My Old beater Ford SD

Yesterday the local shop does Upholstery work got my Headliner and Console compartment cover done, they are back home for $360.

The earlier DDEC Detroit Engines are impossible to get internals for these days unless a Builder has them stockpiled, Detroit is Owned by Daimler Benz.  Cummins announced last Year, the N14, is now Obsolete for Factory Parts, the NH and NT series has been that way for close to ten years now.  try getting a Cummins shop to rebuild a PT Pump, will refer a Independent as they eliminated the tests stands and equipment to build those.  Cat is still making parts and servicing C series Engines, C12,15,18, are still popular in Heavy Equipment but new engines are in the works to obsolete these.

MACK is now Wholly owned by VOLVO, the changeover to a Volvo Line is eventual and a discontinuance to the base Design Thermodyne series engines and the forever lived top loader rear ends is already underway.  IHC is Wholly owned by Volkswagon, Freightliner trucks Companies is Wholly owned by Daimler/Benz.  PACCAR is the Last Remaining US OWNED and BUILT Heavy truck Line.  PACCAR Engines are made under contract by Cummins, HOWEVER, ALL Warranty is dealt with IN HOUSE with PACCAR, Cummins will not even entertain working in their shops.

ALL current Build Tier 4 engines are a Trash as Dies design, Expense to Overhaul a X Series Cummins is in Excess of $25,000 in Parts alone.  Rods, Heads, all Disposable and NOT recoverable to a Reman Engine, Blocks have One Shot at a deck true then are at Min Spec to build ever again.  Cats were of this intent but the High nickel Blocks proved manageable for two to three machining and are thicker Head Spacers and Gaskets for that spacer still in production.  IHC is being slowly removed from ANY engines production, the DT based electronic engines and the latest/greatest MAXXFORCE engines are being removed from construct lines by VW for existing Daimler or Cummins power.  Volvo trucks have the LEAST longevity on US Roads, 7 years parts begin to Obsolesce, at Nine years a Model type change eliminates all but outsourced Used parts especially electronics control equipment.  Those in the RV Game that bought them are now dealing with Unavailability up to NON Rebuildable parts as are Volvo Specific for repair parts.

AG equipment is following similar lines.

Scrap is down to $150/t steel and $.90lb for such as Clean Aluminum Wheels, sheet aluminum was only $.35/lb.  And Copper 70%(Still sheathed or Burned away) only $1.00/lb.  Cannot imagine the Gawking Looks I received dragging the 16footer behind Big Blue??

So, sat comfortably explained by Email, was The LAST TIME EVER I would deal with their BS service, even Screen printed the NEGATIVE value for their services and parts supplied, would NOT recommend ANYONE ever buy thru their Bait and Switch sales game.

Apologies came yet informed parts were mailed, explained again, IDNGAF, are trash, will be trashed as arrive, and the review will stand.  

Was fordpartsconnect  Keyport NJ

That troublesome Ford Dealer parts department, well I got Mad, hand wrote a letter to the Dealer Manager, records numbers, dates, spoke to names and end result, received a Email the Refund was on my CC, were disciplinary actions in process, wished me a good day and was done.

Soon as the welding phase is done will be back to cab roof body work and readying for epoxy priming all the new parts and body work.  Then have to wait on paint for finances to catch up.

Getting there on Ford Roof, will post a later photo as the Channels have had the Seam Sealant removed and primed for today's activity of replacing that as was pulling away from the roof sheet allowing moisture to corrode the skin.  Body filler work is 99% completed on Cab and R Rr replacement Door.