Sometimes I Catch A Break.....

The blue truck died. I knew it was shaky, but Sara just kept 'babying it on'. Finally it started to fail her.
The final blow came last Saturday night at the T/A truckstop in Mount Vernon. Nothing is worse than a broke truck pulling a horse trailer with a hot, tired horse inside the trailer. Ever hear a horse kick the side of a trailer on a hot, humid summer night while broke down on a hot asphalt truck stop parking lot? You can read about it here and here.

I brought the truck to the private mechanic and he told me the news no one wants to hear: The motor was just about shot, I could rebuild it but it would be just as cheap to replace it.

I called Jeepjunkie and he was all fired up to get a crate motor from Chevrolet. I went to Reliable and the motor they had,in stock, was a light duty truck motor and the blue truck needed a medium duty truck motor. They could only warranty it for 12/12.

I craiglisted for motors -- lots of 350 motors out there at all prices and conditions. The terms "good motor", "strong motor", "new motor" mean, I quickly discovered, different things to different sellers.

I shopped motors until I was punch drunk. I learned about "M" code, "L" code, "N" code motors, motors specific to 1979 - 1985 C20 Chevrolet pickups. I learned about intake manifolds, vacuum lines, throttle body motors. I learned about exhaust manifolds and donut gaskets and pvc valves. I learned that a 350 motor from a 1985 1/2 ton won't fit a 1985 3/4 ton.

After two days of agonizing over do I fix it or sell it and get another one. Knowing that Sara likes this truck, it matches her trailer finally helped me decide to fix it. So last night I went to the South Campbell O'Reilly's store and purchased an "M" code motor with a three year unlimited mileage warranty and all the needed parts for $1,492.51.

Today's mail contained a check, via the Horsefarmer and Mr. Miller, in the amount of $1,488.34. Thanks, Mom!