Have you ever committed to a platform?

[montesa]

At any point in your life have you decided to just stick with a certain model/type/platform or engine? If so, how did it go?

With the cost of new vehicles being outrageous, it doesn't make sense for some people to buy newer cars. Not to mention the cost of repairs going through the roof and the problems most of them seem to have.

 

[adamsredlines]

I've had 2 3rd gen Rams and 2 Magnums. Working on my 3rd 3rd gen Ram. (Would make current hoard 2x 3rd gens, a 2nd gen, and a Magnum).

Something to be said about being "intimately familiar" with a platform.

 

[Catt57]

I have a few OBS Chevys. A couple have been relegated to parts (88 and 98). 1 is in process of being repaired, the other 3 are daily drivers.

88 C1500 Pickup
92 C2500 Pickup
94 K2500 Pickup
96 C1500 Pickup
96 K1500 Suburban
98 C1500 Suburban

 

[montesa]

I have a few OBS Chevys. A couple have been relegated to parts (88 and 98). 1 is in process of being repaired, the other 3 are daily drivers.

88 C1500 Pickup
92 C2500 Pickup
94 K2500 Pickup
96 C1500 Pickup
96 K1500 Suburban
98 C1500 Suburban

Very nice. Still running original type engines or have you installed LS motors? What transmissions do you prefer and how much trouble do they give you? If the Chevys weren't so hard to find for a deal I would probably go that route.

 

[montesa]

I've had 2 3rd gen Rams and 2 Magnums. Working on my 3rd 3rd gen Ram. (Would make current hoard 2x 3rd gens, a 2nd gen, and a Magnum).

Something to be said about being "intimately familiar" with a platform.

Totally agree. You end up knowing more about them than most any mechanic you could take it to.

 

[adamsredlines]

One downside is you can trick people into thinking you are a full-blown mechanic because you know all there is to know about one specific generation of one specific platform they think you can just do anything, and while a lot of it conceptually carries over it's just not the same.

 

[montesa]

One downside is you can trick people into thinking you are a full-blown mechanic because you know all there is to know about one specific generation of one specific platform they think you can just do anything, and while a lot of it conceptually carries over it's just not the same.

For sure. I'm that way with 1st gen Tacoma and now 90s fords. Everything else, no clue. Other than conceptually like you said.

 

[Catt57]

Very nice. Still running original type engines or have you installed LS motors? What transmissions do you prefer and how much trouble do they give you? If the Chevys weren't so hard to find for a deal I would probably go that route.

350 TBI in the 92 and 94, 305 Vortec in the 96 pickup, and 350 Vortec in the rest. The 92 has the 700R4 trans and the rest are all 4l60e. All trans have been rebuilt at least once over the years. (The 88 was bought for parts and has no trans and an engine block full of rain waiter.)

The TBI engines are a bit easier to work on, but the Vortec has more HP.

The 94 had holes in 2 valves and was only getting compression on 6 cylinders. Still used it to tow the 98 suburban on a dolly just over 100 miles without a problem. Then just recently got the whole block and heads rebuilt for about $3K.

The 96 pickup had the MFI "web" melt due to a bad "slinging" unit. It was still running, just dumping the fuel down the block channels..... $1500 fix. It's currently getting the front end replaced with parts off the 98 suburban due to the Ex rear ending someone.

Cheap fixes considering the amount of the engine that needed to be torn down in each case. On a newer engine those repairs could easily run $10K or more. And they both just keep running because there was no master computer to complain and tell it it couldn't do it.

The 94 K2500 is my favorite out of the lot. And the one I personally drive the most.


Edit: Made a correction on the 96 engine size.

 

[montesa]

350 TBI in the 92 and 94, 350 Vortec in the rest. The 92 has the 700R4 trans and the rest are all 4l60e. All trans have been rebuilt at least once over the years.

The TBI engines are a bit easier to work on, but the Vortec has more HP.

The 94 had holes in 2 valves and was only getting compression on 6 cylinders. Still used it to tow the 98 suburban on a dolly just over 100 miles without a problem. Then just recently got the whole block and heads rebuilt for about $3K.

The 96 pickup had the MFI "web" melt due to a bad "slinging" unit. It was still running, just dumping the fuel down the block channels..... $1500 fix. It's currently getting the front end replaced with parts off the 98 suburban due to the Ex rear ending someone.

Cheap fixes considering the amount of the engine that needed to be torn down in each case. On a newer engine those repairs could easily run $10K or more. And they both just keep running because there was no master computer to complain and tell it it couldn't do it.

The 94 K2500 is my favorite out of the lot. And the one I personally drive the most.

That's next to nothing considering tag title and tax could cost you more on a newer truck. I just don't understand how people are justifying paying so much for trucks. Lots of them are more than a starter home was 15 years ago.

 

[Catt57]

That's next to nothing considering tag title and tax could cost you more on a newer truck. I just don't understand how people are justifying paying so much for trucks. Lots of them are more than a starter home was 15 years ago.

I must make a correction. The 96 Pickup is the 305 Vortec, I forgot about that. That was my daily driver for 14 years. I treated like it was a 350 and it never complained.

This is what you do with a 1/2 ton with a 5.0L right? (Oh, and the tires were almost bald at the time...)