A small rant

[Bret4207]

I've got 2 of those electro-vibration engravers, I forget the trade name for them. I occasionally go through a stage where I mark all my tools that I fear may get lifted or loaned out and not returned. People do forget where stuff comes from, I've done it. The thing I loan out the most is a sewer snake. Just something from HF or Walmart I think, but it gets borrowed about 3x a year. Oddly enough it always comes back and in a pretty good state of cleanliness!

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I knew a guy that had three of everything:
One to use
One in case the primary item broke
and, One to loan out.

 

[fiver]

i only got 2 of everything, unfortunately it's all in SAE and fits nothing on the planet.

 

[Bret4207]

You got to stop buying new stuff. Buy broken junk headed for the scrapper, stuff with points and condensors, stuff like that. Works for me.

 

[Ian]

I got 3 or 4 of everything, fractional, M&M's, torx, inverted torx, tamper proof torx, torx plus, allen, clutch, you name it, still don't have what I need half the time.

 

[Bret4207]

I got 3 or 4 of everything, fractional, M&M's, torx, inverted torx, tamper proof torx, torx plus, allen, clutch, you name it, still don't have what I need half the time.

Ha! Yup, that's the way it goes. Murphys law for mechanics.

 

[fiver]

since i still have a dwell meter and a couple of timing lights it wouldn't break my heart to pick something like that up.
unfortunately everything like that around here is locked in a garage or costs more than my truck did new.

 

[Bret4207]

You got to start haunting the scrap yards. They are out there. I know where there's probably a dozen Dodge Power Wagons in restorable condition but the guy won't even think of selling any of them. There's a square body Chevy 3/4 ton 4wd across the road from me, neighbors son shows no interest in selling it. Local guy has a late 70's/early'80's W200 Dodge 4WD with an actual 16,000 miles on it, pristine! He also wants $16,000.00 for it, which seems ridiculous until you compare it to a 2022 3/4 ton 4wd with 16K on it that would go for $35-50K! The world is kinda crazy IMO.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

You got to start haunting the scrap yards. They are out there. I know where there's probably a dozen Dodge Power Wagons in restorable condition but the guy won't even think of selling any of them. There's a square body Chevy 3/4 ton 4wd across the road from me, neighbors son shows no interest in selling it. Local guy has a late 70's/early'80's W200 Dodge 4WD with an actual 16,000 miles on it, pristine! He also wants $16,000.00 for it, which seems ridiculous until you compare it to a 2022 3/4 ton 4wd with 16K on it that would go for $35-50K! The world is kinda crazy IMO.

The American pick-up trucks from the 70's and early 80's were all simple trucks that were straight forward workhorses. However, all of them suffered from the same weakness - RUST.
Ford, GM or Chrysler, it does not matter; even the pristine examples stored in garages are susceptible to the dreaded tin worm.

The seller can ask whatever price he wants. That guy asking $16K for a late 70's early 80's Dodge may eventually get his price but he'll probably have to wait a long time until the right buyer comes along. And if someone pays $16K for that truck, they probably aren't going to use that truck as a work truck.

But a late 70's ish Dodge 4WD truck is a good truck (other than the absolutely certain rust issue). The 440 was available up to 77? (maybe 78?), but it likely has a 318 or 360 engine. The transmission would be a 727 Torqueflight if automatic or a A-833 manual. The axles were Dana's in those years. The transfer case was likely a NP-203. Pretty tough drivetrain.
I don't think I could give $16K for something like that (unless I was going to trailer it to car shows) but I might give $10K for it and use it as a real truck.

 

[Rick]

You're not taking into account the current used car market. Things like there aren't any. Used car dealers are going out of business for lack of inventory. New car dealers aren't getting any trades in because they have no new inventory to sell. Around here that late 70's early 80's Dodge 4x4 with 16,000 miles would be sold for $16,000 or more before they could get a for sale sign hung on it.

 

[L Ross]

I boogered up the driver's door on my 2014 F-150 during a brain fart moment parking under the leanto. Insurance authorized a new door panel. That was in January. I scheduled the repair for the week I was out of town in early February. Only problem, no door panels available. What? Isn't this America? I have the money, I want to buy something, where the hell is it? Same for so many things I feel like we are sliding into a third world economy.

 

[Rick]

I bought a 2002 Dodge Dakota 8 years ago from a used car dealer. Couple of months ago I stopped at that dealer and they offered me $2,000 cash more for that truck than I paid for it 8 years ago. Why? No inventory, they have nothing to sell.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I'm looking at what I would be willing to give for a 40+ year old truck that has rust inside of EVERY body panel, cab supports and bumpers. Gets 10 miles per gallon of $4+ gasoline. Will likely need an exhaust system within 6 months of putting it on the road. May need brake lines due to rust. Will almost certainly need new rubber door seals, and window seals. And maybe tires.

 

[Rick]

Not everything is rusted out. States that salt the roads every winter have a huge problem. Zero rust on my 20 year old Dodge. Inside or out. Of course you could just go buy a new one for around $60,000 but then there is that pesky problem . . . There aren't any.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I'm not calling the seller of a 40+ year old Dodge a liar, he could simply be the victim of misinformation himself.
HOWEVER, unless he purchased that truck new and put every one of those 16,000 miles on it himself.......it is highly unlikely that truck averaged 400 miles a year.
And it's in New York .... not exactly a salt free state.
It's just too easy to fake the the miles on a truck of that vintage. If it's rust free, it probably didn't live in New York its entire life and that makes the mileage even more difficult to trust.

The price is also highly suspect.
If it was truly a 40+ year old, 16,000 mile, pristine, rust free truck - it would be worth MORE than $16K.

 

[Winelover]

Just because you live in a state that salts the roads, doesn't mean your vehicle has to be rusted out. I lived in Michigan, most of adult life. None of my vehicles ever rusted out........kept them a minimum of ten years. When I sold them they went fast, usually by word of mouth. There are precautions/maintenance to do. I only ever bought new vehicles. When new, they went straight to the Ziebart or Tuffcote dealer.............before the manufacturer's went to galvanized dipped sheet metal. I also hand washed my vehicles, after every snowstorm, using only fresh water...........as soon as the temperatures were above 33 degrees. Paying particular attention to the undercarriage. No car washes that recycled salt tainted water. If you put in the work, you reap the rewards.

Currently, have three vehicles that survived Michigan's salt. Two full size Chevy vans (2004 & 2010) in near mint condition. And my 1972 Chevelle Super Sport, which was Ziebart-ed. All have seen salt but no rust. Even here, in Arkansas, they use rock salt and or brine to treat/pre-treat the roads.

 

[JonB]

since i still have a dwell meter and a couple of timing lights it wouldn't break my heart to pick something like that up.
unfortunately everything like that around here is locked in a garage or costs more than my truck did new.

Fiver, you could be pimpin around your neighborhood with this "long hood" '85 Toronado,
low miles and it runs for only $2500.

1985 Oldsmobile Oldsmobile Toronado Coupe 2D

RUNS GREAT!! New starter, new radiator, new water pump, new power steering pump, AND new belts! Plus, alternator and battery replaced just two years ago! 5.0 L V8 engine.

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[JonB]

I'm looking at what I would be willing to give for a 40+ year old truck that has rust inside of EVERY body panel, cab supports and bumpers. Gets 10 miles per gallon of $4+ gasoline. Will likely need an exhaust system within 6 months of putting it on the road. May need brake lines due to rust. Will almost certainly need new rubber door seals, and window seals. And maybe tires.

P&P,
Here you go, $4500 for a 1985 F-350 with fairly low miles and in pretty good condition.
I have no idea about the reliability of the 6.9L Diesel?

1985 Ford F-350 · Dump truck

1985 Ford F350 dump truck dually with 6.9L diesel. It has an 8' x 10' dump bed with 16" sides, diamond plate bottom (has some holes) and a wooden gate. Dump is driven with a PTO and operates as it...

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[Ian]

I had a '79 Cadillac El Dorado, definitely a pimpin' ride. Front wheel drive, front longitudinal engine, 19' hood, rear air suspension.

Rick is spot on about the car market.

I can't say anything more without getting WAY political and ranty. Time to go talk to my shop cat about the end game of socialist agendas.

 

[Bret4207]

You're not taking into account the current used car market. Things like there aren't any. Used car dealers are going out of business for lack of inventory. New car dealers aren't getting any trades in because they have no new inventory to sell. Around here that late 70's early 80's Dodge 4x4 with 16,000 miles would be sold for $16,000 or more before they could get a for sale sign hung on it.

I believe you are in a more affluent area than I am.