HI guys, I recently purchased a 1989 Hi Jet fire truck that was kept indoors in a climate controlled environment but wasn't used/582 original miles. It runs like new, but the tires were completely dry rotted from sitting so long. Need some advice; belts and hoses look fine and I ordered an oil filter to do an oil change...do you think the rest of the fluids should be changed as well?
Yes, it's a low-cost PM...Why risk your investment? I probably would have done the belts and hoses as well since you were already in there. Again, these parts are not expensive, so why not? Even though they look new and you got a truck that was never used, just sitting around could still cause dry rot and microscopic cracking. In all likelihood, a lot of this basic maintenance could be done once, whether it needs it or not, and never again. Just my two-cents...
Yep, that makes sense since the tires were dry rotted that even though the belts and hoses look good they might have some aging not showing ie; brittle. what I was really wondering about is fluids like the tranny fluid and the differential? I think a radiator flush would be wise to do as well. Thoughts?
I would do it all...All those fluids break down over time with or without being used. In the end, you might end up with a maintenance bill in the $1000-1500 range, but it's a lot cheaper than replacing a motor or destroying your new baby. Why risk it? I might have had $400-500 in parts for my minicab (complete tune up, timing belt, water pump, tensioner, thermostat and seals, front rotors and pads) and had a local shop do all the work, primarily because I don't have anywhere to tear it down at my house. Where I bought my truck did all the fluid just a few days before it was sent over to me. After it was tuned up, I was surprised how much more peppy it was than before...
Yep, that's a great confirmation on what I was thinking all along, thanks! And if anyone knows WHERE TO ORDER THOSE PARTS, that would be a great help. Newbie to the Kei Truck world
I got a lot of my parts from eBay Auto, they have a huge selection of vendors and parts at all different price points. Also, try G&R Imports (573-204-8342), they seem to be a high-volume KEI Truck parts shop, and you can just search the internet. Being you have a Daihatsu, there seems to be a plethora of parts for this brand. In my case, the Mitsubishi is a bit more challenging.
Yes, it will be...Anytime I drive mine, it puts a smile on my face, and generally, people I don't know are waving at me
Great find, these firefighter Hats are too cool! Personally, with so few km but so many years, I would change all the fluids without hesitation. Brake fluid, cooling, gearbox and diff... everything can deteriorate over time. It doesn't cost much and it ensures you peace of mind. And keep an eye on the hoses, even if they look OK!
Yep, I found a shop here in town that works on these, they will do all those fluids, hoses ect for me and yeah I’ve been getting allot of smiles and waves from folks when they see it.
