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is it time to give up?

Detroit Dan

Detroit Dan

New Member
Messages
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Location
Epping NH
Been having a tough year with the old truck, it needs so much work. I love this truck to death, but I'm wondering if it's time. I replaced the bed last year after a tree fell on it, now I wrecked that bed by backing into a tree hard while plowing. My fuel tank is held up with ratchet binders because the crossmember rotted out right where one strap goes into it. Rearmost x-member is rotted out too. My plow is totally worn out and cobbled together, this year I finally gave up on the hydraulic wings and welded them on permanently.
I've got 182k hard miles on it, but it is still going strong. The motor runs beautiful, makes tremendous power, and the tranny and 4wd works great. Interiors not too bad except the drivers seat is ragged. Body needs help, mostly the bed, and a paintjob. But I don't know if I should keep plugging away at it and throwing money at it, or consider it done. How long can it last, beating it like I do? It's been reliable, but I don't think that can last forever. On the other hand I've done a lot to set it up the way I want it, with airbags and lift and ATT.
Not even sure what it would be worth, at it's age and condition, with a salvage title. The salvage title was for the bed getting wrecked and replaced, no frame or other damage.

If I did sell it I could take whatever money I get and put it towards finishing up the 82 I've got. Thats got the same miles but a new motor and most of the sheetmetal has been replaced.

I'm interested in hearing everyones thoughts on this.
 
Could you afford to drive a 454 now? 5mpg at over $3.25/gal. $125+ to fill up. Frames on the 80s trucks rot out also.
 
Sometimes buying a whole truck can be cheaper than all the parts you need, as long as the truck you get is in good shape. And its probably better to do that all at once rather than slowly build yours back up. You could find another truck like yours and transfer your parts to it. Or find another truck and transfer its body parts and xmembers to yours if the rest of your frame is still good. Then keep or sell the powertrain from the other and scrap the rest to make some money back.
 
Keep your eye out for a rust free truck. Maybe even one with a bad engine. You might be able to pick something up for $1000 or cheaper and be good to go if you have a place to do the work.

You might not be able to find anything rustfree local but sometimes it's worth a trip.

If you do a swap I'd check the timing chain & gears while you have it easily accessible. Since you have over 150,000 miles on an OEM set.
 
I'd vote to find a non runner and swap the good stuff in to it. At a minimum, find a frame, have it gone over and strengthened as needed then swap your good parts over to it. The one in Minniapolis may be just the ticket except you've got to get it home or do a deal with bk95td to get it running. Probably cheaper than having it hauled to NH.
 
If I lived up there id get a southern rust free frame and clean it and epoxy primer it and paint it with polyurethane paint and then rhinoliner the frame and re-assemble truck !! :)
 
Now you've given me an idea. Not the Minnesota one, I can't use a 2wd and I can't get it here. Maybe I could use the sheetmetal and the crossmembers, would certainly consider it but shipping would make it not worthwhile.
BUT, I've always wanted a 6.5 Suburban... Maybe I could find one that needs a motor, I actually did see one a while back and passed on it because it needed motor work. But a nice Sub with my motor in it would be saweet!! I could probably salvage the motor and turbo, tranny, airbags, tires, maybe the tune ecm.. Hmmmmm. Wonder if I could find that Sub again... Could have a nice souped up Sub and my 82 for workin'.
 
I would say find another and junk your current.

tell us price range, and desired configurations, and we will try our hardest!
 
A frame swap is ALOT of work. I would not do it again. I agree if your frame is rotted find another truck that needs a motor. finding a 6.5TD truck in need of a motor should not be difficult. finding a rust free one around here could be though. Drop and that motor and tranny in an OBS and swap it to a Db2 and a compushift...
You will not get anything for it with a salvage title. In ct it cannot even be registered unless inspected by DMV and they are pricks.
 
I might be interested in the plow setup...If only the crossmembers are bad and the frame is fine there is a junky in Rhode Island that has alot of chevy truck stuff. North Smithfield Auto Wreckers. Could probably find a bed at Coutu's truck counrty in Willimantic ct but he gets a pretty penny for a clean one.
 
I'm sure you know this, but as long as your dually fenders are ok any 8ft bed will work. the dually fenders are easy to transfer to a non dually bed. Just some cutting and drilling.
 
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