To rebuild, or send packing . . .

that is the question.

This is our 1997 Dodge D1500.  We bought it used six years or seven years ago in anticipation of my son reaching driving age, which he was almost at, at the time.  The first several months we had it, I drove it as a daily driver, then when became old enough to drive, he took over driving it.

It's always been somewhat laggard on the highway but its been more noticeable recently.  And the check engine light has been on.  We determined to replace it, but my son likes standard transmissions (as do I), and finding an old standard that I'd regard as reasonably priced has been difficult.

Indeed, due to changes in how cars are sold, just finding an old truck around here is proving difficult.  Everything on the lots is pretty new, and that's more than we want to spend.  Indeed, that caused me to consider replacing my own Dodge D3500 diesel that has 165,000 miles on it (this D1500 has about 155,000. . . but on a gasoline engine).  Prices for new pickups, however, are really high.  More distressing yet, as I have the same affliction on transmissions, the options are really limited and basically only the new Dodges, which I do like, are an option. . for the current year only.  After this year, the standard transmissions will be a thing of the past.

Anyhow, last Sunday the matter reached a head.  My son has had my wife's SUV at university and we were going to load up his D1500 with some things and take them down.  After picking them up I noticed a rattle.  We took off but about 80 miles out, due to load shifting, I got out and found that the front wheels were very hot to the touch.  And the whole way the truck had been lagging.  I already knew that one cylinder has only 70 lbs of compression when it should have 120.

So we came back.

Turns out that the front brakes are shot and a u-joint is dangerously worn out.

So here's the question, now that this is at critical mass and I must do something, what should I do?  As I can't find a standard transmission truck around I'm seriously considering having a rebuilt engine put in or having the engine rebuilt  Two shops that put rebuilds in discouraged me from doing so on the basis that it has 150,000 miles on it and next thing you know, other things need to be replaced as well.  A third shop that actually rebuilds engines, however, did quote me an attractive price.  As it is, the front end is now being effectively rebuilt as it will have new brakes and good u-joints and I've asked them to look at the steering, which seems a little sloppy to me.

A friend who did this with a Volvo and got 300,000 miles out of it some years ago counsels that his having that engine rebuilt. .. twice, was a mistake.  He spent more doing it than he got out of it. But money is going into it now anyhow.

And so now the decision must be made.