Posted by Mike in Arkansas [172.68.59.235] on Tuesday, July 30, 2019 at 10:14:57 :
In Reply to: Re: Collectability of later Dodge 4x4s posted by Pat H [172.68.34.121] on Tuesday, July 30, 2019 at 08:29:35 :
Pat - I used to think that way and maybe the very newest vehicles will have that problem someday. But it seems to me when a need arises someone always fills the need. My 2004 Chevy is 15 years old and getting a replacement gauge cluster is no problem. In fact my biggest concern on replacement parts is the 6 speed manual transmission. It is relatively rare so internal parts are scarce. Otherwise the aftermarket has made replacements for everything that I have ever looked for. I would venture to say maintainability is based more on popularity than age. An 80s Dodge is getting pretty rare and I bet a replacement speedometer is harder to get for that than a 2000s Ford by a long shot. When radios started being more integrated it looked like the aftermarket stereo market would die but the aftermarket took on the challenge and anything somewhat popular has options for an aftermarket stereo. In the the basic hard parts are consistent and worst case if you can control the drivetrain independent of the vehicle the truck can be made to function. Maybe in the distant future you would have to use aftermarket guages but this is true of old vehicles today. I like things mechanical and simple and feel I could possibly build most replacement parts for my m37 or even my scout 2 but I would not expect a computer savvy young guy to have a mill or lathe in his shop. In fact on scouts one of the biggest problem areas is the gold box electronic ignition and the solution most use is newer higher tech electronic ignition vs going back to points. Scouts were not made in Chevy or Ford numbers and someone has made conversions for them.
I like my old cars and enjoy driving them but a newer f150 will probably out haul most if not all 3/4 ton trucks from the 80s. To back this up most 3/4 ton dodges in the 80s had a Dana 60 rear with a 9-3/4" ring gear and 30 spline 1-3/8" shafts. Now a 3/4 Dodge gets either an aam 10.5" ring gear or an aam 11.5" ring gear both with 1.5" 30 spline shafts. The frames on new trucks are fully boxed and taller section than anything from pre 90s. Early Cummins had an enormous 12k tow rating at the time and now they are rated for 30k. A half ton is rated to 12 k.
I am not trying to argue that old trucks aren't much cooler than a newer one but trying to justify the high costs by saying they are more reliable is a big stretch. Notice the big popularity of putting new drivetrains in old trucks or swapping the entire body onto a new truck? People, me included, like driving something unique and will pay for the privilege. I have always marveled that it is popular to buy a 6x6 duece and a half and cut out an axle to make a 4x4 and meanwhile Hennessy is adding an axle to Ford's to make a 6x6 and charging $150k for this?