My final cost tally of bringing used 80 to fully serviced - DIY

[IdahoDoug]

As you guys know, I'm a bit obsessive about maintenance, so I thought it might be useful as a data point to know how much I spent on getting our used 97 up to snuff. As you'll see from the list, the truck is now ready for anything, including my bogey of handling our 6000lb boat trailer over mountain passes on a hot summer day.

Without further ado, here's what rip-snortin' maintenance costs in parts: $1767.59

Here's what I got for that (all OEM from Cdan unless noted):

Hella rear fog lamp, Hella 4000 front fogs, Hella rear flood, 3 high end NAPA LED switches, touch up stick, 2 qts Toyota Red, PCV valve, grommet and hose, 3 V belts, new LC floor mat set, bug shield bumpers, 6 bulbs for HVAC and dash switches, HIR headlamp bulbs, misc exterior bulbs, antenna mast, thermostat and gasket, a dozen misc clips for mudflaps and fender flares, starter kit (2 contacts plus plunger), rotor, cap, NGK plugs, 4 shock absorbers, 1 key blank, 1 indash cupholder, gas cap, air filter, new 93/94 brass radiator, upper and lower hoses, A/C tensioner pulley and bolt Mobil 1 oil, oil filter, gaskets for every drain and fill bolt, Mobil 1 gear oil, AirLift rear springs, tires balanced, CD laser lense cleaned (already had this), 2 used bumper tips (thanks, guys), 4 used center caps (thanks ScottM), WheelSkinz grey steering wheel cover, two bottles Techron, 3 gallons distilled water, 2 bottles NAPA cooling system flush, 1 NAPA constant tension spring clamp, 1 foot silicon hose, a case of transmission fluid, 1 bottle synthetic brake fluid, 1 tube Amsoil synth grease, 1 "oh sh-- handle for over driver's door (thanks guys), 1 new PPG windshield with blue tint band, extra bright tail/brake/blinker/reverse bulbs from Daniel Stern, 3 wiper blades, 1 gallon washer fluid. Hope I'm not forgetting anything. If you had all this installed by a shop, this has gotta be $5000 worth.

The birfs are not clicking, but I'll likely open them up for a look see within the next few months, and I'll also repack all 4 wheel bearings at that time. Last time I did that it was something like $300 in parts and high end greases.

So the truck's in shape for any kind of hard work, or a trip in any length under any kind of weather conditions. It runs and handles like new. I have 4 full days of work into it, spread over a month or so. Your mileage may vary....

DougM

 

[concretejungle]

Doug, that is a lot of stuff! I'll bet your feeling of accomplishment is awesome. I haven't tallied my costs for PM up yet, but i'm sure it's heading towards the $1,000 range for sure. Still makes you feel good to know you have a bullet-proof truck.

 

[RavenTai]

how much was the PPG windshield? is it as good as the OEM? I got a quote of $450 for the EOM glass installed, and $208 for a safelite windhield installed, labor was similar ($135 vs $95) the biggest diffrence was the cost of the glass

 

[Safado]

Raven--Got my new PPG yesterday...they make the OEM glass...so yes. There's a lot of diference in glass out there. I had a 3rd generation place do it here locally instead of the convience of a mobile monkey. It cost me $20 more and I had to take it to them, but watching the install I knew I was getting a better deal. I had the infamous leaky windshield and it was evident why when we pulled it out...they hardly used any sealant. The guys yesterday really did it right, and getting it installed in a heated indoor facility is very important in the cool months....otherwise the sealant won't set up for days. Anyway...learned a lot yesterday and hope I was able to pass a little on.

Nice work on the truck Doug...don't know if I'd catagoize it all as "maintenance costs"...but nice to have it done anyway.

 

[IdahoDoug]

Safedo - agree there's probably $500 in "stuff I wanted on" vs actual maintenance.

Raven - Last time I did this on the '93 3 years ago it was $165 installed. This year it was $179 or so. I think local conditions weigh heavily on the pricing. Here, it's very competitive as we break a lot of glass. Also, my price was a cash price vs what they'll charge someone's insurance company.

DougM

 

[JerryLX450]

By the way what is the PPG windshield ?

 

[IdahoDoug]

PPG is a manufacturer of quality glass of all types, and they also make w/s's.

DougM

 

[CDN_Cruiser]

I wonder what the shop hours would be for all of that work? At C$110/hr it adds up here! I'm thinking of taking some time tomorrow to finish my PM that I've been doing. Good to know what to expect.

 

[RavenTai]

Safado, mine is cracked and I finally traced down my intermittent water leak to the windshield. Safelite said they would use a gasket that comes off of a roll and generally did not instill confidence, the OEM glass is just to expensive though, I'll have to do some more searching so far all the places I have called except for safelite say the glass has to come from the dealer. Need to find someone that installs PPG glass

Safedo - agree there's probably $500 in "stuff I wanted on" vs actual maintenance.

Raven - Last time I did this on the '93 3 years ago it was $165 installed. This year it was $179 or so. I think local conditions weigh heavily on the pricing. Here, it's very competitive as we break a lot of glass. Also, my price was a cash price vs what they'll charge someone's insurance company.

DougM

That is cheap. Windshields do not get damaged as often here as up north, I guess that does explain the difference in price. Mine was a contribution to the new 5th runway at Heatsfield, convoys of dump trucks and construction equipment on the freeway for over a year now the bumper and front edge of the hood are showing it also

 

[Junk]

Idaho - You can't really add in Hella light crap, HIR bulbs, froofy steering wheel afghan, key blanks, cupholders and airlift springs as getting the truck back to a properly maintained state. So your figures are inflated a good bit.

 

[Grouseman]

Idaho,

Lets see this bad truck! Pictures man Pictures.

SS

 

[IdahoDoug]

Junk,

Yeah, should have titled this "How to make an 80 Series 'Miller-Rated' ", eh? To me, these are essentials, but not everyone is willing to drive 2050 miles in 29 hours through snow, rain and stopping only for gas. Or carry 4 adults, 2 kids and luggage while towing a 6000lb boat 400 miles over 3 passes.

What's impressive to me is how "new" feeling this thing is. Don't get me wrong, it drove well when I got it, but the truck really feels mechanically tight and crisp. Driving it compared to my 93 before I did this, it needed a tune, was slow to warm up, started a bit hard and was kinda sluggier in the suspension department.

Feels great now and is clearly faster than the 93 somehow. I'll have my wife drive it and we'll drag race some time soon to settle it and see how good my seat of the pants is on that. Any bets? They have very close miles and are on stock tires so it would be an even matchup.

DougM

 

[Safado]

Safado, mine is cracked and I finally traced down my intermittent water leak to the windshield. Safelite said they would use a gasket that comes off of a roll and generally did not instill confidence, the OEM glass is just to expensive though, I'll have to do some more searching so far all the places I have called except for safelite say the glass has to come from the dealer. Need to find someone that installs PPG glass

Don't let Safelite replace the factory gasget with that. The guy that did mine raved about how he loved the rubber gasgets that Toyota used and how good they are. There are actually 2 guys here locally that have new factory gasgets that they're trying to sell because they didn't need them...if you're interested. But like I said, mine just was already replaced once...with PPG...but the guy that installed it only used a few squirts of sealant here and there. I watched them install mine and they used an whole bead all the way around the gasget before install, and then another under the lip after install. Really done well.
Instead of calling the big name glass companies, call the local mom and pop shops that have been doing it for years and ask them what their "premium glass" brand is. Do you have a comprehensive policy for it?

 

[Safado]

By the way what is the PPG windshield ?

If its a Toyota factory windshield or has a PPG emblem in the bottom USPS corner of the window...it's a PPG window.

 

[RavenTai]

Thanks for the info I'll try calling some of the smaller companies, so far I have just talked to major chains and the dealers (Lexus & Toyota). Part of the problem is the lx450 has a different hue to the glass than the LC, I may have to consider using the LC color.

I do have comprehensive but 1K deductible no separate glass coverage, called my insurance company and asked about "glass coverage" they do not offer any, only option was going $0 deductible witch would increase the yearly rate by $900, my cheapest option is to pay for it out of pocket.

 

[landtank]

As far as I can see this "data point" is useless. Bringing a vehicle up to snuff as far as I'm concerned is at a point where it would be if followed factory recommendations to the mileage point with no problems.


This could have been a nice thread in helping others get an idea of what they might expect to have to invest in time and materials to get a used 97 back in shape. Unfortunatley it's littered with too many personal preferences and indulgances like a certain type of glass or addtitional lights and such to be much use.

 

[scottm]

What, no valve stem caps? Slacker! Bro, I think maybe it's a good thing you live all the way over in Idano, I'd have to quit one of my jobs to keep up with your Cruiser maintenance.

 

[IdahoDoug]

Rick,

Good point. I'll back the stuff "I wanted" out and see where we're at.

DougM

 

[cruiserdan]

As far as I can see this "data point" is useless. Bringing a vehicle up to snuff as far as I'm concerned is at a point where it would be if followed factory recommendations to the mileage point with no problems.


This could have been a nice thread in helping others get an idea of what they might expect to have to invest in time and materials to get a used 97 back in shape. Unfortunatley it's littered with too many personal preferences and indulgances like a certain type of glass or addtitional lights and such to be much use.

My, my.

Wrong side of the bed this mornin' Rick?

 

[e9999]

As you guys know, I'm a bit obsessive about maintenance,

snip

DougM

aw, shucks!

Nah, Doug, you're not ...!

well, not that much...