Open to Suggestions

[scapistron]

So at just under 104k miles I've had a rod bearing stop doing it's job. Admittedly the vehicles been driven less than 10 miles in this condition. I've only had it for 18 months and less than 10k miles. Two oil changes have been done in that time, last one 1,200 miles ago.

With the obvious bad out of the way, the good. Desirable color combo*, white with dark brown interior HSE Lux. HD package with two speed transfer case and rear locker. Only features it doesn't have are rear seat entertainment and adaptive cruise control. Currently fitted with a rear tire carrier and flat roof rack.

Options
1. Push it into the sea out of despair.
2. Get a shop to drop a reman engine in. I'd guess about $15k, thoughts?
3. Get the current engine rebuilt. Might be a few thousand less than #2.
4. Sell it as is? Take the going rate on CL and marketplace and subtract $10k?
5. Other ideas?

*Green over tan is the best, I will hear no arguments on this matter.

 

[Jimmy Brooks]

HD package is super rare/desirable and that mileage isn’t too bad. I would throw a reman in there, but if it didn’t have the HD package I would say sell it.

 

[MellonRover]

OOF, so you bought a new to you truck, changed oil twice and it munched #3? Sorry to hear.
what oil were you using? or do you think it was already an issue prior to you buying?

What to do is a personal decision. Wholesale its a $5-7K truck (working) and prices look to be falling. I'd base my decisions on what can I unload it for as a trade (wholesale) as a floor for doing mathematical gymnastics on repair cost effectiveness. With rear locker you might be able to find a private party buyer, but post repair you could also have to keep for awhile it if you only get $8k offers. What year is it? Is it just a vehicle, or do you like it enough to be underwater $$ wise?

 

[ktm525]

Park it with the window open and fob on the seat in a bad neighbourhood.

 

[16FujiDisco]

Man, sorry to hear that. I agree that your option is personal and (to me) 100% dependent on budget. I wouldn’t fault anyone for whatever they decide is best for them. If you can afford to repair I would. I’ve saved these listings on eBay in the event I ever need them

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1342932866...6lJoh0STyG&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

They have fully rebuilt and upgraded engines. Maybe a little pricey, but may save labor costs. I might would also get a quote from a good independent on rebuilding the current one and see what the cost difference is.

 

[CPalacay]

I think it depends on your long-terms plans for the vehicle. If you plan on keeping it, then options 2 is the way to go. I’m not sure if you plan to do the work, but option 3 seems way too low if a shop was doing it. When you factor in the “while you’re in there” parts and other components, it will add up quick.

 

[powershift]

Labor is anywhere from $5k at the lowest to $7k to $12k and then there are parts that will need to be replaced (likely) while they are in there like a radiator, belts, hoses, maybe engine mounts and things that need to transfer over from the old engine might need replaced.

I have the HD package too and I'm thoroughly impressed the the traction capabilities of this rig off-road with street tires no less. Its pretty impressive and my confidence is going up off-road the more experience I get with it. In the past months I've been looking at the satellite maps to navigate through river bottoms and non-roads to get to beach areas on the Colorado River out in the Mohave desert to go swimming. Its been a lot of fun and it hasn't slipped at all in forward gears.

If you don't have the money in savings then I'd sell it because after the engine gets replaced there are many drive-train related components left that have 100k on them, I've got a wheel noise issue that cropped up just today. So if you will get bent at "yet another problem" after you are done with the engine regardless of the cash in savings it would be better to sell it. I'm committed to my LR4 for 8 years or 100k as long as I have the money to fix it. If you do get an engine, get the Tapa engine out of California and not a used engine or an engine sourced by a mechanic.

 

[avslash]

Only things that compare capability wise are the Gwagon, Landcruiser, 4Runner, Wrangler and Grenadier. 2 of those aren't cheap either, 2 aren't as nice of a vehicle and 1 is still an unproven commodity. Only one offers more offroad prowess than what you have. None of them can be had for the price of a reman engine.

Personally, I'd ****** the check for a reman and drive on.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[powershift]

For the cost of a new remain all said and done you could buy a Nissan Pro-X4 with a rear locker. Japanese reliability, body on frame and they were offered with a manual transmission.

 

[CPalacay]

For the cost of a new remain all said and done you could buy a Nissan Pro-X4 with a rear locker. Japanese reliability, body on frame and they were offered with a manual transmission.

Still not a LR4 tho.