High mileage driver, replace all mechanical or buy something else?

Hello all, have some information I thought someone here might be interested in.

I have a job that requires a truck and driving roughly 120,000kms a year around Canada. I maintain my Tacoma perfectly changing engine oil at 8,000kms and all other fluids at 30,000kms. Between jobs I also keep the truck waxed and clean never letting road salt stay on more than 48 hrs and this is including washing the undercarriage and rolling around underneath on a dolly while it’s on ramps and detailing it, sanding the odd rust spot, and re-applying frame paint (yes maybe I’m slightly OCPD but you all scared me with rusting stories) despite all this I know the engine and transmission will age before the body ever does so I called my local Toyota dealer to find out what a new engine, transmission, and differentials would cost.

Toyota does not provide brand new “crate” engines, the best they do is offer a new core (block, crank, pistons) while reusing the heads, headers, etc. but they would provide new cams, valves, etc. if I wanted or it was needed. Anyways with a new engine core, transmission, transfer, and diffs, parts alone with no labour comes to roughly about $14,670.00

you might think that’s high but I think it’s much cheaper than a new truck especially since the body will most likely still look new and I LOVE 3rd gens. I also looked into converting to diesel just for fun but it costs $35,000 USD and for over $15,000 CAD less I could replace everything I already am, plus the entire suspension system annnd almost everything mechanical.

Once I reach the point of the truck needing this work done I will be leaving my job to be home with my (future) wife so the truck will be lightly used after that, mainly a weekend thing.

I will be looking into wrecked Tacoma's for a powertrain and seeing what that costs. However, I am nervous about how the previous owner would have maintained it though (I’m picky on that if it’s not obvious) and I love the idea of new manufactured right from Toyota.

I do not like Gen4 personally, so upgrading to that is out of the question. I put so much time into the body so hopefully it lasts 20 years lol

what do you think? Am I nuts or would you do the same in this situation?

 

NUTS !!

 

If you keep up on maintenance like you are then I can almost assure you that a bad driver on the road will take your truck off the road before anything else.

I guess technically there is no harm in having a spare powertrain aside from space and money but those are the kind of things I would choose to address when the time comes.

Also for rust prevention, don't forget about the inside of the frame as much as the outside

 

I guess if it adds motivation, I over 170'000kms on my 2021 in the first two years which includes two road trips within a year from Alberta to Nova Scotia, i've been tuned since 8000kms, I tow and haul commonly and multiple times have hauled more than the truck's weight including from Vancouver back to Alberta in anything from +30 to -40.... i'm trying to say I don't baby the truck, it had to work for it's keep. I disregard the recommended oil recommendations on top of that too but I do keep up on maintenance. Only work outside of scheduled maintenance i've done so far is replace my lower ball joints a few months ago and my fan belt a couple weeks ago

 

2tr-fe swap and keep the truck on the road for 1M km (just don't drive up too many hills or the rocky mountains)

 

I’m sure I could keep the existing powertrain running past when I plan to replace it if I stay on top of maintenance but I like the peace of mind from getting a “new” powertrain and then having it to last me until the body finally dies when I’m an old man. Yeah definitely have to keep an eye on the inside of the frame. First place I had surface rust spots was by the front cab mounts. Wish they didn’t rust so easy

 

I think I would prefer a 4.0 instead of the 2.7 but I’m guessing the 2tr-fe is more reliable? I haven’t even seen one in a Tacoma around here, I guess they’re not too common around these parts.

 

Someone else in the Tacoma world finally retired his after what seems a ridiculous number of miles: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/r-i-p-mike-1-6-million-mile-tacoma.810672/#post-29078005

He did some repairs along the way (headers, etc) but he only recently finally gave up.

 

Not suggesting you buy new.

But who knows what your future will hold? Do you really think you'll be doing the same job, same travel, same care for the vehicle in 6 years? I don't.

 

They just keep going and going its nuts. Rarely ever leak or anything either.

But 160hp only lol

 

i would just convert it to an electric vehicle

 

A tip I can offer if you haven't do so already is to redirect the a/c drain which is on the passenger side firewall and just a tube that sticks out. It drips on the frame near the cab rail and will fight you to cause rust there. I just acquired some tubing and ran it past the frame to the ground

 

but to be fair it may sound nuts but not really , my grandma had a mechanic rebuilt her transmission and engine just under 7k (us doll hairs) oh and radiator too on her ford explorer. Seems like good idea but who knows some will say get a new one , its up to you

 

no, once I replace everything mechanical I’m leaving that job, my whole life will be paid for, so I can enjoy it, truck goes in the garage for weekend use/mountain trips, I get the peace of mind it’s mechanically minty, and I commute when I have to go to the city in my wife’s RAV or our car.

 

Furthermore, im the only one in my family thats buys new . Everyone else buys used, and swears by it . Every car they bought has been extremely reliable, im just to weary and anxious to bite the bullet and take the risk of buying used

 

that’s a huge help, I didn’t really pay attention to that. Thank you!

 

Your whole life is never paid for.

Other than a mortgage I was debt free for 30 years. Now mortgage and debt free for 10 more.

But debt free doesn't mean life is paid for. It just means you're not paying interest on it.

IMHO you'd be better served to buy a used creampuff for that future weekend ride and roll what you got till she won't roll no more.

 

This guy drove his 2008 for 1.6 million miles.

The 1.6 Million Mile Toyota Tacoma – Where is it Now? | Torque News

The head gasket went at 900,000 miles and rather than replace it at that point he just bought a 100,000 mile engine from a scrap yard and then drove that engine for another 700,000 miles for a total of 800,000 miles on the 2nd engine. The truck was still running when the guy died.

 

Hahaha I would rather bathe with a toaster. Everyone who comes out here with electric tells me not to buy one. I myself have many issues with them but if I was going to go green I would wait until hydrogen goes more mainstream and switch to that.

 

100% EVs are already dead other than for urbanites who drive 30 miles a month and never venture farther than 40 minutes from home