Its dead.

[cliffsta]

Long story short. Spend all day making it right, went to fire it, and it hydrolocked. Then we get the bright idea to blow the water out the plugholes AFTER it hydrolocked, but too late, when it ran it went KALUNK and started clunking. We bent a rod or broke a rod bearing. Its caput.

I'm done throwing money at this thing. I can't afford it. I can't have my life consumed by this any more.

It's for sale. Pushing it to the front yard, gonna get what I can for it (whole, I'm not parting it out) and I'll be including ALL my replacement sheetmetal in the sale. Also gonna try to sell the 84 parts truck for the $400 I paid for it.

No, this is not a for sale post, just letting people know my intentions concerning 73-87 trucks. If you DO want it, take it up via PM.

Looking at an 85 stepside that's VERY nice, so maybe this won't be the end of me. Maybe it will. I wish I knew.

[kevinr1970]

How did you get fluid in it?
Take a few steps back, like maybe for a few days, then decide what your going to do.
You could pick up a good running used engine for as little as a few hundred bucks if your lucky, up to around $500. Wrecking yards sell carb'd v8's for around $500 around here and they will generally stand behind them for a about 30 days or so.
Its just a set-back, not the end?

[cliffsta]

It caught fire 3 weeks ago tonight, fire department put it out, that's how the fluid got in it.

[HuggerCST]

I agree. You'll lose alot if you sell it like it is, and will probably regret it later. You probably bent a rod. Why not take a break from it for a while, and think about what you want to do. Maybe buy the 85, and build the engine that you always wanted for it as you have the time/money?

[cliffsta]

Because I don't have the time, I'm a fulltime college student and I work parttime as much as I can. I have no savings. My family is lower middle class at best. I don't have the skill to build a motor. Sure I could pull it and throw in something else that's cheap, but what about when the transmission inevitably goes? I've been off the road for 3 weeks trying to fix this. And doing it over weekends we could get in a new motor in a couple more weeks. But why spend a grand on a halfway decent motor and then blow the transmission and replace it? This truck is a bottumless moneyhole. The sentimental value is the only thing holding it to me right now, and I just don't know if that's enough anymore.

[rcbildr]

Originally Posted by HuggerCST

I.... Why not take a break from it for a while, and think about what you want to do. Maybe buy the 85, and build the engine that you always wanted for it as you have the time/money?

X2 on that.

I understand your frustration. For the last month I've had nothing but bad luck with my vehicles too.

[N2TRUX]

Sorry to hear that it died. Maybe this was meant to be. Take a step back and make your best decision on what to do. Maybe even write down the pro's and con's and weigh them out.

It's hard to let one go, but sometimes it for the better interest. You need some reliable transportation, not a full time project.

Good luck with it.

[82c10]

Originally Posted by cliffsta

? This truck is a bottumless moneyhole. The sentimental value is the only thing holding it to me right now, and I just don't know if that's enough anymore.

that is the same way i feel about mine, but it was self-influenced

[84slopwaggin]

Dude, get you a used motor and worry about the tranny when that day comes. Life is really tough at times and your just starting to experience how tough it can be. If you can climb this mountain it will give you more confidence for the things that may lie ahead.

[us111]

hello,,,know the frustation your having but if ya don't mind the ole,,(been there,done that) sentence,,,been fighting mine for awhile,,,fought it thru a motorcycle accident (cost me a cast from toenails to hip for 1 1/2 year's,,6op's) colon cancer,,open heart,,but my truck AIN"T going no where,,hang in there,,set it back,,,better day's will come...

[Russell]

Cliff, park the truck, and go buy a cheap beater to DD for a while. The truck doesn't cost you any money to sit, and gives you time to get over your frustration with it.

I had a similar problem with my stepside. I'd just replaced the intake + carb, fired it up for the first time and all I heard was KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK, wound up the engine was crap. I just parked it for a few weeks, until I spotted a 350 HO from an 86 1 ton crewcab for sale, for 150 bucks. Engine was totally complete, carb to pan, flexplate to fan, and ran beautifully. Only took me 3 days to get it in the truck, and the truck on the road.

And as mentioned above, worry about the transmission later, unless it has been slipping a bunch, it'll be just fine with the new engine.

So yeah, its frustrating, but you'll get over how you are feeling right now, and I can promise you, you'll regret it big time if you sell it now in frustration.

BTW, are there any board members in your area? Maybe one of them has a good 350 to sell you on the cheap? I know I have two of em sitting around here doing nothing at all...

[cliffsta]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

It's hard to let one go, but sometimes it for the better interest. You need some reliable transportation, not a full time project.

This is what I am 100% founding my decision on. I could park it and buy a $100 pos to drive for now, but it still doesn't solve the issue of ALL the money that is included in making it go again, and the time I just don't have. I can pick this other truck up for about 3 grand, drive it until I graduate, then buy a NEW vehicle. Temporary fixes like a used this or a new that just to make it go have reached the point of futility. A used junk 350 "just to do" is nothing more than a patch for the short term. Not to mention I have no engine hoist nor the time to figure out how to pull a driveline. Nowhere to work on it, its been hogging our driveway since the fire. Could throw it in the back yard with brownie but then its a PITA to work on.

My mom really hit me with it tonight, too. When all is said and done, the only thing "original" of the truck would be the frame itself, and there's not much sentimental value for me in that.

And when my dad said its time to let it go, I think its time to let it go. It is his truck, after all. No matter what I do to it, it will always be his truck.

Just dunno. Gotta do some serious thinking.

[Russell]

Dang man, I'm wishing I was closer -- I'd be out there in a heartbeat with one of my spare 350s to get you up and running again... Literally takes me a day to do an engine swap now, heck, I'd deck you out with TBI, and a fresh 700r4!

[49studebaker]

I say park it out back for awhile and think about it. If you feel the same way in a few weeks, then sell it for a fair price. Don't give it away out of frustration. Hang in there!!

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by cliffsta

.....Gotta do some serious thinking.

It'll still be there tomorrow, and so will you....

[tom coop]

dont quit on it unless you just really dont care about the truck anymore. youll regret it later, and like everybody said, it dont cost you nothing to let it sit. yeah it might take you a grand to get it up and goin again, but i guarantee youve got more than that in it already.

[boatpuller]

that sucks cliffsta.that's a big decision.i say listen to your old man.us "old men" have lived thru alot of decision's.most alot tougher than this,although to you, it doesn't seem like it right now.if you can take some time to think about it,it can help.like other's pointed out.my expeirence with 3 thousand dollar vehicles,you may not be getting anything any better than what you got,at least you know where your at on yours.when you buy used "cheap" vehicles you run a good chance of getting someone else's headache.but,you never know..it could turn out to be the best truck ever.that's the game of life.

[73C20]

I agree with your dad...sell it for what you can. I'm in a similar situation with the whole keeping a truck for the "sentimental" reasons. I'm finding the reality is that I don't have the time, space, or the money that I want to spend to continue my project, so it's time to let it go. Sometimes it is just best to cut your losses. It's a 73-87 and there are thousands of them on the road. Maybe later you can build one like your dad had. Good luck.

Matt

[kevinr1970]

Here's my take on it.

If you sell it right now with out doing anything to it you are selling a truck that just went through a fire and now has a blown engine due to that fire. And who knows, maybe the tranny is done too due to the high temperatures from the fire and all the water pumped on it to put it out.
How much is something like that worth?
Personally I wouldn't touch it unless I was searching for that particular truck of that vintage. Thats a pretty tall order. And I would be assuming the drivetrain is shot = $0 value.
But presuming you can find that one person what are they going to give you for it? It is essentially a shell. That needs a lot of rust repair in the cab.
You know what you've put into it and what its worth to you.
You are looking at another 22 year old truck. And I will presume it too has WAY over 100,000 miles on it. Even if it has a rebuilt engine in it what about everything else? No matter what its still going to be a money pit like the truck you have now. I can guarantee that.
If you can sit down and figure out that you will be money ahead buying this other truck and giving up on yours then thats what you need to do.
But if this decision is based on the poor college student needing transportation I think its a poor decision. If thats the driving factor then buy a cheap little car that gets good mileage and has a rep for long life.
Push your truck around the back and let it sit.

The $3000 you'd pay for buying this other truck could go a long ways towards getting your truck back on the road.
$.02

[84 400]

Guys you make some great points but i am kinda sideing with Cliffs gut on this one. As much as i hated to let my first truck go I thought it was for the best at the time because i was unable to fix its issues then. It was a 1977 dodge powerwagon btw. Anyways i regretted selling it now more then ever cause i know i could have made it right! At the time though i needed a runing and driving truck. But i think it is more important to realize his current situation. He has invested alot of his time and money in this truck and he is a full time college kid and a part time worker which leaves little time for these things. Whats worse is that if he does infact leave it out back it will probibly sit there till who knows when and he would need to have both trucks if he ever plans to fix it. Tough choice! If it were me and i had the space i would hold on to it and buy a beater. If not then i would take off the wheels swap them on to the 84. Buy the 85 then put the wheels on the 85 and sell off the 84 parts truck. But i would Probibly not buy another old truck because they are gonna have more problems. For 3 k a god newer truck might work out. or as much as i hate to say it a S-10 might be your best route if you need a truck. I again would try my best but when it is draining you like it is it might be time to call it quits. IF the cab was not rusty i would tell you to hold onto it at all costs. But the one thing it does have going for it is the sentimental value. However like you said your dad even wants it to go. I don't know man you got a really tuff choice!!
Best of luck. also would you be lossing alot on all the parts you have bought for it?
Like i said best of luck!!!



off topic. Cliffsta whatare those two back antennas in the cab for? cb? I alwasys thought they looked cool just never thought to ask.

[cliffsta]

The $3k truck is nice, new paintjob, strong motor, worth a lot more than 3K but the guy wants to get rid of it. Gonna check it out tomorrow and see if its what I want to go with. Try and talk him off of that a bit maybe. Of course I will regret selling it, but what else CAN I do? I don't have the money to buy a modest POS, this $3k is a check against my mom's credit card that we'll make most of back from selling both trucks and all the parts. If I keep my truck I'd be buying something for a couple hundred bucks, and its impossible to find something reliable for that money. My love of the 73-87s comes from the sentimental value of this truck (aside from them being cool trucks), and since I won't have THE truck any more, this truck will just be a "to and from" truck, not a project.

Yeah tomorrow I'm taking the wheels off my truck and putting the stockers back on. Probably push BOTH trucks up to the street with "For Sale" signs.

*those two antennas were just radio antennas, it never had a CB in it.

[Slonaker]

Don't sell it unless you have to. You'll regret it later. If you you have to, that's different...

What you aren't thinking about when you look at another truck (or any other$3k vehicle) is that they have just as many unknowns, if not more. It will require money, too. If you are going to have a 73-87, you are better off with a truck you know than a total unknown. Spend money on the red one, and you'll know exactly what you have.

Stand back, and cool off for a couple of days. Sit down with your folks and talk about what your options are. Try to look at your situation objectively.

Calculate what it would cost to get your truck back on the road buying a basic used, new, or rebuilt engine Make sure to add in the cost of renting or buying a hoist if you can't borrow one. If you can't do it yourself, find out what it would cost to have it done. Consider parting out all of the brown truck except the cab to raise money for the red one.

Then look at how much it would cost to buy something else that you consider to be as reliable as the truck minus the value of the two trucks as they sit. How do the numbers compare?

You have to look at things that way in order to make the right decision.

Slonaker

[84 400]

^ good point there.
Time/ and trans port seem too be his biggest problems. It does not seem that he can be with out the truck. I am sure if he had a daily driver this would be no question to keep the truck. But as he stated right now he needs a driver not a project. Look through your options and pick the best like everyone else is suggesting. IT seems like you have already tried once and that the family has decided selling would be the best route. Give it a second chance.

best of luck