[Brian Baker]

WORST:

'94 Ford F-150, 300-CI inline-6 w/5-speed manual - Got terrible fuel mileage (worse than my '92 GMC K1500 with a 350-CI), didn't have enough power to pull a sick whore off a pisspot, and the oil pan rusted out from the inside-out, requiring it be replaced.

'02 Dodge Ram 1500 quad cab, 4.7L V8 w/automatic - Where do I start? Had to get rear axle repaired under warranty (new carrier with bearings, ring & pinion, seals, axle bearings, etc), dash board cracked and split into chunks in less than 5 years, electronics under dash (heat/vent controls) were constantly going up, sheet metal in cab was so thin where door hinges mount that it would flex if you leaned on door when open. The final straw was when it needed a valve job at 147K miles due to a known factory defect. It seems the valve guides would "raise" in the head casting until they came in contact with the valve spring retainer and then POP! off goes the rocker/follower. After replacing two lifters on two different occasions on opposite heads, the third time it did it I was advised to get a valve job. So I did one side only to the tune of $2700 and then sold that piece of sh*t.

BEST:

My '92 GMC K-1500 Sierra-ST, 350-CI w/automatic...I sold it in 2004 with 319K miles. It had been through 2 transmissions and one rear (but I did a lot of hauling and towing with it). Was still running on original engine.

Currently, my '99 GMC Sierra 1500, 5.3L V8 with automatic...it currently has 304K miles and the engine, transmission, and rear axle have never been gone through, save for normal maintenance (fluid/oil and filter changes, tune ups, etc). I've had to replace all of the fuel and brake hard lines from corrosion, and the A.C. compressor and associated equipment, but she still runs like a top.