Hard Decision

[ronnyballgame]

I have a 2007 Yukon Denali. I love my truck. It has 185,000 miles on it (bought it with 72K), still looks ok (a couple oops things, but no dents). The front driver seat is torn in the usual spot for me (my 99 Yukon did the same thing/place) but overall the interior is in good shape (could use a detailed cleaning, but son's baseball and weather got me this fall).
I need a list of repairs done, and am asking a group of enthusiasts if it is worth it...not a smart move, but you guys would shoot me straight. I have the following to repair:

Replace left exhaust manifold (drill out 2 bolts min)
Replace throttle body
Replace lower ball joints (figured I would do lower and upper)
Replace rear main seal
Replace valve cover gasket
Replace drive shaft U-joint

Quite a list of deferred maintenance. Looking at it, the easiest for me would be the throttle body (I think??), and believe that I could tackle the ball joints and valve cover. But man, the bill for the other repairs are huge! Not the parts, but it's the $%*#@ labor!!!

So, give me your opinions...keep and repair, sell/trade. If I would get rid of this, I would probably look for a 4Runner with about 80K on it...

Thanks

Ron

 

[iamdub]

Assuming your Denali is paid for, what's more in your budget: These repairs or a car note? Although, with 180K, there may be even more maintenance items needed in the near future. If this sways your decision to trade for a younger vehicle, maybe just do the repairs that are easier/cheaper to help with trade-in value such as everything but the rear main seal.

By the way, if you have the common broken exhaust manifold bolt problem, an easier/quicker repair is clamps.

 

[David Paul]

Good morning Ron,
I'll just share my experience with my 04 Tahoe. Bought CPO in 05 with 20,000 miles, now 167,000. This year I was looking for a new truck just because. Looked at current prices ahh, no. My truck was in good shape, minor rust from lving in NJ. Seat worn like yours, outdated radio, missing many modern conveniences like rear view camera, intake manifold leaking and some other minor repairs needed.
I took what would be about 6 months of payments for a new truck and put it back into my Tahoe. Rebuilt the front end, lowered it with a 2/3 kit, new 20 take off wheels, rust repaired, new armrest cover, new Blue tooth enabled radio and selfcontained subwoofer. Fixed intake manifold leak, tinted widows, added sound insulation, led lights in the interior, updated head and tail lights, NNBS front brake upgrade, detailed the interior, added airbags with onboard compressor to the rear as I do tow on occasion. And yes I added a rear view camera and did some other improvements and repairs. I'm fortunate in that I could do most of the labor myself so I saved big there.
If I sold it today, would I get my money back....no.
But to me I have in essence a new truck with no monthly payments that puts a smile on my face every time I get in it. If it lasts me another 5 years I'll be way ahead of the game..

 

[David Paul]

Oh, forgot: I also did the efan conversion and BB tune which really made it feel like a new truck......

 

[ronnyballgame]

Assuming your Denali is paid for, what's more in your budget: These repairs or a car note? Although, with 180K, there may be even more maintenance items needed in the near future. If this sways your decision to trade for a younger vehicle, maybe just do the repairs that are easier/cheaper to help with trade-in value such as everything but the rear main seal.

By the way, if you have the common broken exhaust manifold bolt problem, an easier/quicker repair is clamps.

Yes, mine is paid for. I would really not like to have a payment. And since I just put 4 new Arrnott shocks and pump on it. That is swaying me even more to keep it. I will have to find a thread on the manifold clamp fix, because yes, it is the common broken bolt issue

Good morning Ron,
I'll just share my experience with my 04 Tahoe. Bought CPO in 05 with 20,000 miles, now 167,000. This year I was looking for a new truck just because. Looked at current prices ahh, no. My truck was in good shape, minor rust from lving in NJ. Seat worn like yours, outdated radio, missing many modern conveniences like rear view camera, intake manifold leaking and some other minor repairs needed.
I took what would be about 6 months of payments for a new truck and put it back into my Tahoe. Rebuilt the front end, lowered it with a 2/3 kit, new 20 take off wheels, rust repaired, new armrest cover, new Blue tooth enabled radio and selfcontained subwoofer. Fixed intake manifold leak, tinted widows, added sound insulation, led lights in the interior, updated head and tail lights, NNBS front brake upgrade, detailed the interior, added airbags with onboard compressor to the rear as I do tow on occasion. And yes I added a rear view camera and did some other improvements and repairs. I'm fortunate in that I could do most of the labor myself so I saved big there.
If I sold it today, would I get my money back....no.
But to me I have in essence a new truck with no monthly payments that puts a smile on my face every time I get in it. If it lasts me another 5 years I'll be way ahead of the game..

I'm thinking this...Do not need to do as much as you, since I do have a camera, new shocks, and 20" wheels. I'm thinking, if I do these repairs and put at least 1/2 a car payment in the bank each month, I'll be way ahead like you. If I can keep it for 4 more years, I might be able to buy a new one outright!

Have you looked at those replacement seat covers and foam on ebay? The pictures look good, but I'm worried about the quality. http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/331756009076?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true

Thanks for the comments so far...Just telling me what I think I need to do anyway!!!

 

[ta07hoe]

I'm assuming the bolts your talking about are the ones that hold the header to the head. The clamp thing only works for the flange to y pipe. You need a good stud extractor and they should come out no problem. What would you replace the truck with. If your looking at another 07-14 just keep what you have but if you want a newer body style or something in better shape just sell it and buy something els. Really comes down to do you want it or something different, and money

http://www.handsontools.com/Gearwre...p_12440.html?gclid=CIn16M_H3dACFUiBswodvBQM6w

Your gonna want a set like this. They do break tho so if you have a Sears or something close buy get it from them incase you need a replacement during the job

 

[David Paul]

http://www.theseatshop.com/

This is where I purchased the arm rest cover. Color match was perfect.....

 

[iamdub]

I'm assuming the bolts your talking about are the ones that hold the header to the head. The clamp thing only works for the flange to y pipe. You need a good stud extractor and they should come out no problem. What would you replace the truck with. If your looking at another 07-14 just keep what you have but if you want a newer body style or something in better shape just sell it and buy something els. Really comes down to do you want it or something different, and money

http://www.handsontools.com/Gearwre...p_12440.html?gclid=CIn16M_H3dACFUiBswodvBQM6w

Your gonna want a set like this. They do break tho so if you have a Sears or something close buy get it from them incase you need a replacement during the job

There are clamps to secure the exhaust manifold to the cylinder head as an alternative to [attempting to] extracting the broken bolt(s). Reportedly, they work well and are a much faster/easier repair method.

 

[Jonah52]

Same boat as except I have replaced all those minus the rear main (Potentially oil pan) and the seat. My seat isn't bad enough to barely even notice yet, I might as well let it get bad before I trash it. I bought my 07 with 129K and Im about to roll 170k 1.5 years later. I've done oil changes, top end gaskets, ball joints and brakes. No issues and I anticipate another 100k with minimal issues.

 

[Jonah52]

Keep it. No payment, and a dead nuts reliable vehicle. Spend the $200 and have it detailed, it will feel new when its clean.