I'm not referring to the modern stuff, Andy. My van was an 81 with a 318, automatic, a/c, p/s and p/b. I drove it over 100,000 miles doing deliveries and then traded it for an 85 Ford Ranger, v-6, 4WD with a 5 speed manual. It suffered an major crap out on me around 8,500 miles. I was told by the dealership that it was emissions related and they fixed it for free and reimbursed my rental vehicle expense. That was a very good truck and I drove it several years. I'll never buy another new Mopar since Fiat/Stellantis took it over. Way over priced and reliability sucks.

 

August 29, 2025 update. I have been retired for one week, I have no idea what will come. I just got set up with Social Security and Medicare on the 18th of August. I started on May 28th, glad I made several calls the online program is not ready for prime time. Finalized my Medigap and prescription stuff this week. All ready to switch to Medicare on Sept 1. Social security pays a month late and starts in October, plan ahead folks. Got some dermatology surgery on my back yesterday on the company insurance. Nothing structural just a lipoma that I had been dragging my feet on. I feel fine and started on the Navigator project. We have another wedding in October in California, another grandson getting married.

I got the parts Navigator to fire on 8 today and took it for a drive. It has 230k so I will get it out and on a stand. Tear it apart and see what it needs. The one that is in the nice Navigator broke a left chain, so it has bent valves on that side at least. I will go through the 4R100 and give it a refresh also. Meanwhile we can drive the 2wd 06 I bought. My daughter likes it so it will replace her 02 4x4 Town and Country. Lots of projects and time to do it! That will be different.

 

Congratulations, sir.

Just don't overextend physically, trying fill all of the available time with "work." . It'll be there tomorrow.

 

Make sure you have plenty of projects, Andy. As someone who was forced to retire early due to brain injury, I can tell you that it's not easy learning how to not get up for work everyday. And then once you realize you're never going to be clocking in and out again, you have to find things to occupy your time. Most of my days are spent watching movies with the wife, doing yard work or piddling around the house. I live a very boring life. I do write some songs from time to time but most have been parodies of popular songs that I like. I truly hope you get to enjoy your retirement.

 

I am almost done stripping my wrecked Navigator. I still have a couple pieces to get from the interior. Got the engine out today, it came out of the pinched frame easier than I thought. I only broke two bolts pulling the transmission, Ford loves red locktight. One power steering pump bolt pulled some aluminum threads out of the left head, a helicoil will remedy that. The engine has been great, uses no oil and has only had one set of plugs in 240k miles. I have used 5-20 synthetic oil since I bought it at 30k, it is a 91+ octane tune and I have always run premium fuel in it. I pulled all the air ride parts for the one I am building to keep, most of these came with air ride and get coil-overs as the cheaper replacement. I will load the shell onto my trailer and leave it with the local pick a part that I frequent. Hand them the title and drive away with a smile!

 

Finished this morning and loaded up for it’s final voyage.

 

Man, you forgot to get your hitch off of it! LOL

 

Trim, window trim, windows, b pillar applique..….
That is a stripped vehicle.

 

The hitch is the rear crossmember, I still have one on each of the other four. I did keep the trailer wiring. The running boards are the only parts of this car that had rust issues. The driver’s side got destroyed in the accident but I saved the motor for a non working one on another Navigator. It is on to the next….