yup. while my truck is being worked on (clutch problems), my friend is letting me drive his 86 2x4 4 speed. not a bad truck, has the straight 6 in it. most capable 2wd truck i have ever seen. we've taken it on some pretty crazy trails, just going as fast as we can so we don't get stuck basically. hahaha. as a result, the thing is about to fall apart. i just hope it doesn't happen while im driving it.

as far as my truck goes, what kind of clutch do you guys recommend? stock? centerforce? price is a big factor. how long should it take them to put in a new clutch? supposedly the place where i had it towed is going to look at it on tuesday. im hoping that its not goign to take them long to look at it, figure out that my clutch is gone, order a new one, and get it put in. last time i had troubles with my truck it was supposed to be done in a month. ended up taking 4 or 5. im thinking a week at the most here, and i hope it doesn't turn into 4 or 5!

well, im not really happy to be driving the ford, but last time for those 4 or 5 months i didn't have anything to drive. ford is better than nothing i guess.

 

I know that when I go in for a new clutch on my 92 (probably here shortly), I will probably go stock simply because I have around 180,000 miles and I believe I'm on the same clutch (I'll have to double-check the maintenance records given to me when I bought the truck).

 

well, the thing is my stock clutch lasted 30,000 miles. not exactly a long time. i only drove it for 2,500 of those miles though. who knows what the previous owner did to it.

appearently the centerforce dual friction doesn't allow any slippage at all. so instead of your clutch going, it will be the tranny or something else.

just got a quote. $700 for the new clutch and labor. is that about right?

 

Some useless commentary...

The ford I-6 is probably one of the longest lasting, reliable engines out there, next to Toyota of course. Its not a speed demon, but they have a ton of torque and if maintained properly, they are some of the only engines I have seen go over 200,000 miles and still run good.

Toyota still rules, though, because as you said, the rest of the truck is falling apart.

Hope the new clutch works out. That price is about right for everything out the door.

 

The dodge slant-6 255s are nice engines as well. My uncle has owned a string of darts and valiants with that engine. He probably has had 6 or 7 of those things, none of the engines ever went, but the rest of the car was kinda crappy.

 

I have ran centerforce clutches in my Mazda B2200 and my 95 SI.

They each held flawlessly through years of heavy abuse and racing. I recommend them if you can score one for a good deal.

 

we're going with the stock clutch... i think that's my best bet.

now my truck is at 30,150 miles, so they are doing everything that needs to be changed while its in for the clutch. i guess my front shocks are gone, so they were going to put in new ones. they did all this through my dad.

i got home and my dad told me i needed to buy new shocks too, but i was planning on getting some SAW adjustable coilovers as soon as i got some money. so i called them up and told them not to put new shocks on... but i need new shocks, so im getting them put on now $859. im sure i could have gotten them for less through a gruop buy or something but thats the price i've got.

they talked to my dad when they told him what kind of adjustable coilovers they were getting, and he didn't remember... so im not sure if they are Sway A Way. the shop that is fixing it knows a lot about this stuff and got the best ones they could. ill find out next time i talk to them.. so now i need to work on about 2 or 2.5" of lift in the rear and some new wheels and tires! im pretty sure im getting BFG Muds. might go with A/Ts though. think im going with AAL's and Bilstiens...

well, sorry about going on and on. im pretty excited about finally lifting my truck, even if the rear won't be lifted till summertime.

oh about fords. yeah that I6 is pretty tough. it doesn't like starting cold though. it has over 180,000 miles on it right now. almost 190. it'll still be going for a while i think too.

 

My dad's '94 Buick Regal has the 3.8 V6 in it. He now has about 210,000 miles on it and hasn't done a thing except for 1 or 2 alternators and some computer somewhere had to be replaced. Other than that, it runs great. Same tranny too. I hear those 3.8 are really good engines.

About Fords--I was on a little trip to DC and within a half mile stretch of I95, I saw 2 Explores on the side of the road with their hoods up. Also saw a Jeep broken down within that half mile too. They were all holler'n distance from each other. Made my day and thought of you all with all the Ford and Jeep bashing here.

Anyhow, I don't know anything about clutches. Sorry. Hade to add the above though.

Have fun.
DH6twinotter

 

I don't really know how much different a truck clutch is from a car one, but my friend converted his auto civic to a manual with a high performance racing clutch for around $400.

 

400? huh. well labor costs are high... maybe he put that clutch in himself?

 

My condolences. No one should have to endure such punishment.

I guess driving the Ford will only make you appreciate your 'Yota that much more.

 

yeah. i knew toyotas were awesome before. but now i really see it.

i've driven a different friend's 86 toy truck. its a lot better to drive than the ford. it'll start up in the morning...

took me forever to get the ford running today. and once i did, it'd just about stall out whenever i started going, even if i was already moving and had it to the floor.... i was pulling out in front of a big truck today, and almost got hit because i couldn't go anywhere. i thought i had plenty of time, even if it started slow on me. but it didnt really go anywhere, just out into the road.

i will really appreciate my toyota once i get my lift on it its actually happening!!