New Truck Time - Suggestions.

MossRoad · Oct 8, 2018

I try and do as many repairs myself as possible. I'll ask my mechanic if he thinks I can do it, and if he'll save me from doom if needed. He's honest and tells me yes or pay him to do it.

I changed the intake manifold on a 2000 Impala in about 4.5-5 hours. He said it takes him about 2, but was impressed I did it that fast first time. Water pumps, power steering pumps, radiators, brake pads, rotors, calipers, brake lines are all pretty easy for me. Drum brakes, not so much. Who designed those things? I'm ducking flying springs, spinning little things that look like cowboy spurs.... :laughing:

1010 · Oct 8, 2018

I have a 16 dodge 4WD 2500 4door gas burner 5.7, it's a tradesman I believe is the trim. I'm not a dodge fan. But this truck has made me love it. I had a chevy 2500 before the dodge it wasn't near about the truck as the dodge. off road hills, water bars, the dodge is right at home. And it's loaded with a 100gal diesel tank and two tool boxes full of tools. It still will get 14+ miles on the HWY around 13mpg stop and go..

I've always like the fords, I've owned 3 and just got a 4th. A 15 2500 4WD XLT trim, gas burner 6.4 liter, it's an extended cab with the two smaller doors. IT has 60K miles and got it for $26500. It's very clean underneath and inside.

I will say this, it doesn't ride as good as my dodge WT, it also doesn't get near as good MPG it hovers around 13 reguardless and it doesn't have anything for weight except a cross over toolbox with very little inside it. IT does have exceptional brakes compared to the dodge 2500.
As for the ride I'm going with dodge again, both ride ruff period but that's expected since they are HD trucks.
The Ford has a bounce that is aggravating as crap.
If I had it to do over I'd probably still go Ford just because I like it better for some reason, but the Dodge 2500 is a solid performer, my only complaint would be the brakes with a load. The dodge 3500s don't have that brake problem.
Hopefully I can get past the dodge being a dodge someday because they are legit trucks.

Jstpssng · Oct 8, 2018

I can do brakes and a lot of minor repairs but balk when it comes to running torches under a vehicle.
The biggest job that I've ever tackled was a motor/transmission in a 1980 2WD F100 one December. I got the engine installed and hooked up but then it came off cold. On that truck you could unbolt the floorboard over the hump so I started the truck up and got it good and warm inside. Then I took the floorboard off, dropped the little 3 speed tranny down and bolted everything together.