This might be the truck I buy

Bfr38 · Jul 2, 2013

Richter said: ↑

On your volvo, look around...i've heard of small shops doing in frames for as low as 7000 on a Detroit. That s60 engine is a thing of beauty and there are tons of shops that work on them. IF you like the truck and there are no other major problems, an investment may be worth it. If you buy a 06ish Columbia with 600,000 on it for 25k, you might need an in frame in 0-400,000 miles anyway. Assuming the rest of your volvo is in good shape, a 10,000 dollar investment for an in frame could give you another 500,000 miles of life. (unless of course you mean the engine is beyond needing an inframe) I'm not suggesting don't by old trucks/keep old trucks running. Im suggesting, dont buy old petes, because you will get better bang for your buck with a Freghtliner.

In my opinion heres how it goes:

OLD KW/Pete: The prettiest trucks on the road. Average maintenance cost, Horrible drive ability, comfort, handling, visibility etc. Horrible driver ergonomics. Very over priced to buy, because your buying a "classic with a name". If your goal is a pretty truck, by one, but if your goal is money, your better off passing on the Petes especially.

NEW KW: Some of the nicest interiors you will ever see. Prettiest areo trucks. Still pretty bad ride and handling. Still way over priced for what you get. Expensive to maintain.

New Pete: Where do i start lol. They took a think of beauty and made it ugly. The insides are nicer, but they still maneuver like your towing an elephant. They are way over priced, but the inside are average, not as bad as the old petes. They are the ugly ducking of trucking though. Petes brand is known for awesome looking classic trucks, and there new ones are not. They are IMO at best, average. If your going for average go with a FL.

Freghtliners: Even the old ones were more areodynamic then the petes. FL's are work trucks. They handle decent, they menuver great. The insides are decent. Switches all make sense with their placement. They don't have style, but looks don't get you paid. They are the cheapest to maintain, and with the best fuel economy they are the cheapest to fuel. If you want money, FL is your truck. New and old, they top the charts on MPG, lowest maintenance and Decent comfort.

Volvo:These are the trucks designed with just the driver in mind. These ride the smoothest, maneuver the best, have the fanciest interior. They look like, well, horrible, worse then a FL or new pete. But volvo drives care about the inside. They care that they are comfortable after a days drive. They didn't have to manhandle the truck, because driving it is easy. The computer took care of many driver responsibilities and assisted with everything. If you want a truck that is the most comfortable, Volvo os wear its at. The problem is, they are very expensive to maintain. They are very expensive to buy. There fuel economy is decent though, so if your willing to pay high maintenance cost, a volvo is like driving a really nice fl.

The long and the short of it: Petes/KW are if you want to look good. FL is of you want a fairly decent truck that makes you the most money. Volvo is if you want a really nice FL that cost you more in maintenance.

So, if you like your volvo, and its in good shape aside from the engine, no reason to get rid of it. If you do get rid of it, my recommendation is to by a aero FL like the columbia. If you do decide not to do an inframe, sell it sooner then later. its worthless after the engine goes Boom. It might be worth something before that. you may want to trade it to a dealer, because they may or may not find the engine problem.
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Thanks a lot bud! The Volvo is in horrible shape, or I would have def considered it. The guy that I bought it off of cause I was desperate for a truck he by passed the air dyer etc... It's rigged so much never again! Thanks a lot though man I really appreciate it!

spacetrucker88 · Jul 5, 2013

If a 379 is so hard on fuel would someone please explain to me how my boy (who is 22) is getting 7.5 mpg out of his 379 hauling oversize tractors and dozers and so on.1994 379 extended hood N14 at 460 hp 9 speed overdrive transmission and 3.90 rears.58 mph at 1400.speed is the main factor run slow. (and this is a setup you could not give away)

spacetrucker88 · Jul 5, 2013

air drier bypassed? sometimes you got to do things to keep running,put a new air drier on it no big deal

‘Olhand · Jul 5, 2013

spacetrucker88 said: ↑

If a 379 is so hard on fuel would someone please explain to me how my boy (who is 22) is getting 7.5 mpg out of his 379 hauling oversize tractors and dozers and so on.1994 379 extended hood N14 at 460 hp 9 speed overdrive transmission and 3.90 rears.58 mph at 1400.speed is the main factor run slow. (and this is a setup you could not give away)
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Cmon Sapce--you answered your own question--they have fuel arguments ALL over this forum--and although the set up MAY not be best--doing heavy haul and seeing your in the Keystone--actually would work good on lots of those roads--BUT--the answer is 58mph--the biggest factor in fuel mileage always has been and always will be--the driver and speed.....

Bfr38 · Jul 5, 2013

spacetrucker88 said: ↑

air drier bypassed? sometimes you got to do things to keep running,put a new air drier on it no big deal
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It was a lot more than that it had blow bye and everything else I was looking at around 25,000 dollars to get it back on the road. I'm not putting that into a 99 Volvo that has had rough care. I would buy a truck for 25,000 before I would do that, but you're right if it was just the drier no prob I would fix that.

Richter · Jul 7, 2013

For everyone that argues about fuel MPG:\

Yes, there are pete 379's getting crazy good numbers

Yes their are FL columbias that get crazy bad numbers

Point is, Same driver, same trans, same add ons, same tires, same speed, the FL Columbia will always beat a 379 pete. There are other variables though.

Going 58 really adds to MPG. Also if its an 04 it does not have EGR shich is a plus. Also, is he getting the 7.5 from the dash or actual math on fill ups. My company truck got 8.5 on the dash and 7.6 on actul math. I then realized the tire size was wrong and causing the speedo to be off. This caused the truck odometer to think it was driving more miles then it was.

jeffgul · Jul 7, 2013

Better Hurry!!

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