Why not doing your own repairs will make you go bankrupt.

Sit out there with the ol hand I passed in Gallup with the hood up on his 84 extended hood 359 with a 3406B. Waiting on someone to fix his injection pump. Sitting there when I went west and still sitting there when I came back east.

 

The aluminum Fords seem to be holding up well. People think my truck has less than half the mileage on it that it actually does.

 

There’s next to nothing bad about them. Granted, I would never want to have to work on one but you shouldn’t have to for a decade or longer.

 

I wish. Its not terrible but its needed a couple thousand in repairs right off warranty.

 

I run a 1981 ..359 with a 3406 b ..
I have run this truck since 1997.. run it about 180 to 230k a year only been broke down on the side of road 4 times where I had to call for a resuce wagon ..I have a spare injection pump sitting on a shelf in the shop if needed..
I bet I see 3 or 4 plastic curb sniffers sitting on the side of the road with the hood up waiting on a wrecker every day I'am out..
Much rather deal with a injection pump than a emissions issue
I doubt you even know what a injection pump for a 3406b looks like let alone know how to change one

 

I'll give you that, but states also "pre-treat" roads way more today than even 20 years ago. That liquid salt brine is hard on cars, bridges and anything it comes in contact with. I watch a guy on YouTube that has a shop in upper NY and he says 7 years is about all you get out of a car up there because of all the salt they use.

 

I prefer 1962-1967 cars. They were so simple. 68-74 they got a bit more complicated, more stuff to fail. Except for electronic ignition in 1973, everything went downhill till the mid 80’s. A big reason engines last longer is because of no lead gasoline, improved oil additives, and especially the computer and sensors ability to adjust for maximum efficiency. Cleaner burn.

 

You right .. I think that salt brine should be outlawed it destorys everything it comes in contact with

 

My 65 won’t die on its own. It’s sat over a year so many times in the 25 yrs I’ve owned it. Drove it a few years, it’s been sitting for almost 2 years now. I’d bet money, it’ll fire right up. I can hear the lifter tick already. Lol. It goes away. 112k miles on it. I’ve put 12k in 25 yrs. 383 4 bbl.

 

One place to look.at is parts markups also ...as soon as I got to 10 trucks I hired a local tech with a lot of energy and potential ....2nd step.was getting a fleet discount on parts at a local dealership ....
Then I started Sourcing all.sorts of parts outside the dealership ....
We can do an entire ac system compressor condenser dryer and freon if needed for 450 dollars ....water pump.i find the part online for 250 to 300 dealership is around 600 list is even higher ......but our biggest savings is giving my guy a clean shop and a full day to find every leaking fitting air bag brake that'd close etc.....it has made a difference in the long run .
We stick to light to med mechanical and venture a little into one box maintainence but I agree to spend that much time at a dealership at 190 to 200 an hour and that's not even the real rate as you have to add in the extra 10 or 11% for shop supplies scam.

Yah I avoid dealerships unless I have zero choices ...and allways watch and contest those bills they are allways negotiable