I hate car shopping

CasterTroy · 02-21-2011, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Particle Man

on most of 'em, the bed and cab corners are rusted to shit.

Yeah that's why I look for florida vehicles most of the time. If this OTHER one we looked at last week doesn't pan out I'm flying down to see Moira

CasterTroy · 02-21-2011, 10:09 AM

The whole REASON for looking for a truck had to do with the fact that my 2004 exploder (valued at a whopping $7000 trade-in) needed so much work that it wasn't worth fixing.

See it's been roaring for a few months now, and popping and jerking at very low speed turns. I knew the clutch packs had given out in the LS rear. Not a big deal. But I was concerned for the ring & pinion health so I had it checked out when I got it inspected last month.

The mechanic at the inspection station said it WAS pretty worn and maybe I needed to look into it further, but there was no leaking. SO he said no hurry. He priced a new rearend at $1,700 + $200 install.

Since he wasn't a ford dealer he couldnt GET the internals...he needed to get the entire rear assembly from JASPER. But that had a lifetime warranty. See it's a full independent rear suspension, not a live axle so it's a stationary rear assembly with floating axles and rear wheel bearings.

OK...an option.

So I took it to Parkway ford to have them look at everything it needed.

Parkway Ford won't even LOOK at your car unless you give them $95

But I wanted to know everything so I paid it

Their estimate?

$1650 for new gears and clutchpacks
$390 for right front bearing
$634 for BOTH rear wheel bearings
$298 Leaking front pinion seal

OH and you're getting close to 100k.....

$280 for new plugs

I got to thinking....a few months ago when I got tires I decided to put some Jeep Rubicon wheels on...

had a painter buddy spray them and fill in the JEEP on the centercaps. Thought it'd be "different" but ever since then is when it started acting funny and roaring. I got to thinking, maybe since the JEEP wheels stuck out about 1.5" maybe THAT had something to do with some of the issues. So I thought....I'll just put the stock wheels back on it while I'm at it.

So I took it to King, NC to Piedmont Radiator and Tire where I have all my work done.

He replaced the front wheel bearing and threw the stock wheels back on then drove it. Said I didn't NEED any of the other work done (well, I'll need plugs in another 1000 miles) and said as long as I didn't care that I now had an OPEN rear diff instead of an LS, then he wouldn't do squat about the rearend....that ALL 8.8's hummed like a bad streetlamp. Since it's an AWD model I don't care about the LS.

I literally had to argue with him about the rear bearings though. I figured he just didn't have the time that day to DO the rear bearings or didn't WANT too. I told him I'd schedule another day to do the rear bearings if that would help him?!?!

He said "You don't NEED them man....I'm serious!"

?!?!?!?!

SO I happily paid him $300 for the front bearing and jumped in the exploder. On the ride home I found that it road fine, no roaring, no vibration....no nothing. Smooth as silk....other than the typical 8.8 rearend hum.

Apparently the rubi wheels caused most of the vibration, slow speed wheel hop, and chatter....and the roar was just the front wheel bearing.

CasterTroy · 02-28-2011, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riceaholic

Give me a list of vehicles you'd be interested in and with what options and I'll keep an eye out. I see sweet deals around here all the time. I'll even stop and check them out for you.

Nothing after 2008....as that's when this GREEN crap started on a lot of the diesels and you have to add the additives when filling up

PLUS on a 08-up dodge you can't do squat to them power-wise without spending a boatload on controllers.

4x4 (solid front axle)
4 door
Straight drive
Diesel
Duallie prefered (but not required)
Short bed
under 60k miles
Bench front seat (youngest daughter wants that so she can ride up front next to me)
Cloth interior

To get REAL specific

PRE-2007.5 Dodge 3500 MEGA cab 6-speed 4x4 duallie

prefered colors in order

white
black
silver

But I'm interested in most any SOLID front axle 4x4 diesel straight drive 4 door diesel trucks (prefer Duallie)

PERFECT truck would either be a Chevy SAS HD 3500 diesel 4dr 4x4
Or a F350 with a 5.7 common rail swap but those are as rare as a honest politician

Don't really want to consider a ford because most of them have the 6.0 or 6.4 timebombs (But if I found a 7.3 it might be interesting) so I'm kinda stuck looking for a dodge..though I don't like the dodge trucks themselves, the engine and axle config is awesome.

Triple · 03-02-2011, 10:21 AM

C'mon, you don't need a big diesel 4x4.

2006 Dodge Dakota V8 w/ 6-speed MUST SEE - only 30,000 miles - $12999 (Dalton, GA)

I'll deliver if you'll fly me home.

Cutty72 · 03-02-2011, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triple

C'mon, you don't need a big diesel 4x4.

2006 Dodge Dakota V8 w/ 6-speed MUST SEE - only 30,000 miles - $12999 (Dalton, GA)

I'll deliver if you'll fly me home.

Everybody needs a big diesel 4x4!

Riceaholic · 02-21-2011, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CasterTroy

Yeah that's why I look for florida vehicles most of the time. If this OTHER one we looked at last week doesn't pan out I'm flying down to see Moira

Give me a list of vehicles you'd be interested in and with what options and I'll keep an eye out. I see sweet deals around here all the time. I'll even stop and check them out for you.

02-21-2011, 10:09 AM	#2
CasterTroy ................ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: NC Posts: 3,028	STEALERships suck for service too The whole REASON for looking for a truck had to do with the fact that my 2004 exploder (valued at a whopping $7000 trade-in) needed so much work that it wasn't worth fixing. See it's been roaring for a few months now, and popping and jerking at very low speed turns. I knew the clutch packs had given out in the LS rear. Not a big deal. But I was concerned for the ring & pinion health so I had it checked out when I got it inspected last month. The mechanic at the inspection station said it WAS pretty worn and maybe I needed to look into it further, but there was no leaking. SO he said no hurry. He priced a new rearend at $1,700 + $200 install. Since he wasn't a ford dealer he couldnt GET the internals...he needed to get the entire rear assembly from JASPER. But that had a lifetime warranty. See it's a full independent rear suspension, not a live axle so it's a stationary rear assembly with floating axles and rear wheel bearings. OK...an option. So I took it to Parkway ford to have them look at everything it needed. Parkway Ford won't even LOOK at your car unless you give them $95 But I wanted to know everything so I paid it Their estimate? $1650 for new gears and clutchpacks $390 for right front bearing $634 for BOTH rear wheel bearings $298 Leaking front pinion seal OH and you're getting close to 100k..... $280 for new plugs I got to thinking....a few months ago when I got tires I decided to put some Jeep Rubicon wheels on... had a painter buddy spray them and fill in the JEEP on the centercaps. Thought it'd be "different" but ever since then is when it started acting funny and roaring. I got to thinking, maybe since the JEEP wheels stuck out about 1.5" maybe THAT had something to do with some of the issues. So I thought....I'll just put the stock wheels back on it while I'm at it. So I took it to King, NC to Piedmont Radiator and Tire where I have all my work done. He replaced the front wheel bearing and threw the stock wheels back on then drove it. Said I didn't NEED any of the other work done (well, I'll need plugs in another 1000 miles) and said as long as I didn't care that I now had an OPEN rear diff instead of an LS, then he wouldn't do squat about the rearend....that ALL 8.8's hummed like a bad streetlamp. Since it's an AWD model I don't care about the LS. I literally had to argue with him about the rear bearings though. I figured he just didn't have the time that day to DO the rear bearings or didn't WANT too. I told him I'd schedule another day to do the rear bearings if that would help him?!?! He said "You don't NEED them man....I'm serious!" ?!?!?!?! SO I happily paid him $300 for the front bearing and jumped in the exploder. On the ride home I found that it road fine, no roaring, no vibration....no nothing. Smooth as silk....other than the typical 8.8 rearend hum. Apparently the rubi wheels caused most of the vibration, slow speed wheel hop, and chatter....and the roar was just the front wheel bearing. __________________ “Being tolerant does not mean that I share another one’s belief. But it does mean that I acknowledge another one’s right to believe, and obey, his own conscience.” Viktor Frankl

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03-02-2011, 10:21 AM	#4
Triple uncomfortably numb Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: JOH-JAH! Moto: WR250R & Bonneville Posts: 409	C'mon, you don't need a big diesel 4x4. 2006 Dodge Dakota V8 w/ 6-speed MUST SEE - only 30,000 miles - $12999 (Dalton, GA) I'll deliver if you'll fly me home.