Gotta R&R the trans for the freeze plugs on the back of the motor..... Probably 8 to 10 hours labor, and whatever their rate is. Couple of the freeze plugs are behind the motor mounts, so, they may elect to pull the motor instead. (quite possibly easier that way.....)

 

The front trans seal is several hours of aggravation for a $25-40 part. I always replace it even if the transmission is otherwise not bothered. $1800 seems a bit high but I closed my shop in 1984 so prices may have gone up a wee bit in 40+ years. It's most of a days job, if not more. I'd do a good flush of the block with the expansion plugs out. There is rust from the years as well as sand from the factory casting process. The last engine I did that to, I got about 4 gallons of garbage out of the block.

 

The average price of a pickup truck today is about $50K. A 5 year loan at 6% on a $50K loan (plus taxes and fees) results in a $966/month car payment. Kind of puts an $1,800 truck repair in perspective not to mention even newer trucks have large repair bills once out of warranty..

 

If the family is fairly close, a new truck wouldn't have the memories of Grampa's (Or Pop Pop, and Papaw or what ever) truck. I gave my nieces and nephew their first cars. No, I don't need any more nieces or nephews.

 

yes he did say about 10 hours labor.
He knows my truck well, and knows it spent it first 10 years on salty Illinois roads. So right from the start at the friggin skid plate that has never been off and all the other bolts/mounts... the grit that has stuck to the oily grime probably some gravel up top of cross members also, and my lost wrench.

 

yep , I been playing that 'ace card' for years... the Dakota has been a good truck for me. I brought it home 26 years ago, paid $10K cash and check to the original owner.
My exhaust dohnut/gasket went bad about a dozen years ago and that's when I had the exhaust put in/on.
A couple years ago I probably spent $2k on steering/suspension and u-joints,
( not the u-joints went bad, a piece if plastic got caught up into around the bearing)
I paid $1200 to have the orginal water pump and related parts and few other replaced 3 months ago.
Oh, and my new headliner , speakers...
so yes, I'm spending another $2k

 

yes, she said " it has aura"

 

That is if you stand the hideous looks! There is no vehicle being made today(by the big 3) that has "looks". The Challenger was the last thing that Dodge had and the idiots stopped making it. If somebody had a gun to my head and said you have to buy a new vehicle it would be the new (so called) Charger. I actually seen one on the road not to long ago. It's better than the 4 door "things" that had the Charger name on it but still has a long way to go to have looks. We are stuck fixing the old "good looking" vehicles because the big 3 won't produce them. I saw a newer Dodge truck with the name "Power Wagon" on it, I just shook my head and said what a disgrace to the name! If they are going to build vomit on wheels at least name it as such. Dodge had the bright idea to steel a name from AMC, The Hornet. See how well that worked out for them. It says a lot about the mind set of who is producing vehicles today.

 

My Mazda CX-5 is about as small a car I can stand to drive. The Hornet is smaller. It's also sitting on lots for a long time. The local dealer just sold one from 2023. They didn't get full price either.

 

About 4 years ago I dumped about $5K into my truck over about a year. I basically rebuilt all the steering, suspension, and brake systems with almost all new parts. New body mounts, new muffler, u-joints, wheel bearings, motor mounts, on and on. I did most of the work so that was primarily parts cost. I bought high quality parts (with the help of this forum pointing me in the right direction). When the truck was garage kept, engine and tranny that purr, I thought it was worth the investment...particularly when new truck prices are out of control. Oh, and the worst job of all that? Putting the spring coils back in. What a horror show that was!