The Old Truck Dilemma, What To Buy?

 
k-2
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Post by k-2 » Mon. Feb. 20, 2023 11:20 am

SMITTY wrote:
Mon. Feb. 20, 2023 11:06 am
Actually, they used better metals on the older trucks. , consider yourself VERY blessed!! You got yourself a good one.
Anyone around in the 90s didnt see any "better metal" just trucks with giant hole in the sides. That includes Ford and GM but most of all Toyota Toys. On a quiet night you could hear Toyotas rusting all over town well into the 2000s .


 
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Post by SMITTY » Mon. Feb. 20, 2023 11:35 am

But you could get brake rotors off with nothing more than a regular hammer. GM and Ford have always cheaped out on metal, but it's just far more pronounced lately. Toyota was the one that cut things a bit too much, and paid the price for it. Serves them right! Ford from the late 90's to mid 2000's was even WORSE. I've never seen heavier rust on a vehicle that new during that time.

Now take a frame from the 1920's up to 1973 - while they'd still rust, and some blew out (depending on how / where they were driven / cared for), they were much better made given how thin they were in comparison to today's frames.

It's a combination of 2 factors resulting in a no-win situation. Shitty metals #1, and excessive road salt & brining, #2. MA NEVER used to use that liquid crap. There's nothing worse than that stuff! If you drive through that, and park your vehicle in a garage, you'll find that it will NEVER dry! That stuff keeps attracting moisture, and it will rust away a vehicle SUPER fast if you're not on top of it.

If I hadn't oiled my Silverado every single fall, it would've been scrapped YEARS ago. This thing started rusting BAD after just the second winter!! This pic was taken after I backed into a sapling at less than walking speed, causing almost $3,000 in damage ... in 2009. The truck is an '07!!

 
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Post by k-2 » Mon. Feb. 20, 2023 11:50 am

I must have lucked out with my 1995 Silverado K2500 ,very little if any rust. Frame is super solid.Even the body has almost no rust. Still use it often. 2015 GMC is solid as well. Will certainly last as long as i plan to keep it.

 
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Post by nut » Mon. Feb. 20, 2023 11:55 am

I second oiling the undercarriage. Used motor oil cut with diesel fuel in a sprayer.

 
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Post by davidmcbeth3 » Mon. Feb. 20, 2023 12:51 pm

I don't think I see the reason for the truck. Is it to tow a boat ? Carry stuff ? Most times a trailer can accomplish what a truck can do.

 
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Post by SMITTY » Mon. Feb. 20, 2023 3:22 pm

They're better built than today's cars ... and that's not saying much.

I shoot mine with just pure used oil. Don't even need to cut it with diesel or heating oil. The thicker the better, so it says put.

Most 2005's up here in MA have been in the crusher for over 5 years now. Neighbor has a '06 Impala with 106k on it. Nothing left of it. Going to scrap soon. Newer cars can't sit parked for ANY length of time. They'll literally disintegrate.
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Post by StokerDon » Sat. Feb. 25, 2023 8:34 am

Yesterday I stopped by the body shop to check on my old truck. I didn't have a camera with me but it doesn't look like this anymore! :yes:
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They were able to get a good used bumper, grill, hood so we saved money there. Right now we're a thousand bucks under the initial estimate!

Should be finished in about 2 weeks.
-Don


 
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Post by k-2 » Sat. Feb. 25, 2023 8:40 am

davidmcbeth3 wrote:
Mon. Feb. 20, 2023 12:51 pm
I don't think I see the reason for the truck. Is it to tow a boat ? Carry stuff ? Most times a trailer can accomplish what a truck can do.
Im always afraid ill forget its back there.

 
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Post by SMITTY » Sat. Feb. 25, 2023 12:04 pm

StokerDon wrote:
Sat. Feb. 25, 2023 8:34 am
Yesterday I stopped by the body shop to check on my old truck. I didn't have a camera with me but it doesn't look like this anymore! :yes:
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They were able to get a good used bumper, grill, hood so we saved money there. Right now we're a thousand bucks under the initial estimate!

Should be finished in about 2 weeks.
-Don
Good deal, Don - glad to hear it! :yes: We just got our 940 back from the body shop, too. Had them bang out the dent and pocketed $3k. 8-)

I'll be getting started on fixing the failure prone engine, and adding some go-fast goodies to mine in a couple months or so. Got a supercharger and lumpy cam to throw on the 5.3 last year. Finally got some dough saved for a crate. Was going to rebuilt, but it'll be easier in every way to just get a crate. That way I can still drive the truck until I'm ready to start the project. She's gonna tow and commute real nice after that! :D
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Post by Hambden Bob » Sat. Feb. 25, 2023 12:42 pm

Good News,Don..!! Keep On Keepin' Us Posted..!!

 
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Post by davidmcbeth3 » Sat. Feb. 25, 2023 1:36 pm

k-2 wrote:
Sat. Feb. 25, 2023 8:40 am
Im always afraid ill forget its back there.
Perfect for the mother-in-law. Best of both worlds.

 
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StokerDon
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Post by StokerDon » Sat. Mar. 25, 2023 9:02 am

It's been a long, expensive road but, THE TRUCK IS BACK!!!

And it looks better than ever.
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2 months ago it looked like this.
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It took a long time but we did get lucky and found most of a front end used. That saved close to a grand! :yes:

All of the Black parts, headlights and the hood were used but great condition. Didn't even have to paint the hood!
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Since it was in the shop for so long, naturally, I came up with a few "While you have it" jobs.

They removed the lighting, filled the holes and painted the roof.
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Found the weather strip for the passenger door that I couldn't find. :oops:
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And replaced the missing black piece that goes on top of the tailgate!
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They buffed out the whole truck, including the headlights and it looks great!
The passenger door and the bed are still scratched up but all the glue from all the stickers from its previous life is gone. I didn't want it to be perfect because I know I'll just put more scratches and dents in it anyway. :lol:

I know most people would not have gone through this much trouble for an old truck. For me I went through a lot of time and effort to get a simple work truck with no rust so it was worth it to me.

-Don

 
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Post by Retro_Origin » Sat. Mar. 25, 2023 9:14 am

Where's the axeman in the bed? Isn't that the power source?

 
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StokerDon
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Post by StokerDon » Sat. Mar. 25, 2023 10:21 am

Retro_Origin wrote:
Sat. Mar. 25, 2023 9:14 am
Where's the axeman in the bed? Isn't that the power source?
Here ya go. It actually takes 2 Axemans. :lol:
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Post by Rob R. » Sat. Mar. 25, 2023 10:33 am

That turned out nice Don. I am surprised the bed looks as good as it does with no liner in it. I have a thick rubber mat in my truck that seems to work pretty well.


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