[20Camaro11]

I bought a 1993 Chevy k2500 with 130,000 miles and rebuilt tranny for $500. Anyways, I finally got it home and started to nut and bolt a bit on it and discovered the flex plate is broken. I thought at first that it was a rod knock but upon further investigation appears the noise is coming out of the bell housing. The transmission was rebuilt in 2001 at 103,000 miles. The drum brakes needs some attention. The truck wasn't driven for two years and at least the front passenger brake is basically dragging.

1. Should I junk it? The scrap value is maybe more than I paid for it.

2. Should I fix it? Looking at $1500-2000 to get it roadworthy.

3. Should I sell it for what I got in it and let the next buyer know what they are getting?

I like having a truck, but $2000 right out of the gate makes me pause. Without knowing what kind of transmission repair it got over a decade ago and whether it was shoddy work that caused the flex plate to fail or if it was just a random failure.


I welcome opinions.

[Scalded Dog]

I'd make it a matter of simple math: Will the KBB/ NADA value meet or exceed your purchase price + repairs?

[20Camaro11]

The math says not to bother. The assessed value is about $1500. Math works that way on almost any used car within reason. The back story is that this used to belong to my father in-law who passed away last year. I worry that my mother in-law is going to be offended if I junk it or think that somehow I am financially gaining from all this if I sell it. If I thought that the flex plate was only problem, I would fix it. Brakes are a wear and tear part and I already knew that cost was coming when I agreed to buy it. I feel that flex plate failures are rather rare and suspect that maybe the last transmission job wasn't quite right and that led to this flex plate failing. I don't want to just start dumping money into an entire drive-train.

[Scrappy Doo]

Since it's a family vehicle, is there any emotional attachment to it?

If there isn't, then dump it.

If there is, you can't put a price tag on memories.

[Silverlsinva]

Couldn't you take it to a tranny place to see if it was done right or why the flex plate broke? 100 diagnose fee isn't too bad to swallow to find out.

[ssrs2lt]

seems like ya gotta keep it.. get the diagnosis, pick a piece and begin..it doesn't make sense dollar wise, but you're stuck..

[ClawSS]

My father has a K3500 single-wheel 454 4x4. Your 2500 would be similar and probably has the 4L80 behind a vortec 350? Maybe?

Anyway...I am trying to figure out how you are getting to 1500-2000 for all the fixes. The tranny drop to fix the flexplate should be a couple hundred if you find a decent used externally balanced one...local engine shops probably have them stacked up in a milk crate somewhere. Unless you are wanting to go back through the tranny, then the fix is not that expensive. You may lose a little fluid, but not a lot.

Drum brakes are as easy a fix to a shadetree mechanic as tightening a lug nut. Parts for bands, slave cyl., and even new drums would be around 150 a wheel for the back and probably another $150 for a new front caliper, rotors and set of pads for both sides. Good time to flush and fill the brake fluid too, but that is just time...not much money.

You may have other things going on to get you to a 2000 max spend, but I would believe you could get your immediate list done for cheaper.

Go shopping for parts at RockAuto, then go shopping for someone with a small garage (if you can't do the work yourself) and get a quick estimate.

[ClawSS]

FYI, a local shop to me fixed a lost reverse and 2nd gear in a 4L60 in a 96 2wd c1500 for me for $500...that was them doing the extract, repair/rebuild, reinstall.

Point is, chevy trucks are easy to work on, all mechanics know them...and they can last for ever. If you want a truck...sounds like you are in one for kinda cheap. If you really DON'T want it...sell it.

[Scalded Dog]

Having some possible family ties/ sentimental value does change things.

Look at the owner of Papa John's: He paid a quarter of a million to get his old 2nd generation Camaro back. And, If I had money to burn, I'd pay that to get my old Cutlass back.

Maybe just sit on it for a while... see if you accidentally stumble across and easy fix, or find out just how much the truck means to the mother- in- law.

[20Camaro11]

I appreciate the input from everyone here. I took all of your opinions along with some friends, family, and my own judgement and decided to take it in for the service. I don't know how much sentimental value it really has for my mother in-law. It really was just a work truck. It was a work truck at a major farm equipment store pulling farm machinery for 9 years and then put to work pulling a boat two to four times a year for the next 10.

I decided that given it's work history, a failed flex plate probably should not be unexpected. The service repair shop I intend to use quotes an estimate of about $700 for the flex plate. I think the rear main seal is leaking too, so I will have them replace that and the front seal on transmission all at the same time. The brakes haven't been serviced in 6 years, but don't have many miles on them, so that is kind of an unknown.

I want a truck and for what I will have in it, I can live with it. I would do the repairs myself, but unfortunately I don't have a garage or even halfway adept mechanical skills. I understand how most of these parts go together and how they work, but the whole process of taking apart and putting it back together in an efficient manner eludes me. I would have more time and bloody knuckles in one drum brake than a mechanic will have in all four.

[PalmerGA]

Junk it! Find yourself a better truck.