Sold Ford, bought a Chevy

[68C15]

Two years ago I bought a 2004 Escape. It treated me well, just crowded inside and the ride was a bit harsh. Plus even though it was a V6 it was low on power going up hills at speed. I bought it for $200 and stuck another $400 into it. I sold it last weekend for $2500.

I bought a 2005 Trailblazer for $200 from a customer. It needed an engine and he didn't want to spend any money on it. I found an engine from local yard for $500 with a 90 day warranty. The truck has other minor issues but I like it. The ride is smooth and quiet with plenty of power. Unless you look at the fan you can't even tell it's running. Perfect for hunting. Room in back for 3, maybe 4 deer.

My only real complaint is the way the ******* engineers designed it. I mean, 18 hours book time to replace the engine?! The front differential goes through the oil pan?! What is this? A Mercedes?

[special-K]

That's great to hear. You came out good all around

I can't work on any modern vehicle 5 minutes before I start talking to the engineers that are not present . My standard lingo is:

Back in the day the engineers were given the objectives and went to work. They'd get a design completed, all gather to preview the final design all pleased with themselves as they flipped through the drawings on the chart board. Then one would say, "How is a mechanic going to get his hand in there to start that bolt?". They'd all look, scratch their heads, and it was back to the drawing board.

Today that same sequence will happen, only after that question is asked the next comment is "Screw 'em! The customer can buy a new car!".

I was shocked when I learned the Tauruses I'd see in the junkyard landed there because they needed a transmission. "Just a transmission?". This here is a fine example. You can get a junkyard engine that runs smooth, quiet, and strong for 500 smackaronis but the mechanic needs 18 x shop hourly rate for the R&R. Ridiculous. In my mind the engineers have failed.

[Rich84]

I had a couple of those Trailblazers with the 6 cylinder. What an awesome truck that would be with a 5.3. I know they made them, but I never saw one. I wonder if the diff would still go thru the oil pan??

[1976gmc20]

We briefly considered the Trailblazer a few years ago but ended up finding a 1988 XJ instead.

[LockDoc]

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Good deal on the trade up. I bought the wife a 2005 Buick Rainer with the 5.3 engine in it and she loves it. She says "you step on that baby and it goes....... It pulls my 20' tilt bed trailer with no problem also.

The Trailblazer will probably make it to Iowa without any problem and the peaches are almost ripe. It's been a while since I made homemade Ice Cream so as soon as they are ripe Pat will be making Peach Cobbler and I will be making homemade Ice Cream. Time for a road trip.

See you later.

LockDoc

[68C15]

Leon, that is so tempting. But the shop is real busy and I'm not sure I can afford a couple days off just yet