I've still got one pup here @ home. He'll be 17 in July. Transmission went out of his car about 5 mo. ago. It's an old Mercedes diesel 1976. I drove it for years; when I bought a newer one I shedded it. So Eli gets his permit and keeps bugging me to drive the old girl. I told him if he bought tires and what not I'd let him drive it. So he saves up money and we did some fixing on it and he drove it about 1.5 years. Five months ago the trans. Starts to slip. He wanted to fix it.
I told him wed have to find another used trans. for it somewhere. Now remember; we live in the rural Midwest. There are not many old Mercedes diesels setting around here!

Elias saves money and saves money; he loves this car. Mind you this is my car that he pays for all repairs on.

One day, out of the blue, an old diesel the same year comes up for sale. Doesn't run; suspected fuel pump problem. 350.00 buys it.

The boy buys it and we haul it home from 200 miles away. This weekend we did the swap.

It is at times like these I become faced with my age. Yikes I'm a hurting unit this morning. But the young man is happily driving his beloved car.

That's a great story  

"Nothing like doing something that you did 30 years ago to remind you of good times."

Ha. Here is the more truthful statement...

Nothing like doing something that you did 30 years ago to remind you of how hard it is to do those projects you used to do.

I did an engine swap with my son on his car a few years ago. Technology had changed a bunch of stuff. Also, I discovered how much leaning in, stooping and crawling around was involved. My back and knees don't work like they used to.

++20 on everything the guys have said

And I'd like to add.... Thanks for keeping it on the road!!!

So many folks just drive them out in the backyard or to a dump/reclamation site.

Most of the old cars get high teens to low 20's mpg anyway and still some could pass the air quality tests with a good exhaust system.

Sad to see that we as a country don't really "recycle" like we say we do.

Been there done that!  It was the only option left. Believe me it is way simpler and not nearly as hard on an old fella to change a filter and fluid. Gotta try all the cheap, easy ways out first.

That's why they make 800 mg Motrin , take 2 , that's right 1600 mg ! And then slide into your favorite recliner with cold beer. The transmissions where I work are about 900 lbs.

I feel your pain Ed with the fuel pump. Helped the other boy do one of those couple mo. Ago. Aurghgh! PITA YES!!!

There should seriously be a drain plug in any vehicle you have to drop the tank on to replace the pump, in case FULL TANK

One thing I liked about my Spectra, FP replacement from inside the hatch area