Change my mind

Just to give you an idea of the cost. I bought everything online. Injectors are $2100 at Dealer. I took a chance on these for $900. They were DD Reliabilts, so far, good. You can pull the liners yourself. Have the counterbores cut, and they will install the new inserts ( shims) , and liners.

 

No Need to pull, no need to line bore block. This is the 2nd OH. It had one at 825, right before I bought it. This time, approx.2.1 mil. I’m not sure, odometer broke 6 yrs ago. I have a new one now. I had the injectors calibrated, and forgot to get mileage from ECM. Lol. Truck still has original rears, and front end parts. I’m changing front end, and original 5th wheel this month. Point being, some stuff lasts a long time, if reasonably maintained, and driven.

 

I totally agree with the “everything new” feeling.

I bought my first truck a few months ago, but mine is to help my other business so it’s a little different in that respect. If it sits, it sits. I too am in the oil field, much respect to you for what you have accomplished. Just like the oil field, it’s all about the relationships you build. I wouldn't be where I am now without those relationships.

I found a unicorn of a truck for me. Pre ELD Pete 379 that had already been overhauled with an 02 6NZ. The motor and trans only have about 160k on them and truck came with full paperwork.

It was a straight truck, so I had it converted, frame shortened and 5th wheel installed. It needed a repaint, so I figured I might as well change the cab lights, shave the roof, change visor, install 8” exhaust, change tanks, add toolbox, add step, change the grill, new grill surround since the other one was slightly bent. Why not go ahead and polish everything while it’s there? Install 7” round lights too.

Then I serviced it myself and changed every single filter and fluid. Leaking steering pump hoses, so replaced all those. Needed new coolant tubes and hoses so might as well do CAC pipping while I’m there.

Get all that done and then notice a vibration from 45-80 from the rear. Decide to pull the cheap tires off and put good ones on. Add centrimatic balancers. Now in the process of getting all gauges working properly and sound deadening the doors then the cab.

All told I’m WAY over that $10k..,probably closer to $20k.

But it is nice having everything new.

Go for it man. You’ll do fine.

 

Well, I'm trying to "change" your mind

How about plumbing? Licensed plumbers make really good money...and they're home every night.

Are you good at electrical? My nephew in-law enrolled in an electricians apprenticeship program years ago, now he makes big bucks...and he's home every night.

 

HVAC is the way to go!!! Crane Operator, Tug Boat Captain, just looking around my own family, it’s all better than Trucking.

 

You can run anything until it breaks. But when and where it fails you can endanger and cost you an in-absorbent amount of money in tows and down time.

Plus dealing with locating parts or a reputable repair facility to perform them for you in god knows where .

I’ve ran across a few hardcore guys doing some heavy duty wrenching in the heat of the day in the Loves in my 16 months of driving .

Don’t want to be that guy if I can help it.

I’m 56 now. All my life I was always purchasing used Chevy vans because they are handy all around if set up for work and camping and towing boats.

Back in the day anything with a 100 thousand was considered wore out.

You could buy nice older conversion vans for a song

I’d do a compression check on a clean high mileage van and go from there.

Tear into the sbc but didn’t pull the heads and put a new timing chain and water pump in it along with valve seals and all new gaskets

New belts hoses alternator starter all fluids new battery

New brakes , calipers , wheel cylinders master cylinder. Repack or replace wheel bearings.

New exhaust , universals , carrier bearings and tires . Shocks and a alignment

I would than drive the van for a 100 thousand with absolutely no problems and the confidence I could drive it cross country.

Rinse and repeat.

This was back 10 years ago when you could still buy quality rebuilt parts.

I continued this process up until about 8 years ago when rebuilt parts started regularly failing me and learning there were no quality rebuilt parts left out there anymore

I have a good buddy who’s a 3rd generation owner of a very large and successful heavy duty truck parts and auto parts store here in Florida

I asked him about all these rebuilt parts failures I was experiencing He simply said there is no more quality non Chinese remanufactured auto parts out there anymore. That was 8 years ago



That’s when I bought a used Japanese suv and basically never turned a wrench again on my personal vehicles . But to be honest the used 2003 Chevy van I recently purchased is twice the quality of 1998 and the only brand new van I ever purchased.

So that story leads me to this one.

Make sure your replacement parts are top quality.

Do not be led astray by price.

A discounted injector set that drives you crazy because one or the other is occasionally misfiring will drive you to the Funny Farm .

If and Once I get tearing on my truck I am going to ask the guys on here what is the Best part manufacturer or rebuilder for the part I am replacing .

I know this post is long but someone has got to fill in for 1xHeavy.

 

Exactly.

Which brings me to my heads up about replacing wheel and axle bearings Willy Nilly.

What’s in there is quality USA parts most likely , and if their in good condition use them.

You never know what your going to get with this Chinese Krap out there.

I will rebuild my components myself instead of rebuilds if parts are available

 

Pretty big shoes to fill.

 

I’ve been Out in west Texas running cranes off and on for the last 7-8 yrs. got in good with a consultant and became good friends. He went and started his own consulting firm and pushed me to start my own crane company...so that’s what I’m up to. Got the truck to move my cranes, of course everything is sitting right now. I’ve moved my partners crane a few times for wind work. We are going back to work in September is what I’m being told, so we’re enjoying a long summer vacay with the wife and kids for the first time in forever. Lol.