SkisNH Posted August 12, 2023 Share Posted August 12, 2023 Hi Guys, I would love some feedback on whether you can reliably and comfortably drive a 40 year old truck. I have a "fantasy" of selling my 2019 ram and buying a restored k10 and drive it as my primary vehicle. I've been thinking of a chevy 6.2 oil burner because of the gas mileage..I know it's a dog but wiling to add a turbo if needed. Thoughts ... am I nuts? SkisNH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Jackson Posted August 12, 2023 Share Posted August 12, 2023 (edited) Reliably maybe comfortable no way. I think that K series trucks built before 88 were all straight axle leaf spring front suspensions. Edited August 12, 2023 by J. Jackson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold Member BOHICA Posted August 12, 2023 Gold Member Share Posted August 12, 2023 (edited) Why not keep the ram and just buy a k10 if you like them? Classic pickups are horrible at everything when compared to a modern pickup. Edited August 12, 2023 by BOHICA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skidude600 Posted August 12, 2023 Share Posted August 12, 2023 As long as you understand it's going to ride and handle slightly better than a covered wagon, go for it. The older I get the less I like my dentures rattling. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkisNH Posted August 12, 2023 Author Share Posted August 12, 2023 15 minutes ago, BOHICA said: Why not keep the ram and just buy a k10 if you like them? Classic pickups are horrible at everything when compared to a modern pickup. Except for looks... Now that I'm retired I don't drive that much...but I will still haul sleds to Northern Maine every other weekend. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkisNH Posted August 12, 2023 Author Share Posted August 12, 2023 17 minutes ago, Skidude600 said: As long as you understand it's going to ride and handle slightly better than a covered wagon, go for it. The older I get the less I like my dentures rattling. Can you simply keep balast in it to make it ride better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold Member EvilBird Posted August 12, 2023 Gold Member Share Posted August 12, 2023 (edited) Not quite the same but I daily drive a 20 year old truck . I think a LS swapped K10 is more reliable if built right. But always gotta realize shit can break . If you are cool with that I say go for it. Just finished U joints on front driveshaft this morning lol. Replace Brake lines are next on the list. Edited August 12, 2023 by EvilBird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toslow Posted August 12, 2023 Share Posted August 12, 2023 (edited) This is my 2005 tundra. AC blows as cold today as it did when I bought it. only ever had to replace and adjust brakes. And alternator 355k on the clock looking at doing the timing belt on it Edited August 12, 2023 by toslow 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skidude600 Posted August 12, 2023 Share Posted August 12, 2023 1 minute ago, SkisNH said: Can you simply keep balast in it to make it ride better? I'm sure that would help a little. I'm not trying to rain on your parade love squares myself. When you are used to the refined handling and ride of a modern truck there will be quite a difference. They don't turn as fast and wander more. Anything you look at make sure the rag joint in the steering is in good shape or at least has been replaced. A decent set of shocks will help as well, but in the end it still has a leaf spring suspension. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Jackson Posted August 12, 2023 Share Posted August 12, 2023 8 minutes ago, toslow said: This is my 2005 tundra. AC blows as cold today as it did when I bought it. only ever had to replace and adjust brakes. And alternator 355k on the clock looking at doing the timing belt on it V6 OR V8? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toslow Posted August 12, 2023 Share Posted August 12, 2023 (edited) Just now, J. Jackson said: V6 OR V8? V8 4.7 Farmers up north are always offering to buy it. Edited August 12, 2023 by toslow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Jackson Posted August 12, 2023 Share Posted August 12, 2023 200k miles on original belt ain't bad. I'd get it changed pretty quick because it's on borrowed time which I'm sure that you know. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spin_dry Posted August 12, 2023 Share Posted August 12, 2023 My last rig was a "95 Dodge with a 12v Cummins w/delete. Vehicle could drive through a nuclear EMP and keep chugging. It had over 200k. I had total trust in that rig. As long as the potential catastrophic failure points have been addressed, why not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deephaven Posted August 12, 2023 Share Posted August 12, 2023 I couldn't handle the lack of comfort. Of course if you put it on a new frame/drivetrain, added phone integration as a head unit, sound deadened the piss out of it and added modern seats I would change my tune. Would be killer then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecat Posted August 12, 2023 Share Posted August 12, 2023 2 hours ago, SkisNH said: Hi Guys, I would love some feedback on whether you can reliably and comfortably drive a 40 year old truck. I have a "fantasy" of selling my 2019 ram and buying a restored k10 and drive it as my primary vehicle. I've been thinking of a chevy 6.2 oil burner because of the gas mileage..I know it's a dog but wiling to add a turbo if needed. Thoughts ... am I nuts? SkisNH I owned a few. Straight front axel. Rides like truck. Square bodies are awesome though. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlos Danger Posted August 12, 2023 Share Posted August 12, 2023 I don't like driving a ten year old truck let alone 40. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold Member 800renegaderider Posted August 12, 2023 Gold Member Share Posted August 12, 2023 I know a guy that daily’s a 65 Chevy pickup it can be done It’s all what you’re willing to live with comfort wise or how much you wanna spend to make it comfortable. I’d keep the ram and buy something though running a old truck in NH winters will destroy that nicely restored truck in no time If you want a diesel I’d look for a Cummins swapped truck with maybe the font coil spring conversion done. A ls swapped k series truck is pretty common and I see them for sale often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkisNH Posted August 12, 2023 Author Share Posted August 12, 2023 33 minutes ago, 800renegaderider said: I know a guy that daily’s a 65 Chevy pickup it can be done It’s all what you’re willing to live with comfort wise or how much you wanna spend to make it comfortable. I’d keep the ram and buy something though running a old truck in NH winters will destroy that nicely restored truck in no time If you want a diesel I’d look for a Cummins swapped truck with maybe the font coil spring conversion done. A ls swapped k series truck is pretty common and I see them for sale often. I fluid film my cars every year....do you really see rust being any more of a problem. Part of the math is I can buy a nice frame off not (show car) for 25k....I think I can drive it for years and it won't depreciate much. I'm leary of buying an LS swap...if I went that route I think I would take it to a shop I trust and have them do the swap. I fear chasing poorly terminated wiring for the next 8 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not greg b Posted August 12, 2023 Share Posted August 12, 2023 For a daily hell no. Go drive a 40 year old truck and then go drive a modern truck. Everything is better on a modern truck (brakes, ride, comfort, power, gas mileage) Even a 20 year old truck would be a way better choice for a daily. For a secondary car for the weekends it would be cool to have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not greg b Posted August 12, 2023 Share Posted August 12, 2023 And to do an LS swap on one of those things correctly you will have about as much into it as new truck especially if having a shop do the swap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member steve from amherst Posted August 12, 2023 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted August 12, 2023 Cool to tool around town in ,but let's be realistic ,your not going to fly up to northern Maine at 90 mph every other weekend in it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Posted August 12, 2023 Share Posted August 12, 2023 6 hours ago, spin_dry said: My last rig was a "95 Dodge with a 12v Cummins w/delete. Vehicle could drive through a nuclear EMP and keep chugging. It had over 200k. I had total trust in that rig. As long as the potential catastrophic failure points have been addressed, why not? What is there to delete on an old 12v…. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Posted August 12, 2023 Share Posted August 12, 2023 Really hard to beat the look of a square but vehicles got much nicer to drive in the 90’s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold Member 800renegaderider Posted August 13, 2023 Gold Member Share Posted August 13, 2023 1 hour ago, SkisNH said: I fluid film my cars every year....do you really see rust being any more of a problem. Part of the math is I can buy a nice frame off not (show car) for 25k....I think I can drive it for years and it won't depreciate much. I'm leary of buying an LS swap...if I went that route I think I would take it to a shop I trust and have them do the swap. I fear chasing poorly terminated wiring for the next 8 years. Fluid film is definitely good and helps a lot. I’m just thinking like say it’s had patches welded in and you don’t get fluid film or whatever in every nook and cranny. Doubt it’s worth worrying about but just thinking we’ve all seen trucks with wheel arch patches bubbling in an exact outline of the patch lol. Not to mention sand peppering the paint all winter. It just doesn’t seem worth it to me to run in the winter but hey people do it like that guy with the 65 I was talking about but that trucks a patina deal. I mean you could be chasing wiring gremlins anyways it’s a 40yr old truck. I say go for it just keep the ram I think you’ll regret it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spin_dry Posted August 13, 2023 Share Posted August 13, 2023 51 minutes ago, ACE said: What is there to delete on an old 12v…. PCM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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