The 90's Trucks Were Bulletproof

[Deleted member 57233]

Well they must have turned that around quick because my 98 camry decided to gel its oil in less than 3k miles since its last oil change with only some 80k-ish miles on the odo with no warning signs or indicator lamps until *BANG* dead engine.

The 98 Camry is also considered one of the most reliable cars of all time. Your experience would be considered a statistical outlier.

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[ChrisNLA]

4.6s such hot garbage that they only run and run because they can be nearly 40 years old and have 100k on them because they were such a displeasure to drive.

5.4s as I mentioned already seem to be better know as unreliable due to phaser tick. I did briefly drive a 5.4 1st year 1st gen Raptor, oof. Woefully slow and uninspired motor choice. They're not impressive engines either. Ironically it was 5 years old and had 10k miles on it, furthering my belief that some combos are so bad they only last because no one wants to drive them.

We had great luck with 4.6L's. They were dogs, but (at least the ones we had) we couldn't beat them hard enough to kill them.

A girlfriend of mine had a 98 Grand Marquis with a 4.6L - wasn't going to win any races but it served us well and that car got nearly 30MPG under the right conditions.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

4.6s such hot garbage that they only run and run because they can be nearly 40 years old and have 100k on them because they were such a displeasure to drive.

5.4s as I mentioned already seem to be better know as unreliable due to phaser tick. I did briefly drive a 5.4 1st year 1st gen Raptor, oof. Woefully slow and uninspired motor choice. They're not impressive engines either. Ironically it was 5 years old and had 10k miles on it, furthering my belief that some combos are so bad they only last because no one wants to drive them.

They don't have to be great.

They have to run.

You'll find countless examples of both with over 250k on them without much effort.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

4.6s such hot garbage that they only run and run because they can be nearly 40 years old and have 100k on them because they were such a displeasure to drive....

We had great luck with 4.6L's. They were dogs, but (at least the ones we had) we couldn't beat them hard enough to kill them.

A girlfriend of mine had a 98 Grand Marquis with a 4.6L - wasn't going to win any races but it served us well and that car got nearly 30MPG under the right conditions.

Take a 32v 4.6 and slap a blower on it and it makes pretty good power.

I always wanted a terminator Cobra.

 

[Zachanadandy]

They don't have to be great.

They have to run.

You'll find countless examples of both with over 250k on them without much effort.

And you'll find tens of thousands in junkyards with well under 150k. Looking at the 30 year old vehicles that still run is like looking at what formula 90 year olds drank as babies and then saying that formula will make you live into your 90s. Ignoring all those that didn't make it.

 

[ChrisNLA]

And you'll find tens of thousands in junkyards with well under 150k. Looking at the 30 year old vehicles that still run is like looking at what formula 90 year olds drank as babies and then saying that formula will make you live into your 90s. Ignoring all those that didn't make it.

My mom has a 2006 Chevy Equinox with 257,000 miles on it. Runs 'pretty good'.

The engine is original. The most 'opened up' it has ever been is to replace the thermostat. Trans is all original too (original fluid even).

And to your point, this thing is an EXTREME outlier. I almost never see these turds on the road anymore.

But moms just keeps on keepin' on...

*knocks on wood*

 

[nbennettksu]

I dont know, man. I had a 98 k1500 that wouldn't start when I needed it to...

 

[WestwallNF104A]

The high mileage examples don't erase all the ones that never got close though. I had an 06 Toyota yaris that was just under 300k when a van turned left into the front bumper hard enough to pin the tire against the firewall and fracture my sternum. Oil changes and tires were the only thing it ever needed. Clutch was still original, brake pads too. 100hp, lightweight, and a stick meant downshifts took care of the bulk of the braking and it was easy on all the parts because it was underpowered and boring as all hell.

Never claimed otherwise. I was merely relating my experience with the 4.6 engine. In my experience it was near bomb proof. I flogged it, and it loved it.

 

[WestwallNF104A]

Maybe they were

4.6s such hot garbage that they only run and run because they can be nearly 40 years old and have 100k on them because they were such a displeasure to drive.

5.4s as I mentioned already seem to be better know as unreliable due to phaser tick. I did briefly drive a 5.4 1st year 1st gen Raptor, oof. Woefully slow and uninspired motor choice. They're not impressive engines either. Ironically it was 5 years old and had 10k miles on it, furthering my belief that some combos are so bad they only last because no one wants to drive them.

Maybe they were unpleasant because of the vehicle they were in?

My experience in the T-Bird was nothing but good.

 

[red/green hawk]

Agreed you have to watch out for the glasses, for me it wasn't that nothing required work (it almost always did) but:

1) Parts were cheap -name brand parts even
2) Nothing was such that I was unable to limp home (except, ironically, a cps on a 4.0)
3) For the most part everything is accessible when you're working on it (except underneath an XJ. No matter what - the exhaust is in the way, or at least that's how I remember it )

You could get a decent used car for only $500-$1000 too!

 

[Free2roam]

95 Honda Civic I owned for 26 years. The second vechicle I bought brand new was my Gladiator. When retired and sold the Honda had 580,000 miles 2 engine original 5 speed and never once changed the fluid in the transmission. It still ran but had a bunch of minor problems. Windows sunroof stupid stuff broke.
My kids named her Sally. Sally was a good whore, I gave it to her everyday and she took it without complaining. Never once left me stranded.

 

[Stan H]

Never claimed otherwise. I was merely relating my experience with the 4.6 engine. In my experience it was near bomb proof. I flogged it, and it loved it.

My 4.6L was until I changed the Sparkplugs.

 

[Jteakus]

I still believe if Chevrolet would have gone to Cummins for their diesel engines instead of trying to convert gas motors to diesel and the square body trucks would have gotten the 12 valves instead of Dodge there would be huge numbers still rolling around.
Fresh paint, new interior, suspension rehash, engine service and you have a new truck good for another 250K, My .02

 

[Chasm]

I'd say: No, they definitely were not. Maybe some people got lucky

 

[Stan H]

I still believe if Chevrolet would have gone to Cummins for their diesel engines instead of trying to convert gas motors to diesel and the square body trucks would have gotten the 12 valves instead of Dodge there would be huge numbers still rolling around.
Fresh paint, new interior, suspension rehash, engine service and you have a new truck good for another 250K, My .02

Lots of conversions out there with Cummins in them . Especially the 2B

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