Vehicles... .

[theotherwaldo]

Finally found a truck.
It's a bare bones 20 year old single cab Chevy 1500.
Roll-up windows, no radio, V-8, automatic, new tires and glass, fresh white paint.
$4,750.00.
Nice.

 

[LiveLife]

Hard to beat 90s Chevy trucks with 5.7L (350 ci) engine with my preference going to 97 and newer Vortec V8.

Finally found a truck ... bare bones 20 year old single cab Chevy 1500.
Roll-up windows, no radio, V-8, automatic, new tires and glass, fresh white paint ... $4,750.00 ... Nice.

Congrats!

 

[theotherwaldo]

Congrats!

I spoke too soon.
The seller said that he had to go get the title and papers.
I haven't seen him since.

 

[LiveLife]

I spoke too soon.
The seller said that he had to go get the title and papers.
I haven't seen him since.

Oh man ...

 

[theotherwaldo]

I've got my eye on an '01 Ranger.
Straight,basic, clean - it even has roll-up windows and a stick shift.

 

[theotherwaldo]

The little dealership is only open during my working hours - except when I'm working Saturdays, when I take half-a-day off on Fridays.
So I'll be dropping by this afternoon to make an offer, after I check the rig over...

 

[theotherwaldo]

Finally caught them open.
Bought the little truck.
All that it really needs is a new windshield, just like most vehicles in South Texas.
It'll get delivered on Monday.

 

[theotherwaldo]

-And a new windshield is under $200.00.

 

[theotherwaldo]

It supposedly had a new battery but it turned out to be no good.
Also, there is a short in the A/C system.
Ah, well.
I expected to make some repairs on any cheap, 25-year-old vehicle...

 

[theotherwaldo]

Getting the A/C up and running is under $300.00.
I'm having a local mechanic go over the little truck very carefully.
I'd set aside $1500.00 to get it up to speed.
It looks like that will be plenty.

 

[theotherwaldo]

The 'Check Engine' light was on.
Had it checked out.
The EGR valve had been removed some time in the past and the O2 sensor is broken and locked in place.
Both only matter in emission control states.
So I'll do what I've done on other vehicles - put black tape over the 'Check Engine' light...

 

[theotherwaldo]

The darn ignition switch is faulty and is no longer in production.
The mechanic had to order one on-line,
I knew that this one would be a bit of a project...

 

[theotherwaldo]

I also put new tires, a radiator and a water pump in it.
Runs pretty good.
Just bought a tool box for it - and a windscreen sign that says 'ROCINANTE'.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I'm still waiting for the title to get here so that I can get my plates...

 

[theotherwaldo]

-I've been trying to call our county's DMV, also known as "the department that doesn't answer the phone".
Waste of time,,,

 

[theotherwaldo]

Finally getting my title and plates today.
Whew!

 

[theotherwaldo]

-And a new windshield tomorrow.
Then I will install the tool box and radio antenna and it should be ready to go.
I think that I shall name it 'Rocinante' after Don Quixote's old, worn out war horse...

 

[theotherwaldo]

Well, Safelite couldn't touch the job because there was Bondo in the area of the pinch-weld.
Who'd have thought that a 25-year-old truck that had been repainted might have needed repairs?
They wanted me to take it to a body shop and get it fixed first.
Nope.
I took it to a local, family-owned shop, where they installed a top-quality windshield for about half the price of Safelite.
-And I'm driving it today, partly because my old SUV abruptly quit - but I like my little pick-up already...