Arrrggghhhhh!!!!

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Seems to me that a complete engine and leather overhaul of the 80 would cost less than buying a new car. Consider that you'll spend a couple of grand on taxes and reg fees alone with a new or used car. With an overhauled 80 you can expect another 100k miles trouble free which is all you'll get from the replacement vehicle anyway. Plus you love your truck and that's priceless. Only real advantage to getting a newer car is some updated safety features like VSC and advanced airbag technology.
 
AdventureBuddies said:
Seems to me that a complete engine and leather overhaul of the 80 would cost less than buying a new car. Consider that you'll spend a couple of grand on taxes and reg fees alone with a new or used car. With an overhauled 80 you can expect another 100k miles trouble free which is all you'll get from the replacement vehicle anyway. Plus you love your truck and that's priceless. Only real advantage to getting a newer car is some updated safety features like VSC and advanced airbag technology.
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This is where the practical side of me is leaning. Even if I drop another $5000 into the engine and leather it's cheaper than $500-600/month in car payments for 5 years.

Had a very nice talk with Darrel down at SDTrux yesterday afternoon. Truck is headed down there Monday.

Scottydog - EGR valve is one of the suspects. As I said, I couldn't raise ANY pressure on that valve at all. If that's all it is, I'll consider myself lucky. SDTrux also mentioned that depending on how much was shaved off the head with the HG job, it could need a valve job even if they 'looked ok' per the shop that did the HG. We'll see.

At this point, I'll wait for a professional opinion before I decide what to do. If we can get the engine back then I'll replace the leather in the beast and turn it back to my DD and sell the Miata to pay for it all!

edit - will take a look at the youtube videos tonight - blocked here at work.
 
One more thing: the 80 is basically done depreciating. $20k spent on a replacement will depreciate to $10k which is even more lost money.
 
AdventureBuddies said:
One more thing: the 80 is basically done depreciating. $20k spent on a replacement will depreciate to $10k which is even more lost money.
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LOL - you're preaching to the choir on this point. If I went with a 2010 FJ, even at dealer invoice, the minute I drive off the lot the thing depreciates $4-5K! Read an 80 series thread over on Expo portal in the Landcruiser section about a rig that Expedition West just purchased and all the reasons he purchased an 80 series. All the reasons NOT to part and sell the 80 for an FJ. We'll see what the guys at SDTrux say next week about the engine and the oil leak that's developed too.
 
What would be really nice is a diesel swap. Dana Adams (rip) has one for sale thru his estate that Ken Kemsa mentioned. '96 Toyota diesel with less than 100K on the clock IIRC. Half chop install and engine both for $15K. Out of my price range. If I understood the half chop, it literally chops the front end of my truck for the front end of the donor truck so the engine bay is already set for the diesel. Don't know if that's frame and all or not. Just too steep a price.
 
Brent,

They don't actually chop your truck. The chop is to guarantee that you get all the parts required, reduce shipping costs associated with an entire vehicle and avoid all of the hurdles associated with importing a non US spec vehicle.

You just have to swap everything into your truck!

Your baby just needs some TLC. She is jealous of the Miata, to appease the Cruiser Gods go buy something from CDan!
 
boydmick said:
Brent,

They don't actually chop your truck. The chop is to guarantee that you get all the parts required, reduce shipping costs associated with an entire vehicle and avoid all of the hurdles associated with importing a non US spec vehicle.

You just have to swap everything into your truck!

Your baby just needs some TLC. She is jealous of the Miata, to appease the Cruiser Gods go buy something from CDan!
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We'll see what SD Trux says next week. $15K for a complete swap to a '96 Toyota diesel sound reasonable? Seems pricey to me.

Driving my nephew's FJ Cruiser today. Drive into work was nice. Solid truck. I've only driven Stan's FJ a few blocks in the past.

Conversation with the :princess: last night about all this. Told her at some point she may need to be a voice of reason since I'm not very rational when it comes to the 80. She, however, was under the impression that if I parted the 80 that the $$ would be going to reducing the loan on the FJ and I had to explain that I'd use those funds to purchase like equipment for the FJ. She was somewhat :mad: to hear that! She asked if any of it would transfer - nope - only the fridge, CO2 tank and lights off the INTI. Everything else is specific. Like I've told you guys, she just doesn't camp or anything close and just doesn't understand $1 spent on this little hobby/addiction we have with our cruisers.

I will be selling the Miata. Drove it to the gym Monday and had tingling down my left leg from the seat position and clutch usage. That'll net $5-6K over the remaining loan on it. It really is a fun commuter car, but just not comfortable on my back. Cant' say whether it's been a contributing factor to the buldging disk or not, but I'm not taking any chances!
 
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I am hoping for the best! John and Daryll know whet they're doing so hopefully it wont be too painful. Maybe a little premature, but if you do start parting things out, I am in the market for a rear bumper.

I'll be over at SDTrux tomorrow for a baseline checkup.
 
sdnative said:
I am hoping for the best! John and Daryll know whet they're doing so hopefully it wont be too painful. Maybe a little premature, but if you do start parting things out, I am in the market for a rear bumper.

I'll be over at SDTrux tomorrow for a baseline checkup.
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Have a very very knowledgable conversation with Daryll. Really impressed with the call. Got my fingers crossed that it's not an engine rebuild and is something like the EGR valve, O2 sensor or valve adjustment. At least they know what they are looking at with experience to back it up. It'll be worth the drive and time.

At least I'll have solid information to base my decision on for sure.

Rear bumper is a Kaymer BTW with a couple of nice scrapes. :flipoff2:
 
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If you want to consider FJ Cruisers, I saw one on a corner lot today with snorkle and ARB front bumper with winch. Chapman Ave in Orange, 100yds west of the 55 fwy.
 
There is a "sinking seat" issue with FJCs. Toyota has issued a TSB for it which replaces the driver seat. My buddy has had two replaced already. I do have to say that being an ex-FJC owner the seats don't "look" very comfortable but they are. I had to upgrade in size because I could not fit a Britax (big a$$ expensive, safe car seat) for 2.5 yr old, a baby carrier for 5 month old and a growing 9 yr old. Not to mention a large German Shepard.
 
fjc8871 said:
There is a "sinking seat" issue with FJCs. Toyota has issued a TSB for it which replaces the driver seat. My buddy has had two replaced already. I do have to say that being an ex-FJC owner the seats don't "look" very comfortable but they are. I had to upgrade in size because I could not fit a Britax (big a$$ expensive, safe car seat) for 2.5 yr old, a baby carrier for 5 month old and a growing 9 yr old. Not to mention a large German Shepard.
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Plus once you drove mine you were hooked.
 
You have to drive it now that it's regeared. Night and day different.
 
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