How original is your car?

[Frank Lee]

JR's thread on brakes got me thinking about every replaced part and bit of service my '94 F150 has had since new. If I forget something the first time around I'll edit it in.

One windshield (thanks for nothing, speeding pea gravel spewing landscaping truck )
One headlight bulb
One front blinker lens (parking lot hit and run )
One air filter element
Eight spark plugs
One serpentine belt
One idler pulley
One tie rod end
One set of four shock absorbers
One set of aftermarket wheels
Two aftermarket sets of tires (120k miles now)
Yet another set of tire stems (new ones @ last tire replacement were defective)
Two sets of starter brushes
One tailgate cable
One set of license plate lights
One vent window latch
Several oil filters
One radiator flush
Some hard brake lines
One set of caliper seals
One set of rear bumper brackets (oops)
Welded busted EGR valve
Made a reinforcement for busted dashboard mounting tab (One of my finest hillbilly engineering achievements)
Some 4wd hub thingy (not serviced by me; done under warranty 20 years ago)
A/C compressor (also warrantied)
I did replace the am/fm radio with one that has cassette
Added trailer wiring/socket
Added a license plate frame
Applied body decals
Added under-hood storage devices, hood "blanket", and anti-rodent screen @ intake
One set of floor mats

Well... the list got longer than I thought when including every bit of minutia but still pretty good for 20 years of not-babied service.

[redpoint5]

Here is the 1998 Dodge Ram I picked up at state auction. I asked an ODOT secretary if I could get the maintenance records on the truck and she sent me a phonebook sized package listing every service it had. I took ownership in 2006. The odometer doesn't work, so I don't know how many miles are on the truck. Likely close to 330,000 miles. Besides the broken odometer, the speedometer, cruise, AC, and gear indicator doesn't work. The headliner is falling down and to steer straight requires a back and forth motion between 11 and 1 o'clock positions.

I think the yellow DOT paint is original.





Date Service Performed Milage
7/14/1998 Bed liner 289
12/11/1998 V-Belt
5/12/1999 Annual Inspection 39,690
11/13/1999 3000mi Service 54,379
12/18/1999 3000mi Service 61,984
1/22/2000 3000mi Service 67,312
2/26/2000 3000mi Service 72,885
3/11/2000 3000mi Service 76,195
3/28/2000 3000mi Service 80,875
5/4/2000 Annual Inspection 84,104
5/13/2000 3000mi Service 84,503
5/19/2000 Check Transmission 84,760
5/24/2000 Check Transmission 84,760
6/14/2000 Check Lights 85,337
6/27/2000 Replace Mirror 85,337
7/14/2000 3000mi Service 90,381
7/18/2000 Check Transfer Case 90,381
7/18/2000 Install Steps 90,381
9/9/2000 3000mi Service 96,194
10/13/2000 3000mi Service 98,654
12/12/2000 3000mi Service 105,863
1/10/2001 Check Engine Knock 108,027
1/12/2001 Replace Engine-Rebuilt 108,027
1/30/2001 Replace Heater Hose 108,027
2/23/2001 Check Pulling Brakes 110,750
3/2/2001 3000mi Service 113,544
3/19/2001 Annual Inspection 112,882
3/28/2001 Check Brakes 117,312
4/8/2001 3000mi Service 118,574
4/22/2001 3000mi Service 80,451
6/1/2001 3000mi Service 121,397
7/22/2001 3000mi Service 124,163
10/28/2001 3000mi Service 128,619
12/11/2001 3000mi Service 134,262
1/20/2002 3000mi Service 102,636
2/5/2002 Replace Starter and Relay 143,168
2/14/2002 Check Front Brake Noise 144,727
2/28/2002 Mainenance 147,924
3/4/2002 Semi-Annual Inspection 147,924
3/5/2002 Check Brakes Pulling Left 147,957
3/6/2002 Check Radiator Leak-Split in Core 148,798
3/19/2002 Replace Radiator 148,798
3/19/2002 Change Rear Diff Oil 148,798
3/19/2002 Replace Rear Brake Pads 148,798
3/19/2002 Replace Front Brake Pads 148,798
3/19/2002 Replace Right Front Wheel Bearings 148,798
3/19/2002 Replace Horn 148,798
3/19/2002 Replace Transfer Case Output Seal 148,798
3/19/2002 Replace Transfer Case Shift Seal 148,798
3/19/2002 Oil and Lube 148,798
3/19/2002 Replace Calipers 148,798
3/19/2002 Replace Steering Stabilizer 148,798
3/19/2002 Replace Horn Switch 148,798
3/19/2002 Replace Drive Side Air Bag 148,798
3/19/2002 Turn Drums 148,798
3/19/2002 Turn Rotors 148,798
3/24/2002 3000mi Service 140,251
3/26/2002 3000mi Service 150,626
10/9/2002 Replace Front Brake Pads 159,940
12/26/2002 Replace Door Passenger Door Switch 165,632
4/7/2003 Replace Headlight Switch 190,978
12/2/2003 Replace Blower Switch 205,513
1/14/2004 Replace Calipers 219,000
1/22/2004 Replace Headlights 219,000
3/1/2004 Adjust Valves 221,834
3/16/2004 Replace Belt 222,297
6/1/2004 Replace Front Brake Pads 231,709
6/1/2004 Repack Front Wheel Bearings 231,709
7/7/2004 Oil Pan Drain Seal and Plug 234,243
7/8/2004 Replace Tranny(47RE) and Torque Converter 233,331
7/8/2004 Replace Neutral Switch 233,331
7/8/2004 Replace Blower Switch 233,331
7/8/2004 Replace Backup Light Switch 233,331
7/8/2004 30000mi Service 234,296
7/14/2004 Check Brake Pull 234,243
9/8/2004 Upholster Drivers Seat 235,003
11/10/2004 Repair High Beam 239,548
12/15/2004 Replace Front Brake Pads 244,880
1/18/2005 Replace Inner Axle Seals
1/20/2005 Front Axle Work
3/9/2005 Check Brake Pull 256,011
3/21/2005 Repair Transfer Case Leak 256,011
4/8/2005 Replace Alternator / Belt 262,959
6/10/2005 Replace Rear Brake Pads 270,093
8/4/2005 Replace Highbeam Indicator 271,694
8/4/2005 Pressure Test Cooling System-Check OK 271,694
8/4/2005 Replace Track Bar 271,694
8/16/2005 Replace Headlights 273,015
1/5/2006 Oil Change Amsoil 10w-40 purolator 275,000
4/1/2006 Air filter 276,000
6/24/2006 Transmission Fluid/Filter Change 278,275
9/15/2006 Fuel Filter 285,000
9/15/2006 Front Brake Calipers 285,000
10/3/2006 Tires (Bridestone AT Revo) $730 285,000
12/14/2006 Oil Change Amsoil 10w-40 purolator 286,000
1/8/2007 Thermostat 287,000
4/1/2010 Rear differentail oil - 80W-90 300,000
6/1/2012 Oil Change ?
4/1/2014 Oil Change ?

[Frank Lee]

Nice to not be in the Rust Belt!

[The donkey CRX]

Hey Frank, The Red Mule 92 VX we have been "modifying" for the last year came to us from EBAY from California with less than 90K miles. The original owner was the proverbial "little old lady from the southern California Desert". This car was almost rust free but was parked outside in the noon day sun 24 hours a day for 22 years. Also it did not have A?C for the first 22 years either.

Unfortunately she used the fenders, quarter panels and bumpers as "curb feelers".

It has been a very reliable car for us and because of the horribly used up exterior we have not felt so bad about all the tacked on modifications we have put on it.

It did have one other owner after the original, who added A/C and converted it to 49 state spec with a new computer and 5 wire O2 sensor.

Not sure of all the original parts, but we have done no replacements on the engine and drivetrain.

[jcp123]

I have zero maintenance history on my Echo. However, it would appear that all the factory hard parts are still in there. What I do know is that I have replaced the cat and spark plugs...one headlight assembly and bulb, one taillight bulb, and one fender. There's a whole bunch of stuff missing though...

[War_Wagon]

For my 1994 Cavalier with 44042 KMs (27350 miles) - it has a new battery, and a newer air filter. That is all, nothing else to see here, move along folks haha.

My friends '87 Tercel 4x4 wagon than I have posted about before with stupid low miles on it:
Battery replaced, muffler replaced, passenger side mirror glass replaced, it still had the original air filter in it when I got it for her in 2001 ish. It's also on it's second set of tires since it was new. Nothing else except for oil changes, cap and rotor, and spark plugs has ever been touched, as in original plug wires etc. I love that car, and I will own it one day!

My parents bought a '93 Mustang GT new. I've had it since the early 2000s. It has 113k KMs (70k miles). Battery, starter solenoid, tires, front brakes, windshield, one fog light, ignition parts (still have the original date coded plug wires in a box), and one rear axle have been replaced. And it has been repainted (original black). It hasn't been driven since 2006, so now it pretty much needs to be restored, but at least it's all there. I have the original cardboard floor mat covers it came with from the dealership. And the mirror hanger with the delivery number from the dealer. And the yellow tag that was also hung from the mirror that reminded you that the car was fuel injected and you didn't have to pump the gas pedal before you started it when it was cold. The dealership also sent my parents a bouquet of balloons along with a thank you card and a bottle of touch up paint a few weeks after they bought it (full load GT was a pricey car back then), I have all that. '93 was the last year of what people consider a 5.0 Mustang, and the first year they were available with a CD player. But the center console is set up to hold cassettes, not CDs. So my mom wrote an angry letter to Ford, asking why they sold her a car with a CD player and nowhere to put the CDs. Ford sent a letter back apologizing, along with a Ford black leather CD case, and a Ford sample CD of various kinds of music. I have that somewhere too. So, even though some things have been changed on that car, I think it has to be my most original car, even over the Cavalier, simply because it comes with so much crazy stuff you'd never find anywhere else.

[Frank Lee]

I need to attach the cost to as many of those items as possible..

[Cobb]

Frank, you mention car and show your truck? I know trucks to roll on forevar, even on the original motor and a lot of the service is from driver error or abuse. Tree falls on your truck bed, you get another bed. Tree falls on the rear of your car, its totaled.

[roosterk0031]

1998 Stratus, does it count if you remove and don't replace?
Battery last year or year before.
Water pump and timing belt
Rear brake cylinders, pads, and a little bit of line.
Front pad's probably twice.
AC compressor removed after failure
PS pump removed after failure.
A couple serpitine belts, one after AC failed shorter, another cause that one got noisy.
Radio, FM quite and 15 yo couldn't take no tunes(I didn't pay for it so it doesn't count)

Somewhere around 245,000 miles, Mother in law bought it new gave it to my then 13 year old 8+ years ago so FIL couldn't drive anymore. Had about 100,000 then, next 130,000 was me, my kids since.

Needs new ignition, drains battery if you take the key out wrong, son's solution leave the radio on so if it's still playing you didn't get the key out right.

Best car $/mile that I never bought or even if I'd paid a few K for it. It just keeps working,


My 03 malibu was maybe a better car, bought for $9998 with 11,000 miles, daughter wrecked it last summer, straight road 3 miles from home went into ditch hit box culvert rolled 3? times, no injuries.

3 sets front brake pads, 1 set of rotors, don't recall calipers but maybe
One battery
One fuel pump
1 set rear shoes, maybe a wheel cylinder or 2
2 front wheel bearings
1 idle control valve.
Some freon to keep AC working.

265,000 miles, ran perfect, steered well, braked well and everything worked.

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by Cobb

Frank, you mention car and show your truck? I know trucks to roll on forevar, even on the original motor and a lot of the service is from driver error or abuse. Tree falls on your truck bed, you get another bed. Tree falls on the rear of your car, its totaled.

I've been meaning to post up one or more of the cars as well.

For example, ALL I've put into the '59 over 14 years is:

Replaced fuel tank and sender with old used parts
One set of shocks (but if I can locate one good OEM shock I can put three of the originals back in)
Exhaust system
Eight spark plugs
Different carburetor (but will put original back on if I find a few parts to fix it with)
Four headlight bulbs
Four wheels and tires (still have OEM wheels)
One oil filter
Hoses and belt
Cups in rear brake cylinders
Can't remember- did I replace that front blinker bulb that was acting up or merely clean it?
Put "upscale" Buick gas pedal and day/night mirror in (have originals)

That 55-year-old buggy has been treating me pretty well. The story that came with it was that it had been untouched, unstarted, and undriven in a garage since 1968. I can't vouch for how many replacement parts it may have gotten pre-'68 but as a nine-year-old car with 28,000 miles, it couldn't have been much.