Well I've been on the hunt for a while now. My pandemic-era beater Silverado runs mint but is nickel and diming me. EVAP issues. Funky gauges that go berzerk. Soft rocker panels. Awful spray-paint job. Generic TPMS sensors going out (this one is my fault). I think I got it to hold its antifreeze after replacing both a cracked surge tank and a three-way hose connection down by the water pump. It fits my whole family going up to camp if I leave someone behind. So, in short, I've been shopping. Even considering another trip to North Carolina for something rust-free. Strongly prefer something pre- OBD-II because this electrical stuff is interfering with my state inspections.
Went to look at an S10, that "all it needed was a fuel sender." It was at some backyard mechanic's with the bed off while I looked at it. OK, cool, fix the $50 sender that broke off at the top off the tank then run it on the 20 year old gas and get back to me. Plates expired in 2003. It was, TBH, a solid truck.
Looked at a Chevy half-ton, rotted out.
Looked at a 93 F250, lots of clunking, replaced floorboards, self tapping screws, rotted brake lines, soft brake pedal. Honestly was a contender if nothing else appeared.
Messaged on a 300k Silverado, dude said I'm busy this week, but will get back. Why the ad then? Never got back. Messaged on a F150 straight from Kentucky that needed a tranny. Same run-around.
OK this is the part where I talk about the truck I actually got.
91 F150, shows up on Craigslist, which is how old people communicate, last Sunday. I message the guy same day. He calls me back on Wednesday, but my phone is flaking out so I miss it. I get my new phone and an playing with it on the way to my kids' track event and find the voicemail. Call the old dude back and he says someone's coming today (nuts) but I can come this evening (yay.) Show up and it's still there. It has an extra-cab so there's room for the wife, dog and both kids.
Truck was in Arizona from 1991 to 2002 when my seller bought it. He lives in a lake house and only drove it on the private road to the brush pile and used it to launch his boat. "100 miles a year" he says.
Door sills are good. Fenders are good. Spring hangers good. Front spring mounts on the frame are good (OBS Ford people know what I'm talking about.) Radius arm brackets are bolt-in which indicates they were replaced, also good. Tiny bit of crude bondo on the back of the cab. Meh.
135k miles. I'm offered a test drive. The ad said nothing about the engine. Old man opens the hood and simply says "it has the big motor." 351!
We go up and down the road. Firm brakes, firm shifts, no clunks. "It has positraction" the guy mentions. More good news!
I pull back into his driveway and let it run to charge the battery. Turn the AC on. It blows ice cubes. "This works?" I exclaim, trying to play it cool. "Yes, I took it to the garage, they put something in" he modestly replies.
"What were you asking?" I ask, and I quote him his price. He affirms that's the price, but interjects, "I can go lower."
A gentleman never talks, but I got it for somewhere between a paycheck and a paycheck with OT.
We stood on the driveway making out the paperwork, and the dude starts philosophizing about what life's going to be like after twenty years without his faithful companion. Hand over the keys, Grandpa, LOL.
It darkens my driveway come Monday, when I get plates.
It needs:
water pump
power windows fixed
speedometer fixed
Rear gas tank fails inspection for rust, so that might just... come out and stay out.
Went to look at an S10, that "all it needed was a fuel sender." It was at some backyard mechanic's with the bed off while I looked at it. OK, cool, fix the $50 sender that broke off at the top off the tank then run it on the 20 year old gas and get back to me. Plates expired in 2003. It was, TBH, a solid truck.
Looked at a Chevy half-ton, rotted out.
Looked at a 93 F250, lots of clunking, replaced floorboards, self tapping screws, rotted brake lines, soft brake pedal. Honestly was a contender if nothing else appeared.
Messaged on a 300k Silverado, dude said I'm busy this week, but will get back. Why the ad then? Never got back. Messaged on a F150 straight from Kentucky that needed a tranny. Same run-around.
OK this is the part where I talk about the truck I actually got.
91 F150, shows up on Craigslist, which is how old people communicate, last Sunday. I message the guy same day. He calls me back on Wednesday, but my phone is flaking out so I miss it. I get my new phone and an playing with it on the way to my kids' track event and find the voicemail. Call the old dude back and he says someone's coming today (nuts) but I can come this evening (yay.) Show up and it's still there. It has an extra-cab so there's room for the wife, dog and both kids.
Truck was in Arizona from 1991 to 2002 when my seller bought it. He lives in a lake house and only drove it on the private road to the brush pile and used it to launch his boat. "100 miles a year" he says.
Door sills are good. Fenders are good. Spring hangers good. Front spring mounts on the frame are good (OBS Ford people know what I'm talking about.) Radius arm brackets are bolt-in which indicates they were replaced, also good. Tiny bit of crude bondo on the back of the cab. Meh.
135k miles. I'm offered a test drive. The ad said nothing about the engine. Old man opens the hood and simply says "it has the big motor." 351!
We go up and down the road. Firm brakes, firm shifts, no clunks. "It has positraction" the guy mentions. More good news!
I pull back into his driveway and let it run to charge the battery. Turn the AC on. It blows ice cubes. "This works?" I exclaim, trying to play it cool. "Yes, I took it to the garage, they put something in" he modestly replies.
"What were you asking?" I ask, and I quote him his price. He affirms that's the price, but interjects, "I can go lower."
A gentleman never talks, but I got it for somewhere between a paycheck and a paycheck with OT.
We stood on the driveway making out the paperwork, and the dude starts philosophizing about what life's going to be like after twenty years without his faithful companion. Hand over the keys, Grandpa, LOL.
It darkens my driveway come Monday, when I get plates.
It needs:
water pump
power windows fixed
speedometer fixed
Rear gas tank fails inspection for rust, so that might just... come out and stay out.
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