Do you think I've replaced everything on my truck and the costs are going to drop off for a few years or should I dump this truck before it costs me even more?

I've owned a 1986 F350 Diesel Standard Transmission for 14 months now and it has drained me completely dry. In 14 months, in addition to the $2500 that I paid for it (paid way too much to help out a friend), I've been averaging $601.76 per month for a total of $8,424.61 in parts and labor to fix only stuff that has broken. My savings are completely gone.

I don't have the skills or shop to work on this truck myself. I can replace simple stuff on my own like the heater core and the headliner, but I have to take it to my local mechanic for everything else.

So the question is, do you think I've replaced everything and the costs are going to drop off for a few years? Or do I still have much more to come? I absolutely love this truck. I love the manual transmission, I love the purr of this particular engine (even though it's crazy weak), and I love this body style. But wow I just can't take any more of the expenses.

Here's what I've replaced so far:

#4 Fuel Injector Pipe Assembly
2 Gallons of Red Coolant
2Way Toggle Switch
Assembly Lube
Battery Terminal
Battery Terminal
Brake Kleen
Cable End Terminal
Coolant Flush Kit
Fan Clutch
Fuel Filter
Fuel Hose
Fuel Injector Assembly
Fuel Injector O-Ring Kit
Glow Plug Controller
High Pressure Steering Hose
Hose Clamp
Injector Line
Inner Tie Rod End
Misc. Electrical Connector and Wire
Oil Change & Filter
Power Steering Fluid
Re-Condition Steering Column
Reman Power Steering
Remanufactured Starter
Remanufactured Steering Gear
Tail Shaft Seal
Vacuum Pump
Water Pump



Here's the full spreadsheet that shows the insane costs here for labor and parts.


Total $8,424.61
Maintenance Date P&L Description Amount
7/10/2009 Labor R&R Valve Cover Gsaket $360.00
7/10/2009 Labor Power Steering Pump and Belt $180.00
7/10/2009 Labor R&R Inner and Outer Tie Rod Ends $162.00
7/10/2009 Labor R&R Radiator Hoses $126.00
7/10/2009 Labor R&R Transmission Tail Shaft Seal $108.00
7/10/2009 Labor R&R Front Shocks Alignment $90.00
7/10/2009 Labor R&R U-Joints $90.00
7/10/2009 Labor R&R Rear Shocks $89.95
7/10/2009 Labor Brake Inspection and E Brake $63.00
7/10/2009 Labor R&R Fuel Filter $63.00
7/10/2009 Labor Brake Fluid Service $54.00
7/10/2009 Labor Diagnose Steering $45.00
7/10/2009 Labor Power Steering Flush $45.00
7/10/2009 Parts Reman Power Steering $145.78
7/10/2009 Parts Inner Tie Rod End $120.73
7/10/2009 Parts Tail Shaft Seal $29.41
7/10/2009 Tax Tax $144.78
7/10/2009 Tax Hazardous Waste $12.00
7/20/2009 Labor R&R High Pressure Steering Hose $135.00
7/20/2009 Parts High Pressure Steering Hose $83.76
7/20/2009 Parts Power Steering Fluid $5.00
7/20/2009 Tax Tax $7.77
8/12/2009 Labor R&R Steering Gear $225.00
8/12/2009 Labor Tire Rotation $0.00
8/12/2009 Parts Remanufactured Steering Gear $368.28
8/12/2009 Tax Tax $32.22
9/29/2009 Labor R&R Steering Column $225.00
9/29/2009 Labor Diagnose Dumping Fuel on Fill $90.00
9/29/2009 Labor Cooling System Evaluation $45.00
9/29/2009 Parts Re-Condition Steering Column $445.00
9/29/2009 Tax Tax $38.94
11/16/2009 Parts Battery Terminal $24.46
11/16/2009 Parts Battery Terminal $16.92
11/16/2009 Parts Cable End Terminal $3.48
11/16/2009 Tax Tax $3.93
12/29/2009 Labor R&R Fuel Injection O-Ring Kit and Fuel Filter $225.00
12/29/2009 Labor Diagnose No Start $180.00
12/29/2009 Labor R&R Toggle Switch $126.00
12/29/2009 Labor R&R 1.5ft Fuel Hose $90.00
12/29/2009 Labor R&R Fuel Injector $90.00
12/29/2009 Labor R&R Starter $90.00
12/29/2009 Labor R&R Injector Pipe to #4 Injector $27.00
12/29/2009 Parts Remanufactured Starter $260.38
12/29/2009 Parts Fuel Injector O-Ring Kit $189.96
12/29/2009 Parts #4 Fuel Injector Pipe Assembly $123.02
12/29/2009 Parts Fuel Injector Assembly $93.69
12/29/2009 Parts Fuel Filter $39.84
12/29/2009 Parts 2Way Toggle Switch $32.93
12/29/2009 Parts Assembly Lube $16.28
12/29/2009 Parts Misc. Electrical Connector and Wire $13.00
12/29/2009 Parts Hose Clamp $8.00
12/29/2009 Parts Fuel Hose $5.31
12/29/2009 Parts Brake Kleen $4.75
12/29/2009 Tax Tax $68.88
12/31/2009 Labor R&R Glow Plugs $135.00
12/31/2009 Labor Diagnose Hard Starting $90.00
12/31/2009 Labor R&R Glow Plug Controller $90.00
12/31/2009 Parts Glow Plug Controller $234.26
12/31/2009 Tax Tax $20.50
2/6/2010 Labor Oil Change $79.95
2/6/2010 Tax Tax $2.00
6/5/2010 Labor R&R Fuel Injector Line $90.00
6/5/2010 Parts Injector Line $119.56
6/5/2010 Tax Tax $10.46
9/2/2010 Labor Brake Inspection and E Brake $135.00
9/2/2010 Labor R&R Vacuum Pump $63.00
9/2/2010 Parts Vacuum Pump $249.54
9/2/2010 Tax Tax $21.83
9/24/2010 Labor R&R Water Pump $315.00
9/24/2010 Labor Diagnose Hard Starting $180.00
9/24/2010 Labor R&R Glow Plugs $135.00
9/24/2010 Labor Diagnose Hard starting $90.00
9/24/2010 Labor Coolant Flush $63.99
9/24/2010 Labor R&R Glow Plug Controller $63.00
9/24/2010 Parts Fan Clutch $339.65
9/24/2010 Parts Water Pump $183.63
9/24/2010 Parts Oil Change & Filter $79.95
9/24/2010 Parts Coolant Flush Kit $39.60
9/24/2010 Parts 2 Gallons of Red Coolant $15.50
9/24/2010 Tax Tax $58.96
I also just realized I don't have the $750 on my spreadsheet for new tires and the $450 for a camper shell. So add another grand.

I'm at a breaking point. I'm thinking this was a really stupid purchase that I have paid a lot to learn from. I'm thinking it's time to sell it for what I can get. It looks like a beat up old truck and because of the appearance, it won't fetch more than 2 grand if I'm lucky. It runs really strong right now and gets 18 mpg if I keep it under 70. But it sure isn't worth $600 a month; not even close.

Talk me out of selling it...

 

Ok now that I have taken the time to type this post I now see more clearly that I still have a lot of parts to replace. I need to ditch this thing. My cost so far is going to double.

 

Man, that really sucks.... I feel for you. It's unfortunate that you are not able to do a lot of that work yourself (in my opinion, that's what having an old vehicle is all about.. working on it yourself)

I see this going one of two ways:

1) You sell it for next to nothing (considering how much you have into it) and have nothing to show for over 8 grand the last 14 months. Then put even more money into something to replace it..

2) Take your chances with what you have and start learning more about the truck... it's a great thing to learn on. At least if you keep the truck, you'll have something to show for what you've spent and you will know what you have.

It is certainly your decision but..... the bottom line is with option one you end up with another vehicle that could cost you a lot of cash as well and with option 2 you know what you have. There is a lot on that list that are not frequent repairs... so you know what you won't have to worry about for a long time.

I feel your pain.... not an easy decision by any means.

 

$360 to replace valve cover gaskets????? Wow!! If you are willing to pay that sort of money to fix things, no wonder you've gone broke!!

 

ya, x2 with greywynd. your getting boned. some of those prices arent too bad, but some are out of control! why dont you find a different mechanic to do it for you? theres a ton of mobile mechanics that would be a lot better deal for you. but why sell now? you already fixed a lot, you know your gonna lose your a$$ on it if you try and sell. you'd be lucky to get what you bought it for.

 

Wow, $8k is a ton of money...

I spent $2200 to buy mine, and so far have spent about $1500 in parts...

Head Gaskets
Intake Gasket
Valve Cover Gaskets
New Radiator
2 New Batteries
New Alternator
New Voltage regulator
New Belts and Hoses
New Thermostat
New Glowplugs
4 Gallons Fleetcharge coolant
New Oil, Air, and Fuel Filters
New FIPL and Tach Sensors
New Injectors (not in yet)
Used Vacuum pump

I can't imagine what this would have cost if I paid a shop to do it, the head gasket job is 22 hours of labor by itself...

I have never worked on a Diesel in my life, plenty of gassers, but still, these are really simple to work on...

She ran like a top for 2 weeks, now I am chasing a bad miss

Sadly, if you have an old vehicle and have to pay for labor, you will get killed...

 

Where are you located? There's probably a few guys on here that would help you learn how to do it yourself or just do it for you for quite a bit less. I'm only into my swap (not including buying the Chevy) for about $4K (that includes the donor F350, a spare engine and misc parts), but I do all my own work.

 

old trucks and lack of being an average shade tree mechanic = more $ than just buying a good 5-7 yr old rig and make payments.

id suggest either hitting this site hard to learn more,and invest in some tools (if needed.) or get out asap.your going to take a major beating though of course.

old rigs + parts only (even a little labor here and there aint bad) = make out like a bandit.
add labor on top of the parts though = total money pit.


"12/29/2009 Labor Diagnose No Start $180.00
12/29/2009 Labor R&R Toggle Switch $126.00
12/31/2009 Labor R&R Glow Plugs $135.00
9/2/2010 Labor Brake Inspection and E Brake $135.00
12/29/2009 Labor R&R Fuel Injection O-Ring Kit and Fuel Filter $225.00 "




ouch.
see,these are examples of stuff you could have done yourself quite easy with help of this site.even a total novice.we could walk you through that.
you would be so upside down at this point.i really hope you stick at it.but next time instead of running into the shop, ask here.you'll be surprised how easy it is to work on these old rigs yourself.its work of course.but i mean to understand how it all works etc.
are you young (at least at heart) and get around ok etc or?

edit:
ya! lol i almost missed that one....the first one on the list too lol.
"7/10/2009 Labor R&R Valve Cover Gsaket $360.00 "

ok that there is a perfect example of being taken for a ride.some of the other things are steep yes.but that one was extortion.
there's no need for that price.
least not on a n/a engine i know that much.

 

Im selling! I made a list similar to yours and I can do most of the labor but parts alone are 3to 4 grand for what I need to do it right,plus the A/C needs replacing,another grand,,, I think your right to sell.

 

im in pretty deep myself now boys lol.
but i couldn't buy what i have right now for the $ invested.......not even close.i did real good!
this site + internet price shopping + labor of what i couldn't do (front wheel alignment/welding dump bed repair and final install + welded custom exhaust) made it all worth it.

im under 12k for a diesel,dually,big dump bed, 4wd,xlt + extra's, with 60k miles. - try even finding that for sale!!! lol.

im all smiles.
she's all payed for and putting me ahead already.
that would be a sh... load if was just a dd though lol.least to me anyway.for a work truck thats all solid and ready to go for 10 yrs,im happy. shoot,if she blows a trans or an engine inside 5 yrs,i wouldn't even cry.toss another used in and go another couple yrs.
i love my IDI truck.

of course the whole back end - underbody boxes/dump bed/and even all the whole dually conversion parts will come with me to the next one.so that 5-6k right there will be $ into the next rig i won't need to pay for next time.

 

Guys I really appreciate your responses. Your thoughts have been exactly what I was looking for and they have helped me gain the perspective that I needed.

One of the big problems is that I'm not working on it myself. I am willing and able to do the work: It's just that I'm in a situation where I'm not able to even try to work on the truck. I had to move from the south where you could get a decent house for a decent price, out west to San Diego, where the same monthly payment is a crappy little apartment in a bad neighborhood. This apartment complex forbids working on a vehicle onsite and they have managers riding around in golf-carts each day looking for infractions. They kick people out for the smallest deviations from the rules. This complex is also about 20 miles away from the next city with other mechanics in it so I'm stuck with the shop that is nearby. I take the truck up to them and then walk home. A taxi ride from the next closest shop would cost me $50.00 and their labor rates are the same. (The average mechanic around here is $90.00 per hour)

So what you've helped me realize is that it's not only the problems with the truck that are costing me so much money, but it's also the fact that I can't pop the hood. If I lived some place else then I could save a ton on labor, increase my knowledge of and confidence in my rig, and still keep my truck. I'm stuck in San Diego but not at this particular complex.

So the choices that I now see thanks to your response are to sell this truck and make payments on a 2003'ish model instead, or to relocate to some place where I can perform my own maintenance. Neither is an easy choice for me. But at least now I see other options.

I think my life just became a country song.

Thanks guys; you're good people.

 

Your problem isn't from your truck, it's that you left the South and went to California... fix that problem and everything else will fix itself

 

IMHO, if you buy a used diesel truck, you will need to perform the maintenance or you will be getting hosed. Also, if you can't purchase a used vehicle in full, you're spending too much money.

 

Get out of the republic of kalifornia and save yourself! Then start learning and fixing yourself. Your to far in now to sell it without a huge loss.

 

nothing wrong with california. the state you live in doesnt have anything to do with overpaying a mechanic to work on your car. and it doesnt delegate your ability to work on your own car/truck