This should help put things into perspective: Most of these trucks are old pieces of farm equipment that we put a little lipstick on. Farm equipment might include an old engine used as a field generator or a tractor motor. It might have mud and sand in the oil, eliptical cylinder walls, wallered out bearings and rickety valves, but as long as it runs, who cares? It can backfire, belch, leak, squeek and hiccup but old Joe the farmer don't care as long as she runs. On the farm, everybody has to earn his keep including the dog and the cat if they want to get fed. The cat might have a missing ear but as long as he's catching mice, he's a beauty. At the other side of the spectrum is aircraft standard. You can't even think of running an engine with a scratch on a cyliner wall. An engine in a used aircraft that has sat for any period of time will be looked at with a fiber optic scope to see the condition of the cylinder walls. Any question and the engine MUST be professionally rebuilt by a certified mechanic. On my friend's plane that cost him $18,000. If the old stovebolt stops running, you pull over to the curb and call your buddy and tell him to bring his tow rope. In an airplane...yous gonna have time to think about just how, in a few seconds, yous gonna die in a crashing ball of fire. My standard is, do my best, try not to spend too much money so my wife doesn't get mad and have an autoclub card with me at all times. And never buy an airplane!
