Does anybody else's truck hate their owners?

[dieselarmy13]

Okay, so I must be cursed. My truck has worked against me from day one. First, I paid WAY too much for it. It was an impulse eBay desicion, and I didn't know about the greatest web site in the world, that has not become my second home, but rather my first. No big deal, I'm over that. I drive home to my parents shop in Nebraska where she is at, a 500 mile round trip, any weekend that I have a chance. I thought I finaly had it ready to go for the Midwest Meet, then the steering column literaly fell apart on me at 3:30 in the morning while changing a turn signal switch. Not one to give up, I got up at 8:00 a.m. the next day filed down each spline on the column and wheel and put it back together. I took it to town to get some gas and was rewarded with pure driving bliss! She ran great, and rode like a dream. Got back to the shop to load my camping and fishing gear, and I smelled gas. Popped the hood. Fuel dripping out of the secondary throttle shaft. Insert lots of cuss words here. No big deal. Get a rebuild kit, work my butt off, and have it on the road in a couple of hours, right? Then I realized I was in podunk Nebraska (I'm not complaining, I love that place) and finding a rebuild kit for a Holley 4150 on a Saturday.....well, you can about imagine the outcome of that.

I guess my point is, well.... I don't know. I'm just real frustrated right now. I'm not giving up by any means, but if my truck was here, I would probably throw something at it. Okay, I'm done crying.

[oldspowered]

sorry about the bad luck!!! but i don't feel that your truck hates you.
just bad timing!

[70cst]

Owning these trucks is sort of like a good marriage. You just have to work at it. If you never had the valleys you would never appreciate the mountain tops. JMHO!

[kdrodworks316]

its a chevy, get used to it! sorry about the bad luck, but it always goes from bad to worse with an impulse buy

[LockDoc]

Sorry to hear about your bad luck. I don't want to make you feel bad but you did miss a great get together at Indian Caves State Park.....

LockDoc

[jeffspower]

I used to feel that way about the '68 when I was young. Seems all I ever did was work on it. It had a way of going kaput at the best times in the best places (insert sarcasm here). It didn't help that it was a severe cobble job when I bought it, and I was still green myself.

But if it wasn't for that old bucket of bolts, I wouldn't have gotten an early jump on learning as much as quickly as I did. Looking back, I can't imagine what I would be like today without the experience, frustration & friends that resulted from it.

[jeffspower]

Oh... and I just have to throw in my 2 cents... ditch the Holley. On a driver, they suck. I don't think there was a truck at the meet that was running one

[cameeks]

When I bought my truck there has always been a crank case pressure problem and low oil pressure problem. Well the lower half of my engine finally is giving me a problem. it is popping under a load and full throttle. I replaced everything from the intake up including the ignition. it has been parked now for 2 weeks and hasn't moved. I'm only going to drive it on rainy days until I can afford the engine I want.

[caminokid]

I guess me being a mechanic...all day long I work on newer cars ( I hate my job and those $#%&(*& computer front wheel drive S.O.B's) All day long its Ford, Mazda, Chryslers and Mitsubishi's. So if I have to come home and work on my truck...its like a stress reliever for me. Its nice to have to do something to one of my trucks. The only time I get mad is when it leaves me along the road somewhere. And that has only happened once.

[caminokid]

Originally Posted by cameeks

popping under a load and full throttle.

My 350 had been doing that too. I believe its the cam. When I take no. 5 and 8 plug wires off...it stops doing it.

[AllenKarber]

Mine hates me,or I'm just plain cursed.

I had engine troubles with the last engine I had,so I parked my truck in 2002. I was just sick of it. I tried again last year,but I had a miss I never could get out of it.

I decided to bit the bullet and build a 388 stroker. I finally got it back from the builder,and I fired it Saturday. It promptly filled the crankcase full of coolant due to a crack in the head around one of the head bolts. I felt like I had been kicked between the legs.

My builder and I pulled the head,and that's when he found the leak. He's supposed to get it welded up this week. I'm supposed to take my truck to the Hot Rod Power Tour and the Cruisiapalooza event in Little Rock this weekend,but it's not looking good. It will be a thrash for sure.

I really do think I'm cursed.

[santana474]

You are not the only one who is cursed. I purchased my truck from my uncle in January. An impulse buy for me as well. I saw it and fell in love. I was told that the engine is strong and the transmission was just replaced and it pulls great. Guess what. I haven't been able to drive it yet. Got it home and changed the plugs, wires, trans fluid and filter, oil and filter. Then filled the radiator with coolant to find the rad had 2 major leaks. Tried to drive it any way, just down the street mind you, and the trans just has now power. And I won't even mention the brakes. Just my story. Finally able to get parts now. But you are by no means alone in your troubles. Hope you get her going soon!!

Joe

[truckdude239]

my truck was also an impulse by saw it fall in love had it a month the 3 speed trans went out. but in new clutch and a used trans about a month latter motor started knocking. i drove it a year and a half with 20w50 oil in it till it started back firing thought the carb i built a 305 for it. now it just getting it to run right


http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=288220

[sleepyboy]

My truck fights me on EVERYTHING! I have thought about having an exorcism. I fix one thing, three more break. I am still winning, but frustration sometimes gets the best of me.

[49m]

When I went to get my truck it was raining and for a month or two everytime I went to get a part it would start raining. and the distribitor decides not to work some times when I go to start it

[cameeks]

Originally Posted by caminokid

My 350 had been doing that too. I believe its the cam. When I take no. 5 and 8 plug wires off...it stops doing it.

Would that be becouse those two lobes are wiped or is it just normal for those two wires to be taken off to check? I'll try it soon to see if I get the same results.

Originally Posted by 49m

When I went to get my truck it was raining and for a month or two everytime I went to get a part it would start raining. and the distribitor decides not to work some times when I go to start it

I'm sorry to say it but that is a little funny when you read it.

[68gmsee]

Wow! After reading all of these problems you all are having I feel we need an "Ann Landers" or "Dear Abby" type section for this forum...

Younger folks that are not familiar with the older vehicles, are used to seeing some newer cars go up to 150K or more miles with no major engine problems. Other than the usual tires, batteries, brake shoes, etc. cars last longer now. But, in the old days, and especially on 40 year old vehicles, you were lucky to get 60K out of an engine without some sort of major work like cam, timing chain, valve jobs, rings, etc. In those days we would check the odometer and anything in the 60K or higher reading we'd hesitate to buy.

I remember reading an old article about 350 engines. It was saying that the cam should be replaced after 50K to 60K miles if your engine was sputtering, misfiring and/or had loss of power. The lobes were notorious for going flat on these old engines.

I guess it's just the times are a changing for the better when it comes to automobiles.

[Ole Blue 68]

It's funny. I work on the truck with the intention of having some fun and killing some stress. Sometimes it works out that way but more times than not, I wind up sweating and cussing and then replacing more parts than I meant to.

BUT, I don't blame Ole Blue, I blame individual parts. Ex. "Ole Blue'd be running great if it weren't for that dang distributor."

[mtdave2]

yep i had one of those. i called it the fyb, freakin yellow bit#h. everything i tried to do, the darn truck fought, and fought. i sold it, and as i left it, i gave it the bird and said @#%#^%&$. lol

my longhorn is the complete opposite, it fixes its self sometimes. Much nicer to live with.