The cost factor, yes. If you have a ½ ton get the gears from our Host or some from Patrick’s. For me I have a 1 ton and Patrick does not have anything to fit mine or a ¾ ton. Second I still have the original transmission 4 speed Saginaw untouched. Third I have a back issue and can not do all the work myself. Fourth I got tired of doing everything over and over or trying to pay a bargain barn deal of deals. So, I had the pumpkin changed from a 514/1 to a 410/1 $500.00 and did not like the change. Then asked what it would take to build a rear end for it was told the price would be $1450.00 with $250 back in exchange for the 1972 410/1. Because of the time it took them they discounted me more $ back and the total bill will be $1100.00 for a new 342/1 shortened rear end with new modern brakes, all the brackets, springs, shock mounts etc., etc. for the pick-up.
Rear End Rape WOW ! . I'm with you on the can't work on it and tiring of re-doing jobs over but Hooper's is SO darn expen$ive ! I am sure you'll love the final product .
Nate, I have had to pay for the repairs on this truck and the jeeps since hurting my back at work. It gets real spendy for me no matter whom I choose. Paying some of these guys twice to do something is more costly than Hoopers could ever be for me. I found where I put the lic. tag sticker finally, so today I'm taking it for a spin till noon.
Test Drive I hear you , I'm in the same boat right now . Please remember to try some up hills stretches , curves , down hills and so on to get a feel for the flexability and let us know how it went .
Nate, Well the truck traveled down the road just great, up hill was okay downhill was alright as was some of the curvy roads. It is a nice ride; because of the seat which is in it the ride is very comfortable. The seat came out of one of those shorter Lincolns. The 342 is a little much but I'll get use to it. Because the carb was leaking gas everywhere from it, cutting out on me also running way way to rich I now have the truck getting the carb fixed.
When I switched the rims two weeks ago for the primer nationals and found the rear end had spacers on the rear for the tires, I call the shop that built the rear end and let them know about was told just bring it back and in a week we will have you back on the road, well it has been a week and yes, things are not going good again. Last time they had the truck 9 weeks. Any bets on how long they will have it this time??
Pick-up was promised last Friday, so far I've been told three different stories as to why the truck is not ready. Did not have a housing, electrical went out in the back of the building, do not know why but so in so is not back from lunch yet, I'll call you right back today when it is ready. As with the last time when they took 9 weeks to fix it wrong which is the reason it had to come back and be redone, the same guy is snowballing and not finishing the job. Do I call the Esquire or not??? This kind of shit is the reason I'm sick and tired of dealing with people and this F#%&%$&#$%$^@$#^&^&(&**(^&*%^&*ing truck!!!!!!!!! Always
I hate to hear that! Every time I read something like this, it reminds me of when I paid the joint in Galena to fix my Jeep. I got the estimated price and paid up front. 5 months later I had to have the sheriff meet me at the lot so it could be loaded up and hauled to AAMCO. (Where I got to pay roughly the same amount AGAIN to get it fixed.) Never got my money back. The shop that got my money "went out of business"... I doubt these kind of things would have happened back in the 50's. Good luck to you, Charles. Remember, it's not the truck, it's the yayhoos that are working on it.
Zig, You are right about the truck, and as Nate puts it; " As I Always Say: Life is too short to waste driving a modern truck.” Just a little tired of dealing with do-over’s. This is not just what happens to my truck it is with what happening to everything anymore. My computer as an example was having trouble and I take into the place I bought it and they re-due everything and I tell them save all the material on it. I get it back and no pictures or old email and etc., etc. but they have their stores logo on the screen, I take it back and now I can not load up any pictures, I have to take it back still one more time, that is when I get pissed enough about it. So it seems we have raised a bunch of lazy no nothings. Got the truck back this morning and it looks great, drives great, but I have to fix some goodies on it as before, this time no kat piss or waiting 9 weeks. They took the truck back and fixed it at no charge at all back to me, which is really good of them. And it was a problem where they all of a sudden get swamped with work. Now I feel bad I got mad at em, well not really I still remember the feral cats and the smell! The truck had all the windows up this time
Good deal! Glad to hear you got your truck back! At least now you can chill by taking a spin in that truck of yours! Sorry about your 'puter... No pictures???? I guess that is another thing dandy about this site. Store you pictures here as well as on your computer. That way, you'll always have pictures of your baby! Now go take another drive!