Will be buying a newer truck soon.

[Industrial Toys]

Still doing it the old way eh? You need the engine biter.

Engine Biter and Car Crusher in Junkyard - YouTube

 

[dalola]

Still doing it the old way eh? You need the engine biter.

Engine Biter and Car Crusher in Junkyard - YouTube

I'm guessing "finesse" is a word rarely uttered by the operator of such a rig.... :laughing:

 

[crazyal]

Not sure where you are located but if rust is an issue then it must be up north somewhere. I recently bought a Tundra that spent it's whole life in South Carolina. It was more of an excuse to go down and see a friend who lives in the Charlotte area. After doing so I would never buy a truck from up here again. The Tundra has over 150k on it and rides like new. They just don't have the beat up pot hole roads we do. I rarely use the truck but each time I get in it I'm amazed that it rides so nice. No rattles or squeaks. I just did a search on a couple of sight like Car Gurus until I found what I wanted (4wd Tundras that didn't migrate down from up here are hard to find but the big 3 shouldn't be).

 

[LouNY]

Still doing it the old way eh? You need the engine biter.

Engine Biter and Car Crusher in Junkyard - YouTube

The reinstall may be a tad pick more difficult, taking care of all the loose ends.

I really don't like those yards,
when I was younger and had more energy then money I used to enjoy walking thru junk yards.
Either to pull my own parts that I needed,or when I was contemplating a project or a build.
Back then a person could put together a decent running rig from the junk yards and todays builders
still could except for the damned bureaucratics and all their meddling and bull crap.

 

[MF2604h]

Not sure what part of SC you got the truck from, but we have some of the worst roads in the country.

 

[Industrial Toys]

All the part in the world wouldn't do you much good today, without all the computers and related wiring.

I used to love searching for little trinkets. Like an under the hood lamp or ashtray lamp, if my car didn't have one. I used to "borrow" those little wire ended bulbs for dash illumination. What a joy it was in simpler times, when you could reach under your dash, replace a bulb or two and restore illumination.

 

[LouNY]

From what I have seen and read there is still some old fashioned hot rodding going on in states that don't make it almost impossible to register a vehicle with an engine or tranny swap.
Many older rigs getting newer engines and trannys with some stand alone computers and some salvaged ones with cut down and modified harnesses.
It may be more work then it used to be, but it is still being done.

If I could get it on the road here I would love to stick a de-emmissioned RAM eco diesel into a Dakota crew or extra cab.
Of course I'd have to travel to find a Dakota that wasn't all rotted out.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I enjoyed two Dakotas. A six and an eight. Pigs on fuel, both about the same. Would love an EcoDiesel that wasn't going to grenade.

 

[LouNY]

I had an 2002 with the 4.7 V8 and a 5 speed, put 213,000 on that little thing.
Over worked it a few times, drove it like a hot rod many times while commuting to and from work,
on ramps in 3rd be doing 70 mph into the 3rd lane then grab 4th.
Went thru several sets of front brakes and rotors and calipers, they tended to seize up from the salt,
the rears were still original, I had replaced the alternator but never pulled a valve cover on her.
The gas mileage was poor it was a 16 mpg truck even on long trips.
So far I have 76,000 on my eco and knock on wood no issues.

 

[Jstpssng]

I had two Dakotas, a '91 and a '93. The first I bought with 28k on it and sold it with 197k because I was afraid of it stranding me out in the woods. I used to have new u-joints put in every month until I smartened up and started changing them myself; they were so tiny that you had to grease them before putting the drive shaft back in, so they were getting installed without being lubed.
The rear wheel ABS was a challenge in snow; I finally learned to run in 4wd, otherwise the front tires were the only brakes. I broke the front spyder gears in each truck once; the only trucks which I ever had that problem.