Posted by Dan (NH) [173.9.49.14] on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 14:19:48 :
In Reply to: Just spitballin here.... posted by Caleb in Manhattan KS [70.184.232.53] on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 13:50:34 :
I see the whole conversation about flipping an older body on a newer frame and get worked up about it too. I have a complete frame, engine, tranny and driveline that I keep for just that reason. I know it may not be easy, with the little things that don't work well together, but the end result would be a drivable truck comfortable at faster speeds with a softer ride. The other benefit is the registration and taxes being lower on older vehicles.
My daily driver truck failed inspection this year because the cab corners rusted out. Now it has 246K miles on it so it doesn't owe me anything. To replace it, I would need to shell out about 36 thousand and pay the tax man and loan shark to be able to drive it around. That doesn't sit well with me.
My father just got a new Chevy and the damn thing has more electronics on it then the first space shuttle. What happens when the automatic reverse safety brake fails and he can't drive the truck? I am not against technology, just excessive electronic "luxury" things that take away the purpose or reason you are driving a truck in the first place. Heated leather seats, Seri voice that talks when you start up the engine, XM radio that has 210 channels of commercials to listen to. Back up camera sounds good, for a while anyway until it fails from meeting the trailer tongue. Three computers or more under the hood! Lets just take all that crap and remove it to offset the cost of the overall vehicle for the consumer. Give me a good old hand crank window and clothe seat with a manual 4WD engagement that I can feel when I shift it, instead of a "I think it is in 4WD" push button. Maybe your company will sell more if the average Joe could afford a "normal" work truck.
Sorry to rant Caleb, but your right on with the body swap. Now I want to swap a rusty new cab with a decent old one too and let the chips fall where they may. Going to need to squeeze allot of stuff onto that firewall and even more under the hood, but it will be a good ride after it all.
I wish you the best.