mhuppertz

Truck stopped charging, ruled out the battery so I assumed it was the alternator. Bought replacement, still not charging, swapped PCM, no dice, bypassed PCM with external regulator, bingo. Then the old regulator I was using blew. Found a new one in the Dart parts bin and it is working, but bouncing at idle, so I ordered the good Mopar constant voltage one. Hopefully I can get a few days out of this regulator before that one comes!
Also went to metal on one rear rotor. Did a pad slap and ordered a new rotor ('77 K30 front rotor).

N. Besonderes

"I don't understand why you insist on driving these old trucks that you always have to work on. Why don't you just buy a new truck and be done with it?"

NJTman

Lol

It's the physical endorphin high you get when you are in the seat, bugs in your teeth.

Either that, or were masochists

edwinsmith

Mainly because there isn't a single part on my truck I can't fix repair or replace. The new trucks and cars have to **** may computers and programs and such. The problem is so bad that farmers are losing time because they can't fix their tractors without having the factory repair guy come out and bless it with his machine and get paid several hundred dollars. Some states are pushing "right to repair" laws to allow people to fix their own stuff or have it fixed outside of the monopolistic control of the manufacturer.

Besides, I need a hobby.

BHD

I ask myself this question from time to time when I am chasing parts or wrenching on one of my 3, 1st gen Cummins powered rigs.

My answer comes in a few parts:
1) I don't need or want to drive a truck all the time so the $65K plus price tag for new just doesn't make sense
2) I like mechanical driven equipment and I know how to drive (no programmers, no apps, no touch screen, no back up camera, no ABS, no BS)
3) I don't like the new styling of trucks (no ground clearance, no aggressive stance, o-ring style low pro tires, no standard transmission, etc)
4) Everyone can own a new truck (I don't want to be like everyone else)
5) Because they are simple and even though they require constant attention they are easy and cheap to repair.

N. Besonderes

Yes! That's exactly it!

oliver foster

Other that leaving out, 6) Laughing out loud like the Joker at times when driving it as it is just so fun, BHD nailed it.

BHD

Thanks Oliver, I knew I was forgetting something!

J33p

7) Pride of ownership. It is a classic look and not everyone can keep one running. (shhh, yes they can, but that is our secret)
8) When the nuclear / zombie apocalypse hits, our trucks will still be running after everyone else's dies.

thrashingcows

Especially manual transmission equipped 1st gen's....no starter required to get it going, just have to plan where you shut it off...IE: Hill.

Blue Goose

well not all of us can push our truck then walk along side and climb in.....

J33p

Having a wishy washy decision moment here. My D70 is an open diff and as far as I know, nothing wrong with it other than needing a break job. I have a line on a '93 D70 with a PowerLok in it, but the axle is pretty worn out over all and would need to be completely rebuilt before swapping it in. Disassembly is easy, I can pull parts and even rebuild the PL ($80 for rebuild kit) Putting it back together properly is better left to those with more skill than I. I live in N Idaho / E Wash area so snowy winters are pretty common. This is a daily driver / tow my jeep, haul a camper kind of truck, so

A: Not including the $200 to buy the axle what is it going to cost me to either rebuild the whole axle or swap the PL to mine?
B: Is it even worth going to the time, effort and money to do this?

Thanks in advance

Blue Goose

In my opinion...do the brake job and save your $$

edwinsmith

I had a Corvair like that in my teenage years. I parked it on a hill and then whenever I needed it to start I just turned on the key and stepped on the clutch. After it rolled a few feet I popped the clutch and I was off. The starter was broken and I drove it like that for a couple of years.

N. Besonderes

As long as you live where the corn don't grow, you can get by without a starter.