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Just thinking here and somewhat in response to the post by Jonas regarding his less than perfect new diesel Dodge.
A new truck undoubtedly costs a lot of money, usually now in the 30's K. With a bit of planning and ingenuity a conversion and upgrades can be done for 1/2 of that.
From what I see the new trucks are plagued with complex problems far beyond the scope of the home mechanic to troubleshoot or repair. On a conversion restification you can literally know every single bolt and widget from bumper to bumper. As mentioned previously the drivetrain systems, and they are now systems rather than simple power transmission, are intentionally made so complex now that you simply cannot get a handle on it. With a diesel conversion the simplicity is surely awe inspiring.
I had to cut a lot of steel to build my truck so far. Found that the '67 vintage Town Wagon doors, 2/3 the size of late 70's to mid 80's Dodge doors, weighed TWICE AS MUCH! Same goes for frame crossmembers. Not only that but in working it you soon see that it is much higher quality steel in the older iron. That means that if you do it right and start with a good base vehicle or parts you'll have a far more durable chassis drivetrain to go many miles.
It's not hard to add some nice creature comforts to the conversion: power steering, power disc brakes, tilt wheel, cruise control, A/C, super comfortable adjustable or electric seats, sound system, sophisticated gauge & monitoring displays, hi-tech driving lights, jaw dropping beautiful interior with console and storage, tinted glass, and even a sun roof if you want. That is one may approach the luxury of a present day vehicle in a machine that is indescribably more sound and stable and reliable and which you understand intimately.
Need an ego fix? I've never owned a newer vehicle that's gotten the comments, thumbs up, waves, and impromptu conversations as my old TW! Pure envy is seen dripping from the eyes of those with a mechanical bent and mine never was much to look at. That is these can be as much of a status symbol, and even more so, than a brand new vehicle! Somehow they engender smiles and laughter and happiness from folks where the newest truck might just cause unfriendly and begrudging admission of supposed superiority.
Seems that it might be wise to consider driving your #1 rig a couple of years longer, paying ridiculous dealer or pro service prices, paying sky high insurance and licensing fees, and biting the bullet when the "System is down...." That is until you can build or have built a custom designed diesel rig that answers all of your personal needs in a mechanical or transportation sense and which will then save you countless dollars of needless expense. Vintage restorations are an investment that can appreciate in value considerably! Can that be said of the newest truck on the lot? Even if the cost of restoration is equal or slightly more than a brand new truck you're still way ahead of the game!
Something to think about.......
JimmieD
A new truck undoubtedly costs a lot of money, usually now in the 30's K. With a bit of planning and ingenuity a conversion and upgrades can be done for 1/2 of that.
From what I see the new trucks are plagued with complex problems far beyond the scope of the home mechanic to troubleshoot or repair. On a conversion restification you can literally know every single bolt and widget from bumper to bumper. As mentioned previously the drivetrain systems, and they are now systems rather than simple power transmission, are intentionally made so complex now that you simply cannot get a handle on it. With a diesel conversion the simplicity is surely awe inspiring.
I had to cut a lot of steel to build my truck so far. Found that the '67 vintage Town Wagon doors, 2/3 the size of late 70's to mid 80's Dodge doors, weighed TWICE AS MUCH! Same goes for frame crossmembers. Not only that but in working it you soon see that it is much higher quality steel in the older iron. That means that if you do it right and start with a good base vehicle or parts you'll have a far more durable chassis drivetrain to go many miles.
It's not hard to add some nice creature comforts to the conversion: power steering, power disc brakes, tilt wheel, cruise control, A/C, super comfortable adjustable or electric seats, sound system, sophisticated gauge & monitoring displays, hi-tech driving lights, jaw dropping beautiful interior with console and storage, tinted glass, and even a sun roof if you want. That is one may approach the luxury of a present day vehicle in a machine that is indescribably more sound and stable and reliable and which you understand intimately.
Need an ego fix? I've never owned a newer vehicle that's gotten the comments, thumbs up, waves, and impromptu conversations as my old TW! Pure envy is seen dripping from the eyes of those with a mechanical bent and mine never was much to look at. That is these can be as much of a status symbol, and even more so, than a brand new vehicle! Somehow they engender smiles and laughter and happiness from folks where the newest truck might just cause unfriendly and begrudging admission of supposed superiority.
Seems that it might be wise to consider driving your #1 rig a couple of years longer, paying ridiculous dealer or pro service prices, paying sky high insurance and licensing fees, and biting the bullet when the "System is down...." That is until you can build or have built a custom designed diesel rig that answers all of your personal needs in a mechanical or transportation sense and which will then save you countless dollars of needless expense. Vintage restorations are an investment that can appreciate in value considerably! Can that be said of the newest truck on the lot? Even if the cost of restoration is equal or slightly more than a brand new truck you're still way ahead of the game!
Something to think about.......
JimmieD
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