Getting the old 92 back up to par is expensive in Alaska. Unfortunately, most of the work I can't do myself due to a lack of tools and a place to do it.
Had my brakes inspected yesterday. They where as bad as I figured. Considering the truck has nearly 200K miles on it now and is almost 25 years old, it's time. Pretty much new everything except the master cylinder. New pads and shoes, new rotors and drums, new brake hoses, wheel bearing pack and reals, and a fluid flush. $2200 Then add the suspension work it needs for another $1200. $3600 into the transmission swap so far and it's not even in yet. $7,000 so far. I figure another $300-400 to finish hooking it up once it is set in place. No idea the price tag on that part yet.

 

Ahhhh.....the hidden cost of deferred maintenance! I've been down that road before. Thanks Previous Owners!!

 

I know those feels and I do the work myself.

I won't even say how much I've put in to my truck in the last 3 years.

 

I do, I keep all the receipts. Not counting my time I could buy a new truck. But what's the fun in a new truck that does what the computer says it should do and tell me how to drive?

Owning older stuff gets frustrating, but at the end of the month I don't write a check out to the bank for the old trucks I own.

 

Oh it's not that I don't know the rough cost. I do. it's just more than I'm willing to admit.

 

I put a 47 rh in my truck. Do I like it yes tows great would I do it again NO. I would just put a good converter in one and leave it at that. ken

 

I found the receipt from the last brake job 5 years ago. It was half that back then with basically the same work. The only difference is the brake hoses this time where it was the master cylinder last time. I wish I could do the work myself, but when your old, crippled, and don't have a place to work your stuck. This truck has been kind of a money pit from day on, mainly because of bad mechanics with bad work ethics. And deferred maintenance from the previous owner.

 

x2. Going on year 2 with no expenses makes it all worthwhile though

 

I tend to agree with BHD: New cars that are totally computerized and tell you how to drive irritate me to no end.

 

Man that is a big problem around here. Everyone with a set of Craftsman box end wrenches, a 30 dollar harbor freight code reader, and the Google search engine thinks they are a mechanic.

 

Well, finally got the truck back from the brake shop after 2 1/2 days. Drove it 2 blocks away and the tranny lets go. Good thing I have one ready to go in.

 

Cars and trucks are now an "appliance". I don't know how else to describe it, the love for the automobile, like it used to be, is fading....

 

Man that sucks. Sounds like how my life works.

 

Well, the shop has the transmission all hooked up except the drive lines. They are getting my short shaft shortened. In the mean time I have modified my OD switch circuit to accommodate the CompShift's different wiring. All I had to do is change the relay on the board and the external wiring a little.

 

man and I complain about having to do the work in my dirt driveway. just thankful I have tools and the means after reading this. I did a 4 corner brake job(rotors/calipers/pads/drums/shoes/cylinders/hoses) and rebuilt the front end (axle joints, seals, bearings, races) with all high end parts for a fraction of what you paid for your brake job alone. I also told myself about half way through the front end job that I'd never do it again

clean up the truck and post some pictures, you'll feel better about the money spent!