The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: TAB on October 26, 2010, 02:50:09 PM
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So the tranny went out on my old work truck today... Its a 84 ford, with 393281 on the odometer. THe motor and tranny have never been touched. They don't build them like that any more. I abused the hell out of it. I mean the hell out of it.
I'm kind of debating if I want to replace the tranny or not. its a old C6 so its not like its alot of cash. Maybe I'll get a AOD4 so I actually have a OD. That would require new drive shafts and ripping apart the steering colum to get to the trany gate.
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On the other hand....you can get a good deal on a new (or relatively new) F-250 Superduty. A lot more than a tranny, but at 400k? It seems like its going to be one thing after another failing. I'd think about it before I jumped either way. I mean hell, my 10 year old standard cab F-150 MIGHT get me $10k if I sold it, but I wouldn't hold my breath. It would still be a steal. I'd look at something like 2005 or so and see what you find.
FQ13
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a 05 f250 super duty is about 10-15k if its plain jane work trim. A nicer version is in the 25-30k range.
I really don't want to buy a truck with a bunch of miles on it. Of which most have a 100k + in this area. Modern stuff is $$$$ to repair. I've been thinking about buying a 70s truck and puting a new motor and tranny in it with points and a carb. you know that way I can fix it with just a screw driver.
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If you can find a rebuild transmission for under a grand, do it!
There are plenty of 1 million mile stories about the Ford trucks. If the motor is getting good compression and it's not leaking oil too badly, she's good for another few years. I've been without a car payment for going on three years now, it's quite liberating.
26 years with only 390K really isn't that much yearly mileage. Keep it.....
Here in the East, you'd be luck to get 200K before the bed rotted off the frame rails...
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Go for the new F150 with the off road package 10K cheaper than the F250 with the same tow rating with the option of a deisel to boot
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Go for the new F150 with the off road package 10K cheaper than the F250 with the same tow rating with the option of a deisel to boot
If you are towing more then 5k lbs, you need atleast a 3/4 ton. yeah, yeah its rated for it 10k lbs, but trust me, me you need the extra ton or so the 3/4 ton has over the 1/2 ton.
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Go for the new F150 with the off road package 10K cheaper than the F250 with the same tow rating with the option of a deisel to boot
Modern tow ratings: deduct 2000 lbs if you tow 1000 miles a year or less and all flat highway. If you tow more or in stop and go or in any hills, cut the rating in HALF.
Which engine??
I would get a HD tow-package rebuid on the C-6 and call it a day.
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If the motor's good, the thing don't squeak, creak, or groan,.....and its a work truck,....throw a rebuilt tranny in it, and go. Hell the main bearings could fail tomorrow, but damn,... 393,000 miles????
It's a "run it till it dies truck"....It owes you nothing. If it runs good, let it,....if you have concerns, dump it, and get another....
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Anything is better than investing in another vehicle. I would shop for a rebuilt transmission. It's the cheapest option. If you buy another used truck you're rolling the dice and God only knows what you'll wind up getting. You know where you are at with this truck. There is no danger of going through an expensive "learning curve". The only way I will replace a vehicle I now own is if someone totals it. Bill T.
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I have to agree with what Bill said. I have a '91 Suburban with a measly 230k on it, still going strong on the original parts. I figure in a few years I will do a engine/transmission on it. It saves me money in payments, and a ton on insurance. It is also easy to get parts for and I can do all the work myself. It even has a good working R12 A/C system on it.
-Bidah
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I don't know where RW is from, but TABs area has HILL"S, 8,000 ft in places.
I would fix the one you've got.
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not just hills, but steep hills.
I would love to find a older 3/4 ton SD with the 7.3 diesel in it. They last for ever. The prob with that is every one that has one is keeping it.
I went ahead and started to pull the tranny. I pulled the drive shafts, tranfer case( which wieghts more then I do,) torque converted unbolted, all the fluid drained... I put a bunch of break free on the cross member bolts to soak over night. Hopfull I don't need to get the hot wrench out as I'm out of Oxy. So far every thing has come free with out a cheater bar, but the hard part is still to come. Thank god I bought that tranny jack years ago. That damn C6 is huge. Looked into a AOD4, but found out that I would have to replace every thing from the drive shafts to the cooling lines so that killed that idea.
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All this talk about trannys makes me think I am still back in asia!.
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We have Trannies in our vehicles the things in the park we call "Cross dressing perverts".
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My Dad has the philosophy: "Run it until the wheels fall off." My only adaptation has been to run a basic cost/benefit eval when deciding on a new(er) vehicle. I.e., cost to fix v. cost of new; long term benefits v. short term costs; etc. I have always viewed vehicles in the light of expedience--will it do what I need it to do? I try not to let ego get involved. I mean having a beautiful new vehicle is a thrill, and the better the vehicle, the bigger the thrill. But, I have a good buddie with an F250 diesel that he has tricked out to the tune of $70+k. He drives it to AC jobs. He carries about 500 lbs of stuff in the back (on a tricked slide-out bed that allows him access to all three sides) but he makes his son transport all the dirty, heavy stuff in the old F150 that's beat to heck. The purpose of that tricked-out truck is to show that he's making money. He could drive to the job in a Mercedes Benz for the same price and with the same result... but it wouldn't be a truck. I think I could find a better place to put $70+k. But, it salves his ego.
Tab, FWIW, IMHO, stick a new tranny in the old truck--even if you decide to sell it and upgrade, it needs to run if you are to get anything for it. Then, use it for awhile longer and decide if you want to rebuild the motor. If, down the road, you decide it's worth it, have a professional paint job sprayed on and a new interior installed. You will then have a "new" classic work truck that looks good--and you won't have spent 1/4 the dough you would on a new one.
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When I was younger, like a lot of guys I wanted every nice looking car I saw. (I was much the same with women.) Today they are nothing but a necessary evil. (Cars, not women). I dread the day I have to purchase another one. If you think about it a car or truck is the absolute worst investment you can make. They cost a fortune to buy. They lose 20% of their value by the time you drive them home from the dealer, pull into your garage and turn off the key. (Or on the new models push the "Off" button). They are a constant financial drain with fuel, service, insurance, license, and upkeep and maintenance.
You'll waste hours cleaning and detailing them to look good, only to have them made filthy within a week, and have to do it all over again. If you have a nice, new one, or even a well kept old one you have to worry about someone hitting, stealing, or vandalizing it. And for all of this effort, expense, and worry all they provide is transportation. I put that into the same category as being married to an ugly woman who can't cook or clean, has a personality like a rabid racoon, hates guns, and is lousy at sex. Where is the benefit or payoff?
This is why I will drive both of my vehicles until the wheels fall off, or until someone renders them useless through accident. To me it just makes sense to stretch as many miles out of them as possible. Both of us don't drive very much compared to the masses. We have 2, 1991 Fords. My F-150 has around 123,000 miles on it, and Mel's Mustang has about 146,000 miles. Not much for almost 20 years and 2 people. That would make it even more financially foolish for me to invest in new vehicles.
Both of our cars have been very dependable, and we take care of them as well as we both possibly can. The general rule is her job is the outside and the interior, and mine is the mechanical end. I do all of the oil and fluid changes, and service as much as I can. What I can't do I'll take them in for. Whatever the bill comes to, it is cheaper than a new vehicle. I have never been late for work, or have had to take a day off work because of car trouble. So from a dependability standpoint I can't do any better than that. When I retire we will still be able to keep both of our vehicles because it will be cheaper to keep 2 old models on the road, than 1 brand new model. With the economy in the dumpster today and in the near future, it makes less sense than ever to invest in new cars and trucks. Especially when you add up all of the depreciation and constant never ending expense. New guns are less expensive, last longer, and hold their value far better. I'll stick with them. Bill T.
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I don't know about you, Bill, but after my first and second marriage went south it cost me a sh*tload more than %20 depreciation! ;D
I may be a two-time loser, but I REFUSE to become a three-timer. Every 7yrs I'm just gonna find a woman I don't like and buy her a damn house because it's CHEAPER! 8) LOL!
Cars and guns are MUCH better investment!
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not just hills, but steep hills.
I would love to find a older 3/4 ton SD with the 7.3 diesel in it. They last for ever. The prob with that is every one that has one is keeping it.
I went ahead and started to pull the tranny. I pulled the drive shafts, tranfer case( which wieghts more then I do,) torque converted unbolted, all the fluid drained... I put a bunch of break free on the cross member bolts to soak over night. Hopfull I don't need to get the hot wrench out as I'm out of Oxy. So far every thing has come free with out a cheater bar, but the hard part is still to come. Thank god I bought that tranny jack years ago. That damn C6 is huge. Looked into a AOD4, but found out that I would have to replace every thing from the drive shafts to the cooling lines so that killed that idea.
I decided after a year of waffling to keep my F-350 with the 7.3 diesel. It only has 150k miles, has good tires, and is in good condition over all (including a new trannie 18 months ago). I was thinking of trading it in - it will not fit in my garage for one thing - but I decided i would keep it and spruce it up. One thing I am looking for is a good topper for the bed, so I can use it as a bug-out vehicle. Although I do live near where most people would be bugging out to . . . . ::) :-\ ;D
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I decided after a year of waffling to keep my F-350 with the 7.3 diesel. It only has 150k miles, has good tires, and is in good condition over all (including a new trannie 18 months ago). I was thinking of trading it in - it will not fit in my garage for one thing - but I decided i would keep it and spruce it up. One thing I am looking for is a good topper for the bed, so I can use it as a bug-out vehicle. Although I do live near where most people would be bugging out to . . . . ::) :-\ ;D
You can help them move in exchange for ammo. ;D Seriously, that is a wonderful truck. My godfather has one and it will tow a very heavy off shore boat and carry a large camper top no sweat. It just won't die. With the extra fuel tank you can drive forever. I wouldn't sell it till it starts to rust out. A topper will help with that as it will keep snow out of the bed. I'd highly reccomend one with the side opening windows. I got the sliders with the screen, and they're nice for camping, and necessary for putting the dog back there, but having to crawl into the bed to get stuff out gets old.
FQ13
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I decided after a year of waffling to keep my F-350 with the 7.3 diesel. It only has 150k miles, has good tires, and is in good condition over all (including a new trannie 18 months ago). I was thinking of trading it in - it will not fit in my garage for one thing - but I decided i would keep it and spruce it up. One thing I am looking for is a good topper for the bed, so I can use it as a bug-out vehicle. Although I do live near where most people would be bugging out to . . . . ::) :-\ ;D
If you do get a top for it, there is a company that makes a spring lift kit for the top that allows you to open it up from either side, to access the front of the bed. The company is called something like spring lift. Trust me, if you have a top and use the bed you NEED one of them. one of the best $200 you can spend.
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On closer inspection, its not the tranny. its the torque converter.
now that everything is apart do I just go ahead and buy a new tranny or not? hmmmm
Its only 800 bucks for a rebuild with a 3 year 36000 mile deal. hmmmmm.
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On closer inspection, its not the tranny. its the torque converter.
now that everything is apart do I just go ahead and buy a new tranny or not? hmmmm
Its only 800 bucks for a rebuild with a 3 year 36000 mile deal. hmmmmm.
You've done the hard part. If you trust the rebuild, why not? If your luck is like mine, you'll decide to "save" the $800 and the damn thing will fail by the new year. :-\
FQ13
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A new F150 monthly payment would average about 400 bucks a month. Buy the tranny!
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A new F150 monthly payment would average about 400 bucks a month. Buy the tranny!
more like 600 for a 5 year loan, 500 for a 6 year loan. figure 30k out the door.
Thats just a XLT with a v8, auto, air, pw/dl and a 8' bed. The diffrence in price between the work trim truck with a v8 auto, air and a 8' bed vs the XLT is only about 1500 bucks. The v8 and up graded tranny is like 4k option, over the v6 and a stick.
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True, I was assuming a 20 percent down loan which today, at "no interest" loans is kind of silly....
I can afford a lot more car than I drive, my Ranger is big enough to do what I need it too and small enough that no one ever borrows it......
;)
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True, I was assuming a 20 percent down loan which today, at "no interest" loans is kind of silly....
I can afford a lot more car than I drive, my Ranger is big enough to do what I need it too and small enough that no one ever borrows it......
;)
Just bought a new Tundra about 3 weeks ago. Had an 08 with 32k on it. Had 2 years left to pay with 6.45% interest. My payment was $476/month. The new one (2011) after making the deal, extended my loan 9 months but my payment went to $404 after financing at 2.9%. Also my insurance actually went DOWN, and they pay the maintainence for 2 years. Not quite sure how it happened but it was a good deal all the way around. (at least for me)
Say what you will about Toyota, but after driving one the last 3 years, I doubt I'll ever drive anything else. Just my experience, and opinion. YMMV.
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I loved the Tundra my SIL had, I just don't have a need for a full size truck....probably the smoothest ride of anything I've driven, ever!
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True, I was assuming a 20 percent down loan which today, at "no interest" loans is kind of silly....
I can afford a lot more car than I drive, my Ranger is big enough to do what I need it too and small enough that no one ever borrows it......
;)
The range with the 4.0 v6 is a beast, its just that by the time you buy it with the 4.0, you are only a couple thousand less then the f150. so might as well buy the f150, its alot more truck.
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I have the 3.0 V6 in a 2003 Edge, 4 x 2. It's plenty enough to tow the boat or small camper and more than enough to do the weekly dump run and antique with the wife. Gets pretty crappy mileage though...maybe 15 mpg but it's paid for and only has 80K on her...
It's really the wifes truck.....paid $12,400.00 for it new....they were giving them away during a Nor-Easter....
;D
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Just finished filling it up with fuild. Started right up.
New torque converter, seals, fly wheel... blah blah blah. Yeah I know I'm taking a chance, but the way I look at it, the truck is old and worn out. no reason to throw a bunch of money at it.
Its been raining pretty hard here, so I didn't exactly want to work on it... besides it gave me a reason to drive my wifes car around for a bit... ;D
wouldn't you know it, the 1st time I turn on the wiper blades, one came off. Always my luck...
atleast the rear view mirror has not come off yet.
Every car I have ever owned the rear veiw mirror has come off with in 2 days of me buying it... luck I guess.
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Geez TAB. Do you scare the mirrors off?
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At least the rear view mirror has not come off yet. Every car I have ever owned the rear veiw mirror has come off with in 2 days of me buying it... luck I guess.
The first rule of Italian driving........What's behind you, you don't worry about...... Ferrari driver in the movie, "The Cannonball Run" Bill T.
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The first rule of Italian driving........What's behind you, you don't worry about...... Ferrari driver in the movie, "The Cannonball Run" Bill T.
In the best Italian accent, "what is a behind you, does not a madder"!
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I have a vintage italian sports car...
its alot of fun to drive, but its anything but fast. You feel like you are going a 100 when you are on the free way,