BEN!

[Austin]

You need new pics of Red.

Imma come up there and take some.

 

[LEB Ben]

Red isn't at her best right now. She's got a leaky steering system (control valve and power cylinder), bald Boggers and a nice coat of dust from sitting. I need $600 for the steering system and $1500 for Boggers. There's just not enough money to go around. The Bronco's engine and drive shafts going for broke really hurt the fundage over the last month and a half. That was a grand I wasn't expecting on spending. And now, who knows where this transmission is at. But...I do get a Christmas bonus and the school I coach for ended up putting me on as a paid member of the staff...so I should get a nice little chunk of change over the next month or so.

 

[Austin]

Hmm, didn't know about that! Well, then I expect some Christmas pictures of Red.

 

[LEB Ben]

Well now you know. But don't worry, she'll be back as soon as possible. The student loan consolidation will be putting an extra $235 in my pocket every month from now on too.


And I'm also aiming at a job with the same company that will pay and extra couple hundred a month.

So trust me, the vehicular failures aren't by my choice, just can't afford to fix them all at the moment. And I'll be damned if it can ever be a little a thing...it's always gotta be something that will be a minimum of $500.

 

[taxreliever]

Hmm, didn't know about that! Well, then I expect some Christmas pictures of Red.

 

[Austin]

It's good that you've got things looking up, Ben!

I'd rather big things break; as I can replace them with BIGGER things!

 

[LEB Ben]

I had been limping along the control valve for about 2 years, and when the Bronco was down for a month and I was dd'ing Red, the valve decided enough was enough and started leaving a good 3-4" diameter wet spot everywhere I stopped. Then about 2 weeks ago, I decided to take her out to stretch her legs, then when I brought her back home and parked her, I noticed the power cylinder was leaking. Well, the valve is anywhere from $250-500 for a reman or I can have mine rebuilt in the $3-400 range. Then the power cylinder looks like it's $2-250 for a reman, haven't checked a rebuild yet.

And well...the Boggers...I've been saying I'm gonna get a new set for about a year now, but the funds always go somewhere else. But now, they're just about slicks, not quite, but close.


And the best part of all of it is, I have to be inspected by 10/15. So I'm thinking I'll probably just drain the steering system, go full manual and swap on the SSRs that are on Thunder for inspection purposes.

 

[Austin]

Inspection?!

Got nothing like that here... When you buy it, you get the emmissions checked and you're done.

 

[LEB Ben]

Yep...$13 for an inspection to make sure it's legal and road worthy. After you get approved you renew your registration to the tune of $28 for regular passenger vehicle plates.

 

[Austin]

Yep...$13 for an inspection to make sure it's legal and road worthy. After you get approved you renew your registration to the tune of $28 for regular passenger vehicle plates.

Interesting. Your plates are much cheaper than mine, btw.

 

[taxreliever]

Yep...$13 for an inspection to make sure it's legal and road worthy. After you get approved you renew your registration to the tune of $28 for regular passenger vehicle plates.

Are you able to register it as an antique? That's how I have mine registered and it exempts it from inspection.

Our state has to have road worthy inspections as well. That's why I've been working on my POS plow truck bondo project the past few weekends.

 

[Austin]

Are you able to register it as an antique? That's how I have mine registered and it exempts it from inspection.

Our state has to have road worthy inspections as well. That's why I've been working on my POS plow truck bondo project the past few weekends.

I do! And I'm exempt from all exhaust regulations, too.

 

[LEB Ben]

Interesting. Your plates are much cheaper than mine, btw.

Yeah...plates weren't always this cheap, but they implemented a new system last year. Inspections went from $8.10 for anything 25+years old or a one ton and was a basic 'horn works, lights work, you're on your way'. If they weren't classified in that, it was $36ish for an inspection.

Then plates were more expensive IIRC. And keep in mind, plates get exponentially more expensive depending on rating and vanity plates. I think a new vanity plate is $130, and renew is $80 a year. And commercial used trucks are right around the same.


They also used to do a round robin thing with our tags and inspections...some times it might only last 6 months, other times 12 and other times 18. I dunno how they determined who got what, but I think it was to supplement the state budget when funds were typically low.

 

[Austin]

Sounds... funky.

Like I said, 25 and younger do emmissions and get a tag. NOt sure of the price.

But the antique tages go up from $150

 

[bucks77ford]

she'll be back ...it's always gotta be something that will be a minimum of $500.

I hear ya there. Never any cheap under $100 fixes. But, it sounds like things are coming together for ya and every little savings back in the pocket adds up.