roamingaz
Explorer
$300ish. Oh dear lord. Not sure if that's in the donation budget. Time to run the numbers again and double check.
I was thinking at least $500 for parts and machine work
$300ish. Oh dear lord. Not sure if that's in the donation budget. Time to run the numbers again and double check.
I was thinking at least $500 for parts and machine work
The cost range is huge and will depend on multiple variables. Among them how deep you go and weather or not you are doing the job yourself.
The bare minimum parts outlay is ~260 bucks including oil, filter, coolant and some bandaids.
Machine work for the head will be 300-600 bucks and then you add whatever else you need to address or stuff you may break in the process.
If you pay a shop to do it count on at least a thousand bucks labor and possibly a whole lot more.
I can see 3 grand easy at a shop with some additional items being replaced.
D-
Question Should I buy an 80, costs of ownership?
There have been a few recent threads where questions have come up looking for cheap stuff or easy answers. In response to that I would like to offer some observations.
The 80 Series Land Cruiser was, at the time, Toyota's Flagship vehicle in the United States. When new the 80 sold from the mid 30 thousand dollars (for 91-92 year model examples) to the low to mid 40's (for 93-94) to a bit past 50 thousand dollars for the last production 97 models.
During the production run the 80 rarely sold for less than the factory sticker and often for more. They were always in short supply and coveted by dealers. I bought mine new and it took me almost a full year to get it.
Obviously the "new" has worn off for virtually all of the original owners so they parted with them and we now see second, third, and even fourth, owners showing up on the board.
Those of you who fall into the latter category did not buy a 10,000 dollar or 9,000 dollar or even a substantially cheaper vehicle. You bought a used vehicle that, in many cases, sold for close to 50 grand new.
The care and feeding of a top-end luxury vehicle DOES NOT depreciate like the vehicle does. Parts and labor costs only go up.
The only way to really be able to afford one is to enter into the relationship with eyes wide open and the commitment to learn to work on it and care for it yourself. Or, have the resources to pay somebody WHO KNOWS AND UNDERSTANDS the vehicle to look after it on your behalf.
It should further be mentioned that to morph an 80 into what ammounts to the most capable production 4WD vehicle ever offered by any manufacturer will cost at least 6000 bucks, if you supply the sweat. This only takes into consideration the mods, not the PM's to get the vehicle up to speed.
That being said, my relationship with my 80 has been one of the most satisfying parts of my life.
D-
If the head gasket goes it goes and I will find another means to do what I need to do down here in AZ. I will get to the areas in AZ I need to get to and then to Montana no matter what. Thanks for the help everyone, but thats about it.
Huh? If you run it into the ground then what? You're veering off course from your original intent here IMO.
I never asked or wanted people to send me money. I hated it when they started doing it and I still hate it. I feel dirty and its utterly embarrasing.
I physically don't have the money to do the headgasket if it really does cost that much even to do it yourself. The Expo donations have gone to lodging for the one night the Cruiser was down in a gas station parking lot, stocking up on oil for the trip across, coolant, upgrading my AAA to Plus to get it towed down to Prescott where some work will be done, and other needed stuff to make it here. It is not being spent to have fun on other peoples dime. If people think that's what I am doing I will gladly return every penny, just tell me and I will do that. I never asked or wanted people to send me money. I hated it when they started doing it and I still hate it. I feel dirty and its utterly embarrasing. The job in Montana is only seasonal and wouldn't really start up to until April anyways. I needed to figue out my options for when the season is over and that's what the AZ plan was and still is. Thamkfully people have put me to work and it has been a learning experince even if I don't get paid for it all.
If it completely fails somewhere it will be sold for parts and I will sell most of my belongings and camping gear and fly to Montana with what I can carry for the next step in this journey. Not a whole lot I can do from here on out. Whatever happens happens. Everytime I force something I fail. People can question every move I make right now, but there is a purpose for me being down here until Overland Expo where I will be helping bothe Overland Journal and ConserVentures