Incredible reliability!

[CJ the noisemaker]

I was thinking of this tonight while I was shopping for a lock nut socket. Ever since August when I bought the truck, it has never really let me down. Of course there was when the skid plate on the oil pan broke off, easy fix. Then there was the whole two months where it didn't start, neutral safety switch shimmied off. And the time when I had a blow out, changed the tire but I still am sorting out the highway vibration. Ever since then, I had never had to replace any bearings, pushrods, pistons, or lifters. The engine (as of now) is still balanced, no vibration whatsoever. No blue smoke coming out of it either, but just a little black every now and then.

The way this truck runs gives me full confidence in going to Arizona two months from now. I feel that it will make it even further than Pistachio, my Grand Am. Of course right now I have to work on the brakes and front end, but that is because the PO was having a hard time with her life and never got around to doing it, or having someone do it.

I always expected this reliability from old school cruisers, especially if they were treated with care in their lifetime. I can see why I like these old cars because they never really break down, they are easy to fix (just need a little elbow grease), and they are very fun to drive.

So if anyone reads this, cherish your 258, 360, or 401s, Love that 727, or TH400. Make sure you give it a hug, or kiss it goodnight.

Take good care of it, and it will take care of you.
-Corey James (CJ the noisemaker, Setsuna's owner)

[CHICOWAGGY]

I give mine a little pat on the head before I go inside. I had to replace the water pump on saturday, but it never let me down. I should go give it a hug from all the cursing i did gettin the thing back together. Probably could have drove it another hundred miles, just didn't want to take the chance of the bearing totally failing and having the fan go through my brand new radiator.

[CHICOWAGGY]

Did you get the right socket? How are your hubs coming along?

[cajunKen]

Yeah, I hear ya......as much as I hear how unreliable these things are, mine's never let me down either.....I've had a few things go wrong with it, but it's always managed to get me back home so I can fix it. Still running nice and smooth, no smoking whatsoever....only downside is that abysmal gas mileage

That being said, it just turned 138,000 miles a couple of days ago, so I suppose I just jinxed myself by saying these things.

[CJ the noisemaker]

Another note, I'm about to hit 4,000 miles since I registered it in January. I will look it over and change the oil.

[CJ the noisemaker]

Originally Posted by CHICOWAGGY

Did you get the right socket? How are your hubs coming along?

I won't know until tomorrow morning, darn me for not having a garage.

cajunKen, I'm at 166,000 and it runs like it has less than that, and I also reap the 18 mpg I get from it.

[HOOT]

I drove my J20 from;
NJ to KY,when I bought it.
KY to Northern IN to pick up a parts Chero.
KY to CA and back to pick up my Chero.
KY to Eastern PA and back to buy a car trailer load of parts.
KY to FL and back twice rebuilding Mom's hurricane ravaged house.
KY to Northern IN again for some parts.
KY to NM totalled it in a head on- rebuilt it and drove it back home to KY.
Been running around KY ever since.

I'd run it across country again without hesitation. I built it for highway speeds as this truck doesn't offroad. The one time it was going to was when I totalled it in NM. Had a beautiful 3 days of back roads driving getting to NM though. Spending the next 3 weeks hunting down parts and getting it put back together was no fun and very expensive. Thinking of selling it now though and just keeping the 77 J10 which has yet to see much of a life since I bought it.

[jaber]

I have better luck with these then any other make of auto. I seem to have major problems with any of the big 3.
Had a Chevy for a work truck. Rebuilt eng and tranny and could not keep it running. It was broke down more then I drove it. I got fed up one weekend and threw a very tired engine into the J-10 just for a backup ride, and I have since traded the cab and front clip off the Chevy for a complete runnin J-20.
The J-10 is still running the same old engine. I baby it everywhere I go, knowing it is worn out. The Odometer rolled 100K last Nov. The engine I put in had 180K. She fires every morning, no mater the temp...

[Monkeyfrog]

My 258 runs- and runs... sits all winter and starts no prob... I aint kissing her, dont know where that motor has been!

[Casey]

I just went out and kicked my Chief where it's jimmies used to be.

Poor thing. I need to get after it.

[MuleRider]

Amen to that Brother. In the mornings the Mules a little tempermental, but then again shes only 7 yrs younger than I am, and hell theirs mornings when I don't want to get going either. But after a little sweet talk, she all ways fires up.

Originally Posted by CJ the noisemaker

I was thinking of this tonight while I was shopping for a lock nut socket. Ever since August when I bought the truck, it has never really let me down. Of course there was when the skid plate on the oil pan broke off, easy fix. Then there was the whole two months where it didn't start, neutral safety switch shimmied off. And the time when I had a blow out, changed the tire but I still am sorting out the highway vibration. Ever since then, I had never had to replace any bearings, pushrods, pistons, or lifters. The engine (as of now) is still balanced, no vibration whatsoever. No blue smoke coming out of it either, but just a little black every now and then.

The way this truck runs gives me full confidence in going to Arizona two months from now. I feel that it will make it even further than Pistachio, my Grand Am. Of course right now I have to work on the brakes and front end, but that is because the PO was having a hard time with her life and never got around to doing it, or having someone do it.

I always expected this reliability from old school cruisers, especially if they were treated with care in their lifetime. I can see why I like these old cars because they never really break down, they are easy to fix (just need a little elbow grease), and they are very fun to drive.

So if anyone reads this, cherish your 258, 360, or 401s, Love that 727, or TH400. Make sure you give it a hug, or kiss it goodnight.

Take good care of it, and it will take care of you.
-Corey James (CJ the noisemaker, Setsuna's owner)