too much...

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TonyBuckets

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I have a 97 2 door, the list of things breaking is increasing faster then the list of things I've fixed, the latest now is on the highway around 50-60MPH if i hit the gas to pass someone the overdrive doesn't engage, there is an "Air" leak from the break booster in the dash, oh and the other day i went to open the door and the inside handle broke off the door, so now i have to roll the window down to open the door. is it time to sell as is, or keep on the "good fight" and make this truck what I would like it to be.
 

Jerky Arm Ape

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It's either get to fixing or get to searching for a newer vehicle.

I'm on my second OBS four door.
The first one was practically brand new after I finished with it, just needed paint but I was out of steam.

The one I have now has a clean body.... And well that was about it.

What I do is work on one area of the vehicle at a time.
I just did a complete suspension and steering system replacement, and I mean COMPLETE.
There is no sense in leaving parts with 1/4 of a million miles on a vehicle and expecting that much more from them.
I even did the rear suspension, too.
Replaced all the brake parts on each corner including rubber lines.
Was well over $2000 using moog chassis and other higher end parts available through rockauto.

My point is these are "modern day classics".
If you plan to daily drive one, you must mechanically overhaul the areas in need.
Suspension and steering was goal for this year, next year will be engine overhaul and engine Bay Area rubber parts replacement, new converters and exhaust, etc...

Then the next year will be interior and electronics. Probably a transmission overhaul in there somewhere.

I understand that there are people out there who don't understand why you would have to do this to a decent running and driving vehicle.

I have no desire to explain it, you either keep applying the band aids, fix it right or aquire a vehicle note on something newer and more dependable.

And most of the time we can't afford to do such things, happens to me more often than I like but I just hang in there and research my future project to be performed on my vehicle.
Once I can afford it, I order parts and get to working.

It was a hard choice to make but I can't pay $200-$300 plus per month on a 4 year
Term for a vehicle with 120+k miles. Once it was paid for I'd be right back where I am now with the headache of more electronics and sensors failing.


Although my truck drives and handles like it did when it was new and has a great outer shell, I was still embarrassed for the alignment technician to see the inside because of the amount of interior work that it needs.
(not like a new vehicle because it is still older and has outdated suspension and steering components and will never have a lot of things the nnbs vehicles have)
 
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TonyBuckets

TonyBuckets

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Hey Blake, I'm fortunate enough to have a truck with a new motor only 28k on it. I have already done the ball joints in the front end, the rear suspension looks solid the body is rock solid no rust except on the rear bumper at the licence plate mounts. the previous owner had an aftermarket stereo system in it, so there are alot of wires that are of no use in the dash, I know redoing the wiring is going to be a nightmare but it is something that has to be done. Getting the transmission rebuilt and the 4x4 fixed is top on my list. the problem i have is it's my daily and cant afford to leave it in a shop for a couple of days.
 

Phone Man

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Get used to it. It never ends and the times you get to put fun parts on are to few and far between.
 

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