Truck is at 150k and thinking about taking it to the shop to get my timing chain installed, tranny leak fixed and my exhuast leak fixed . Prob will be 800 bucks or more to fix . I dunno if I wanna put more money into the truck . It's a high milage truck and its a single cab. I'm considering a new dodge truck like a 3rd gen but I don't wanna lose all the money I invested into the truck . It is paid off so I guess I could look at 800 as a 2 month payment on a new truck .

I know I won't get the money on my truck in a trade in , and with the exhuast leak it sound like it has a bad lifter or a bad rod . So it wouldn't sell well as a privete sell either .

Gas is a killer for sure and due my gf has 2 kids we can't do anything in my truck .

 

You very rarely get the money you invested out of a used vehicle. (unless you get it REALLY cheap....) That said, if you think the GF is gonna be around for a while, your truck just became rather impractical. (been there, done that..... Sold my Firebird because of it..... GF is still around though...) Fix the exhaust leak, and put it on craigslist for a grand more than you have in it. (or 500, whatever) See what folks offer. Start looking around for a 2ng gen quad cab 4x4.

 

It does suck when it comes time to either not fix or sale/trade a vehicle you've put a lot of time and/or money into.

Sounds like you need at least an extended cab for sure. I've got a quad cab, and at the moment it's plenty big enough for us, but once the midgets, I mean kids, grow a little they'll need more leg room and it'll be time for a full sized 4 door, 3rd or 4th Gen.

If it's just the pan or gasket leaking on the transmission it's fairly easy to do, most expensive part is filling it back up.

The timing chain is VERY simple to replace, once you get to it just take off the cam sprocket nut, and slide the old timing chain off, align the new one to factory timing and slide it on. It's just a PITA to get too.

 

What do you mean?? I see cars on Craigslist all the time where people are asking $5000 for a '86 Escort because they just put brand new used tires on it, it only has 200,000 miles, an engine that doesn't run worth a damn, etc.

But, I guess thats Cleveland for ya, or maybe just the way people are anymore.

On a realistic note, no, you will not get out of it what you put into it.

 

OK. So current truck does not meet your current needs and you need some work done, so you don't take a beating trying to get a truck that meets your needs. For most of us, money dictates far more than we like, so maybe breaking this down into manageable pieces could help.


You have been here on DF for quite some time, so I assume (yes, this usually gets me into trouble....) that you have done some of your own work. Timing set can be done for about $70 in parts, and that is using a double roller chain. Morse chain may be less.


Where is the tranny leaking? Will it require removal to fix? Dropping a tranny is about a 3 hour job, and 2+ to put back in. Cost - don;t know, but front seal, rear seal, etc are pretty cheap - can't be more than about $3 or $4 each.


Like tranny - where is it leaking? Welded or clamped joint? Mufflet or cat? They make a patch that can be wrapped. Since you are looking to swap for a different vehicle, I would suggest this if it is where you can get to it. For a keeper truck - not so much.

I spent some time selling cars and trucks, and even if they make you think they are giving you a really great deal on your trade (always keep your hand on your wallet when talking to a car salesman) you will be making it up on the vehicle you are buying. They are working on commission, after all.

Of course all of this will be complicated by having access to a place to work, how soon you have to do something, and whatever other variable that Murphy and his law can throw your way. Paying $800 just bites....

 

My Cloyes Double Roller timing set from Rockauto was $43+ shipping, I think...

 

Well I've had the double roller timing set for 9 months and gasket set , right now I'm living in a apartment with my gf and don't have access to tools or place to work . So I have a macanic that I take it too . I also don't wanna go crazy spending as I want a new truck and trying to save for a down payment on a house . I love my truck but being that the rear end ,tranny or motor hasn't been rebuilt I don't wanna get into a money pit and get the most out of it while I can

 

i would say just fix the exhaust leak. the timing chain is probably good for at least another 50,000miles.

 

if you think you might sell the truck, forget the timing chain and transmission leak. most people buying a vehicle don't even know what a timing chain is, nor will they care that it does or doesn't have a new one. do fix the exhaust leak. replace a gasket or reclamp a joint or replace the muffler. have you got a place you can work on it w/o laying in the snow or mud? unless the transmission is pouring fluid, don't fix it either. just spray off the leak every day with brake cleaner while you have it for sale. at 5.50-6.00 per quart, plus filter and gasket, it costs $50 or more just to refill it with oil. if you already bought a timing chain, return it for refund or store credit.

next - maybe on to a 3rd gen. mpg and driveability is a better. age/wear will be less. when shopping for a replacement, look them over close and know all the tricks people use to sell bad vehicles. (see above).

if you do buy and sell - be smart. sell yours on craigslist for as much as you can get, something like KBB private party. then buy used on craigslist or autotrader and depending on your state - try to avoid paying sales tax. (private party used car sales in GA are not taxed, but dealer sales are). do understand that if you trade in at a car dealer, you will get screwed both ways. that's what they do for a living, and they are good at it, and that's a fact of life.

and as said - as unpleasant as this is, all the money you spend on a vehicle is not really an investment - its simply a cost... when it comes time to sell, the book value rules, and the sum of your cost doesn't mean too much unless you have an eager buyer with lots of extra money.

having said all that - i've driven a single cab my whole life, including raising 2 kids to adults. while we did always have a "family car" to use, we did stack everybody up in the front seat hundreds or thousands of times and never questioned it.

 

I agree I caught up all routine maitanence like this at 240,000. And most dodges like to drink or drip a little fluid so don't mess with nature lol. I would just clean it and not mention it if it's not a quart a week.... That being said my brother was born in 96 the same year we bought my single cab making me a my brother 5 years apart and we made it work till 01 when we got a truck with them half back doors (sorry I can't remember the cab breakdown). Point is you may not have to give up your baby if your determined and crafty, I know I'll never sell mine cuz I can't imagine another taking as good of care of me