly license plate...total 7 vehicles (08 the newest) and one park pass total $735.38 0 -
spasmcreek wrote:older have cheaper taxes(till this year) and kansas must be among the highest...2000 tacoma xcab 4 cyl 4wd ....registration $40--plate fee(little sticker) 0--khp staffing and training fee $2--law enforcement tm ctr fee $1.25-- dvm modernization fee $4-- county service fee $5--vehicle property tax $24---total $94.25 to get a yearly license plate....2008 nissan 4d-4wd frontier total $129.02 for a yearly license plate...total 7 vehicles (08 the newest) and one park pass total $735.38
Montana has this deal on vehicles 11 years and older you can buy a one time permanant plate. The F150 just cost me $180 but I will never have to renew it. All it costs me is $13 a month for insurance.0 -
My favorite truck 1989 F-150 XLT Lariat, 5 speed, 4x4, 0 -
bullshot wrote:My favorite truck 1989 F-150 XLT Lariat, 5 speed, 4x4,
Nice truck. The Bonnie Blue looks good on it too.0 -
Thanks, I got the Bonnie Blue from one of pwillie's giveaways.
Anyone ever hear from pwillie?0 -
Somewhere I have some pics and video of my 1983 Hurst/olds leading its class around that speedway after winning its show class before I bought it. 0 -
I used to love it but the older I get,not so much. It's true though, anyone can have a pocket full of money to buy a completed vehicle but there is a special feeling owning and driving something you put your own blood sweat and tears into.
I just rather drive now.0 -
got the knowledge years ago when first married and kids small, learned to fix about anything because didn't have the money to pay someone to do it. have replaced/rebuilt just about everything but transmission, never got into the inside of one, was easier to just replace em. with the cost of repairs today I wish the body would still let me, though the mind is willing the body isn't, just doesn't twist, turn, pull, lift like it used to, found a honest mechanic few years ago and he is reasonable and honest two traits hard to find in the business, he gets all my repairs anymore. stop by every now and then around noonish with pizza or two for him and his guys, a very small thank you for being there and honest..
would love to have an old classic car just to putter around in, but knowing I can't fix it anymore just can't pull the trigger to spend good money on something I can't take care of properly.0 -
Now that I have denigrated the forums with the "Too Funny," thread.
How are your health issues doing Brother? All good? Let us know, if you need any help. We are (in most respects) a Brotherhood here.
Willing to help out.0 -
that's what I was saying the other week. older cars are more fun to work on.
I would drive an older car (70's) it weren't for lack of parts, 10 mpg, and the motor only lasts 100,000 miles.0 -
I like owning not leasing. Holding my vehicles as long as possible. Big on oil changes and not doing them myself too much any more. Respect for some classics but not missing setting points and playing around with timing lights.
Agree they dont make them like they used to. However, lots of the new tech stuff in trucks is great. The wife and I both have SUV's and like 4wd. Some of my old pick ups and vans were great but lacking in off road situations.
Had to part with my old vette. Just got to be too much keeping a extra vehicle around with all the conditions attached. It was a good old machine.0 -
Still driving my 1985 F-150 XLT Lariat. 5 liter w/ a carb. Showing it's age, still pulls like a big draft horse. If it needs repair now and again- so what? Been paid for for 25 years. Laugh when I get the annual tax bill (around 40 cents) 0 -
I have had my share of new trucks and cars and many more used ones , when younger I truly enjoyed up grading ( hot rodding ) and that lead to repairing friends and family along with just side jobs to help keep my hobbys going
I have rebuilt engines transmissions body work and paint , I always enjoyed th echallange and learing something new
I still do all my own work ( just my body does not care for being contorted ito prezel shapes bending reaching sliding under and in so much any more thank goodness both my sons picked up th eability to build / repair about anything also )
I still help out a neighbor or two repairing ther vehicles for them really for nothing cost of parts and a few bucks for gas and supplies just as long as I have the time ,
I have two 69 camaros on th eback burner , have to get my wifes honey do list knocked out ( remodling most of ther house ) and replacing a garage that burned up late last fall
I agree hopping in a brand new car turn turn the key and go is nice ,but not always trouble free as new ones have issues also .
I still get a felling of self worth acomplishment doing my own repairs to me its a diying art th enew cars just do not lend them self to "back yard do it yourselfer " th eequepment to check all th esensors and componets just push them out of he hands of the ocassional hobby repaqir people
last vehicle I bought a 1997 Z71 GMC 1 owner it spend winters in th egarage while the old fellow who owned it ( wait I am a old fellow also ) spent 6 or 7 months in Flordia each year . it s a no rust ( in ohio rare as hens teeth ) 97K mile truck had new tires and real clean I gave 5k for a older truck a bit high but well above the normal condition and considering th ecost of a new 4x4 th e5k would just about be tax title and delaer fees0 -
having major problems walking into a store to find conventional 5W-30 motor oil, good luck finding 10W-40 on the shelf 0 -
KenK/84Bravo wrote:Now that I have denigrated the forums with the "Too Funny," thread.
How are your health issues doing Brother? All good? Let us know, if you need any help. We are (in most respects) a Brotherhood here.
Willing to help out.
I don?t think I have a hernia, that issue seems to be going away. That leaves me left with numbness, blood pressure and back pain to deal with for now.0 -
I love old trucks and I have 2. I have a 1974 Dodge Power Wagon W100(4 speed granny low, full time 4x4) and a 1984 Chevy CUCV 5/4 ton.
The Dodge is sick right now and needs the top end rebuilt and a clutch. The Chevy is fine.
I also have a 05 Ford FX4 that is probably the best driving vehicle I have ever had.....................But it is souless.0 -
Sam06 wrote:I love old trucks and I have 2. I have a 1974 Dodge Power Wagon W100(4 speed granny low, full time 4x4) and a 1984 Chevy CUCV 5/4 ton.
The Dodge is sick right now and needs the top end rebuilt and a clutch. The Chevy is fine.
I also have a 05 Ford FX4 that is probably the best driving vehicle I have ever had.....................But it is souless.
While my 79 with the 390 isn?t a real hotrod that goes fast there is something about that truck that just feels right when you fire it up and run it through the gears. Had a couple people want to buy it recently, I just cannot bring myself to sell the ol girl.0
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