My wife's car blew up...

[Jarlaxle]

The problem with the TDI's around here is that they are usually priced like gold.

[the_experience03]

You're talking to a guy that wheels Toyotas. I feel your pain.

[Jarlaxle]

They haven't built a pickup I would wheel in 25 years. They stopped selling them built the right way here in 1985! Wou;ldn't mind a Land Cruiser, though...my father in law loves his 84. Complete with the clone of a Chevy Stovebolt six under the hood.

[the_experience03]

All hope wasn't lost until 1995.5. My 1993 has the rare V-8 engine and solid front axle option. They went full-on wussified in 1995.5 when the Taco came out. The third gens are actually my favorite looking of the trucks...you just need to correct the flaw in the front suspension design.

Has anyone built a truck since the 80's? Balljoints, unitized bearings, and transfer cases without big, heavy cast iron gears just don't do it for me.

[Jarlaxle]

For compacts...Jeep did until 1992. The Commanche ran a solid axle and the powerful 4.0 High Output six.

For fullsizes...Ford & Dodge still do. Hell, look at the Power Wagon! GM and Jeep stopped after 1987. (1991 for GM duallies & chassis-cabs) Dodge built half-tons with solid axles until 2001.

My 1992 F-350 had the last of the kinkpin Dana 60's.

[Jarlaxle]

Ye gods...$4000 for a ragged-out TDI Golf that pours out blue smoke & needs a turbo, a clutch, a timing belt, and brakes.

She looked at a 1996 Metro today...said it looked pretty good. 1.0/5-speed, A/C, only 79,000 miles, good tires, and new brakes.

[the_experience03]

Originally Posted by Jarlaxle

For compacts...Jeep did until 1992. The Commanche ran a solid axle and the powerful 4.0 High Output six.

And no frame!

Originally Posted by Jarlaxle

For fullsizes...Ford & Dodge still do. Hell, look at the Power Wagon! GM and Jeep stopped after 1987. (1991 for GM duallies & chassis-cabs) Dodge built half-tons with solid axles until 2001.

Bastardized Dana 50's, balljoints, unitized bearings, central axle disconnects...

Originally Posted by Jarlaxle

My 1992 F-350 had the last of the kinkpin Dana 60's.

[sdwarf36]

http://www.greasecar.com/clasi_view.cfm?adID=37730

[Sojakai]

I remember someone raving about a jeep called a Suzuki Samurai. Lot of mod parts for them, so normal parts shouldn't be a problem.

And I remember that a hair drier will remove the ugly decals down the sides. ^.^

[the_experience03]

Originally Posted by Sojakai

I remember someone raving about a jeep called a Suzuki Samurai. Lot of mod parts for them, so normal parts shouldn't be a problem.

And I remember that a hair drier will remove the ugly decals down the sides. ^.^

You mean a Toyota 22RE, 5 speed (like a W56), RF1A t-case, and 8 inchers front and rear?

[jkindt]

FESTIVA! I just sold one with 300,000km on it. It was thoroughly worn out. Good little cars, can take a lot of abuse. Remember the scene in Fun With Dick and Jane where they 'rescued' Dick from the Mexican border? I swear they can stuff a dozen or more Mexicans in the trunk of one of those cars!!! Such a great movie...

[Jarlaxle]

Originally Posted by the_experience03

And no frame!

Bastardized Dana 50's, balljoints, unitized bearings, central axle disconnects...

Commanches have a partial frame...unitbody cab, rear frame. It's an odd setup, but works pretty well. Of copurse, the (unitbody) Cherokees are pretty good off-roaders!

Dodge never used the Dana 50. Only Ford did. Dodge put Dana 44's iin half tons, 60's in HD's. After 2001, no disconnects on anything.