Hi all, just for some background I've got a 2005 2wd 3.0L v6 edge with 5speed going on 170k miles. I bought the truck back in 2019 with 98k miles as a first vehicle and I've done quit a bit of work on the truck including all new front suspension, completely redone breaks in all 4 corners, clutch, lower intake manifold gaskets, complete sound system, and installed a torsen style limited slip differential. I also kept up with all the fluid intervals. So for having 170k she drives pretty good. Trucks been in tx and oklahoma its whole life so rust really is not an issue.

The problem is I have low compression on two cylinders which after an extensive amount of diagnostics I believe it is the notorious valve recession recall. Another problem is when I did the clutch I replaced the rear main seal gasket without resleeving the crank so it drips some oil between the engine and tranny now. The truck also has a dent on the front quarter panel, can I just replace that with a junkyard one? Kind of tempted to get the quarter panel replaced and have the whole truck painted since the clear coat is already coming off and that would ensure a seamless color match. Since paint is quite expensive Id do that after the truck is mechanically sound.

I am kind of torn between getting a new car or doing a bunch of work on this one since the car market kind of sucks right now. I do all my own work and doing the heads and pulling the tranny is something that is within my skill set, but I estimate to get the truck mechanically sound would cost about ~$600 and a whole lot of labor. I am also open to any suggested preventative maintenance I should do, like a water pump or something while I've got the truck apart if I do decide to fix the truck.


I guess I am just looking for feedback from other people who have experience with these trucks

Thanks,
Sam

 

Mine is an automatic and at 328K miles the timing cover decided to leak but not the original water pump. Based on my story keep it and get the work done and while you are at it replace the water pump and timing cover gasket. Just my .02 cents worth of advice, good luck.