Rant

 I have a couple of pickups, and they are both old and have a lot of miles on them. My 2003 Dakota has 291,000 miles on it. And my 1999 Dakota has 349,000 miles on it.

I have been thinking about selling both of these and getting a different truck with less miles on it. But after perusing craigslist and facebook marketplace and seeing the prices people want for used trucks these days, I have put that on hold for now.

2009 Chevrolet Silverado 2500hd diesel 4x4 - $25,000

Too much money in my opinion.

So I decided to get my motor rebuilt in my 2003 Dakota. Good idea, right? Not so much in practice.

First place I went to said, We don't rebuild motors. We will replace them. I said can you send it out for rebuilding? And he replied, That takes a long time.

So I left, as it seemed obvious to me he wasn't interested in my money.

Second place I went to said, We don't rebuild motors because it is not cost effective any longer. We can put a new one in. So I asked for him to give me a price on that. The inevitable, I thought.

Didn't hear from that place until a week later. They gave me a price on a new motor of $4500. But they didn't have a clue how much labor to do the work was.

I mean, how can you not at least have an estimate of the labor?? 

So yesterday I went to a third place. This guys place looked very professional, so I was hopeful. He calls me back 2 hours later with pricing, for parts AND labor.

A remanufactured motor, installed parts and labor, he wants $9000. Not including any accessories that may be necessary.

A used motor at 120,000 miles 3 month warranty, installed parts and labor he wants $6000. Not including a new timing chain, which he calls part of the accessory work, more money.

Well crap. So I called a supposed engine rebuilder in fresno. At 11:30 AM, and was told call back at 1:30 to talk to Wayne. 2 hour lunch, huh.

This morning I called at 9AM, asked about getting a price to rebuild the motor in my truck. The guy said you mean engine? I said yeah, he said motors are electric, call back in 10 minutes and talk to wayne.

Okay. I give it 30 minutes, got ahold of wayne. He said give me a minute to wake up, then said I gotta go to the front. He said okay, now, what do you want. I repeated I wanted a price to rebuild the Motor in my truck. Took about 5 minutes for him to write down the very simple info of 2003 Dodge Dakota, 4.7 l engine. And I am not exaggerating about that, this guy was not firing on all 8 cylinders.

He finally got that wrote down, then asked why are you wanting to rebuild, and I repeated because it has 291,000 miles on it. He laughed at me and then raised his voice and said, It's just getting broke in! 

Now I realize he was trying to joke, but I was already PO'd and frustrated. So I said okay thank you and hung up.

So now I'm thinking I will just do it myself as I probably should have from the git go. But dammit, I don't wanna. Picture a crying baby with gigantic crocodile tears.