I picked up a 1997 Ford F-350 with 51K miles on it in September.
I expected to put a few dollars into it, based on what the PO told me had already been done. Well I just keep giving.
1) Took it into the shop to have the trans and diffs serviced, oil change, and the rotting leaking power steering lines replaced; and it needed front brakes; wait the PO said they were good? out the door $827
2) Needed a new windshield $180
3) PO said it was a brand new battery, not. $157
4) Wiper blades, K&N air filter, head light switch, breather filter, $92
5) Needed a Rt door mirror, had to search long and hard for that and found one for $50 on Ebay,
6) Then ... had issues getting into 4WD low ... $430 to rebuild the transfer case.
7) Started to leak coolant - $453 to have the radiator replaced
8) Needed some floor mats and door panel clips $38
9) Was fine for a few days, another coolant leak .. on the way to the shop the bearing on the AC delete pulley froze ... to have that replace and a new water pump $433
10) Was all good for two days, started leaking like a sieve ... towed back to the shop ... going to need a thermostat - $120
11) Oh and I ordered some aftermarket exterior cab lights for $23, just waiting to get the truck back.

Just needed a safe space to vent :-)

Just wondering when I will think enough is enough ..... as I think to myself the truck is really solid for a 20 year old vehicle .. except for the rot in the lower radiator support ... which will most likely need to be addressed .. maybe in the spring?

I am just addicted to keeping these old vehicles alive and kicking :-)

 

Ouch. These things are hard to call economical when you're paying for labor. I'd be a little disappointed with the shop though. Seems like standard operating procedure to replace the thermostat and coolant hoses with the water pump.

It also sounds like a sitting truck is worse off than a driven and maintained truck.

 

Well an easy way to think about it... that money would only be about 3 or 4 truck payments on a new one which would be depreciating every day you drive it. At the end of 8 years of payments you would then have a truck worth 10 000 maybe!

 

^^ That's true. I justify every repair or modification to my truck in the same way. "well, this would only be 2 weeks of payment on a new one..." Or I think, if this keeps me from buying a newer truck for another couple years, it pays for itself.

I guess I just cringe at any repair bill, fair priced or not. I sometimes forget not everyone was brought up around wrenches or even have the time to do repairs themselves.

 

Fluid changes & front brakes depending on if just rotors less than $200. Around $100 for a radiator delivered to your door. Last thermostat I replaced was $10. As mentioned, if you are going to be paying labor for everything then it will quickly deplete your bank account.

 

I've had to put about 2K into mine already. About half of it was planned. BUT I'm not making a $350-500 payment every month. Or losing money when it's time to sell a newer truck because of the huge up front cost.
There is no other way to look at vehicles other than they are a net loss. It's the price we pay to haul our butts from one place to another.

 

Bought a $500 beater to learn how to do all that stuff.

Right now I'm solving the clutch, into it about $100, but if it goes right, that's $100 I had to spend but got educated on how the clutch works, and how to fix it.

A mechanic would probably charge me $300 minimum for this, and if it failed again, I'd have to go back.

 

 

Bought my 94 about a year ago. About 7 months later the harmonic balancer came loose. The resulting imbalance fractured the crankshaft. $2000 for a long block replacement later, + miscellaneous parts, and I've doubled my "investment". I feel your pain.

 

To be honest I don't care about the money I spend, because when I hop in my truck and start it up I'll always have a smile on my face.

 

I know what you mean. Bought my truck a couple of months ago and it has 87K miles. AC fixed, only $100. On the way to get new tires, oil pressure sending unit broke. Wrecker bill and repair $200. Tires about $600. In the process of replacing door latch cables and handles. Purchased inside and outside window seals for doors, about $150. Ordered new power window motor today, $88. Need to have rear window replaced. Noticed oil on garage floor yesterday, pretty sure it's brake fluid. Replace radio $200. Speakers are also being replaced, $200.

 

A lot of us know how you feel man. But there is just something about these trucks that I love, it's the only thing I drive that just feels right.
I've had my 97 for 6 years, and I have over $14,000 invested into it. I've had quite a few people tell me I'm out of mind for putting that much money into a 20 year old gas guzzler, but at the end of the day I have a truck that is in great shape that I love to drive.

I did a lot of the repairs myself, but the bigger jobs I had done by a shop (rebuilding the heads, re-built transmission and bodywork).

 

I picked up a 1986 Ford F-350 Crew-Cab dually for $300 with I don't care how many miles on it a while ago.

I expected to put only a few dollars into it, based on what the PO told me had happened. That the motor made all these horrible noises, smoked a lot, quit, and hasn't moved since. Well I just keep winning.

1) I already had a good idea what was wrong from looking at it there BEFORE I bought it, $0.
2) Hauled it home on the family trailer behind my other F350, $20 in fuel.
3) The positive battery cable had rubbed through on the frame, put a chunk of hose and some electrical tape around it, $0.
4) Tossed in an old battery I had on a charger in the garage, $0.
5) Needed some fuel, toss 5 gallons in each tank and a couple ounces in the carb, $30.
6) Then ... Fired it right up and drove on laughing. $Priceless.

Just needed a safe space to brag :-)

Just wondering when I will think I'll have enough of these awesome cheap to own trucks ..... as I think to myself the truck is really solid for a 30 year old vehicle .. I'll fix it up a bit more and probably sell it.. maybe in the spring?

I am just addicted to having trucks I love so cheap.

 

Yep, I had them inspect the hoses and they all looked good but one they replaced. The others must have been replaced sometime in the past.

 

I agree, at this point i have a 20 year old truck with a lot of updates that is paid off.