D'oh! HG dead - have to sell

[Cruiserdrew]

Fix that truck. It's a HG, not a body replacement. I think Alvaro paid $2000 at a dealer to fix this. $4-5k just means they don't want to do it.

Even if you don't do it yourself, it won't be that bad to pay to have it done.

A non-running truck with a bad motor is basically worth nothing. Maybe $2000 on a good day. Sorry bro.

 

[rtarh2o]

I paid $3,500 for mine about 6 months ago. It is a 94 just like yours, blown HG. I bought it for my diesel conversion. I was happy to pay the $3,500, might have even paid a bit more (4,000ish) simply because I was looking for one in that condition for my conversion. Have you ever looked for a Land Cruiser with a bad engine? Not easy to find! With that said there are alot of people wanting to do conversions who would be happy to give you $3,500 or more for yours for the conversion. Even better, there are alot of people just waiting for their engines to die so they can do the swap, maybe someone would be willing to trade their running 80 for your non-running 80 plus a couple thousand? Worth a try maybe? With all that said now that I have totally taken mine apart I wouldn't think it would be too difficult to do yours in a weekend with some good help and the proper tools, I wouldn't think it would cost much either. Surely you can find a place to work on it, sounds like finding the help will be easy!
Good luck!

 

[raineyseay]

HG - i AM ALMOST DONE WITH MINE

Listen up - I know how ya feel. Mine is almost complete and I even had to hone the last # 6 cylinder because I drove it after the HG blew ( I'm a big dummy) and glazed that cylinder. . Anyways this was an undertaking but can be accomplished . Mine is a 97 with 138k. You fix that and you'll be good for a couple of years unless your just wanting something else. This forum can get you there and you will learn alot about your truck. Good luck.

 

[NaterGator]

You see? Jumpeth not the gun and don't make rash decisions. Dumping the landcruiser at this point is almost certainly a loss at your end.

Be optimistic/realistic and persevere and you may end up with a really reliable cruiser that lasts you PLENTY of miles to spare. If nothing you are out of pocket a little bit but you bring your cruiser up to operating spec and you can sell it like a normal cruiser and not take a huge hit.

 

[Grolar]

Gotcha. This toyota service manager just scared the shat out of me like the newbie I am.

 

[Ting]

If you are in Nor Cal, I have a really good mecahnic who will do it for $1000.

 

[IdahoDoug]

Wow, bummer. Here's a little boost for ya - if anyone on Mud buys this rig I'll send them a free Head Gasket DVD to sweeten whatever deal you make and help you out a bit.

Regards,

DougM

 

[CJF]

Like others have said:

Even if you sell it, and even if you don't do the work yourself; you're simply way better off fixing it first.

Hang in there,

Curtis

 

[TX Cruiser]

$4000 grand! Wow! I don't have a grand into the motor troubles on the one I bought, and it was significantly worse off.

I can't imagine that prices for 1fz's are much higher, but I haven't looked. I'd fix it just to have something to wrench on if I was closer.

 

[lawdawg]

I don't have jack to offer as far as money or wrenching, but half the reason I just got my 80 (well maybe not half, I've dreamed of it for 15 years) is that the people on here are just freaking awesome. You could be broken down on the side of the road and never have anyone stop to help, you mention your delima here, and other than the cost of parts, you just got your truck fixed for a few cases of beer and some pizza, I don't know what you would buy to replace it, but obviously money is a factor so it will be old and possible in the same need of help at any time. But where are you gonna turn then? Grab some parts from Cdan, some beer, and get that biatch back on the trails. I am about as close to new on here as you get, but allready I know its value. Side note- worse case scenario, tell a true gear head on here that you'll trade and install your stereo in their cruiser, swapped for their stock head unit, in exchange for their wrenching. Just a thought, but think outside the box and best of luck!

 

[D'Animal]

Have it towed up to my place. You can wrench on it here and drive back and forth to home when you are tired of loosing the 12mm wrenches. When it is completed in a few weekends, you can drive the rig back home.

I will help you wrench on it. You have a FSM for something that new?

 

[Ruadhrigh]

Mud is a great place. HG seems daunting, but if you go in with one purpose and don't get sidetracked, you will be finished in no time.



Plus you'll get to see D'Animal's 45 extended cab!

 

[Grolar]

D'Animal: I really appreciate the offer. The rig is now in induced coma at a local mechanic who has been working on 80s before and knows the HG issue pretty well. Hopefully I'll get away with it for less than feared at first. So I won't have to block your driveway. But thanks.

And to keep you all in good spirits: When I picked the rig this morning at T's, the service guy told me, whispering: "you know, you can always recycle it!"

 

[Izzy]

I am struggling with my blown HG at the moment. Dan helped me with the parts - thanx again Dan . I hope to finish the repair next week.

I do sympathize with you. Isn't there any way to do the repair by you and keep the rig? On the forum there is a lot of useful info to guide you through the process.

Good luck.

 

[Grolar]

Well, I'm baffled and relieved (sorta) at the same time. I picked my 80 from the stealership this morning, with a dreary breakdown of what was wrong in their opinion, written on an official Toyota form: injectors good for scrap, HG blown and cylinder heads possibly eaten alive. To spice it up, compressions were also in the basement according to them. The service manager tells me I'd better "recycle" the rig. Remember, at first, I wanted them to fix a code 26 and a rough idle so I could smog it and renew my registration. No way with such a crappy motor they say.

Anyway. I give the Cruiser later this morning to a local mechanic for what I expect to be an open heart surgery as you fellow Mudders have convinced me I had jumped the gun by declaring the rig DOA and good for the junkyard. I expect him to charge me a couple grand for an HG job.

Tonight, phone call: the rig isn't only running flawlessly with its original HG, but it passed the smog inspection with flying colors! It gets better: the mechanic is positive nobody had checked the compressions in a long time on that truck. Indeed the compressions are excellent for a 127 k engine he states.

I'm now puzzled about Toyota's behavior and assessment: didn't they want to tackle anything on a 14 yo rig and make up the list to scare me off, did they simply rip me off, or are they utterly useless? I have another Toyota (DD) that I used to service there but they have lost my business for good.

Now, of course, the HG might still have a problem looming but the rig hadn't been drinking coolant nor overheating at all prior to last day's events. And last time I wheeled it seriously was at Joshua Tree in July, a/c at full power, 105 F outside. It worked great and didn't show any trouble.
So I will be keeping an eye on the coolant level, temperature indicator and exhaust fumes color in the next months, more carefully that I would normally have, that's all.

As for Toyota, I won't file a complaint, but I will shoot an e-mail to the manager, letting him know that my "recyclable" rig runs like a charm with a valid smog inspection certificate.
So it's a happy ending so far. Thanks all for helping me tackle the situation.

 

[NaterGator]

See what happens with the dealer and see how they handle it. If they really did jerk you around like this post up the service slips (blur out your info) and the name of the dealer, and then let them know about this thread.

Now, don't you feel MUCH better? You were thinking about taking a massive loss on a rig that is clearly not as doomed as one 'inspection' made it out to be.

And I still stick to my guns; even if you develop an HG issue in the future just be careful about it (IE don't burn up the motor before you realize) and swap the HG without a mile long list of "while you are in there" services over a long weekend.

While you are at it, hows abouts a cooling system baseline? Is your fan clutch old or in good shape?

Anyways, I'm glad to hear the outcome was much less ridiculous

 

[bpenn1980]

Well, I'm baffled and relieved (sorta) at the same time. I picked my 80 from the stealership this morning, with a dreary breakdown of what was wrong in their opinion, written on an official Toyota form: injectors good for s****, HG blown and cylinder heads possibly eaten alive. To spice it up, compressions were also in the basement according to them. The service manager tells me I'd better "recycle" the rig. Remember, at first, I wanted them to fix a code 26 and a rough idle so I could smog it and renew my registration. No way with such a ****py motor they say.

Anyway. I give the Cruiser later this morning to a local mechanic for what I expect to be an open heart surgery as you fellow Mudders have convinced me I had jumped the gun by declaring the rig DOA and good for the junkyard. I expect him to charge me a couple grand for an HG job.

Tonight, phone call: the rig isn't only running flawlessly with its original HG, but it passed the smog inspection with flying colors! It gets better: the mechanic is positive nobody had checked the compressions in a long time on that truck. Indeed the compressions are excellent for a 127 k engine he states.

I'm now puzzled about Toyota's behavior and assessment: didn't they want to tackle anything on a 14 yo rig and make up the list to scare me off, did they simply rip me off, or are they utterly useless? I have another Toyota (DD) that I used to service there but they have lost my business for good.

Now, of course, the HG might still have a problem looming but the rig hadn't been drinking coolant nor overheating at all prior to last day's events. And last time I wheeled it seriously was at Joshua Tree in July, a/c at full power, 105 F outside. It worked great and didn't show any trouble.
So I will be keeping an eye on the coolant level, temperature indicator and exhaust fumes color in the next months, more carefully that I would normally have, that's all.

As for Toyota, I won't file a complaint, but I will shoot an e-mail to the manager, letting him know that my "recyclable" rig runs like a charm with a valid smog inspection certificate.
So it's a happy ending so far. Thanks all for helping me tackle the situation.

WooHoo!!!! yeah buddy, thats what I'm talking about. Thats got to be a load off your shoulders!

However....which dealership are we talking about here? Miller? I've bought some parts thru them, but havent had them touch the guts yet. Have an alignment issue I was going to run through them...maybe not?

 

[reffug]

most dealerships bring the suck.

C-Dan's excluded of course.

 

[M-80]

Well, I'm baffled and relieved (sorta) at the same time. I picked my 80 from the stealership this morning, with a dreary breakdown of what was wrong in their opinion, written on an official Toyota form: injectors good for scrap, HG blown and cylinder heads possibly eaten alive. To spice it up, compressions were also in the basement according to them. The service manager tells me I'd better "recycle" the rig. Remember, at first, I wanted them to fix a code 26 and a rough idle so I could smog it and renew my registration. No way with such a crappy motor they say.

Anyway. I give the Cruiser later this morning to a local mechanic for what I expect to be an open heart surgery as you fellow Mudders have convinced me I had jumped the gun by declaring the rig DOA and good for the junkyard. I expect him to charge me a couple grand for an HG job.

Tonight, phone call: the rig isn't only running flawlessly with its original HG, but it passed the smog inspection with flying colors! It gets better: the mechanic is positive nobody had checked the compressions in a long time on that truck. Indeed the compressions are excellent for a 127 k engine he states.

I'm now puzzled about Toyota's behavior and assessment: didn't they want to tackle anything on a 14 yo rig and make up the list to scare me off, did they simply rip me off, or are they utterly useless? I have another Toyota (DD) that I used to service there but they have lost my business for good.

Now, of course, the HG might still have a problem looming but the rig hadn't been drinking coolant nor overheating at all prior to last day's events. And last time I wheeled it seriously was at Joshua Tree in July, a/c at full power, 105 F outside. It worked great and didn't show any trouble.
So I will be keeping an eye on the coolant level, temperature indicator and exhaust fumes color in the next months, more carefully that I would normally have, that's all.

As for Toyota, I won't file a complaint, but I will shoot an e-mail to the manager, letting him know that my "recyclable" rig runs like a charm with a valid smog inspection certificate.
So it's a happy ending so far. Thanks all for helping me tackle the situation.

That is great!!

I am curious. What exactly did your new mechanic find? He sounds like someone to keep on speed dial if you are not a shade tree mechanic.

 

[D'Animal]

That is great news.

I think they were no familiar with or did not want to work on an older rig so they threw everything on the estimate to run you off or cover thier butt.