and new member making my first post (so PLEASE be gentle with me)!

I USED to be a Chevy man - all the way. I’m an old guy, at least they TELL me that I am, going on 57 later this year. I never liked the sound of Mopar starters on their older cars, never liked the looks (or that front end) of newer Dodge trucks. Chevy’s were it. I had several friends with Chevy trucks, and I wasn’t ever totally happy with them, I just expected to learn to live with what I didn’t like about ‘em. One of these days mebbe they will fix that auto transmission slop, but then you wouldn’t know you are driving a Chevy truck, would you?

Yeah! I knew the old acronyms for Ford – “Found On Road Dead”, “Fix Or Repair Daily”, “First Off Road Duty”, and “First (in trailer) On Race Day”

My first Ford truck was a used 1987 Bronco II 4WD (price was just too good to turn down). It was a blast to drive around town with that peppy little 6 and a/t. Finally wore it out, but I never even came close to turning it over (even when I SHOULD HAVE), I don’t know WHERE that stuff comes from… It would even tow a big bass boat (that weighed as much a it did), it just couldn’t stop it (safely)!

In 1996 we bought a new 4dr. Explorer w/5.0, AWD and loaded. Hey! this is NICE! Got another new Explorer in 1998 but didn’t like it nearly as much as that 1996.

I looked at a new Chevy truck in 1997 and I JUST couldn’t do it…

So I bought a new 1997 F150 S/Cab XLT Lariat. Got the 5.4, 4WD, loaded with absolutely EVERYTHING available. Added a K&N and a Flowmaster (1 in – 2 out – sounded GREAT!) cat-back redirected out the back of the truck. The 5.4 had plenty of power and torque, sold it at 80K miles without having ANY problems outside of normal maintenance and those expensive 17” Goodyear tires.

We operate a pressure washing and Specialty coatings business and bought a Ford truck to work out of. Got a 1997 regular cab XL, red, 2WD, cloth bench seat and rubber floor mats. 4.6 auto, tow package and an 8’ bed. WONDEFUL for what we do – PERFECT. All I do is buy a (blem) bedliner for $100, mess it up or wear it out, throw it away and get another one. This truck is PERFECT for what I do for a living with those cloth seats and rubber floor mats.

This many years, and 201,000 miles later, this truck still runs great, and is very dependable for everyday use. I absolutely LOVE the power curve and driveability of the 4.6. Plenty of power and torque for my needs, never had a problem towing. It uses a little more oil recently than it used to, and the tranny shudders a little, and it detonates unless I watch my octane (or use a little bottle of additive). I have replaced a heater core, just did a timing chain (also did the water pump while I was in there, even though the old one wasn’t gone when I took it out) a year or so ago, an a/c compressor, and a headlight bulb. Replaced maintenance parts, brakes, tires etc. when needed. I have tried to change the fluids reasonably well, but have missed or messed up every so often. I added a K&N filter when I first got it, but I mostly use Mobil 1 oil and the insides of the engine are still extremely clean, especially for the mileage. After I change oil, for at least several days I have to look CAREFULLY just to even be able to see the oil on the dipstick, and then you see the wet oil, not the dark and dirty oil. I admit it sounds crazy but it is true!

Recently I went to buy new tires, and while it was there they checked the alignment. It was just a little out, nothing serious, and they checked the rest of the front suspension. I was floored when they told me that it was still solid and nothing, not even shocks needed replacing, and everything is OEM, I have done nothing to it but keep it aligned properly.

I tow - a LOT, so 201,00 miles is especially impressive to me, as towing is so much harder on a truck than ordinary driving (even if you DO maintain properly). I travel more than I used to, and don’t want an old engine or tranny to give it up and leave me on the side of the road somewhere with a trailer loaded with expensive equipment, so I am sorta thinking about getting another pickemup truck.

I have decided to take the $4,000 or so that a new motor would cost for this truck, and another $2K or so for when the tranny fails(if it ever does), and whatever my old heap is worth (if I can part with it – even my mechanic wants to buy it), collect it all together and put it towards a new truck…

I still could get a Chevy, I guess, and I even have a local deal where I can get an additional $500 off my best deal on a new Dodge truck.

NAH! I am NOT stupid - I think I’ll buy another F150!!!!!!!!!!

 

You and matt have alot in common

 

Another convert!

to the site. Lots of good folks and good fun!! Just don't let all the youngsters here scare you off!!

 

Welcome Patrick!!! Too late for me to read the whole post, but I'll come back tomorrow and read it. Just wanted to say hi. GD is a fun place to hang out. Well, most of the time. No really, it is.

 

He is longer winded than a hurricane.... lol J/K

 

yo....

 

Howdy...

We'll take it easy since you asked

 

Thank God!!! Another old timer, like me. 57 this June.

WELCOME!!!!

 

Don't you guys know if you ignore them they'll go away?

 

We grew up in the 60's, finished HS in '67 or so. From a HP and automotive enthusiast standpoint, there wasn't ever a better time to grow up than to just be getting old enough to drive, and getting your first car that was some year model between say 1962 and 1970 or so. Lots of hot cars and HP then.

I have nothing against small displacement engines, but with the right gearing you can move a freight train with a sewing maching motor.

Nothing beats a ton of torque, and the only way to get that is from cubic inches.

I remember the days of getting 13mpg on the hwy (with a tailwind, on a good day).

Except for buying (paying for) fuel for them, I miss those 400 c. i. engines.

...Sighhhh

It's nice to see engineering come so far that some of this new stuff will often outperform and outhandle what we grew up with.

 

Ya, I just flogged my '81 F250 SCab with a 400 ci. It was very faithful to us for 21 years, then I made the mistake of letting a friend "rebuild". It just kept eating push-rods, flooding like the Mississippi, and was very successful at pissing me off. I put about 7G into the whole truck rebuild. Tranny, engine, wiring, front end. It had about 800K Miles on it, and I still see it running around from time to time. Then my wife decided to get the 02 F150. So long to my "baby".

 

There's nothing worse than that long, drawn-out whine those old Chrysler starters used to make!

 

W-E-L-C-O-M-E ! ! !

 

Hello. Yep, more cubic inches! Love the 429s and 460s, 428s and 427s. By the way, you are just a kid, I am 62.

 

Hey Pat, I just turned 51. Someday soon we'll get out our walkers and go for a spin! Welcome!