Mod Paranoia
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Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Puget Sound
Mod Paranoia
So a year ago, I buy my first diesel (over 200,000 miles) and everybody is suggesting I chip up. After a lot of reading on the topic, I find this is not as simple as buying a box at Wally World and throwing it in the truck, so I opt out. 6 months later, I blow up my transmission from sheer ignorance. With all the options and advice to go JW or BTS, but I had so little time - I ended up with the HD4R100.
Then - I'm looking at a chip that will do a better job of protecting the transmission from me. Jody gets my chip money, Clay gets my gauge money (I went for the type that looks like they belong in my truck) and I discover exhaust leaks.
The net is slathered with ceramic exhaust this, and high-tech exhaust that - but I end up with stock because my chip and gauges are the protection I need for my driving style. I chose the IH bellowed ups because they are so highly regarded and they are "stock" in a way.
I had a problem with a #3 and #7 injectors, and they were replaced with stock because this is not a thing to mix and match. While at the shop, I am informed I have the Ford AIS intake and this is a very good thing.
In talking with others and reading ads for those in search of our trucks, I discover nobody wants to buy a modified truck, but some want to modify it themselves. So - through my paranoia (and thinned wallet) I may have semi-accidentally modified my truck in a way that is still viable for good resale (for my wife's sake, if I die). After all of my "mods", a Ford dealership can still work on it in the stock tune available through the push of a button.
I can also proudly pull some panels for a prospective buyer and show the quality of the wiring to the mods because nobody wants to buy something with a rat's nest behind the dash with no documentation. I saved the install information for everything in PDFs and made a spreadsheet of all the custom wire color codes (I know - very ****). I also have pictures of the mods as I did them - I figure I can send a thumb drive with the truck if it is ever sold and the buyer has everything they need to maintain it.
This is an open invitation to express yourself on this topic.
Then - I'm looking at a chip that will do a better job of protecting the transmission from me. Jody gets my chip money, Clay gets my gauge money (I went for the type that looks like they belong in my truck) and I discover exhaust leaks.
The net is slathered with ceramic exhaust this, and high-tech exhaust that - but I end up with stock because my chip and gauges are the protection I need for my driving style. I chose the IH bellowed ups because they are so highly regarded and they are "stock" in a way.
I had a problem with a #3 and #7 injectors, and they were replaced with stock because this is not a thing to mix and match. While at the shop, I am informed I have the Ford AIS intake and this is a very good thing.
In talking with others and reading ads for those in search of our trucks, I discover nobody wants to buy a modified truck, but some want to modify it themselves. So - through my paranoia (and thinned wallet) I may have semi-accidentally modified my truck in a way that is still viable for good resale (for my wife's sake, if I die). After all of my "mods", a Ford dealership can still work on it in the stock tune available through the push of a button.
I can also proudly pull some panels for a prospective buyer and show the quality of the wiring to the mods because nobody wants to buy something with a rat's nest behind the dash with no documentation. I saved the install information for everything in PDFs and made a spreadsheet of all the custom wire color codes (I know - very ****). I also have pictures of the mods as I did them - I figure I can send a thumb drive with the truck if it is ever sold and the buyer has everything they need to maintain it.
This is an open invitation to express yourself on this topic.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,468
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From: Battle Creek, NE
That's a good idea. I did that with my 93 Ranger. When I traded the 93 in to get my 01 Ex they were asking 14,500,I walked in with my folder o stuff and 9500$ cash. They took the deal I think because of the documentation. It's not being ****,its protecting an investment.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,243
Likes: 16
From: AZ
Dropbox Folder
\
Vehicle Records
\
Ford - VW - Suzuki - Nova
\
AE - Web Pages - PDF's - Spreadsheets - How-To's - Trouble Shooting etc.
So this setup gives me access to anything I might want to have for all of my vehicles in one folder. When I go on the road for long periods, I copy my Dropbox folder to a thumb drive, just in case I can't get to a network connection.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
Likes: 50
From: Texas
Personally, I don't do anything at all to my truck with resale value in mind. Everything I do is to make it more of what I want or what I need for my truck to do.
Any mod money you dump into the truck, you're not going to get back out of it anyway, so fix it the way you want it and enjoy. If it has to be sold at some point, price it right and it will move, regardless of any mods.
Any mod money you dump into the truck, you're not going to get back out of it anyway, so fix it the way you want it and enjoy. If it has to be sold at some point, price it right and it will move, regardless of any mods.
Super Moderator
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 29,380
Likes: 118
From: Central Coast of CA
Everything I do is to make it more of what I want or what I need for my truck to do.
Stewart
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Central Coast of CA
Me too.
I have a bad memory, so I have a log book I carry in my truck and fill it out every single time I fill up. I also have a spreadsheet tracking all work done on all my vehicles, with date, mileage, and parts added or fixed.
The last thing I have is an accordion file where I keep all my receipts for everything purchased or work done on my vehicles.
Stewart
I have a bad memory, so I have a log book I carry in my truck and fill it out every single time I fill up. I also have a spreadsheet tracking all work done on all my vehicles, with date, mileage, and parts added or fixed.
The last thing I have is an accordion file where I keep all my receipts for everything purchased or work done on my vehicles.
Stewart
and better fuel economy...
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Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Puget Sound
nlemerise - That's a good idea (putting it on the cloud), that's taking it one step farther than I have.
F350-6 - That's a good point (no money back). Some mods throw money down a hole, and other mods drive money down a hole - taking the truck value with it.
For those who are financially sound - I salute you. I bought a nice boat in 1999 and truly enjoyed using it. I had a good trailer for it, a good tow rig, and I could afford it all. Well - the business phone fell silent on 911 and stayed that way until I had to move on. The boat moved on, the tow rig moved on, and my career moved on. Fast-forward to 2011 and I'm insulated from the economic earthquake (so far), because of lessons learned in 2001. I have no intention of selling this rig, but if anything happens to me - I don't want to lose more money (for the wife or me) than I have to in the event of resale. I'm just sayin'.
I forgot to mention reliability. My "mods" are very tame and all work toward more towing capability, fuel economy, and reliability. I've read in the forum where a truck was so modded up that it wouldn't run in stock tune and the chip died. A more "exotic" mod could put me at the mercy of the vendor and a bunch of these mods would put me at the mercy of a bunch of these vendors and their warranties from afar.
F350-6 - That's a good point (no money back). Some mods throw money down a hole, and other mods drive money down a hole - taking the truck value with it.
For those who are financially sound - I salute you. I bought a nice boat in 1999 and truly enjoyed using it. I had a good trailer for it, a good tow rig, and I could afford it all. Well - the business phone fell silent on 911 and stayed that way until I had to move on. The boat moved on, the tow rig moved on, and my career moved on. Fast-forward to 2011 and I'm insulated from the economic earthquake (so far), because of lessons learned in 2001. I have no intention of selling this rig, but if anything happens to me - I don't want to lose more money (for the wife or me) than I have to in the event of resale. I'm just sayin'.
I forgot to mention reliability. My "mods" are very tame and all work toward more towing capability, fuel economy, and reliability. I've read in the forum where a truck was so modded up that it wouldn't run in stock tune and the chip died. A more "exotic" mod could put me at the mercy of the vendor and a bunch of these mods would put me at the mercy of a bunch of these vendors and their warranties from afar.
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