Ok, so for various reasons I recently determined that I *had* to sell Burt.
Then I cataloged all the paperwork, receipts, etc. and orgainized them by year from the time I got him over 10 years ago and realized that at this point in many ways I have more like a 5 year old truck than a 34 year old one! over $10,000 in parts and upgrades alone! He's got 99k on him now and still does not use oil, so I've decided to dump yet another bucket of $ into him and replace the steering box, the rear main seal, the heater core, and various other maintenance items. This Friday is the heater core and steering box (with the help of my mechanic buddy though! ) If I am able to and can borrow a camera (mine died a few months back) I'll take some photos of the process and post them. Maybe someday I'll get him painted... It's just more important to me to keep him running well and reliable than looking pretty..

Any pointers for the steering gear box (Redhead Steering) or heater core replacement?.. I've got the factory repair manuals and it all seems pretty straight forward and my buddy knows much more about what he is doing than I, but I'm not afraid to "get in there and do it"!!

The main seal comes later...

Regards to all!
Dak

 

What year? 2 wheel/ 4 wheel? f100/150/250/350? The steering boxes are different! Tell us which one. Also power steering or not too.

 

co425, See my sig and gallery.. It's 77 F250 2wd with PS. I've already got the box, just asking for pointers in the un-install/install... :-)

Thanks!
Dak

 

It's easy to get freaked out by a lump sum but I think ya gotta look at it another way...

Take your total cost including insurance and divide it by the number of months that you have owned it. Now figure out how much it would have cost you to buy and insure a new truck over the same time period.

See? You'll probably come out ahead and without the monthly ball and chain called a "loan payment".

Personally, I'd rather put $300 a month towards parts for my rig instead of living with a dreaded monthly payment.

 

Really. The worst that can happen if you suddenly stop paying the $300 a month, is the truck quits running. Still better than the repo man showing up to haul it away......
I prefer the 100% down and $0 a month forever payment plan....... Kinda hard to do that on a new rig.

 

That's so true and an argument I have used many times in the past. It wasn't the $ for a new truck as opposed to what I have that stopped me though... I just love my ol' truck too much to part with it, and I know it in and out like the back of my hand! PLUS I can WORK on it MYSELF! A new one?... well between computer chips, and other new technology I am lost!

No new truck payments! Nohownowaynoneveragain!!! Been there done that!
Dak

 

Thats too fine of a truck to part with, shame on you for even considering it!

 

I'm building mine to get rid of the payments.

 

While I'm at it... since I'm replacing the rear main seal and the oil pan will be dropped... would you recommend replacing the oil pump "just because" while I'm in there? I believe it is the original and though I don't have oil pressure problems, why not? Yes?... What would you recommend as far as any "better" after market ones? Thanks!
Dak

 

You made the right decision. That is a sweet truck.

 

I would say if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Any new or reman oil pumps are probably gonna be Chinese and be crap.When and if the pump does go out, dropping the oil pan isn't a huge, huge, deal. Just a pain in the butt.