I let me son buy this... I know I know...

[HotRodPC]

So I told the story about my son buying his Kia. After having it for just over 3 weeks, the dealer calls and says Kia rejected the contract because to much of his income is commision based and not guarenteed. ******** !!! So we had to take it back.

Now he's been belly aching to go the fly by night, buy here pay here lots. He was pretty pissed at me cuz I kept telling him NO, NO and NOOOOO. Well I have a friend that works at one and he won't let me get ripped off. I told him, That's all they do is rip people off, so what you're saying is, instead of ripping you off $8000-$10,000 he'll only rip you off $4000-$6000 @ 21% - 29% rate. Son, it's like this, the sales manager gets to set the details, not your buddy. NOOOOOO. Fine !!! **** It !!!, I'll just ...... Well, Sorry Son, I'm not going to allow you to get yourself so fuct up in a POS vehicle that you can't get out of it. Sell that damn wrecked motorcycle in the garage that we bought at the tow auction, and let's find you a cash car for $1000-$1500.

So I wrote his ass an ad for his Honda CBR1000 that I helped him get for $600. He had bought about $100 worth of parts for it that he got at cost from his work at the Kawasaki dealer. SOLD the bike for $1300. So he made a $600 profit. Yeahhh, teaching him how it's done and how so far all my trucks are FREE plus profit.

I figured he'd be looking for a Honda or Toyota commuter car for $1000 or so with 150,000 - 200,000 miles. He called me at home today and asked me I could pick him up at work and take him to see this 94 Dodge 4x4 Longbed with 355,000 miles on it. Ran and drove, but motor smoked and used oil bad, The guy said about a quart every tank of fuel if you drive it hard, about a quart every 2 tanks if you take it easy. The body was in good shape for the age. Couldn't find no damn rust on it anywhere. It wasn't butchered up at all, all still OEM with the Auto Trans and 5.9 Magnum 360. $1500, but son had told him, I only have $1300, so if he can't work with him on that, no sense in coming to see it. Guy said sure, come on and take a look when you get off.

So after getting off the phone with my son hearing about this truck and looking at it on the CL ad, I went looking for Squares. None in 4x4 for under $2500. So called son back, what is it you like about a full size truck and this Dodge? What features do you have to have? I need a truck to carry my dirt bike, and I want 4x4 and a full size truck not a mid or small truck. OK talk to you later. Got on the search, found a stupid poor written ad with no pics and a bit out of town. All it said was 94 Dodge 4x4, Starts Runs and Stops, Tag is current $1000. So of course I had a 100 questions for this guy. Turns out, it's a shortbed, 5.9 Magnum 360 with 227,000 miles, Auto trans was rebuilt less than 2 years ago and has well under 10,000 miles on the new trans. Transfer case is fine but the shifter handle broke off when the trans guys did the trans rebuild. Didn't say **** to my son about that one, figured I'd take him to see the 1 he found first, then step away and have a private meeting.

The 1st was in great cosmetic shape for the year and mileage. Ran OK, but as they said, it smoked pretty good, dash top was missing, headliner was gone, did have the original sales sticker and all the books with it. 3.55 axle ratios and LSD in at least the rear, but the guy claimed it's LSD front and rear since he had all 4 wheels slinging bud. Had a real nice push bumper grill gaurd on it too, and had been sprayed Satin Black, and actaully a pretty good job of it too. But damn, 355,000 miles and they knew nothing of a rebuilt engine or trans in the truck. I tried to get the guy down to $1000, but he dropped to $1200 and the best he was going to do. I told the guy, the body and chassis is worth it, no rust only a couple superficial dings, but let me talk to my son just a minute cuz I really don't think this is the truck he actually wants, he's just desperate for wheels so he can go get his groove on with ole girl.

Talked to my son told him about this other truck out of town for $1000, with only 227,000 miles, runs and drives, interior trashed, broke Tcase shifter lever but it works, rebuilt trans and is a SHORTBED. My son said, Oh hell yeah, lets go see it I prefer shortbed for sure. I said yes, and those sell quick so when you get you another vehicle, the shortbed will move and be eaiser to sell and idiots pay alot more for less truck so I think we need to at least look at it.

Got out there, front brakes pulled to the right, needs a caliper or brake hose. Had a spot of rust the size of a golf ball in the cab corner. Looks like someone has spilt a bottle of brake fluid and it ate the cab corner from the inside out. Easy fix. Brakes easy fix. Started right up, sounded much better than the 1st one, no smoke, brand new battery 2 months old, trans fluid clean as could be and clean trans so it was obvious he was telling the truth. 4in lift, only 31in tires but they were good Bridgestone Desert Duellers with about 50% or better tread left. I worked him just a little thinking for sure, noway he'll take less than $1000. I told the guy, I know where there is a Squarebody Chevy for $800 that I'd like him to look at since I"m not a Dodge fan, but it's.... and the guy stopped me from saying, but it's not a 4x4 and is a long bed, and he said, If he likes this truck and you're willing to help him fix those brakes and that Tcase shifter, I'll take $800 for it. SOLD !!! Couldn't pass it up for that money. So yeah, let my son get it. He's pretty excited about it. I'm pretty damn happy he's not hung up in a Buy Here Pay Here Rip you off car payment POS that would be broke down in 3-6 months and then he get sued and trash his credit.

 

[mistaake]

I think you did the right thing. I'm 20 and my daily driver (the square) cost less than $1k. So it CAN be done
I wish my dad was in my life.
/endrant

PIC? I know it's a dodge, but a truck is a truck

 

[HotRodPC]

Oh ****, and I know better. Forgot to attach the pics in that long ass post. @89Suburban will prolly love this truck. Hims a Dodge Lubber !!! One thing cool, even though it's a 94, it does still have a front straight axle. It's a Dana 44 front axle on coil springs. Figured for $800 he did OK and will be an easy sale when it comes time to get rid of it, and if in a bit better condition, prolly get even more and make a little money on it.

1st pic is before he started washing it. 2nd Pic is during the bath.

 

[mistaake]

Hey man, that is a damn nice truck esp for that price. I'd buy that in a heartbeat!

 

[RetroC10Sport]

That's a damn nice Dodge'em for $800!

 

[CSFJ]

If you really want to see a profit when he's done with it, advertise it in Michigan.

 

[HotRodPC]

Yeah, I thought it was a pretty damn good deal for $800. Actually wasn't even to bad for $1000, but wth, never hurts to see if they'd take less and just hinted at it and he spoke up first and said he'd take $800 if I'd help my son fix the brakes and the Transfer Case shift lever. Well of course I'll help him. Drove it home about 20 miles or so and it ran fine. All the gauges, wipers, power windows, locks and lights worked. I can hear the passenger door lock motor working, but it doesn't move the lock button so it probably needs reconnected to the rod. Air Blend knob on the Heater/AC is missing. Didn't even bother asking if the AC worked but it's all there and hooked up. It's actually all OEM looking down to the air cleaner. Not a hacked up butcher job at all. I'm pretty sure being a Sport Model, it was a bucket seat truck. The OEM console is there, but the OEM seats have been replaced with Chevy Cavalier buckets seat and they're not worth a **** in this truck. My son wants a bench seat anyway since the new girl he's calling his girlfriend has an almost 2yo daughter, so he wants to be able to have the car seat sitting in the middle. Tag is current through Sept of this year. All in all, I think he did well and still has a few hundred left over to find a seat, Tcase shifter handle, HVAC knob and replace the front calipers, pads and I suggested he replace the rubber hoses too.

 

[Don5]

I have a 2001 Dodge extend cab Sport that is the same color. It has the 44 front end which is one reason I bought it. Take a close look at the brake lines. I had to replace every brake line due to corrosion. Damn Mexican truck anyways. If the transmission has been worked on then you should be good to go. I would say that he got a really good deal. You did good dad!

 

[89Suburban]

Good job HR.

 

[HotRodPC]

Fuggin Dodge !!! We tried our asses off this weekend to get the front hub nuts off. 3/4 in breaker bar with a jack handle cheater pipe with my big ass 260lbs jumping up and down on it couldn't get them loose. Told my son to spray then with PB Blaster every day when he got to work, and when got home from work and we'd have to get to it this coming weekend and add some heat. Welllllll, he needed a tow truck today. The damn hub and bearing assembly let loose and the wheel about fell off. $99 each at AZ and O'Ry's. Just ordered them from Rock Auto for $45 ea.

 

[marks86]

just think of it this way you saved 400 bucks and can drive and extra 200k miles before your at that other one

 

[Skweegle89]

Lol at least you know the hub nuts were good and tight.


Sent from an old rotary telephone.

 

[HotRodPC]

Tis True. No regrets about buying the truck. For $800, he did well. He has now LITERALLY driven the wheels off of it, and it's running well as far as the engine and transmission.

My biggest frustration is my son. I've told him, DO NOT drive the truck unless you have to until we get this fixed. When this goes, it's gone and you're dead in the water where ever it decides to let loose and can cause other damage when it does let loose. You will need a tow truck to lift it off the ground. This won't be a situation where I can come get you out of the street with a tow strap and if you can't get it moved fast enough PD or OHP will call a tow truck to get it off the road since it'll be a safety hazard.

Nope, he didn't listen and has driven the hell out of the truck with bad bearings. I didn't want to be the bitch, but I still reminded him EVERYTIME he left the house, I'm going to see my friend...., I'm going to go to... , I'll be back later I'm going to... EVERYTIME he left I said, Remember, those bearings only have so many miles before they let loose. Remember, when those bearings go, they're gone and you don't have money for a tow truck, did you get a AAA membership?, I hope you're not stranded out in the rain when those wheels fall off. I said something EVERYTIME he split to no avail. He went anyway.

Then when this happened yesterday, go figure he tried to make it out to be MY Fault. He was lucky and I called in a favor and got the POS towed to the house. While waiting on the tow truck, I gave him the "TOADJA" speech and ass chewin', I just don't get it why you think I tell you **** for my health. Now you're missing work, maybe losing your job, hopefully a cop don't come by and request a LEO tow to get it out of this busy street. I did take my floor jack to him and was able to guide it off the major big street onto a side street.

I researched his parts blah blah blah, the **** just gets old. I raised him most of his life except the last 4 years where his mother and step dad bought him literally. Making up for her ******* up his whole life, they bought him everything he wanted and fuct him up. Now he doesn't seem to apprecaite ****. I guess he has to lean the hard way.

 

[DoubleDingo]

That's a nice truck. Too bad he didn't listen and is now without wheels. I hope this hard lesson teaches him something.

 

[HotRodPC]

NO, I'm without wheels. Now he's driving my truck. For me to take him to and from work would kill in gas. NO, he's not going everywhere now, but I"m without my wheels til after 6pm. I hope RockAuto is quicker than they say, but my son got a text saying the parts won't be here until the 20th. We were hoping for no later than Monday the 18th.