Ive been contemplating parking the truck up for a while. That way I can fix up the body right instead of my redneck rick bondo job I have right now lol. Do my 5 spd and 4wd swap at that time too. Probly stick a turbo on her. Some new paint and do up my exhaust. Maybe a flatbed, maybe a stock box. Probly get a ranger or s10 or something to ride around for the time being. Basically just want to fix my truck up some and build it up just the way I want it. What you guys think? I could probly squeeze a few more years out of it before the body rust becomes too much of a safety issue. Keep in mine I got college this fall. I will say this, it has been stone reliable and has been getting a pretty consistent 21 mpg lately. Ive also done a lot of maintenence on it over the last year. New starter, couple new gps, new brakes all around, new tires on back, new fuel filter, oil changed (bout time to change it agian), flushed the cooling system, other stuff I cant remember lol.

 

do it.. the only right way to do a project is to park it and drive something

 

If your front fenders are rusted out get new ones at Ford ..... I did and I'm happy with the fit and finish. $250CDN each IIRC

 

keystone is fords supplier for 'out of date' body parts.. you're better off buying from them directly

 

I just replaced one. Got it used for like 20 bucks I think. Has a few dings in it, but nothing beyond repair. The other one may be salvagable, but ill probly just replace it.

 

consider a lil car to drive while you work on it
small trucks are a crappy comprimise

but to be honest you're entering college you gonna be either broke or busy for the next few years either way you ain't makin much progress on that truck
I've been there

 

john drive a car? unlikely lol.. a ranger or S10 will do him fine.. as long as he doesn't plan on pulling as much weight as he does with his 250 lol

 

I know this is blastphemy but my saturn was in good condition when I bought it for $750 and it had enough power to probably out run my truck (rated at 10 second 0-60 from factory for the 5 speed). Darn thing still got about 35 MPG.

Obsolete compact cars can be much better fuel sippers than a compact pickup usually. Just saying if money is an issue, then a car does make sense. Ranger I could still see with a 2.3L stick shift, but an S10? DUDE!

Considered one for my sister before we got her ranger. I was not impressed with any of them and there were many. If you listen carefully you can actually hear them rust on a hot, dry summer day.

 

You want to do ALL THAT?

Dude, buy a truck that's closer to what you want to begin with. It will save you time AND money.

Go find yourself a 4x4 truck with a good body, and change the tranny if you have to. 4x4 conversion and body work is just too much money and too much work.

If you can't afford another truck, then you probably can't afford all of the parts to do all of that work, either.

-Matt

 

i think john is going more for the pride of building it.. and i bet he can build his truck the way he wants for less than he can get a diesel 4x4 with a decent body and turbo.. junkyards and ebay are a glorious thing lol

 

the min u park it the feild mice move in and ur wireing moves out

 

i'd suggest the vw rabbit truck with the diesel for 50 mpg but there ain't none in michigan that dont already have weeds growing up through the bed

 

just a good rust stopper is that cheap spray can rhino liner adhesive that you get at lowes that stuff does real well when you coat a frame with it get bout 15 cans and paint every inch of visible undercariage and it will keep the rust from progressing any faster and make it look real spic and span to john had a neighbor who did it to his blazer it was a muddin rig and he did it to keep the rust away and 5 years later no rust at all and it stays on the metal pretty well might need a touch up every 2 years

 

Chris pretty much nailed it right there. The idea is, if I build it I know I'll be happy with it cus im the one that built it. That and I can point at it and say, "yea I built that." Around here, all the old trucks are rusted just as bad, if not worse than mine. If ya do come across a nice one, people want about 6 arms and 9 legs for em. lol

 

enough said.. lol