Decision Point - Repair or Replace 2007 Century?

The trans has me worried. In the meantime, I have to overrev a bit, and lug it unless I'm real careful about when I shift and give zero shyts about how fast I'm moving and take care of the truck instead.

I checked on the detents (the ones under the shifter) and it doesn't have them, it has the rod that comes in from the side instead. no impact to replace it. Are you talking about detents inside the trans on the shift rail in there (a little transmission illiterate)? I had heard these symptoms could also come from a broken mount, which would be lucky. I fully expect that the trans will have to come out at some point, and am hoping for better luck. Current plan is to set up for obtaining one that's been pulled from a wreck before I get it pulled and looked at, just to get her back on the road ASAP. I expect a significant repair/rebuild would cost almost as much (or more, like 5K) and take longer. lol

The torsion bar was replaced once about a year ago. the bushings giving out is probably because of the frame offset rather than vice versa, so I'm told. (This was "discovered" when I had to replace an airbag that had come off its bead - twice. I replaced two with brand new ones, and they've been ok so far. the other two are additions to the above list. (There was a minor off road excursion at one point that likely caused all of it.)

 

I thought that too, and checked about getting them for the model I have. It doesn't have those. It made me sad, because I could DO that. lol Now I'm left with something I probably shouldn't try. I have a sneaking suspicion that I have a bad mount I can't see from underneath.

 

Here's Francie. She's seen some miles since this was taken, and has a steel bumper now, but this is what I'm talking about. She's not real pretty, but $he'$ pretty ok.

As a side note, my answer to those new guys who might be thinking "I wanna be a owner operator. Hey...I'm gonna get a lease purchase truck from a mega carrier and be me a truck driver." No. Don't. This is hardly the only way, and it's not foolproof, but for what it's worth, this is how I did it when I decided to go O/O after being a company driver, then a contracted driver before I ever really considered it. I would NOT do a LP. Never. Ever.

Save around 15K for a decent used truck, buy from someone you know, or at least have it checked over really well by a mechanic before you buy, and save another 10K to bank for a repairs and maintenance nest egg, get or keep a good credit rating, and have at least some (like 5-10K) available on a credit card. Find a good small carrier, and bust your ### every day. You will be both happier, and a lot more successful. Just my two cents.

 

I think you guys all have the right idea. Given what I've got in it, and knowing what's good and what's not, is safer than getting another used truck that I might have to spend as much as I have just to get where Francie is at now. Even knowing it'll never be worth what I have in it, it's a known known. It even probably has room to put in a drop axle when I get the repairs done. I know what it needs, so it really comes down to spending a bit more on the old girl to make her happier, instead of running the risk on some cute, younger looney tune with bigger boobs that I met in a bar.

I imagine the injector cups and trans are going to be the first things.

Thanks y'all. Appreciate your thoughts.