car or college?

[351w_swap]

ok, here is my dilema. I have some money from working over the summer left, enough to pay for school and if necessary another winter beater (mine is falling apart). I bought a 9 inch lincoln versailles rear end and a 3.70 trac loc center in the last couple of weeks with the idea that I would only swap out the rear. After removing the old 8 inch I have found a number of problems. The frame rails must have rusted out at some point and the previous owner had new steel welded on over top. The torque boxes are falling apart. The edge of the wheel well where it meets the trunk floor is rusted through and there is a two inch by 1 inch hole there. The springs are sagging and will cause problems when attempting to hook up with my new rear. The shocks are air shocks and no longer hold air so are useless.

Do I risk it and fix the mustang, keeping in mind that I have a 35 mile drive to school every day? Or do I put the new rear in with all the crap old parts and just cover it until I can fix it in a couple years? I am having a terrible time with this. I love the mustang but I will be screwed if the winter beater breaks down. So I guess at the moment I am f@#$ed either way. It wouldn't be a big deal except I can't pick up many extra hours at work next term with two computer programming classes one engineering course and calculus 4.

 

[jikelly]

There's a cal 4? Advanced calculus? Anyway, I think it'd be best if you put the mustang up for a while and concentrate on school. Just my 2 cents.

 

[66forfun]

"put the new rear in with all the crap old parts and just cover it"....gets my vote....get thru school and make some cash to fix it up right as well as getting established....rustoleum heavily rusted primer may buy you some time with the problem areas...nothing stopping you from stockpiling parts while in school as cash allows. good luck.

 

[65ShelbyClone]

Put the Mustang on the back burner. School is more important. Most people at my work are older than me and the ones that don't have a degree kep telling me how much easier it would be for them if they had one. I'm about three weeks away from my bachelor's and I'm thinking about going back for a second in engineering.

The Mustang's no use if you aren't making the money to fix it up, right?

 

[351w_swap]

thanks guys, you are making it easier to do what I know I need to do. Maybe I will be able to come up with the money next summer (optimism).

 

[C0V3R]

I agree with the other guys too. Nothing better you can do than give yourself a good head start on everyone else. Fixing the mustang wont do that for you, college should.

 

[65ShelbyClone]

Maybe I will be able to come up with the money next summer (optimism).

Even if you can't, it's not a big deal. My Mustang is only just road worthy, but it's still fun. After 6 months of saving I finally have some cash to put toward the Granada brakes and 9" rear swap. I've been waiting almost 18 months without doing anything and now some of it is finally coming together.

I hated grade school. I hated middle school. I absolutely hated highschool. During college and university, I better appreciated the education I was getting. Going to work drove it home even harder. I'm an intern right now and make good money for one, but damned if I want to be in the same place a year from now or even 20 years from now. A simple bachelor's degree will take so much further than where I am now and I'm a stone's throw away from one. The degree is more important than the hobbies.

 

[RMODEL65]

degree pays for the hobbies easier

 

[DissFigured]

School

Had I not gone to school, I wouldn't even have the mustang. I imagine you are going for a CSCI degree? That is what I got. I graduated in 2000 and I work half as hard and make twice as much as all my buddies that took time off to play early.

Don't even weigh your options here. just go to school. Graduate and in 5 years you will be making 6 figures easy. Imagine how sweet your paint will look then...

 

[rbohm]

got to agree with the others, back burner the mustang and get the school done first.

 

[bnickel]

i agree, finish school first. if nothing else, used parts can still be realtively cheap if need be.

 

[dennis112]

College - college - college - college - college . . . . .

 

[351carlo]

School. I was in the same position this past year but I knew school came first. The mustang is still sitting, but I think about that engineering degree thats almost here and get a good feeling.

Oh and I'm in my school's fifth year of advanced Engineering Calculus........ Talk about a FUN class!!!!

 

[69gmachine]

As you have already guessed, it's pretty much a no-brainer that finishing school is the only real priority.

I would suggest that if you want to get your Mustang fix that you join a local club and offer assistance to help others with their cars. Consider it a part of your education. You can get valuable hands on experience and ideas for mods you might want to do later. You will also likely make some lifelong friends who will be glad to return the favor when you're ready (just don't expect everyone you help to reciprocate... such is life).

As many have testified already, the Mustang hobby is quite expensive, and it never ends, so it's a lot easier if you have a degree, or you're a sports star, movie star, or win the lottery.

Best of luck with your education!

 

[steemin]

DUH..School
seriously get the degree then buy whatever you want
Scott

 

[tylerrocks]

As far as a beater, look for a 90's nissan pickup. Got mine for 3,000 and have never had a problem with it. Plus its not uncommon for those things to turn 200,000 miles. And, I've had people (who know the value of these trucks) offer me more than what I paid for it. Great 'butt of the stang'.

Tyler

 

[DrStang]

I put my baby away for 10 years while I went and got my doctorate. It was tough but it really allows me to enjoy my car now (better job and more cash flow for the car)

 

[65ShelbyClone]

As far as a beater, look for a 90's nissan pickup. Got mine for 3,000 and have never had a problem with it. Plus its not uncommon for those things to turn 200,000 miles. And, I've had people (who know the value of these trucks) offer me more than what I paid for it. Great 'butt of the stang'.

The mid-'80s to mid-'90s Toyotas are the same way. All you have to do is put oil and gas in them and just drive. I have a '94 and am getting 31mpg on the highway.

 

[RMODEL65]

anything is like that as long as u change the oil my ranger wouldnt die for anything i bould it for 1700 drove it for about 5 yrs and sold it for 1500$ my 5.0 goes without needing anything major and its got 170,000 miles and its very quick fior a vert imho

 

[351w_swap]

I think for a winter beater im going to go with a pontiac with a 3.8 in it, the bonneville has 185000 on it now and if it wasnt for the tranny, the motor would go for well over 200000. As for parts, christmas is coming up and my parents usually buy parts so maybe I can get some inner wheel wells and shocks and make do for now. I think I am going to use some stock inner wheel wells to make a mini tub so I can cut out that rust hole. As for the frame rails, steel is fairly cheap and I can tig weld pretty well so I guess I will just leave the rails and do what I can for the torque boxes until I can just replace them. Overall, I think this will allow me to safely drive it on the weekends, just no track events or anything much over 55 for a small amount of cash.