What do you drive?

[Catbox]

My 23 year old son just got his new to him big block to fire up and idle last night.
This is a junkyard L-29 454 engine pulled from the yard several years ago.
The Suburban he put it in had no drive train in it at all when he bought it a few months ago.

View: https://youtu.be/G3g-CvxO8zg?si=wObxuRmS-S0cQnoO


Tonight he will get the timing set and dial the carb in.
Then he will begin building the exhaust system from a stainless builders kit he picked up off the interwebs.

 

[sobo]

My 23 year old son just got his new to him big block to fire up and idle last night.
This is a junkyard L-29 454 engine pulled from the yard several years ago.
The Suburban he put it in had no drive train in it at all when he bought it a few months ago.

Son: "F***in' loud..."

Dad: "WHAT!!!???"

Yup, got it on tape...

 

[ilikegunspdx]

I wish insurance wasn't so much. Woudl like to get a more economical 4x4 beater Subaru to go shooting but insurance makes it not worth it even if you buy the car for peanuts. Used to be able to get "broad form" liability insurance that covers anything you drive for cheap. I don't think you can do that anymore?

 

[made in china]

I wish insurance wasn't so much. Woudl like to get a more economical 4x4 beater Subaru to go shooting but insurance makes it not worth it even if you buy the car for peanuts. Used to be able to get "broad form" liability insurance that covers anything you drive for cheap. I don't think you can do that anymore?

It's because new vehicles have a bunch of fragile, expensive crap in exposed places.

On the Tacoma forums, there's 2 people sharing stories of hitting small animals in their fancy new trucks. They posted pictures, both trucks look hardly damaged. A cracked grill, loose trim pieces and slightly misaligned headlight. Back about 10+ years ago, this kind of damage you could shrug off, maybe do a little bit of work like pop the trim pieces back in, glue the crack back together.
Not these days, LED headlights are $1500 each, the radar sensor is busted, and although the grill looks ok, it was temporarily pushed back into the radiator grill shutters, breaking the assembly and causing a check engine light to come on.
So, what looks minor on a "rugged" truck turns into a $5k insurance claim.
We all get to pay for these fancy vehicles, even if ours are basic, older vehicles.

 

[ilikegunspdx]

It's because new vehicles have a bunch of fragile, expensive crap in exposed places.

On the Tacoma forums, there's 2 people sharing stories of hitting small animals in their fancy new trucks. They posted pictures, both trucks look hardly damaged. A cracked grill, loose trim pieces and slightly misaligned headlight. Back about 10+ years ago, this kind of damage you could shrug off, maybe do a little bit of work like pop the trim pieces back in, glue the crack back together.
Not these days, LED headlights are $1500 each, the radar sensor is busted, and although the grill looks ok, it was temporarily pushed back into the radiator grill shutters, breaking the assembly and causing a check engine light to come on.
So, what looks minor on a "rugged" truck turns into a $5k insurance claim.
We all get to pay for these fancy vehicles, even if ours are basic, older vehicles.

Good point. I remember the post somewhere here of a f150 that got water in the tailighg. It was over $5000+ to fix cuz as I recall cuz it fubared the electronics. We have a blanket liability coverage ads on but I don't know if that would work for cars that have no insurance (I doubt it). I'll ask insurance rep.

Here is what AI said about the ford truck tailighg water example fwiw.

Key Details on Cost & Fixes

• High-Cost Scenarios: A 2018 F-150 Limited had a reported $5,600 repair bill for moisture damage, which included replacing the tail lamps, wiring harness, and modules.
• Why It's Expensive: The issue often destroys the BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) module, which is costly to replace.
• DIY Fixes:
  • Drill Drain Holes: Drilling one or two small holes in the bottom of the housing can drain water and prevent further damage.
  • Seal the Unit: After drying, use silicone sealant around the lens seam to prevent future water entry.
  • Replace with Aftermarket: Non-OEM assemblies are often much cheaper than dealership parts.

Symptoms to Watch For

• Water or condensation visible inside the lens.
• "Blind Spot Monitor Fault" alerts on the dashboard.
• Rapid or hyper-flashing turn signals.
• Electrical issues throughout the truck.

 

[Catbox]

Son: "F***in' loud..."

Dad: "WHAT!!!???"

Yup, got it on tape...

Nearly.
Dad and son are reversed in the above.
I was standing near the passenger side wheel with the open header right there...

 

[Colt Carbine]

It's because new vehicles have a bunch of fragile, expensive crap in exposed places.

On the Tacoma forums, there's 2 people sharing stories of hitting small animals in their fancy new trucks. They posted pictures, both trucks look hardly damaged. A cracked grill, loose trim pieces and slightly misaligned headlight. Back about 10+ years ago, this kind of damage you could shrug off, maybe do a little bit of work like pop the trim pieces back in, glue the crack back together.
Not these days, LED headlights are $1500 each, the radar sensor is busted, and although the grill looks ok, it was temporarily pushed back into the radiator grill shutters, breaking the assembly and causing a check engine light to come on.
So, what looks minor on a "rugged" truck turns into a $5k insurance claim.
We all get to pay for these fancy vehicles, even if ours are basic, older vehicles.

As one who recently purchased a 2024 4RUNNER. According to my insurance agent, resale value plays into the cost of premiums also, being my purchase was for a vehicle with a high resale value.

I hate to think what a minor fender bender would cost on this vehicle, considering the amount of sensors. One thing is for certain, mandates handed down to the auto industry has made them way more complicated than they need to be.

 

[sobo]

Nearly.
Dad and son are reversed in the above.
I was standing near the passenger side wheel with the open header right there...

I wouldn't have copped to that. But then again, I'm not to be trusted as far as I can be thrown...

 

[made in china]

Good point. I remember the post somewhere here of a f150 that got water in the tailighg. It was over $5000+ to fix cuz as I recall cuz it fubared the electronics. We have a blanket liability coverage ads on but I don't know if that would work for cars that have no insurance (I doubt it). I'll ask insurance rep.

Here is what AI said about the ford truck tailighg water example fwiw.

Key Details on Cost & Fixes

• High-Cost Scenarios: A 2018 F-150 Limited had a reported $5,600 repair bill for moisture damage, which included replacing the tail lamps, wiring harness, and modules.
• Why It's Expensive: The issue often destroys the BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) module, which is costly to replace.
• DIY Fixes:
  • Drill Drain Holes: Drilling one or two small holes in the bottom of the housing can drain water and prevent further damage.
  • Seal the Unit: After drying, use silicone sealant around the lens seam to prevent future water entry.
  • Replace with Aftermarket: Non-OEM assemblies are often much cheaper than dealership parts.

Symptoms to Watch For

• Water or condensation visible inside the lens.
• "Blind Spot Monitor Fault" alerts on the dashboard.
• Rapid or hyper-flashing turn signals.
• Electrical issues throughout the truck.

Yes, the BLIS sensor is integral to the rear tail lamp, and it is connected to the vehicle CAN BUS, what frequently happens is the BLIS module shorts out the CAN BUS, which can cause HVAC, radio, instrument cluster and everything else on the CAN BUS to freak out and malfunction. If it happens, you can disconnect the taillight and everything else will begin working again.

Unfortunately, although the taillight is easily replaceable, it is software locked. If Joe Blo replaces the taillight, it won't function until an authorized service tech with Ford approved software logs into the vehicle and unlocks it with VIN specific code. The dealership usually won't even help with the software part if you replaced the hardware yourself.

 

[made in china]

As one who recently purchased a 2024 4RUNNER. According to my insurance agent, resale value plays into the cost of premiums also, being my purchase was for a vehicle with a high resale value.

I hate to think what a minor fender bender would cost on this vehicle, considering the amount of sensors. One thing is for certain, mandates handed down to the auto industry has made them way more complicated than they need to be.

My 2021 Nissan Titan is the cheapest vehicle to insure of our 4 vehicles. Even though it's the newest, most expensive vehicle we own.
I can confirm, it has no resale value but I love ol' girl anyway....

It could be expensive to fix also, 7 airbags, expensive LED lights, radar sensors, active grill shutters..... But yeah, with all that and the low resale value, they'd probably just total it. Then I'd buy it back and use duct tape and bailing wire to fix it up

 

[MTpockets]

I just realized that my thread input should have been posted in the "What Do You Park?" thread.

I often don't see the vehicles for weeks…and the only reason I snap a photo of them is to remind me where I parked.
Later I find photos like this, or similar, on my phone.

Oh yes, Parking Level 3…. that was a great level.

I'm embarrassed to admit that I just deleted over fifty photos of airport parking lot space numbers, section letters, and parking levels.

 

[made in china]

I just realized that my thread input should have been posted in the "What Do You Park?" thread.

I often don't see the vehicles for weeks…and the only reason I snap a photo of them is to remind me where I parked.
Later I find photos like this, or similar, on my phone.
View attachment 2238028
Oh yes, Parking Level 3…. that was a great level.

I'm embarrassed to admit that I just deleted over fifty photos of airport parking lot space numbers, section letters, and parking levels.

Me too! As I get older, I keep thinking my vehicle was stolen!

 

[Colt Carbine]

I just realized that my thread input should have been posted in the "What Do You Park?" thread.

I often don't see the vehicles for weeks…and the only reason I snap a photo of them is to remind me where I parked.
Later I find photos like this, or similar, on my phone.
View attachment 2238028
Oh yes, Parking Level 3…. that was a great level.

I'm embarrassed to admit that I just deleted over fifty photos of airport parking lot space numbers, section letters, and parking levels.

With 6 vehicles in the driveway, 5 of them are parked, unless my wife and I are in separate vehicles. It's time to purge a few I'm thinking

 

[Cattywampus]

My Z71 mommy missile. Has all the creature comforts your 2005 upper middle class family could ever ask for. As well as a few electrical gremlins.

 

[tabor123]

2008 Ford Ranger w/ the 4.0 V6 and 4WD. Manual everything with no electronic gadgets. America should have never stopped making trucks like this.

 

[Oxygen Mask]

Finally decided to sell the Challenger (2014 RT manual, triple black, only 31k on it, looks new inside and out)
Because of its condition got a great price for it. Bittersweet to let her go.
The new ride should be fun though. Picking it up tomorrow.

 

[kmk1012]

Very cute! Actually I'm jealous as I wish a mini truck would do what I need to do frequently. I'd much prefer the fuel mileage.

 

[Oxygen Mask]

Very cute! Actually I'm jealous as I wish a mini truck would do what I need to do frequently. I'd much prefer the fuel mileage.

I have the F350 diesel for actual truck needs. We have a 5th wheel.
The baby Raptor should be fun though.

 

[kmk1012]

I have the F350 diesel for actual truck needs. We have a 5th wheel.
The baby Raptor should be fun though.

I bet it's fast as well…….never mind. My commuter cars is a late 90's Escort, pretty mundane but it's only got 80k miles on it. Should be several years before it dies.

 

[boattail]

Most of my personal vehicles are parked and seldom driven these days.....my work rig is parked in front of the house and I never need to commute to work....I just step out of the front door, walk 40 feet and I am in one of these......the red one is my usual ride, 600 hp, 2000 FPS of torque, 18 speeds, and 4 MPG....what more could you ask for!!!