I am in in frequent poster but daily reader of Mud. But tonight as I waxed both poeticly and figurately on the Cruiser I asked myself...is the 80 series a better rig because of, or in spite of the PM I have lavished on her? At near 205K (and me being the 3rd and first OCD owner) she runs like a top with nary a drip, hesitation or fault about her.
Both repairs and PM have befallen her in the 3 years and 40K or so I have been behind the wheel (radiator and PHH as examples). I have modded her as necessary (see sig) and as most here, have more plans in the future.
But as I stored the clay bar and to shined her flanks I began to posit the question, is the 80 series the best vehicle on earth because of my attention or in spite of it? Would she still get me to the office every morning if I had not rebuilt the front axles last summer? Would I have been walking to the camp site in January had I not drained and refilled the transfer case with synthetic? Is my attention to the PS pump the reason I hear no groaning or would I have been fine living with a quarter size stain in the driveway?
I found Mud about 2 months after purchasing the Cruiser as I searched for an ARB on line (thanks Christo!) and continue to be amazed at the ingenuity and foresight of its members. So my question to you, as the members appear to run the gamut from 1st owner to 5th, from money-is-no-object to starving high school/college student is simply this:
Is your 80 better because of or in spite of your PM? and as a secondary query, if you could recommend one 1 single PM strategy what would it be (fluid change not acceptabled-all fluid should be changed in ANY vehicle upon purchase or at intervals)?
Thanks in advance.
Both repairs and PM have befallen her in the 3 years and 40K or so I have been behind the wheel (radiator and PHH as examples). I have modded her as necessary (see sig) and as most here, have more plans in the future.
But as I stored the clay bar and to shined her flanks I began to posit the question, is the 80 series the best vehicle on earth because of my attention or in spite of it? Would she still get me to the office every morning if I had not rebuilt the front axles last summer? Would I have been walking to the camp site in January had I not drained and refilled the transfer case with synthetic? Is my attention to the PS pump the reason I hear no groaning or would I have been fine living with a quarter size stain in the driveway?
I found Mud about 2 months after purchasing the Cruiser as I searched for an ARB on line (thanks Christo!) and continue to be amazed at the ingenuity and foresight of its members. So my question to you, as the members appear to run the gamut from 1st owner to 5th, from money-is-no-object to starving high school/college student is simply this:
Is your 80 better because of or in spite of your PM? and as a secondary query, if you could recommend one 1 single PM strategy what would it be (fluid change not acceptabled-all fluid should be changed in ANY vehicle upon purchase or at intervals)?
Thanks in advance.