So I’m stuck in a position. I’m sure I have a piston slap going on. Looking at buying a reman engine or selling and getting a tundra. I know personal preference plays into this. But my question comes to my thinking ahead. The tundra I’m looking at is a 2006 4.7L tundra. 276000 miles. My jeep is a 2000 tj with 237000. So the question comes to, should I go ahead and buy a reman engine and expect to have my jeep for another 10 years or sell and buy this truck that may be coming up on the same situation (273000 miles) the way my mind works is. The 2.5L engine remaned is about 2K . I have no idea what that would set me back with the tundra. Maybe double. I’m 41 years old and still love the jeep. But it’s my daily driver. Am I getting too old to be driving in my jeep as a daily driver is the other question I’m having. I don’t know why I’m questioning that but just curious is their a age where you stick out like a sore thumb driving one?
TJ daily driver quandary
- Thread starter RAC02
- Start date
Have you checked around marketplace for a used engine? I’ve found a couple locally to me in the past year. The swap itself is pretty straightforward. 2 days for me to get the old engine out and new engine in and running by myself. I had also never done an engine swap until this past October so take it for what you will. I’m 39 and plan on rocking this thing until the wheels fall off or I run out of engines to rebuild lol
The devil you know...
Why not both? Can fix one and drive the other. Only way to roll with 20 plus year old vehicles... plural.
-Mac
Why not both? Can fix one and drive the other. Only way to roll with 20 plus year old vehicles... plural.
-Mac
Don’t make that type of money. Really have to have one car one insurance. I’m trying to think about the cost different to maintain. The jeep is relatively inexpensive to maintain as a DD. Most parts are available and for small repairs I can do myself. The 4.7 tundra I have no idea. I’ve heard the starter on that truck is a major ordeal. Or send the timing belt is another. The cost of a replacement engine is another thing I need to look up.
I would drive what ever I liked the best,and could still work on easily.
No matter what anyone else thought.
I'm sure the Tundra would cost more to do. I am 65 and still working on a hot rod project that probably won't be done for another year or so. If you like your old jeep keep it. Just my thoughts.
No matter what anyone else thought.
I'm sure the Tundra would cost more to do. I am 65 and still working on a hot rod project that probably won't be done for another year or so. If you like your old jeep keep it. Just my thoughts.
The devil you know is a great comment. You already know your problems on this Jeep. You are likely much better to keep with it at those miles.
My wife drives a vehicle with 280k miles and aside from resale value, I wouldn't trade it for one with 100k miles as I know the issues of this one.
That’s what I was thinking. Nothing indicates the tundra needs a new engine but is bound To happen with that many miles and the price I’m seeing some people on the Internet part is works 7-8 for a reman. I could pay 1800 for a reman 2.5L Tj engine.
Your age and the age of any decently maintained vehicle is almost irrelevant.
What you currently have is a vehicle that it sounds like you've had for quite a while and should be pretty familiar with how it's been taken care of. The Toyota you mentioned is possibly nearing the end of it's "easy to own" life even if you know how many (possibly 1 through dozens) previous owners had it, how it's been treated by all of them, who did any work on it and what that work was.
At this point the only plus I'd put on the Toyota is that it may get a couple extra miles per gallon if it's 4wd and probably a couple more if it's only 2wd because those should weigh less.
FWIW I've never considered MPG, which come from the gas tank, to be more important than Smiles Per Gallon, which come from not only the driver and passengers but quite often come from anyone else seeing it being driven.
Edit:
It took me well over 10 minutes to type this. Based on posts #8, #9 and #10 happening during that time I believe I'm not wrong.
What you currently have is a vehicle that it sounds like you've had for quite a while and should be pretty familiar with how it's been taken care of. The Toyota you mentioned is possibly nearing the end of it's "easy to own" life even if you know how many (possibly 1 through dozens) previous owners had it, how it's been treated by all of them, who did any work on it and what that work was.
At this point the only plus I'd put on the Toyota is that it may get a couple extra miles per gallon if it's 4wd and probably a couple more if it's only 2wd because those should weigh less.
FWIW I've never considered MPG, which come from the gas tank, to be more important than Smiles Per Gallon, which come from not only the driver and passengers but quite often come from anyone else seeing it being driven.
Edit:
It took me well over 10 minutes to type this. Based on posts #8, #9 and #10 happening during that time I believe I'm not wrong.
True. Very true. The tundra 4.7 I’ve heard people getting 500k miles on this. But I’m also sure people have gotten was less. I am no mechanic but I like to try and fix my own stuff. I don’t know if I could with that tundra.
That’s very true. I’ve heard the tundra 4.7 is a great engine and many people get 500k miles out of them, but I’m also sure many people don’t as well. Plus there is a ton of support with these Tjs for diy repairs. While I’m sure tundra has a fair share I doubt it would be comparable for repair support.
As you say, the Tundra could very well get to 500k, it also very well could have the transmission go out on your way home. Unfortunately its hard to know until you put some miles on it.
The other nice thing, there is enough knowledge on this forum members should be able to point you in the right direction on literally anything on your Jeep.
Devil you know versus the devil you don’t.
How long do you own the Jeep? You know it and could likely rattle off from memory everything you’ve done over the time you’ve had it and anything that still needs to be done. The Tundra is Pandora’s Box.
Talk with @kincaid-0678 about the cost and work involved in swapping out a 2.5…. He just did it.
I’m 60 and the TJ is my daily driver. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I drive it by choice and love it like a kid loves a candy store with free stuff. Can’t wait to drop the top and pull the doors. And I get only a few months a year to enjoy the nice weather. Yes, I stand out like a sore thumb but I think it’s because it’s a really clean ‘vintage’ jeep and people are a wee bit jealous of the open air driving.
Maybe someday I retire her to the driveway but for now…
I say keep the Jeep. Get her reliable again and have fun.
@TheBoogieman sorry to hear about the challenges you are facing…. Stand strong. It’s admirable that you are giving away the car at a time when that’s likely the last thing you want to do.
How long do you own the Jeep? You know it and could likely rattle off from memory everything you’ve done over the time you’ve had it and anything that still needs to be done. The Tundra is Pandora’s Box.
Talk with @kincaid-0678 about the cost and work involved in swapping out a 2.5…. He just did it.
I’m 60 and the TJ is my daily driver. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I drive it by choice and love it like a kid loves a candy store with free stuff. Can’t wait to drop the top and pull the doors. And I get only a few months a year to enjoy the nice weather. Yes, I stand out like a sore thumb but I think it’s because it’s a really clean ‘vintage’ jeep and people are a wee bit jealous of the open air driving.
Maybe someday I retire her to the driveway but for now…
I say keep the Jeep. Get her reliable again and have fun.
@TheBoogieman sorry to hear about the challenges you are facing…. Stand strong. It’s admirable that you are giving away the car at a time when that’s likely the last thing you want to do.
Yea very true. People love seeing the old TJ cruise, even with fumes coming from it lol (exhaust manifold coming). The tundra I ran a car fax on and it seemed well taken care of but you still don’t know for sure. 200k miles don’t scare me, but 273 kinda does, even on a 4.7. And the engine replacement options are limited on those I think. So that kinda scares me. There are several vendors right now I could call and have my 2.5 engine sent. I see a lot of people on line paying 3-5 k on used tundra engine with 100-160k miles. And reman around 8k. Keeping in mind I could get a reman 2.5 for 1800. That seems big. I just have that thought, it would be worth it if that 4.7! Would make it to 500k miles but how likely is that really? I guess can’t know that though.
If it makes you feel any better, I'm poor and losing my job of 33 years next Sunday. I listed my "beater" 2003 Hyundai Elantra on Facebook Marketplace for $2500 so I could pay rent for the next two months. I had 22 interested people within 24 hours. My wife's daughter needs it, so I'm giving it to her this Sunday. Now, I'm even more poor. Oh well.
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Yea I have. But 1800 for a reman isn’t too bad with a warranty. I think you are a little more mechanical inclined than myself but it would be possible to do myself I’m sure. That’s good you plan on rocking yours for a while. I really do like it. And really a tundra would not be any easier to get in and out of probably. I’m kinda comfortable once I’m in it.
If it makes you feel any better, I'm poor and losing my job of 33 years next Sunday. I listed my "beater" 2003 Hyundai Elantra on Facebook Marketplace for $2500 so I could pay rent for the next two months. I had 22 interested people withing 24 hours. My wife's daughter needs it, so I'm giving it to her this Sunday. Now, I'm even more poor. Oh well.
Man I’m sorry about the job situation. I understand. Yea that’s the thing believe it or not that really makes me want to keep it. Jobs are so insecure now. If I lost my job no question jeep is the way to be. Your daughter is lucky. Good dad.
That’s awesome. I don’t feel there is a age where a tj is inappropriate at all. To be honest I feel people 60 and up should want to have one (given the real history of the Wrangler). I do see lots of older people than me driving their tj all the time. It originated way back when and to me it’s fitting. I guess all my neighbors driving their F150 tundras and so on and me putting down the road sometimes creeps in but fixing it up could be the fix to that. I live in Florida so top down weather is around 9 months out of the year lol
I'm 50, and alternate daily driving the TJ with the JT... both we've had since new. TJ has close to 140k on it, and the JT has 51k. There is only one thing that would get me to sell either one, but that's another Jeep, that does not exist yet...
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