"efme" (efme)
02/07/2014 at 14:08 • Filed to: None
0
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"efme" (efme)
02/07/2014 at 14:08 • Filed to: None | 0
| 16 |
Let me introduce you to Truckie. He is a 1989 Chevy S-10 4x4 2.8L 5-spd extended cab pickup. I purchased him in 2006 for a very good deal as I just had a random desire to buy a pickup as a beater. He had 142000 miles, and working everything (plus a stereo).
Fast forward 8 years. The only thing in the past 8 years I've had to replace is a fuel pump, serpentine belt, thermostat, starter, and 4 new tires (this past December).
My guess is that Truckie is valued at ~$1100 as is. Everything works, and passes inspection. The problem is, is he needs some major work to keep going down the highway and keep as now my daily driver. He needs a new intake manifold as he is leaking both oil and antifreeze from it ($500 labor + parts). Some transmission bearing is making a ton of noise and source a junkyard transmission for $300. ($500 in labor to install)
I know many go through similar pros/cons when the work is more than the car is worth. $1400 to get it working right or try to offload it for $1100 and find another pickup to replace him. I would probably keep him for another 2 years before looking at something that gets equal or better gas mileage and can tow a max 6000lbs. An example would be a 2002-2004 S10 Crew Cab that are selling for sub $10k. I currently use Truckie as a commuting car as it actually gets the better gas mileage than my fun car.
Curious to hear arguments for repair and against (sell, buy something else)
Thoughts?
For those curious what my fun car is:
Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom
> efme
02/07/2014 at 14:12 |
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As your vehicle sits, depending on where you live, I think you would be hard pressed to be able to get more then a good 800 or 900 dollars for it, especially if someone takes it to get inspected before buying. I can understand not wanting to do the transmission, they are a pain, but why not install a new intake manifold yourself, save the money in labor for the transmission, and you are good to go.
CalzoneGolem
> efme
02/07/2014 at 14:17 |
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It depends on how attached you are to Truckie. It sounds like a good excuse for an engine swap to me. A 4.3 should basically bolt and and a 350 will fit with some fiddling and some extra parts.
It sounds like you are either unable or unwilling to do the work yourself. That would make the tally much more in the favor of keeping.
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efme
> Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom
02/07/2014 at 14:18 |
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I've thought about doing it all myself. Trying to figure out where the intake manifold gasket seems to be challenging on its own. Regarding the transmission, I don't have a transmission jack but given the age of the car, I keep telling myself it can't be that hard to remove even though I've never done it before.
Lastly, I've noticed I've been come less and less of a DIYer. I've got way too many things going on as I'm also mid-wedding planning so I'm constantly being bombarded with those questions ;)
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Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom
> efme
02/07/2014 at 14:20 |
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Well, do you have a repair manual? Pick up a Chiltons or a Haynes, start there and see if you want to take it on. And I thought that as well when I pulled my first transmission, it's a god damn pain in the ass every time.
And yeah, life does get in the way of things, but when it comes down to it, what is more important, time or money? I would say really try looking into doing the intake manifold, and then paying for the transmission. Transmission jobs always take way longer then you expect.
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efme
> CalzoneGolem
02/07/2014 at 14:22 |
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I've thought about a 4.3. I'm personally able to wrench myself but engine swap is probably outside of my capability. That involves wiring, ecu, etc.... trust me, I would love to go a little bit faster in it...
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efme
> Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom
02/07/2014 at 14:24 |
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that's looking like a fair compromise. I can take things apart and replace a gasket or two. dropping a heavy ass transmission on my head since I don't have a lift does not seem like a fun saturday afternoon.
when I purchased the car I have both full service and repair manuals for the truck.
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Jeremy H formerly Kalakaboooom
> efme
02/07/2014 at 14:26 |
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Yeah, transmissions are no joke, but never forget you can rent transmission jacks, so if you decide you want to take that on, theres always that option.
Pull them out and just start researching man, you could probably do the intake in a weekend start to finish.
Alex87f
> efme
02/07/2014 at 14:29 |
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Well your truck friend seems to have served you well, why get rid of it?
Getting a transmission can't be that hard, as for the intake manifold, as suggested by KalakaBoooom , it should be easy to do it yourself. It's sitting atop the engine so removing it shouldn't be too much of a challenge, and the part itself isn't that expensive.
Truckie looks good and a V6 5-speed truck is kinda cool in my book. You know what its issues are and can foresee with rather good accuracy how much it's going to cost you. Something you wouldn't necessarily be able to do if you bought another 3 000$-ish used truck.
Is Truckie rusty? Does the S-10 2.8 have expensive and known problems? If the answer to both is no, keep it.
OtherBarry
> efme
02/07/2014 at 14:32 |
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$1400 to get is right is cheap compared to a loan for just shy of 10k on a vehicle with unknown history. At least this way you know what you have. If you still enjoy it, fix it and keep driving it. I won't own you anything even after the repairs will it?
Steve Zissou
> efme
02/07/2014 at 14:33 |
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Sell Truckie and just drive that fun car everywhere.
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efme
> Alex87f
02/07/2014 at 14:45 |
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the 2.8L are known to have leaks everywhere. Intake manifold sounds easy but it seems involved to get to. The part is $20 thats not the problem.
Rust, there is rust. its not rampant and causing failures but it is definitely there. I guess I should think about it in the grand scheme of things. Probably have paid in $600 in repairs over 7 years isn't bad. do the intake manifold myself and then pay to get the transmission put in.
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efme
> OtherBarry
02/07/2014 at 14:47 |
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did you mean to write if you will owe me anything? haha
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CalzoneGolem
> efme
02/07/2014 at 14:53 |
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Then why not do the intake manifold yourself?
Aaron James
> efme
02/07/2014 at 14:56 |
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You don't need a transmission jack, just a simple floor jack and a buddy to help balance it with a piece of wood in between is more than enough. I would keep it and fix it/have it fixed. It looks like it's in good shape and you know exactly what you have. Anytime you buy a used car you run the risk of the unknown. An intake gasket on these is a really easy job but like you said it's a matter of is it worth spending the time to do yourself.
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George McNally
> efme
02/07/2014 at 16:43 |
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Fix it......even if it comes out to 1500 bucks-that's 4 new car payments. We have a 2002 Taruas our son drives. It's probably worth maybe 2500 bucks on a good day, I have no problem setting aside 1000 bucks a year for repairs on it.
We had a 2001 Outback (we gave it to our daughter) that currently has 170k on it. Back around 120k, we had the engine out and had new head gaskets, timing belt, water pump, trans flush and some brakework done on the car. The bill around 2 grand, sure if you spend 1500 bucks on your 1100 dollar truck and you hit a deer two weeks after you get the work done...you'll lose a shitload of money-but if it was my truck and I really liked it....I'd spend the money.
On the other hand.....I have a 2001 Saturn SL2, if it gets more than a flat tire or need wiper blades- I'm selling it...I can't stand driving it.
TinFoil Knight
> efme
02/08/2014 at 03:49 |
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you gotta be kiddin right? if i had an s-10 and I knew i was looking at $600 or so in parts. for me its a no brainer. I'd fix and keep on truckin.