Reliability as a Daily Driver on 50+ mile trips

H

hogman63

Member
In October 2010 I made a decision to sell my 2005 4-runner to rid myself of about $375 of payments and full coverage insurance premiums per month. An economic decision, as my business cash flow was slowing down, and my wife's nurse pay was decreasing due to called off shifts.

I replaced the 4-runner daily driver with my Dad's 1962 c100 pickup, which required more substantial repairs than I anticipated, as it had set for about 15 years since restoration without being driven alot.

Replaced wiring harness, rebuilt carb, new master brake cyl, new ball joints, new e-brake cables (yet to be installed), new rear brakes, new rear tires, new radio, new battery, new fuel pump, restored gas tank with sender, new gas guage, tranny modulator valve, and a glove box liner. And also the usual fluid / filter changes on the auto tranny and engine.

I still worry about driving this pickup long distances of 50+ miles from home. Although all of the above have been done, I still am concerned about the bw auto transmission blowing a seal, or the engine overheating. I need a reliable daily driver to make my service calls in. Btw the compression test on the bd220 engine cylinders were 135-140 psi. Well with-in reccomended specs.

I don't need another auto payment. Was thinking of buying a mini van with 100,000 -125,000 miles for cash. Would have better fuel economy.

Am I being too cautious with the pickup? Will it give me a higher probability of reliability than I am thinking it will? What is the reliability of your IH daily drivers?

Thanks
 
Just drive the dam thing! The next first day off you get take that truck for a 100 plus mile distance drive. If something is majorly wrong a trip of that distance will certainly bring out the gremlins. These trucks were designed to be driven and that is certainly what I do with my old IH any chance that I get.
 
If your IH is in well maintained condition the engine should not give you any surprises. You seem to have touched all of the bases. The trans would be what would concern me. Not that it would blow a seal so to speak but suffer from an internal failure of some sort due to age.

As for a high mileage mini-van, I'd rather take my chances with the IH. Most mv's are beaten daily and many have chronic transmission design flaws due to the fact that then are glorified passenger car drive trains pushed to their limits.

For the money you May consider re-sealing the bw and keep an eye on the fluid and stay aware of its shifting characteristics. Any noticeable changes in shift patterns/firmness would be grounds for concern.
 
I'd definitely drive the thing!

Any vehicle today will give problems all over the place, stuff that most of us can't repair unless we know what to do.

The only thing I'd ve concerned with is your trans, I'd make sure it's serviced now, then just drive it! They don't come any simpler!
 
I've done a similar thing and even though I have spent more time agonizing over imagened failures she has done well. I have probably created more problems in the get go than she ever had. Do you really think that a minivan will be around in 45 years and running? Pay attention to the vehicle when you drive and drive. :cornut:
 
I drive my 64 1100 4x4 daily back and fourth to work about 30 miles round trip. I have owned it for 26 years and it has only been on a tow truck 3 times.
 
Thanks to all who replied. The defenders of the faith have spoken!

I own a furniture restoration / refinishing business that I work full time in. I have been using the pickup to tow an 8' x 5' cargo trailer for pickup and delivery. The pickup doesn't have the hp of the 4-runner, but does chug along, going up and down these north arkansas hills called the ozark mountains.

I am more concerned about the bw12 auto transmission than the engine. I don't have a complete history of the tranny, as it was salvaged from a 66 1000a pickup with a blown engine. I know the 66 sat on a used car lot for 3 years before I bought it in 1988. It also was about dry of tranny fluid when I started working on it back in October. I did put a quart of trans-x in the tranny a few months ago. It improved the shifting pattern quite a bit.

I am going to continue the restoration of the pickup as encouraged by you folks on the forums. Basically I need to do some body work, make a tailgate, and shoot some black paint. Then I will have a good work truck.

Thanks again.
 
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