What to do with "Betsy"

[KelseyM]

Hey guys, I need everyones opinion on my Classic. I own an 89 that was my fathers from new. I drove it for about a year and a half when I first got my license in high school. ALWAYS had the death wobble and tons of other problems but at the time I didnt care about any of it. Bought a shop manual and attempted all the problems down the road with my young brain and my tools. Finally when I went to college I couldnt afford it. It was either gas or parts for "Betsy" ( Name of my Truck) and I finally had to switch to somthing else. So now Im in my second year of college and have some money and have been thinking of what to do with her. I started her the other day and the EFI light was on, cosmeticly the truck isnt that great, and it runs poor. I brought it to The Rover Shoppe to get it apprasied and it was a LONG list to say the least. So my question is, should I try to repair my forever love and bring it back to what it deserves, or should I start seriously looking for another? Any imput would help, thanks.

[Ed*]

Your decison may come to determining if this is a 1) based on a love for betsy and all the memories that come with her or 2) a financial / practical decision.

There are other options (like if you love working on car projects) but I left those out becuase 1 and 2 seemed to cover what you said in your original post.

Once you decide why you are makeing the choice and once you decide if you can make that choice. (for example -you might love her and want to keep her regardless of the $$ but have no place to park her) then I think it will all fall in place for you.

[KelseyM]

I love to work on her, and keeping her at my parents house is no problem because my Father shares the same memories as I do. I have some spare parts that I could swap from a Doner Rover (Radiatior, etc). She leaks from every corner and would probaly need all new seals. I think that since I already have truck, I know where she has been and the memories are too great Im going to attempt to give her another shot. Thanks for your imput!

[Ed*]

I probably feel very similar to how you feel. My 1995 RRC is long past making economical sense to maintain, but I really have an emotional attachment and enjoy working on the truck. Once I figured out I was keeping the rover for emotional / entertainment reasons more than for practical reasons it was a ton less annoying when things would go wrong.

This board is a good resource for problems when you get stuck and if you dont have one you should look into geting the shop manual or the RAVE cd.

[KelseyM]

Yea I have a Workshop Manual that I sleep next to so that has been a great help as well as this forum. I think that I am just going to save as much as I can and keep what I am driving now until I know that shes ready for the road again. I just don't know where to start! I think I may just bring it somewhere and get a quote on how much it would be to overhaul the engine and tranny, I feel that would be a solid starting point. Do you know how much that would run approx? Im not sure if I exactly need to do that right now, she runs and shifts fine, I just feel that if Im going to do this I want to do it right but I want to have her back by January ( I just decided this which is why I am editing my post). I think that a tune up and some tyres will do her well, maybe some new gaskets here and there. I was looking for tyres and couldnt find the tyres that were on the truck when it was new. Does anyone know where I could find them?

[Fitzhugh]

The stock Michelins are no longer available. : (
But, tirerack.com very recently added a Pirelli Scorpion ATR tire in the rare stock 205/ 80 R16 size (currently on back order). I would get those or the more expensive BFG All-Terrain Ta/KO in 235/70.

[Fitzhugh]

Perhaps you could post the long list of problems that the garage gave you, and we could prioritize it.

I'm putting my Range Rover back together too (or completly taking it apart depending on one's perspective).