SparkandFire
We're drinking beer
My current truck (the 94) has been good to me (except for when the factory turbo engine **** the bed on me,) but it's starting to get to the point where the laundry list of things it needs repaired or replaced is turning more into a book.
Latest insult was when the rear wheel cylinder sprouted a significant leak and required replacement half-way through my visit from the swine flu. Needless to say I was a little agitated sitting under the truck replacing brake parts while suffering flu.
I don't discourage easily, but it's come to my attention that I may never be able to catch-up and get all the things done on it that I want before another major failure rears its ugly head.
I bought this truck because I wanted a very nice OBS, good paint, nice interior, the whole thing.
Problem is that every time I start to get close to having enough saved up to paint the truck, a $200-300 repair comes up. The latest is the dual mass flywheel that sounds like it's getting ready to go nuclear on me. Not to say I didn't see it coming, I am just not sure I want to try and rip into this thing in my driveway again. I am also sick and tired of the horrible ride quality. I spend 2 hours a day, every day in this truck on miserable, neglected, California roads, and the TTB axle configuration on this truck has me pretty well pissed off by Friday afternoon. I've put in air springs, replaced every wear component and still had no measurable improvement in ride quality. Again, I could go the D60 axle swap route, but again, I would be under the truck wrestling the damn thing into place by myself to make it happen.
This past month with the rear axle swap in the van showed me that I am only one guy, and I have limits to what I can do. I think as age increases on my musculoskeletal system I am learning that lifting and rolling a 400 lb truck component by myself is no longer an option.
My problem is that the 2000-2002 super duties are starting to look more and more appealing to me. Being stuck in SF bay area traffic every day and a chronic sore/numb left foot has me longing for a reliable automatic. The stretch of road I commute on (HWY 17) has me wanting to stay in a heavy truck (seen enough gore on that highway to not want a Honda Civic anytime soon) Having driven this vintage of power stroke truck I do know that they are, for the most part, relatively reliable. I have been able to find (not anywhere near me, mind you) some reasonably low mile trucks that would fit my needs.
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE that I can fix most anything on this truck with a big enough wrench. But, at what point do you start to desire moreso to throw a shop some coin to take care of things for you rather than give up family time, every weekend, some long nights?
I may just be ******** for the sake of ********. I've seen other members come on here and voice the same dilemma. I could probably do a search and come up with most of the same answers too.
Latest insult was when the rear wheel cylinder sprouted a significant leak and required replacement half-way through my visit from the swine flu. Needless to say I was a little agitated sitting under the truck replacing brake parts while suffering flu.
I don't discourage easily, but it's come to my attention that I may never be able to catch-up and get all the things done on it that I want before another major failure rears its ugly head.
I bought this truck because I wanted a very nice OBS, good paint, nice interior, the whole thing.
Problem is that every time I start to get close to having enough saved up to paint the truck, a $200-300 repair comes up. The latest is the dual mass flywheel that sounds like it's getting ready to go nuclear on me. Not to say I didn't see it coming, I am just not sure I want to try and rip into this thing in my driveway again. I am also sick and tired of the horrible ride quality. I spend 2 hours a day, every day in this truck on miserable, neglected, California roads, and the TTB axle configuration on this truck has me pretty well pissed off by Friday afternoon. I've put in air springs, replaced every wear component and still had no measurable improvement in ride quality. Again, I could go the D60 axle swap route, but again, I would be under the truck wrestling the damn thing into place by myself to make it happen.
This past month with the rear axle swap in the van showed me that I am only one guy, and I have limits to what I can do. I think as age increases on my musculoskeletal system I am learning that lifting and rolling a 400 lb truck component by myself is no longer an option.
My problem is that the 2000-2002 super duties are starting to look more and more appealing to me. Being stuck in SF bay area traffic every day and a chronic sore/numb left foot has me longing for a reliable automatic. The stretch of road I commute on (HWY 17) has me wanting to stay in a heavy truck (seen enough gore on that highway to not want a Honda Civic anytime soon) Having driven this vintage of power stroke truck I do know that they are, for the most part, relatively reliable. I have been able to find (not anywhere near me, mind you) some reasonably low mile trucks that would fit my needs.
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE that I can fix most anything on this truck with a big enough wrench. But, at what point do you start to desire moreso to throw a shop some coin to take care of things for you rather than give up family time, every weekend, some long nights?
I may just be ******** for the sake of ********. I've seen other members come on here and voice the same dilemma. I could probably do a search and come up with most of the same answers too.