To rebuild or not?

[twitchee2]

I am in a dilemma on how I should proceed with my 3rd gen and I am really not sure what my best course of action is for its future. I am 24 yrs old, graduated from school with a engineering degree almost 1.5 yr ago. I recently just bought a house so nothing major is going to happen for at least a few months. I have 2 vehicles, the 4runner and a 2004 duramax which is my DD when I don't pedal (3.8mile bike ride to work). I am not super concerned about MPG.

My 4Runner lives in the garage at my parents house 10 miles away due to parking restrictions at my new house and gets driven on weekends or short trips. My parents have huge garage which I have set up as my "shop." I have tools to build bumpers, wrench on most anything and if I do not have it my friend's shop does.

I live in southern California so my off road needs are mostly higher speed desert and exploring/camping. I have a nice camping setup in the duramax but its not very off road capable (4-5" lift, 35's 4wd rear locker crew cab long bed)

02 4runner with 212k miles on it and the mods in my sig and its mechanically sound but it needs A Lot of attention.

Timing belt was due at 180k - easy cheap will do myself sooner than later
Suspension has 70k miles on it and it shot - if i fix this I am going total chaos mid travel but what do I do about the rear? ($4-5k or more to do it right)
Tires have about 10k left ($1k)
Down the road I would love a super charger. but the motor has 212k on the clock, honestly it would probably need a rebuild at that point ($3-4k probably more)

I have a few options.
1. Build the 4runner. Maybe get a trailer for longer trips.

2. Sell the 4runner. get a quad, boat, some other new toy? Only issue with this is my only vehicle is a GM and lets be honest about reliability of it, there's always something wrong.

3. Sell them both and get a new taco. Only issue with that is I have learned I would rather not modify a DD and I really prefer not having a payment.

I would LOVE to build the 4runner and make it what I want, but realistically I go wheeling 5-10 times/yr financially its really not worth it.

What would you do?

 

[killzone90]

I vote build it. To me it sounds like a project vehicle already. The motor In those r good and seem to last. If I was u I would build it

 

[sportrunner2001]

I say build it. timing belt, suspension, tires in that order. Im with you on wanting a supercharger but I would be afraid to even put one on mine with 124k. Im not superstitious or anything, maybe a just a little stitious haha

Ive thought about selling and getting a taco so it would be easier to hunt with but I would miss the 4Runner too much

 

[EatonKyleH]

My supercharger went on at 220k and I've had zero problems with it.

Build it and plan to keep it forever.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Keep it and build it as you can. But that Duramax will run forever too. I've owned a number of full size GM trucks over the years, they last. It's not like their cars and small trucks from the early 90's that you pretty much just threw in the trash when they hit 100K

 

[twitchee2]

I think you guys are right about building it as i can.

I agree timing/water pump, suspension, tires and then motor is the best order to do everything in. It would be awesome to find some used shocks to rebuild. Will have to keep my eyes pealed for them.

As far as the Duramax, I bought it with 130k so it has its problems and left me stranded a couple times. I have finally got it dialed in but then last week i fell victim to the pump rub issue in the transfer case and its now leaking...gotta deal with that now.

 

[brosama]

I would LOVE to build the 4runner and make it what I want, but realistically I go wheeling 5-10 times/yr financially its really not worth it.

I'd be stoked if I got 5-10 times a year in. I'm lucky to get 2-3 trips a year in. Is it wise to spend thousands on my hobby? Absolutely. To me, it's like that cheesy cliché, "it's a journey, not a destination". Enjoy the build and have fun when you get to use it.

Glad to hear you want to build it.

 

[5vzT4R]

Sell the Duramax and build the shit outta the 4runner with the money! :bigok:

 

[Ol'Blue]

I'm sure there are enough of us around that would help you build it.... There are only like 15 of us that are in the So-Cal area.

Blue

 

[BrianSD_42]

I am 24 yrs old, graduated from school with a engineering degree almost 1.5 yr ago. I recently just bought a house so nothing major is going to happen for at least a few months

A) build it of course

b) you can afford a house at 24 in SoCal? Around here in SD houses are $400k and up. Myself I'm trying to save up to that 25% down payment mark and it's very tough.

 

[05SVRACER]

Was in the same boat you are. Ended up deciding to rebuild it (mine burnt a couple of valves with 308k on it) and keep it. Full rebuild along with additional replacements while the motor is out is costing me about 3500 in parts. LCE full rebuild kit with MLS gaskets, new mounts, new hoses, new belts, all new valves and springs the lot. Actually ended up needing one head replaced. I pulled the motor and pulled it down to the heads, have it to a performance shop from there. Rebuild and machining the block and one head cost just under 1k in labor...can't wait to get this thing back on the road though. I've really missed driving it

 

[twitchee2]

A) build it of course

b) you can afford a house at 24 in SoCal? Around here in SD houses are $400k and up. Myself I'm trying to save up to that 25% down payment mark and it's very tough.

I should probably rephrase that. i bought a condo. I put 12.5% down.

 

[twitchee2]

I'm sure there are enough of us around that would help you build it.... There are only like 15 of us that are in the So-Cal area.

Blue

Actually building it is the fun and easy part! its trying to decide what the most realistic parts to use is the hard part!

 

[Nunyabiz]

build it as you can, then buy one of these for camping.

There is also one called SoCal Teardrop made in Southern California of course.

So-Cal Teardrops - Home

Actually if you Google off road teardrop or expedition camper that are literally hundreds of different makes and models.

Pretty spartan but if all you need is a place to lay your head while camping it does give you a water supply, electricity, comfortable bed and nice and easy place to cook. Plus it can go about any where a 4Runner can go.


Or my preference would be one of these, can still go off road just not "anywhere" but anywhere that I would be going.
Has everything you need.
I am at the age of showers and comfort while camping.

 

[Hog1983]

Build the 4r... Since you have the shop and tools, I may not be able to do all I wanted to do to mine... My buddy just got deployment orders and leaves in January. He and I were planning on building mine @ feb-march.

I just vote the 4r because toyotas are such good vehicles. I want to get mine built and @5-7 years rebuild it.