Never Anything Easy Nor Simple

[Firedome]

I can't understand who is buying all these $80k trucks, must be a lot of 8 yr car loans out there. We buy used and pay cash. Back when I was commuting 80 miles a day into Baltimore from out in the country I'd buy a big and safe old Mopar or GM tank for under $1K and drive it for 3 to 5 yrs and sell it when it hit 200k miles. Ahh the good ol' days.

[Motorola minion]

Most of the local companies lease them, you know the Hummer exemption or whatever it is. I see a few owner-operators behaving on weekends, making those "bellowing" noises that can be heard for miles.

But those company vehicles are always speeding past me, driven by an exuberant employee who probably has a little POS that can't go as fast as the diesels. They look real silly sitting in a subdivision driveway, not on a horse farm.

I was used to racing those wacky guys on 37 miles of highway going home, puffing out black smoke as they take off, then I would catch up matching their speed. They are highly effective at pushing slow cars from the left lane, so they actually worked for ME !!!

Since PA-DOT has picked pockets of our state police 2 months ago, they have been much more visible. I got another car about then that I can mellow out with, so no more of that highway dogfight stuff .

[19&41]

I've been looking for a decent smaller pickup to replace the F150, at $3-4K or less. The pickins are pretty slim around here.

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/search/c ... allery~0~0

[William]

Same here, Rex, but in Michigan they are full of rust, and they want big money for a rusty truck. At least in your neck of the woods they are rust free.

Bill

[19&41]

Well, I rented a car to fill in for the explorer. I went to rent a KIA Soul or something that size and price. When I got there they didn't have anything that size so they gave me a Dodge Challenger. It's been walking on eggshells driving that jet boat back and forth to town. At least it's easy on gas.

[William]

Rex is your vehicle in for service or just not drivable at this time.

Bill

[19&41]

I had to remove it's drivetrain control module for repair, hopefully.

[William]

So, you did send it in to that one place. Is there a turnaround time? I hope it's short for your sake.

Bill

[Firedome]

There's a lot of old US pickups pretty much rust-free (just sunburn, minor surface rust, scratches, fried upholstery) in Colorado, they're all over the place. Since we're out there for several weeks 3 or 4 times a year I've been very tempted to snag an old Mopar or Ford p/u for garden and yard use, there's plenty of them under $5k or so. But then I'd have to drive it home... not.

[19&41]

So, you did send it in to that one place. Is there a turnaround time? I hope it's short for your sake.

Bill

Me too. I'll write him tomorrow If I haven't heard anything.

[19&41]

The module had arrived there on Saturday. I've just got a notice it's being return shipped. Crossing my breath and holding my fingers.

[William]

I wish you the best, Rex.

Bill

[maxidyne]

Fingers crossed for a good outcome.

Greg

[TC Chris]

There's a lot of old US pickups pretty much rust-free (just sunburn, minor surface rust, scratches, fried upholstery) in Colorado, they're all over the place. Since we're out there for several weeks 3 or 4 times a year I've been very tempted to snag an old Mopar or Ford p/u for garden and yard use, there's plenty of them under $5k or so. But then I'd have to drive it home... not.

I had wondered about doing a body transplant on my Ranger. Find a good body with a tired drivetrain & running gear, and do a swap. Where do the CO folks advertise? Just local media?

Chris Campbell

[Firedome]

The usual CL and FBM, but also I see them parked in yards, fields, all over. I notice them because it's so rare to see in the NE. There's a body shop a few blocks from my son's house that has a fenced-in lot full of old Broncos, Blazers, Land Cruisers and Rovers, just as an example. Old pickups are everywhere you look, the back row of used car dealers in commercial strips are chock full of 'em. It's a great tempttaion, I'd really like an '79/80 Dodge Adventurer like we had once, a full size p/u with 8' bed is so useful, and gas mileage is moot, it'd be used little, and 318s do quite well anyway.

[Firedome]

typical:

https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/d/den ... 51644.html

[TC Chris]

Look at that clean vehicle for $2K!!! A good body like that plus my good old rusty truck would make a good combo. Maybe when I get tired of looking at rust I'll buy a one-way flight to CO.

Chris Campbell

[19&41]

The module arrived last evening. I went to replace it this morning and when I opened the garage door I saw a nice shiny puddle on the driveway under the differential. I called the nearby shop to make a appointment and went ahead and installed the module. It was "plug and play" just like the vendor said. The engine started and ran smoothly as though nothing was ever the matter. I then took it on it's test drive to the shop. The diff needed new seals and they said I needed a CV joint. I told them I could afford the seals and lube. That was before they could give the litany of other things the car needed. I guess it will be a dead heat between getting the Explorer up and turning in the Challenger.

[Firedome]

"turning in the Challenger"...think you'll miss the Challenger?

[19&41]

I don't think so. I've had my sports car'n I intend to have. The explorer is more comfortable.