When is enough maintenance to warrant keeping your Taco

Just like anything with life you have to take care of what you have, but when is enough...enough? I bought my 95.5 for $5800 (205k), but as I look at the massive list of services that I did and the timing kit (that will be done next week)...I'm in his Taco for over $12K+

Here is my list so far and it's long:

OEM SWAY BAR LINKS 48820-35021 (L/R) *11/2017

OEM BUSHINGS 90948-01002(4), RETAINERS 90948-02069(4), NUTS (4) *11/2017

POWER STEERING FLUID FLUSHED (DEX/MERC) *11/2017

BRAKE FLUID FLUSHED (TOYOTA DOT 3) *03/2019

OIL CHANGED (ROYAL PURPLE 5W30 + ROYAL PURPLE OIL FILTER) *03/2019

OIL DRAIN PLUG 90341-12012 + GASKET

$10 90430-12031 Genuine Toyota - Oil Drain Plug Gaskets (QTY10)

90430-12031 *11/2017

DENSO RADIATOR (

$148 DENSO 2213138 Denso 221-3138 Radiator

DENSO 2213138) OEM #16410-0C042 *11/2017

OEM RADIATOR CAP

$26 16401-0C010 Toyota Radiator Cap - 16401-0C010

16401-0C010 *11/2017

OEM RADIATOR UPPER & LOWER HOSES

$33 16571-62070 Radiator Coolant Hose

16571-62070 / 16572-07040 *11/2017

OEM RADIATOR CLAMPS (4) 90467-37005 *11/2017

OEM RESERVOIR HOSES (#1 AND #2) 16472-0C010 / 16472-0C021 *11/2017

OEM RESERVOIR HOSE #2 CLIPS (2) 90069-19014 *11/2017

OEM HOSE RESERVE TANK 16472-0C030 *11/2017

OEM RESERVE CAP ASSEMBLY 16405-0C010 *11/2017

OEM WATER INLET GASKET 16325-62010 (? LAST 5#’s 0T030) *11/2017

OEM WATER OUTLET GASKET 16341-62040 *11/2017

OEM NGK NICKEL SPARK PLUGS (

$7 BKR5EKB-11 NGK Spark Plug Stock # 3967

BKR5EKB-11) (6) *11/2017

$45 NGK 4412 Tailor Magnetic Core Wires

NGK 4412 (TE66) SPARK PLUG WIRE SET *11/2017

OEM PCV VALVE

$16 12204-62010 PCV Valve Sub-Assembly

12204-62010 *11/2017

OEM PCV HOSE 12261-62041 *11/2017

OEM PCV GROMMET 90480-18001 *11/2017

LLOYD (F/R) MATS NORTHRIDGE RUBBER FLOOR MATS – CUSTOM CUT *11/2017

OEM INNER FENDER CLIPS 90467-10173 *11/2017

KROWN UNDERCOATING

NEW INTERSTATE MEGA-TRON PLUS MTP-24F BATTERY *12/2017

OEM SHIFTER BUSHINGS (2) 33501G *12/2017

BILSTEIN 4600 REAR SHOCKS (RIGHT 24-184977 / LEFT 24-184960) (BOLTS/WASHERS) *01/2018

OEM SHOCK BOLTS/WASHERS (91619-G1220 BOLT W/WASHER (4) 90948-03020 WASHER (4) 90948-03011 (4)

PHILIPS H6054LL LONGER LIFE HEADLAMPS (2) *01/2018

OEM VALVE COVER GASKETS (2) 11213-62020 *01/2018

OEM SPARK PLUG GROMMETS (6) 11193-70010 *01/2018

OEM VALVE COVER BOLT SEALS (16) 90210-05007 *01/2018

OEM CAMSHAFT PLUGS (2) 11188-62010 *01/2018

TOYOTA FIPG (1)

$19 00295-00103 Formed-in-Place Oil Pan Gasket - 3 oz. Tube

00295-00103 *01/2018

OEM ALUMINUM HALF MOONS (4) 11183-62010 *01/2018

OEM PLENUM GASKETS (2)

$16 17176-62040 TOYOTA Genuine Air Surge Tank to Intake Manifold Gasket

17176-62040 *01/2018

OEM TOYOTA FRONT BRAKE DISCS (2) 43512-04020 *01/2018

ADVICS AD0799 FRONT BRAKE PADS (FRONT SET) *01/2018

TRANSFER CASE FLUID CHANGED (AMSOIL SEVERE GEAR

$29 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75W-90) AT 206K *01/2018

FRONT/REAR DIFF FLUID CHANGED (AMSOIL SEVERE GEAR 75W-90) AT 206k *01/2018

OEM TRANSMISSION FILTER & CASTROL TRANSMAX IMV ATF FLUID (6 QT’s) AT 206K *02/2018

TRANSMISSION PAN WAS METICULOUSLY CLEANED BEFORE REINSTALL *02/2018 – OEM DRAIN PLUG/WASHER

OEM OUTER TIE RODS (L/R) 45047-39175 /

$55 45046-39295 Toyota Tie Rod End - 45046-39295

45046-39295 – NUT HEX (2) 90170-20003 *02/2018

OEM LOWER BALL JOINTS (L/R)

$167 43340-39585 Toyota Ball Joint - 43340-39585

43340-39585,

$194 43330-39815 Toyota Ball Joint - 43330-39815

43330-39815 / OEM BOLT FLANGE 90080-10066 (8) *02/2018

WHEEL ALIGNMENT *05/2018

SCORPION BED LINER *04/2018

ANZO 211180 G2 SERIES TAIL LIGHTS (L/R) *04/2018

OEM EXTERIOR WEATHERSTRIP SET FRONT (68160-04020 X1 68210-04020 X1) *02/2019

OEM BRAKE SHOES 04495-35230 *03/2019

OEM DRUMS 42431-35210 (2) *03/2019

OEM WHEEL CYLINDERS 47550-35190 (2) *03/2019

CARLSON H2348 HARDWARE *03/2019

OIL PAN - TOYOTA 12101-62070 *05/2019

OIL PICK-UP - TOYOTA 15104-62040 *05/2019

OEM OIL PAN CUSTOM PAINTED (SAND, EPOXY, PANT) *05/2019

ALL NEW OEM BOLTS/NUTS/GASKETS FOR OIL PAN INSTALL *05/2019


TIMING BELT KIT BELOW: WILL BE COMPLETED 06/2019 – (212K)

*TIMING BELT – TOYOTA 13568-YZZ03

*TIMING BELT LABEL – TOYOTA 13564-10010

*IDLER#1 KOYO - 13505-62070

*IDLER#2 NSK - 13503-62040

*FRONT CAM SEALS (2) – TOYOTA 90311-38051

*FRONT CRANK SEAL –

$13 TOYOTA 90311-40022 Toyota Genuine Oil Pump Seal

TOYOTA 90311-40022

*WATER PUMP - OEM AISIN 16100-69398-83

*WATER PUMP GASKET - OEM AISIN 16271-62011

*HYDRAULIC TENSIONER ASSY – TOYOTA 13540-62021

*THERMOSTAT –

$25 TOYOTA 90916-03075 Thermostat

TOYOTA 90916-03075

*THERMOSTAT GASKET – TOYOTA 16325-62010

*POWER STEERING BELT – TOYOTA 90080-91126-83

*A/C BELT – TOYOTA 99364-20870-78

*ALTERNATOR BELT – TOYOTA 90080-91090-83

*CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT – TOYOTA 90105-16031

*TOYOTA STRAIGHT RED COOLANT + DISTILLED WATER

 

look at the brightside...It should be good for another 200k after all of that.

 

It's too late to make that call now.

The good news is you should be able to drive another 100-150k with mostly fluids, brakes and tires.

 

I myself over the years average anywhere from 5k-10k miles per year

 

is the $12k just for all the maintenance or does that include the purchase price?

 

You should be good for quite a while with all that done. Your frame will probably break in half before it needs most of that stuff again

 

Looks like you are nearing the end of a mid-life refresh project. The good news is it has been spread over 18 months.

I've been successful at buying mid to late 90s Japanese cars with usually over 150,000 miles and then performing a mid-life refresh within the first six months. Then after that, we have a fairly trouble free vehicle to drive for 5 to 10 years. Since I perform most of my own work (except front end alignments), it makes economic sense to me.

The saving comes in low insurance rates, taxes, and money not lost on depreciation that comes with purchasing new vehicle.

 

Well youll definetely get more out of it, if that was ever the question. You couldve saved some by going non-oem on some things, but atleast you dont have to question the quality of any of the ones that you did install.

 

I'm sure someone on TW would be more than willing to take it off your hands.

 

If you paid someone to do that stuff, then absolutely is it gonna be crazy expensive to own. Most of that stuff can be done by yourself and owning used cars its always a good idea to at a least attempt to do or learn to do stuff otherwise cost of ownership goes way up.
But being done once, most of that stuff won't need anything for another 15 years... But ouch I feel for ya man.

 

one of the potential 'big' repairs might be the head gaskets, engine rebuild/swap out (no idea what the cost of that from a pro mechanic might be)
not even sure at what mileage (with proper preventive care) this may occur ... 300k 400k 500k?

 

Purchase price and services

 

And the good news is that folks generally don't pay to have those services done unless of course they can afford them. I'm guessing you can afford it just fine, based on your detailed notes I make that assumption, so it's just the sticker shock of seeing the total. I get ya

 

I'm able to get all OEM parts at dealer cost (my good friend is a dealer), sometimes 10% lower too on certain sites. I have saved a ton that way

 

Just staying on top of your maintenance should make you very happy in the long run

 

are you trying to decide to get something 'newer' perhaps less miles onit?

 

I doubt it. If he sunk that money into it over last year for maintenance, I'd bet he's keeping it

 

Nope, not after all this. I only pay $475 per year for full coverage to. All papers are documented along with pictures if anything should happen

 

You have spent 12g and your truck does everything a 35g to 42g truck does, that buys a lot of pizza and beer and road trips.

 

The trick when you have a project is to not count the $$$. You just do it at your own pace and you don't count. If you do count, you get discouraged and eventually give up. Working/investing on a project truck/car (or whatever it is) with the aim of selling it afterwards is not a good idea, as you'll never get what you invested in it. You're better keeping it at that point

I can understand you, though. People are telling me I'm crazy and should have bought a more recent truck instead, like a 2nd gen with less work to do. But I do not regret my truck at all. I really enjoyed working on it (and I still do). That's what matters. Really proud to drive it around too. I'm just pissed they keep saying I am a fool. Why? That's what I wanted