A Serious Question re: work on or replace

[Grungle1]

Hi all,

I am in a bit of a quandary here I have a stock 99 NL 3.5 Petrol GLS 286000 Kms, I am coming up to a period where I will have a bit of spare cash, I love my Paj and she has taken me everywhere I have wanted to go so far. I paid $7000 cash 2 years ago and have prob spent around $3500 (service, tyres, brakes and new rotors).

I get about 750kms on a tank with a load on board (80ltr esky, camping gear large coleman quick tent and tarps, tables in a cage on the roof), at this stage I don't tow I just load the vehicle itself.

I am thinking about getting a camper trailer to make things a bit easier to get away etc, looking at doing some of the more remote trips that we can do (in the next 2 - 5 years).

Now some of the issues I have
Valve Stem Seals
Mild rust top corner of windscreen
Metallic high pitched rattle in the drive train on mild acceleration
CV Joints will need to be replaced
ABS light on after colliding with debris on the F3

Mods I want to put on
Bull Bar
Snorkel
would look at a fridge maybe 2nd battery and inverter
Rhino Roof basket (my current one is too small)
Side Awning

So the way I see it is either fix all these issues, install the mods I would like or look at trading it on a slightly newer Paj (or dare I say another brand) with the majority of these things already in place. Obviously I would look at service history etc if I did decide to replace the girl.

I am finding it very difficult to make this decision so any advice or for those who have gone through similar issues would be very appreciated.

I apologise for the length of the post

[greenmorry]

You love the paj and get great fuel economy, you know its faults and whats needed. Why replace it with some thing you dont know the history of regardless if it has a sevice history? I think in this instance, better the devil you know!
It would cost you 3 times as much to replace it than fix what you have just stated as most work is not beyond a home mechanic. Just my 2c worth.

[BrisVegas]

I know EXACTLY where you're coming from!

I think it depends on how much "spare cash" you have coming up... If you only have a few grand spare, then perhaps spend that on a camper trailer that will be happily towed by your next vehicle too.

To start fresh with a newer low mileage truck, you probably want to spend $15-20k at a guess.

For me, I only want to get 2 more years out of mine, so I've really got to stop my self spending money on stuff that isn't removable or strictly maintenance costs. ie. I'd love an ARB steel bar, but spending $1500 on one at this point in my Paj's life is pointless. If a used one turns up for a couple of hundred bucks, sure, but otherwise no way! I am, however, happy to spend money on roof awnings, light bars, camping gear, Engel fridge etc as all that stuff will come with me to the next car.

Not sure if I helped, but I certainly understand the situation you're in.

[Grungle1]

Thank you for those replies, that is helping me make a decision already, I think it just needed to be reinforced a little. I know (as we all do) plenty of guys on here that have 350000 - 400000 Kms plus on theirs and still going strong.

I do agree with the not spending too much on "fixed" mods but as I don't have any yet I am happy to spend a bit on them (would also be looking for second hand first before new).

I admit a new one is tempting but I know every squeak and rattle on mine and have done a small amount of work on her myself so there is that.

Just have to find a good place in Sydney to get some work done!!

[Ian Sharpe]

hi mate,

fix the rust before it sets in, fix the other stuff & keep the best Paj they ever made!

[pajeroman3lt]

If you got the cash, get the rust fixed and drop a late model diesel in it and tow that trailer around Australia.

[MSF]

Better the devil you know........

[Grungle1]

Many thanks for all the replies,

I agree completely with what has been said, I will hang on to the old girl for now, I was leaning that way anyway, it is always good to get everyone's opinions on here they are always valid!!

I will probably look at replacing the suspension, the shocks still have Japanese on them lol (I am happy with the on and off road ride and handling as is, just after new parts)

Need to look for a decent engine place in the southern Sydney suburbs.

Just for some info I did a bit of an ebay search and found el cheapo roof cages, awnings etc.. so I would be happy to use those for the next few years.

I should have mentioned that I have a Falcon as a daily so the Paj is only used for camping trips etc..

[Rendrag]

Valve Stem Seals

That's easy, pop a compressor into each spark plug hole as you go (keeps the valves closed), and you can do them without lifting the heads off

Mild rust top corner of windscreen

I just did this on mine (along with rust on the roof). Fairly easy fix. I spent the christmas week cutting out the rust, painting with rust-convertor, left it a few days, then came back and sanded and undercoated. Then took it to a body shop for the topcoat. Looks bloody nice now, cost me about 200 bucks in materials, and 350 for the topcoat job.

Metallic high pitched rattle in the drive train on mild acceleration

Are you sure it's in the drive train? I chased a similar noise (sounded a lot like pinging, but sounded like it was from the gearbox) for a while, finally turned out to be the exhaust manifold nuts had backed off. Tightened them up and now it's great.

Snorkel

seriously the best thing you'll ever do to your paj. Not so much for river crossings, its just the Gen 2's have a VERY restrictive airbox under the guard in front of the air filter box - hole is maybe an inch and a half in diameter. Once you put a snorkel on and she gets de-restricted, you won't know yourself - you'll be dragging everyone off the lights

Personally I'd be keeping it and just doing the work. There's nothing like a Gen 2 Paj - just enough electronics to make them nice to drive, not enough to make them a modern heap of shit that you can't work on at home

[Grungle1]

just enough electronics to make them nice to drive, not enough to make them a modern heap of shit that you can't work on at home [/QUOTE]

That is a damn good point!!