Member III
- 2,306
- First Name
- Steve
- Last Name
- Culbertson
- Member #
-
9519
- Service Branch
- Former NOPD LEO
It was decision time with 210K on the clock...do I sink money in her or move on. I had an offer for a straight-up trade on a 100 Land Cruiser with about 70K fewer miles, and boy was I tempted. But, I remember years ago letting go of my R1100 GS dual sport Beemer after 6 years of adding everything I could bolt on to that bike, finally getting it just right, and what an epic screwup that turned out to be.
So after much thought I really couldn't come up with a valid reason to let her go. With the help of some of the local FJ Cruiser guys we put together a list of all the things that should be changed/serviced/ or replaced. First to go were the tires, replaced with Cooper AT3's. Next was a tuneup with new Iridium plugs. Checked the fuel injectors and found a bad one which was replaced. We replaced the stock exhaust/intake with a TRD exhaust and the TRD cold air intake. The results were amazing! I've got power I never knew existed and running the streets on errands is a blast. Two tanks of gas later and I'm averaging just above 20mpg.
We then drained the radiator, changed the hoses, TRD radiator cap, belt, thermostat, all pulleys, and waterpump. New alternator and battery, too.
The FJ needed a tranny flush so we did, and I have a transmission cooler on the way. Next week maybe.
We then replaced front and rear suspension with TRD shocks and springs.(Bilstein, I think)
A few odds n ends ...LED dome lights, ARB fridge wired direct to the battery, side visors, and replaced stereo speakers with some nice after market ones.
Last on the list is next week replacing the gear oil in the differentials. All in all I think we're gonna come in just under $3000. But I feel confident taking her to Colorado/Utah this summer...maybe even Alaska if I can sweet talk the wife :-)
So after much thought I really couldn't come up with a valid reason to let her go. With the help of some of the local FJ Cruiser guys we put together a list of all the things that should be changed/serviced/ or replaced. First to go were the tires, replaced with Cooper AT3's. Next was a tuneup with new Iridium plugs. Checked the fuel injectors and found a bad one which was replaced. We replaced the stock exhaust/intake with a TRD exhaust and the TRD cold air intake. The results were amazing! I've got power I never knew existed and running the streets on errands is a blast. Two tanks of gas later and I'm averaging just above 20mpg.
We then drained the radiator, changed the hoses, TRD radiator cap, belt, thermostat, all pulleys, and waterpump. New alternator and battery, too.
The FJ needed a tranny flush so we did, and I have a transmission cooler on the way. Next week maybe.
We then replaced front and rear suspension with TRD shocks and springs.(Bilstein, I think)
A few odds n ends ...LED dome lights, ARB fridge wired direct to the battery, side visors, and replaced stereo speakers with some nice after market ones.
Last on the list is next week replacing the gear oil in the differentials. All in all I think we're gonna come in just under $3000. But I feel confident taking her to Colorado/Utah this summer...maybe even Alaska if I can sweet talk the wife :-)
