My Cummins isx is dead, buy a new truck, or do and In-Frame?

What type of 08 Pete did you decide to start this project on? Any photos?

 

Help me understand what you are saying about value of truck after rebuild.
We don’t rebuild our trucks for resale value. We rebuild our motors becuase we know the truck and we took care of it and it’s a solid truck. Rebuilding motor is becuase the plan is to keep the truck especially becuase it’s a non epa truck. You did mention your truck was an 01
Just wandering unless I read you wrong

 

This is probably my single best documented and photographed project ever lol. It can be found on Rawze's site.

 

He could also go pre-emission truck, depending where he runs.

 

Well, I paid $13k for the truck and used it for a year. I put a $25k motor in it and it’s still only worth Maybe $15k. In 2 years its prolly only worth $10k?

Funny even on the first day I put the motor in the truck, still would not bring even the cost of the motor?

We had one of our company trucks get a ISX engine replaced at an out of state dealer. $48k was the bill!!!!!

So if this guy pays full shop retail to have an engine put in he could be looking ( $50k ) at 1/2 the cost of a brand new truck!!! Still an 2009 prostar with 1 million miles. It is still worth $10k tops!!!

Why not just buy a brand new truck? This truck in 2 years will still be worth more than the cost of the motor.

Having a dealer put a motor in a 09 prostar is a bad business decision according to any accountant.


But mostly I’m just rambling.

 

I replaced a Detroit 60 in a 2001 International a couple of years ago, changed the transmission, already had done the rear ends. Still ended up with a bunch of crap. Syncro's went out on the transmission at 200K, had a problem with the motor that required tearing into it (best we can figure, a rag was left in the motor during the rebuild). Power divider went out again. Impossible to keep the AC running, more than 5K in that mess alone. It just never quit. STILL close to 20K a year in maintenance, having to rent trucks to cover loads, etc.

Took delivery of a new T680 this summer. So far, the savings in fuel and maintenance more than make the payment -- but the insurance is double, too. The driver is A LOT happier driving the truck, and is actually able to do more miles in a day (combination of more power and less fatigue because the AC works, less noise, etc). The EPA stuff is worrisome, but it seems to be at a point the dealers can actually fix them now if they do break.

The only way I can see keeping an old truck running (and a pre-epa truck at that), is if you can and like to do your own wrenching and have a place to do it, if your routes let you come by the house regularly, and if your business isn't harmed by going down under load or taking a week or two off here and there.

 

I’m on my 3 rd year and still at .24 cents per mile on repairs and maintenance. That’s truck and trailer with washes, service, tires, chrome I mean everything!

I do 99% of my own labor so I could easily be in a new truck n trailer for not much more or less actually if I charged for my labor and included the purchase prices.

I agree with @Accidental Trucker if I couldn’t do my own work or had a driver in it NEW would be the only option for me.

That being said, I like wrenching and knowing if I wanted to stop tomorrow I could just park them and be done. No worries about huge payments coming at me.

Priceless!

 

Have you looked at getting an older engine? SImilar to how gliders run.