My beloved 98 4x4 F150s transmission is beginning to slip and shift slowing from 1st to 2nd. Well maintained with 170,000 miles....has run like a top...only needed tires, shocks, brakes, gas and oil since new...engine burns a a bit over a quart between oil changes...

My opinion is there is no better status symbol than a paid off reliable car or truck and in the past have treated my cars and trucks like the Apaches did their horses....ride them until they died and then eat them.

For the board...move it down the road while it still does on its on and get another good used newer one...or drive it until the transmission goes tits up and repair it for $2500 or so and continue to drive big old Whitey?

I have other fine cars...Lexus and Corvette...but have a soft spot for the old pickup...taught the two older kids to drive in it.

Thanks in advance

Byron

You just didn't know it when you did.

"I have other fine cars...Lexus and Corvette...but have a soft spot for the old pickup...taught the two older kids to drive in it."

You can drive anything you want. You want to drive it.

As long as it doesn't have any other major problems I would fix it. But if other things are starting to go i would get rid of it. Nothing like a car that you fix one thing and something else breaks in a few months. At 170,000 you should still have a few more good years in it.

$2500? Will it be the same truck? Is the body or frame rusting out? Other problems?

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Sincerely,

Hobie

CHECK THE SALVAGE YARD FOR A USED TRANSMISSION. YOU MAY FIND ONE FOR 600.00 OR SO WITH LESS MILEAGE THAN YOURS. BOLT IT UP AND RIDE SOME MORE..BEST OF LUCK WHICHEVER WAY YOU DECIDE TO GO.

That's a lot of miles and the trans might be going out but it is also possible that the filter is clogged and a new filter would help it.

add that ring mount and Ma Duace you've been wanting...

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Of the Troops & For the Troops

I'd keep it. It's still a good truck even if it needs some repairs, and it holds some good memories for you. You'd still be money ahead even if the repairs were fairly expensive. I think your truck still has many years of service left in it.

I was wondering the same thing on the fluid and filter. Id change it and see what happens. Hard to drop a big chunk of change on a 14 year old truck but one even a few years newer is going to cost a good bit more.

Have extended the life of a couple transmissions in the past this way. My current Ranger has 183K miles on it, burns no oil, shifts well, but the body is rusting away. It is difficult to think of replacing it, but it is a '94 and Michigan salty roads are rough on them.

it bacause body rust was starting. Still hated to let it go. If you like it, fix it and keep driving.

'81 F150. It has farm tags on it now cause the 6 banger will not pass emissions test. Put granny tranny in it a few years ago and replaced clutch while I was in there. State tax is $37 and insurance is $88 annually. I'm keeping it...comes in handy for a variety of things. Rust is slowly taking it, but I still like it.

Repair the tranny and get on down the road...you would be shoulda woulda coulda if you let her go....I have a 99 F-250 that I may have to put an engine in...and will do as it does everything I want...got 135m on her...and tires, coils, and steering column are all I have replaced...runs like a top but spit one plug twice...hense maybe the new engine...but the rest meets all my needs...4x4 etc...Blessings/.

I would have the tranny examined and repaired if needed. If it was totally ruined, which I doubt, I would drop one in from the truck graveyard and keep the fluid clean.

My old truck is a 1985 F250 4WD I bought from Jim Taylor when he uprooted for Africa. 180,000 miles and runs fine despite being repeatedly driven by Jim

I have changed all the fluids, put on new tires etc. and the TLC continues for little things, but it is a solid truck that I intend to keep.

+1 on fixing her up. My old '92 S10 Blazer looks like hammered hell and the A/C hasn't worked in years. Had to put a new injector spider in it last year to get it to pass emissions test, and went through the same decision process. If it was a PRIMARY vehicle, it would have been replaced (and was for that purpose) long ago, but it is a working, hunting, fishing, boat pulling, dog hauling vehicle, and I likely won't part with it unless it totally collapses.

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