@Cruisn , it sounds like we have about the same needs from a Cruiser so I will speak to my experience jumping in a high mileage Cruiser and my first Toyota. I am a life long Jeeper and still have 2. I also do my own maintenance and have rebuilt two Jeep motors. I sold a like new Hemi powered Grand Cherokee with 80k miles to get the cruiser.
Bought my 99 Cruiser in January of this year, 8 months ago. It had 245k miles on it, a decent service history (second timing belt at 188k), worn out tires, some body dings/scuffs/whatnots, and it was a one owner......oh yeah, the owner must have smoked a pack a day in the cruiser.
Obviously it was a 17 year old truck with +200k miles. It needed some work before I would dare take it cross country, even though it make the 3 hr drive home without issue. I started going over the cruiser and preformed what I considered my 'baseline'.
- New Steering Rack
- New Upper Ball Joints
- New Heater Hose Tees
- New Tires
- New fluids (except transmission as service records indicated out was done at 224k)
- New Air Filter and added cabin filter
- Repack Wheel Bearings
- Grease driveshafts
- Lubed Brake Slides
- Add floor mats/wood grain removal/Interior Scrubbing (smoker smell is almost gone)
- Removed running boards and cut rear mud flaps off
After driving it I determined it needs more work
- New Shocks (originals very soft)
- New Sway Bar Links (originals worn or broken)
- New Fan Bracket (bearing the fan spins on was squealing)
- New MAF sensor
- New Coil Pack
- New Radio/head unit
- New LED interior lights from SuperBrightLEDs.com
It still needs the following done
- New Hood Struts (highlift jack handle works for now)
- New rear upper control arm or bushings (original bushings are splitting)
- Seat covers or replacement (front passenger leather is tearing)
- Trump Edition Removal (no more gold badges)
- Some body rust needs media blasted and treated
If you are an average shade tree mechanic, working on the cruiser won't be a problem.
8 months later the Cruiser is at 260k (yes, 15k miles since January). It has been to Colorado 4 times (including a trip up Mount Antero in June) and my wife and I are planning another trip in a month to Ouray. I have no regrets buying this vehicle and see it lasting many more years.
The only thing I wish I knew about the cruiser before was the whole Master Key/Valet Key thing. I have one key and it is a valet.
Bought my 99 Cruiser in January of this year, 8 months ago. It had 245k miles on it, a decent service history (second timing belt at 188k), worn out tires, some body dings/scuffs/whatnots, and it was a one owner......oh yeah, the owner must have smoked a pack a day in the cruiser.
Obviously it was a 17 year old truck with +200k miles. It needed some work before I would dare take it cross country, even though it make the 3 hr drive home without issue. I started going over the cruiser and preformed what I considered my 'baseline'.
- New Steering Rack
- New Upper Ball Joints
- New Heater Hose Tees
- New Tires
- New fluids (except transmission as service records indicated out was done at 224k)
- New Air Filter and added cabin filter
- Repack Wheel Bearings
- Grease driveshafts
- Lubed Brake Slides
- Add floor mats/wood grain removal/Interior Scrubbing (smoker smell is almost gone)
- Removed running boards and cut rear mud flaps off
After driving it I determined it needs more work
- New Shocks (originals very soft)
- New Sway Bar Links (originals worn or broken)
- New Fan Bracket (bearing the fan spins on was squealing)
- New MAF sensor
- New Coil Pack
- New Radio/head unit
- New LED interior lights from SuperBrightLEDs.com
It still needs the following done
- New Hood Struts (highlift jack handle works for now)
- New rear upper control arm or bushings (original bushings are splitting)
- Seat covers or replacement (front passenger leather is tearing)
- Trump Edition Removal (no more gold badges)
- Some body rust needs media blasted and treated
If you are an average shade tree mechanic, working on the cruiser won't be a problem.
8 months later the Cruiser is at 260k (yes, 15k miles since January). It has been to Colorado 4 times (including a trip up Mount Antero in June) and my wife and I are planning another trip in a month to Ouray. I have no regrets buying this vehicle and see it lasting many more years.
The only thing I wish I knew about the cruiser before was the whole Master Key/Valet Key thing. I have one key and it is a valet.
