Gift from Dad--1994 GMC Sierra 1500

[AHarris]

My dad has a tired out old '94 GMC 1500 ex cab with a 5. 7 V-8, auto, nice wheels, and 273,000 miles on it. He drove it and smoked in it for 12 years before parking it. It's sat for the last 2 years. I threw a new battery in it and it started right up. Smoked for a couple minutes and ran great. Thinking of taking it and fixing it up for my son who will be 16 in 3 years. Engine and transmission I think are still good, body is straight and rust-free (Texas truck all its life) just needs a paint job, front end rebuild, transmission leak fixes, a/c fixed, and major work on the interior.

I'm debating whether to take the truck or not--it's free but it needs a lot of work. Is it worth it?

 

[MChrist]

Have your son fix it WITH you, that way he may appreciate what it takes to make things nice. They tend to keep things in better shape, too, if they have a vested interest in the vehicle.
Monetarily, it may be worth a grand. Throw a couple grand into it, and it may be worth... a grand. But the experience gained could turn out to be priceless.

 

[AHarris]

That's what I was thinking. Unfortunately the wife isn't on board with the idea of us taking on a 3rd vehicle so I might have to turn down the truck. Darn women!! :{

 

[ewcmr2]

That's what I was thinking. Unfortunately the wife isn't on board with the idea of us taking on a 3rd vehicle so I might have to turn down the truck. Darn women!! :{

3 is too many? Good thing my wife is cool with my 4-wheeled collection. Around my house/garage/trailer there are 2 MR2's, 2 pickups, one 4 door family car, one formula ford, 2 shifter karts and a Toniq kit car. She did shoot down another MR2 project car, something about new kitchen cabinets, I didn't really hear her though:-laf

 

[AHarris]

3 is too many? Good thing my wife is cool with my 4-wheeled collection. Around my house/garage/trailer there are 2 MR2's, 2 pickups, one 4 door family car, one formula ford, 2 shifter karts and a Toniq kit car. She did shoot down another MR2 project car, something about new kitchen cabinets, I didn't really hear her though:-laf

Once we have our retirement place out on the country this policy will change, whether she likes it or not!

 

[SOLER]

attitude shift

That's what I was thinking. Unfortunately the wife isn't on board with the idea of us taking on a 3rd vehicle so I might have to turn down the truck. Darn women!! :{

A guy tells his wife when his son moved out... " I'll finally have time to work on my old car and actually get something done. Everytime (he) came out to help me, it took 5 times as long to do the job than if I'd done it myself. " She said to him, "you think you were fixing a car? No, you were raising a son. "



A friend of mine told me, similar story, that he went home to visit his parents. This was after the last sibling moved out of the house. They always had farm animals (chickens, cows, goats, etc. ), and always had chores before and after school. When he went home, all the animals were gone... ALL OF THEM! He asked his dad where they went. His dad says he sold them. My friend then asked "what are you going to do now? I thought you raised animals. " His dad says, "no, I was raising children. "



If I had it to do over again, I would have bought a place with a few acres and bought some animals, something for my boys to do and for which to be responsible.



If you get the truck and fix it with your son, and your wife sees the good coming from it, she'll come around.



SOLER

 

[Skydiver]

This is a good thread. No sense in letting it catch cob webs.
For a company truck, I drove a 93 5. 7 short bed chevy that was give to me from the meter reading crew. Only had 125,000 miles. Drove it for 4 years with only an AC problem. Some magazine, I won't mention rated them above Dodge and Ford in that year. I averaged 18 miles per gallon combined. I got 16 mpg when doing door to door work.
No, I was never a meter reader. Meters readers do make good money and were able to go home when the finished there route. Some would show up at 6am and finish the day at 11 am.