Transporting an old fire truck

So his a volunteer not a full time with deep attachment. He bought it for a bit of fun. Its sat for a year and has no idea of its machinal state prior or current. He doesn't want to register it and I'm guessing have a mechanic check it over also. His asking you to drive his interest because he doesn't have a licensee and my guess trying to save $1000+ to have it flat bedded.

If it had been started monthly and run around the block for the past 12 months, maybe. But needs ? permits go the 4hrs. Let him work that out. Its all giggles till #### goes down and someone has to pay the bill, and your holding the bag.

Really, be glad to tag along on the day to keep the wife happy. But if his bought a truck for a hobby he better start putting his hand in his pocket. Get licensed, and own it.

Its probably been well maintained being a fire engine, and the poor thing will probably go ok if you floor it out of the gates and ring its neck for 30 minutes. Its what happens after that is the unknown. Maybe its as simple as it keeps going if the sirens are. I'd flat bed it.

 

It isn't like an old fire truck running down the road will attract any attention from law enforcement.

Just throw on the lights and siren and get an escort home.

 

I bought an 85 Chevy C60 box truck a few years ago. Had low miles 46,000, 350, allison automatic. Ran out decent, but had sat for a few years.

First red flag should have been the guy had the truck running, and was tinkering under the hood when I showed up. But I looked it over, and decided it was roadworthy. Plus my wife was following in the pickup truck with tools, what could go wrong? Took off on the 250 mile trip home.

About a third of the way home, it decides to launch the fan belt. Get's caught on the fan, starts whipping around, and takes out the radiator hoses.

That was a $750.00 tow home.....

 

I'd ship it, not drive it. Shipping just costs money, driving it will cost money, maybe a lot more once you factor in the cost a a big repair at 0130 in the morning plus a tow bill.

 

Being a 87 it probably has a silver series in it, good engines.

Question is…. Has any of the injectors become stuck on it? Does it have any underlying issues that hasn’t reared its ugly head yet and just waiting for you to get 1/2 way home before it shows itself….?

 

I guess you overlooked that fan belt during your pre-trip?
What could go wrong is like saying It could not get any worse, or it is all downhill from here. Then the brakes fail, every time in every movie.

People just don't know when to shut the trap.
Words are like magic, and magic always comes at a price.