Hey everyone it has been a while since Ive posted ...
I am on my 2nd Rodeo .... Had a '91LS for 10 years so i replaced it with a '99LS. I tell you its been a good truck but its sucking me dry...... Since its purchase in 03 its had an engine replaced an EGR valve replaced, A steering wheel clock spring, a wiper relay control module and more replaced.
It is in the shop now with the engine being tore apart to find the source of an overheat. And yes ive tried a thermostat and proffessionally checked the radiator, also changed cap. Please pray for me that Marshall Engines will re-emburse me for it still is under the 36Month 100,000 Mile warranty...

I still had dreams to use the 3" lift from calmini, a new intake filter, some window tint............etc.

Am i crazy for hanging on to my "Zu"

Why did you have to have the engine replaced? I can see an EGR valve going bad and a clockspring in the steering, ok no real big deal there.

I'd not think you are crazy, heck it's got to be paid off.

The repairs here and there are still much cheaper than a new car payment.

Joe

You couldnt talk me into getting rid of my Rodeo.

You Know a part of me really wants to keep it and the other part says get RID of it.........

Do all of you keep sinking large sums of money into it to keep it running?

I do agree that a feww hundred now and then is still cheaper than new truck payments...........I hope to pay more frequent visits to this site so thank you for all your inputs

Glasspack

Nope. Aside from regular preventative maintenance, the only things that have ever needed replaced are:

Powersteering pump ($600)
2 alternators ($350)
2 Batteries ($275)
Broke the dipstick off inside the dipstick tube ($75)
Bad carrier bearing (warranty)
1 set of valve cover gaskets ($400)

The only thing my truck seems to have issues with are the headlights - for whatever reason, it eats an average of 2 sets of headlights every year.

I have 150K miles of 60% highway driving, 40% city, quite a bit of 4k rpm mountainous runs along with pulling a heavy boat.

Preventative maintenance isn't exactly cheap though, but I do a transmission flush every 30k, tune-up every 60k, radiator flush every year.

But the most expensive items have been 2 sets of tires at the 16" size.

"1 set of valve cover gaskets ($400)"

Gawd Allmighty is that a typo? I just bought '91 2.6L 4wd Trooper and I am doing the head gasket (hopefully just that but I haven't got in there yet). It sounds like there are a lot of problems with the heads on these things. I am seeing that using higher quality gaskets may help, but this figure is near what I paid for the car and thats just the valve cover? I dont want to do it twice thats for sure. As a former '91 driver do you have any thoughts on this? I like the old Trooper for snow camping trips as its
A)a big boxy dwelling for gear or sleeping and a fairly small engine for economy.
B) 4WD for the snow. But if this head issue is going to rare up again I dunno.

Is the head problem insurmountable?

The cost for the Valve cover gaskets included the labor involved - price may not be 100% accurate, as I had a few other maintenance items performed at the same time.

If you're doing the job yourself, labor cost is not a factor for you.

The '91 Rodeo that I had, had a whole different engine then the '91 Trooper you have. I never had to replace valve cover gaskets or headgasket on the 3.1L GM engine.

I have no knowledge of the 2.6L engine and the issue concerning the heads.

3.2 is v6 so two gaskets plus install and 2.6 is i4. Priced felpro head gasket at less than 75 bucks and felpro head gasket at about 100 bucks from autozone. Though everyone here recommends the OEM head gasket for the 2.6 and i'm not sure on a price for the OEM. I have to do the head gasket for my RS and will probably put in a new water pump at the same time. of course this does digress from the 3.2 issue and 2.6 head issues have certainly been covered many times in other threads.

and all fingers point to the AMC aluminum head as the premium head to use for the 2.6 head issues.

Well Thank you for your inputs I wanted to let you all know that the Rodeo has been given a clean bill of health by the shop. they are sticking to their guns as to a bad head gasket. The overheat problem they say is all fixed. They found a spot that although not very noticable, was appeared to have leaked through the layers of the gasket. The heads looked great and were also checked by a machine shop. the water pump looks great the whole engine they said looked great.......... So I added to that a transmission filter and oil change.
Keep me in your prayers as I cant afford another $908.00 bill anytime soon. Lets hope the warranty from Marshall Engines will cover most of it!!
Remember this engine is only two years old !!

Thanks to all of you

Glasspack <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />