I have an insanely dumb question about cars, but I'll ask anyway because this is a safe space:
So, i've discovered recently that I'm obsessed with old trucks and want to get one. Aside from the nostalgic aspect, it would also serve a purpose because i've also realized that i don't have the trunk space in my jeep grand cherokee for hauling and transporting stuff.
Facebook marketplace is full of options at a nice pricepoint, however most of listing are about 180K+ miles (naturally).
So my question is: what's wrong with buying something at it's price point or lower (i suspect they can be negotiated down a grand or so), and just spending some coin on rebuilding the engine/transmisson?
i.e. i see listings for broncos all the time since they are now the en vogue thing, and i'd love to pull a trigger on something but the mileage is extremely high.
I wouldn't let a high mileage truck turn you off. Old American trucks will go forever. The old V8s were super lazy and barely worked to make the power they did. Most were mated with tranmissions that were nearly bullet proof.
Just as an aside we have a 79 Chevy 3/4 ton with over 500k on it, original motor and trans. It probably has way more than that but the odometer quit working after the 5th roll over.
Also I just saw this meme today and it seems appropriate.
I have an insanely dumb question about cars, but I'll ask anyway because this is a safe space:
So, i've discovered recently that I'm obsessed with old trucks and want to get one. Aside from the nostalgic aspect, it would also serve a purpose because i've also realized that i don't have the trunk space in my jeep grand cherokee for hauling and transporting stuff.
Facebook marketplace is full of options at a nice pricepoint, however most of listing are about 180K+ miles (naturally).
So my question is: what's wrong with buying something at it's price point or lower (i suspect they can be negotiated down a grand or so), and just spending some coin on rebuilding the engine/transmisson?
i.e. i see listings for broncos all the time since they are now the en vogue thing, and i'd love to pull a trigger on something but the mileage is extremely high.
I wouldn't let a high mileage truck turn you off. Old American trucks will go forever. The old V8s were super lazy and barely worked to make the power they did. Most were mated with tranmissions that were nearly bullet proof.
Just as an aside we have a 79 Chevy 3/4 ton with over 500k on it, original motor and trans. It probably has way more than that but the odometer quit working after the 5th roll over.
Also I just saw this meme today and it seems appropriate.
Blazers do not hold up well. Roy and Oden went down with bad knees. Walton and Bowie had foot issues. And then they say and rap that they’re never ever going to leave their parking spot because they’re loyal, but you come out and can’t find them because they’re on their way to Miami.
I had a 1985 Chevy Silverado 4x4 and had to replace the v8 when I was in HS and it only cost like $2k. That was 19 years ago, so ya know, inflation/scarcity. But finding an engine or even a good used engine isn't that hard. They last and they're around. Not like new engines with complex electronics.
Nothing wrong with older pickup trucks. On my family's farm we still have two full size Ford Rangers from the late 70's or early 80's that are in good running condition and my Grandma's 1985 Ford F-150 just hit 400k. So long as you keep the maintenance up; once you have them in good condition it seems like you can run them forever.
I have an insanely dumb question about cars, but I'll ask anyway because this is a safe space:
So, i've discovered recently that I'm obsessed with old trucks and want to get one. Aside from the nostalgic aspect, it would also serve a purpose because i've also realized that i don't have the trunk space in my jeep grand cherokee for hauling and transporting stuff.
Facebook marketplace is full of options at a nice pricepoint, however most of listing are about 180K+ miles (naturally).
So my question is: what's wrong with buying something at it's price point or lower (i suspect they can be negotiated down a grand or so), and just spending some coin on rebuilding the engine/transmisson?
i.e. i see listings for broncos all the time since they are now the en vogue thing, and i'd love to pull a trigger on something but the mileage is extremely high.
I wouldn't let a high mileage truck turn you off. Old American trucks will go forever. The old V8s were super lazy and barely worked to make the power they did. Most were mated with tranmissions that were nearly bullet proof.
Just as an aside we have a 79 Chevy 3/4 ton with over 500k on it, original motor and trans. It probably has way more than that but the odometer quit working after the 5th roll over.
Also I just saw this meme today and it seems appropriate.
do broncos, blazers, and the aforementioned harvester scout engines hold up pretty well?
I know a little less about the IH Scout but it's my understand they are pretty solid. The Ford and Chevy will both be great. I guess if I have a preference it's to Chevy, but that's just because small block Chevy's are a dime a dozen, almost impossible to kill, and easy to work on. They usually have a Turbo 350 or some variant of that for the transmission and those are as reliable as a transmission comes.
This is a really ignorant question to ignore as you like. But where would International parts come from in 2023? There can’t be a ton of demand. Are they really expensive, or has that been offset by the incredible efficiency of modern supply chains and CNC etc. machining?
I knew of the world of parts and repair (and getting my brother to ‘help’ read: do for me) when I was young. I can still hear my dad’s voice even then saying, as many of yours did, I’m certain, ”but where are you going to get parts?” for every non-Beetle European car.
But we’re at least 40 years from the last Scout, right? Probably lose a few more every year. Where do these parts come from? Genuinely curious.
This is a really ignorant question to ignore as you like. But where would International parts come from in 2023? There can’t be a ton of demand. Are they really expensive, or has that been offset by the incredible efficiency of modern supply chains and CNC etc. machining?
I knew of the world of parts and repair (and getting my brother to ‘help’ read: do for me) when I was young. I can still hear my dad’s voice even then saying, as many of yours did, I’m certain, ”but where are you going to get parts?” for every non-Beetle European car.
But we’re at least 40 years from the last Scout, right? Probably lose a few more every year. Where do these parts come from? Genuinely curious.
Parts for those kinds of vehicles are more universal, and there is an abundance of compatible parts lying around in junk yards, etc. If you DIY, you may have to sleuth around, make calls, do some junk diving explorations, but they're out there.
Interesting. I wasn’t expecting ‘from the yards’ to still be the answer. My assumption was there just wouldn’t be enough scrap Internationals left, let alone with workable parts. Something like a 60s/70s Chevy, maybe—but even then I would have some doubt, except that as you guys have said the 350 engine is everywhere. I think my dad still has one in his garage.
Last edited by BottenFieldofDreams on August 9 23, 10:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
I have an insanely dumb question about cars, but I'll ask anyway because this is a safe space:
So, i've discovered recently that I'm obsessed with old trucks and want to get one. Aside from the nostalgic aspect, it would also serve a purpose because i've also realized that i don't have the trunk space in my jeep grand cherokee for hauling and transporting stuff.
Facebook marketplace is full of options at a nice pricepoint, however most of listing are about 180K+ miles (naturally).
So my question is: what's wrong with buying something at it's price point or lower (i suspect they can be negotiated down a grand or so), and just spending some coin on rebuilding the engine/transmisson?
i.e. i see listings for broncos all the time since they are now the en vogue thing, and i'd love to pull a trigger on something but the mileage is extremely high.
I wouldn't let a high mileage truck turn you off. Old American trucks will go forever. The old V8s were super lazy and barely worked to make the power they did. Most were mated with tranmissions that were nearly bullet proof.
Just as an aside we have a 79 Chevy 3/4 ton with over 500k on it, original motor and trans. It probably has way more than that but the odometer quit working after the 5th roll over.
Also I just saw this meme today and it seems appropriate.
do broncos, blazers, and the aforementioned harvester scout engines hold up pretty well?
I know a little less about the IH Scout but it's my understand they are pretty solid. The Ford and Chevy will both be great. I guess if I have a preference it's to Chevy, but that's just because small block Chevy's are a dime a dozen, almost impossible to kill, and easy to work on. They usually have a Turbo 350 or some variant of that for the transmission and those are as reliable as a transmission comes.
