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#1 |
Check out GMTrucks.org
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Boise, Id
Posts: 284
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Anyone else thinking of giving it up?
With gas prices to hit $3/gallon this week and no end in sight, is anyone else thinking that it is not too wise to throw money into an old truck that gets 10 mpg?
I've been a die hard "I can afford a lot of gas without a car payment" type of guy for a while, steadily working on my '71 suburban and '72 blazer and daily driving them. But, I am starting to see where I might not be able to afford to fix them up and drive them. And when I get them fixed up, will I be able to afford the gas to enjoy them? Will they be worth anything fixed up since they will cost so much to drive? I guess the question is, at what gas price does this hobby not make sense anymore? Anyone else thinking like this, or am I just being stupid? |
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#2 |
Still Green but learning
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Central NC
Posts: 1,895
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I am lucky enough to have a honda for my driver, the Truck stays parked until I need mulch or something now.
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-- Cory 71 Cheyenne 10 - SWB, 350, "3 on the tree" AC cab 07 Suburban LTZ 4x4 2010 Acura TL 98 Mastercraft "FrankenStar" 225 27253 UPS/USPS IIOY....nope never was |
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#3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Saskatchewan
Posts: 1,050
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I haven't driven my BB all year, but I sure enjoyed looking at it...
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~70 GMCprostreet swb 396/700r NOS 575 hp "the Brick" ~72 chev swb w/68 front clip "GM Millenium corvette yellow" I use and accept Paypal |
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#4 |
Keep On Truckin'
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Buda, Texas
Posts: 1,354
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That's one of the main reasons I went fuel injection. But, even at 17-19 mpg I might end up driving the type of vehicle much maligned by many on this board, a Japanese import....
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Just Passin' Thru Some projects are like herding cats; others are like putting out fires; this one was like herding cats on fire..... |
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#5 |
Java Mechanic
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Martinsburg, WV
Posts: 6,764
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My truck isn't my daily driver. I have a Grand Am that get 30mpg for that.
I sometimes get discouraged at the $$, lack of skills, resources, and time etc. on my part that seperate my rust bucket from the polished beuaties I saw up at Carlisle this summer, but it will take more than some greedy OPEC weenies to kill the dream for me.
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Keith 11 Lincoln MKT -- Momma's wagon ![]() 13 G37xS -- middle age crazy car 68 C20 Fleetside -- RIP Decorating the whole town up at a cost of $27 .... |
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Southern Tip of OHIO 45680
Posts: 49
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If I was concerned about throwing money away, I'd have bought a new rust free truck that didn't demand that I put aluminum heads, lumpy cam, and a guzzler of a carb on it.
![]() Luckily, my daily drivr is a Honda Accord. However...if it gets too bad...I think they sell diesel crate motors now. The future of big power. It is depressing to see the prices as they are...but I just spent a buck on a 12oz water bottle and 3 bucks for a gallon of white cow excretion.
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Only the Mediocre are always at their best... '69 GMC LWB 406, TH400, 3.73 Posi' Things I've learned from my truck...If I was an automaker, my vehicles would be overpriced, run rough, and get 5MPG. |
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#7 |
Senior Member
![]() ![]() Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: CA
Posts: 5,522
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I've driven my truck on a daily basis for the last 12 years. About three weeks I finally gave up and purchased a compact car. The truck will be sitting in the garage waiting to be restored. Pretty depressing. It's hard to believe I was paying $0.79/gallon for gas just a couple of years ago in Colorado.
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#8 |
my gas saver
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Clarksville, TN
Posts: 2,046
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i'm shopping for a cheap 2-3K rice burner right now. it's a sad moment indeed but i live 42 miles from work and i figure it will pay itself off in 6 months to a year anyway.
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85' SWB, 4.3/TH350, getting ready for paint 84`SWB, 462ci./TH400, cowl hood, 15" billet spec., flows, blazer buckets/console, flat black 71`SWB, project ebay feedback |
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#9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: OKC, OK
Posts: 2,365
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Right now I am stuck driving a crew cab dually daily at 10mpg and I can't afford to buy anything or sell what I got. I do have a 95 Camaro V6, but it has lived in the shop the last two months. Both my projects I am building are fuel injected and have overdrive trannys. The 68 Camaro will easily do 25mpg. The Blazer i am hoping for 18-20. I have thought about throwing in the towel, but won't. I am on the verge of throwing in the towel on flying. Gas has alway been high for airplanes but the price of everything else has got so bad that avgas is about the only thing I can afford to buy now. And I am a liscensed aircraft mechanic and have a pile of airplanes I could build. That should tell you how bad it is getting.
Mike
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Mike Redpath |
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#10 |
It's a catastrophic success.
![]() Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,077
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Build a trailer Queen.LOL
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Huntsville Ontario Canada
Posts: 4,052
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My 67 is My DD at about 12-15 MGG on a good fill I full get 15MPG. I really could not afford to put fuel in it and drive to work if I had to support a house and family.
On my way to a show last night I noticed a 95 cutlass. Started thinkig man that must get near 25MPG that would be nice. Fuel is a 1.20 per liter today. I tought when I filled up with 91 at 1.11 it was pricey. Oh well I just finished the truck and I may as well get a few more miles on it.
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1968 Suburban numbers matching all original truck now equipped with 6.0/4L80 on Accuair http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=625017 1967 C/20 6.0/4L80 Roofing Truck 1990 V2500 Suburban "Plow Truck" 2005 TAHOE DD |
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#12 |
Keepin an eye out
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: So.Cal
Posts: 3,921
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Ya I thought about giving it up, but whos gonna buy it? This is really the case with my boat, its nice but who wants a big block boat you cant afford to put gas in
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1970 Chevy C10 SWB 5.3 1996 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 2007 Vespa GTS 250 Scooter ZIP 91351 |
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#13 | |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PA
Posts: 2,696
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#14 |
hometown heroes!
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Ewa Beach, HI
Posts: 487
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Perfect time to put 'er in the garage and make all those repairs/upgrades you've been dreaming about. See...problem solved!
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2009 Silverado 2wd, 121k as of 04APR13. I love my truck 29 days out of the month. The payment is due on the 30th... ![]() Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more, you should never wish to do less. -Robert E. Lee "Never give up ground you've already taken." -Unknown |
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#15 |
Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires
![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 23,090
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Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride ![]() American Born, Country by the Grace of God ![]() 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications! |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Sacramento CA
Posts: 1,255
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My truck is a project and I have not been driving it. I have a 1993 S10 as my DD.
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Got bored, sold everthing. Got bored, looking for a 1960-66 C-10. Want to build my last truck. |
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#17 |
Saving 1 truck at a time!
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Kent, WA
Posts: 6,465
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You spend money on entertainment like golf, movies etc. I look at my truck as entertainment. For $50 in gas I can get lots of driving, cruising and grins...just having fun.
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'68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 400/TH400 '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 468/TH400w/buckets '72 C20 Halfhorn (Longhorn w/o cab and front clip) '69 Flxible Cruiser (look up ugly in the dictionary) |
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#18 |
Vintage Evil
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Broomfield, CO
Posts: 956
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Thats the great thing about mine. I love to drive it but i have my 03 Maxima to drive when gas is nuts. I saw 3.29 / gallon today.
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Current Rides: Vintage Evil - 72 Chevy C10 (Always a work in progress) Vintage Evil Build Thread EvilK5 - 71 K5 Blazer Evil Twin - 2006 Suzuki M109R EvilDmax- 2018 GMC 2500 Denali Duramax Last edited by chevyguy_72; 08-31-2005 at 07:15 PM. |
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#19 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Amazonia, Mo. USA
Posts: 2,821
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When I bought my diesel people asked ,"What I would do when diesel was $3.00 a gallon." I said, "Watch them spend $3.25."
Gas and diesel go hand in hand just like natural gas and anything else. I told my boss the next time I call in it won't be sick. It will be broke. I guess I see it this way. If I give up everything I enjoy because of price, I would give up everything. How much does hunting really cost per pound, or fishing, or old trucks? I am going to do what I want. And when I die, I can say that I have no regrets. I did it my way. Maybe not as often as I would have liked but I will not give up. I guess it is a dominoe thing for me too. If I quit, how does Tim Christian, Wes, GMC Paul pay their bills? They go under, we all lose. I pay enough now for people that won't pay their phone bill or gas bill or drive away from the pumps or steal or whatever. I can't sit on my ars all day.
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72 3/4 4x4 350 4spd 72 3/4 4x4 350 auto 2004 Duramax Silverado 4x4 2006 Duramax Crew cab 4x4 2010 Harley Ultra Limited 2011 Harley Street Glide |
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#20 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Rayne, LA
Posts: 2,782
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Steven "If dogs don't go to heaven, when I die I want to go wherever they went." -- Will Rogers R.I.P. Oscar R.I.P. Ratchet 1967 Pontiac GTO - Dad was the Original Owner 1970 Chevy 2wd SWB "Oscar's Truck" 1970 Chevy 2wd Blazer "Ratchet's Blazer" 2013 Chevy 2500HD Crew Cab Duramax/Allison Z71 LTZ "Brown Sugar" 2017 Chevy Suburban "BDB" 2020 Chevy Blazer Premier "Foxy" Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC) Shop Build |
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#21 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Ontario, Kali
Posts: 2,427
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I won't give up!
My turn to rant, vent etc.
Everytime I want to give up, I remember the gas shortages in the 70's. All these guys sold their big block and small block muscle cars and bought imports. Then came the 80's and 90's came and all those guys were at car shows saying "I used to have one like that" or "I wish I never sold that car/truck". I kinda like to think that my L-6 69 c-10 over the long run saves me money, but that's not the reason I bought it. -I like being able to maintain that truck without having to take it to a dealer who charges extremly high prices to do any work the vehicle needs. -I like paying lower prices on engine parts etc. I like driving that truck because I can hear every noise that the new trucks drown out. -I like hearing the wheels on the road, the 250, the creaking bed, and all the noises old trucks make. I like the steel dashboard, the bench seat, the 3 on the tree, and the fact that my truck sounds like truck. I bought the truck for that old truck experience. I bought that truck because I still believe every household needs a truck (dump runs, Home Depot runs,furniture store runs, helping out family and friends who don't have trucks). I also have a 79 BBC crew cab dually, but I also have three kids a wife and all the necessary stuff that they require so I won't be selling that either. A Honda Civic just won't cut it. I might put a stroked small block or stroked V-6 in it if things get much worse, and keep the Big Block Engine in the storage shed. I also figure on a monthly basis; new car payment + new car insurance premium + gas (yes, smaller/new cars still run on it) > gas for old truck + tiny insurance payment overall; new car repair bills > old truck repair bills Alot of you guys have great looking trucks, and have spent alot of time and money on them. If you are going to throw in the towel, then it makes sense to get out there and use those trucks and all those parts you bought. When the truck finally needs another restoration put it to sleep or sell it cheap. If you sell it now, that's a big waste of money IMO and you won't get what you put into it. I'm just driving my truck and enjoying it, I don't think I'm going to put any big money in it ( I was going to do a v-8 swap, fuel injection, disc brakes, full resto etc.). I'm probably just going to paint it myself (so its one color) and then just keep it running until it gets hit by a rice burner. On the other hand, in Japan I heard that almost all of their vehicles are diesel powered, from small cars to large vehicles. I think if someone was smart, they would look into getting some of those small car/truck diesel engines into the states. Then we could transplant some 4 or 6 - cyl turbo diesel engines into our trucks. That would be a great help and at least you'd be able to drive that classic truck. Of course one day the fuel is going to run out, but let's cross that bridge when we get there. Lastly, any of you guys who want to "give up" and get rid of your SWB 71-72 (disc brake) chevy trucks give me a call. Thanks for letting me put in my $2 Dano
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#22 |
Hootis is as Hootis does...
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Southern Georgia
Posts: 500
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Daily driver is a SCION xB - 30-38 mpg. We love it, in fact we're thinking of getting a 2nd one. My wife and I fight over it all the time. Once got 41 mpg with a 40 mph tailwind in wyoming.
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67 C10 LWB Fleet, 383, TH400, PS, 4BL-Holley, Headers & 3" Exhaust, 3" drop front, 4" rear springs, ECI shock relocate, Panhard Bar kit, wheels & tires 1995 Z28 Convertible - Borla, K&N, Lingenfelter Motor, C6 Wheels & Tires 1990 2500 4x4 Suburban 3" Catbac System, K&N, 2" Lift, Wheels, Tires |
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#23 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Knoxville Tenn.
Posts: 3,058
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I am with "Dano" '. Just came back from making a parts run (wife's '99 Cavalier) to get parts for my son's '72 BB Blazer (I have 502 BB '72 Cheyenne) and saw the new gas prices-3.09 for reg--3.29 for 93 (my kind). When I got my 1st car (I am 70 yrs. young) gas was .17 a gallon. You would pull up to the pump and say give me .50 worth and they would clean yor windshield and check your oil. When gas got to be .50 per gallon you heard the samething you are hearing now. I notice that all that are still alive from that era are still driving. So I say "keep on trucking".
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56 Chevy Bel-Air 2dr. HT (purchased new) 71 Chevy Cheyenne SWB PU (502HO) 65 GMC short bed step--work in progress and my gofer |
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#24 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Idaho
Posts: 640
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#25 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Gypsum Kansas 67448
Posts: 1,681
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i dont know,i look at it this way,with my 2004 silverado payment,insurance and gas,i spend about 750 a month on 1 truck,if i just had to pay the gas for my 72,it might reach 200 a month,i dont know about you all,but 200-300 is alot better then 750+ dont ya think,i just get sick of paying for a truck,id much rather pay for gas,i look at it like buying the beer for my truck every week,i mean if beer gets too high,are we all going to start drinking old molwakee,heck no,we going w/ the good stuff,thats just my .02
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21 2500hd duramax 58 apache HILLJOB GRAPHIX--for all your graphic needs My build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=542497 LS ENGINE SWAP INFORMATION THREAD http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=377348 4l60 to an NP205 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...43#post3697343 |
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