View Full Version : best cheap upgrades you have made
schap27
10-30-2003, 07:32 AM
just like the subject says best low buck mods you have made for you rig to help it offroad
post them up
I would say the best cheapo mod thats out there for just about any rig is a lincoln locker but thats me and I really aint in to streetability and am broke as a joke
KYJ10
10-30-2003, 07:48 AM
I guess I'd have to ask how much low buck is? If $100 or less, Id say the welded front. If it's $500 or less, I'd say the 14ff with detroit. If it's $1000 or less I'd say the fuel injection. $1500 or less and I say the swampers. Over that would be the HP 60 front. Dennis
The Donzi
10-30-2003, 07:55 AM
Welded spiders (10.00 worth of rod) and hydro assist (100.00), SOA (25.00 for perches and 10.00 for rods).
FSJ Thing
10-30-2003, 08:09 AM
Cut fenders to clear 38" tires. Free.
Custom fenders made out of diamond lattus aluminum and 4 cans of duplicolor truckbed liner. $30.
Using sway bar mounts from front end as custom shock mounts so the wrong size shocks I had would fit. Free.
HEI. $10.
tractor utility lights instead of expensive "off road lights"
$50 for 4 of them.
"THING" hood ornament from Fantastic Four comics, $6.
schap27
10-30-2003, 08:56 AM
on the HEI for $10 give some details for us on how u did it and what parts you used
loborph
10-30-2003, 09:25 AM
On-board air - $120 including tank. Cutting flenders - free
FSJ Thing
10-30-2003, 09:39 AM
Originally posted by schap27:
on the HEI for $10 give some details for us on how u did it and what parts you usedJunk yard special! Got the HEI off a mid 80s GMC Jimmy High Sierra at the pick-a-part in Aurora CO. Distributors wern't on the price list they had so I got it for $10. The nice thing about that junkyard is they have a super fast turnover, so nothing sits there for more than a month, meaning that everything in there is relatively fresh. :D
KYJ10
10-30-2003, 10:03 AM
Just to expand your original thread idea, my best purchase related to my rig, has been hands down a welder. It has saved me untold amounts of cash and problems, as I have been able to make brackets of all sorts. From crossmember to brake extensions. Shock mounts, ram steering stuff, axle swap stuff, tie rods, drag links, theres no end to what all it has helped me with and saved me from having to either buy or have some one else do it for me. Dennis
blt2krl
10-30-2003, 12:03 PM
Chopped top and cut fenders
scotty
10-30-2003, 03:50 PM
cuting off rear overhang has almost been the singlemost best mod done thus far. my bumper had been welded right to the rearmost xmember,so i cut off 4" of bumper and 7" of frame,and being 11" shorter makes one heckuva differnece on our trails here.i can now cruise thru valleys and off of ledges that would have left me stuck with the rear bumper on the ground before.
other than that,the best mod has been the 14 bolt. those 2 are so close its hard to pick one. but i kept breaking rear 44s and the 14 bolt gave me a rediculous amt of self confidence ;) i still break stuff,but with the 14 bolt its alot fewer and further between,and never beenthe rear axle tongue.gif the extra unsprung weight seems tohave helped quite a bit as well,as i can go some places now in 2wd that i needed 4wd to get to before :D i consider this a cheap mod cause i only paid $50 for the axle im using.
on board air and the 2nd battery are a close 3rd and 4th.
trickc
10-31-2003, 01:19 AM
Hands down the lincoln locker at $50 and that was paying someone else cause my welder isn't powerful enuff to do the job. I did a cheapo body lift too bought the blocks direct from 4 wheel parts for like $3 apiece and then bought about $15 worth of hardware to do the job. All in all it came out about $30 cheaper than the "kit" which the last one I bought most of the bolts in the hardware were the wrong sizes anyways. sawzall on the fenders isn't bad either.
trickc
10-31-2003, 01:21 AM
Doh! left out one other and thats the off-road needle set for my 1406 edelbrock carb, I recall the needle set was less than $20 and took about 20 min to install.
rockjeep44
10-31-2003, 01:43 AM
removing as much weight as possible with cutting tools. you wouldn't believe how much weight affects your offroad ability. cutting crap off is free!
FSJeeper
10-31-2003, 02:43 AM
Cheapest mod for me was the Dana 60 front, 14 bolt rear with locker that I took out of a CUCV truck I paid $25 for.
BigSHO
10-31-2003, 03:10 AM
On Board Air $120, Stick Welder $15, Chopped fenders Free, TfI $100, Carb rebuild $20, Lincoln locker $10, 33 12.50 15 on rims for $200. Just got love that tons of trucks have 6 hole rims. Front and Rear add a leafs $70, Sway bar disconnects $50
The Anti-Chrysler
10-31-2003, 05:53 AM
TFI upgrade and Chevy S-10 Blazer steering box
SOA, lincoln lockers, sawzall...
pdspeh
10-31-2003, 07:24 AM
great tread:These are my best cheapest mods.
used rebuilt 2150 carb.....$25
-complete rhino grill set up......$60 (thanks tom)
-hi- lift jack 60" .....free
-used Yokohama 31" super diggers...$50
-spray paint for rims....$4.
-new set Bosch+4 plugs....$48
-lucas oil stabilzer...$7.99
-rustoleom bedliner kit.......$30
-POR-15.....................$100
-new M715 hood catches......$15
-learning about all that stuff and the knowledge and brotherhood gained through this site....$$PRICELESS$$$
netbear
10-31-2003, 07:59 AM
Best cheap mod for me was using the flashlight
to find out my 360 was really a 401. I did
have to crawl under the Jeep though...
Will Morris
10-31-2003, 08:48 AM
Well for my step dad's '76 Cherokee the best cheap mods have been:
Used 4" Rancho lift: $200
Used 33" mud tires: $200 thanks Nick!
Welded diffs: helped Andrew for a few hours on a truck he was building for someone. Thanks again dude. That was the single best mod so far!
Will
River Beast
10-31-2003, 08:52 AM
Hydroboost braking system... $45 from a boneyard
loborph
10-31-2003, 08:53 AM
By the way, if you buy the ROUGH Country kit (jcw) the front springs are so Great Googley MoogleyGreat Googley MoogleyGreat Googley MoogleyGreat Googley Moogley stiff you won't notice any diference when you remove the sway bar.
Baldy
10-31-2003, 11:22 AM
quadra jet (from junkyard) and adapter..$35
welded rear..free
waaaay cut fenders..free
going full width out of a junkyard, d60 rear, hd 44 front..$110
TFI upgrade..about $60
removing rear bumper..free
4.10 gears, front track lock, and spicer hubs..$100
Rick@battlement
10-31-2003, 12:35 PM
The 360 TBI Dodge for $300.00
Stuka
10-31-2003, 01:00 PM
I would have to say my rear detroit, I basically paid 250 bucks for it with about 50 miles on it. Its easily made my rig twice as capable.
The offroad kit for my carb was nice, cost me 6 bucks.
Fender trimming was free smile.gif
youngjeeper
10-31-2003, 01:06 PM
electric fan, $16 for fan, and $15 for wiring, switches, etc. no more belt fans eating my radiators!
Stolen76
10-31-2003, 01:09 PM
sawzall on the top and fenders... free.
$20 in 3/4" conduit makes a nice rack.
lincoln locker is next
firechero
11-01-2003, 11:38 AM
i didnt know anything for fsjs was cheap
robselina
11-01-2003, 01:11 PM
Best almost free mods:
-remove sway bars
-welded diffs
-ditch rear bumper and undervehicle spare tire hardware
-carb tuneup
Joe Guilbeau
11-02-2003, 12:08 PM
Originally posted by schap27:
just like the subject says best low buck mods you have made for you rig to help it offroad
post them upCheapest I've found is air down the tires...
The PIG Smith
11-03-2003, 03:54 AM
Originally posted by The Anti-Chrysler:
Chevy S-10 Blazer steering boxCould you tell me more about this Power Steering box?
What Year S-10?
What is a direct bolt in?
Any tips, tricks, Advise?
6foot4 again
11-03-2003, 05:34 AM
Taking 3" blocks out of rear to 1) level the vehicle instead of hot-roddish, and 2) to stop throwing U-joints every week: FREE
Fender hacking ( DSPO ): FREE
33x12.50/R15LT & wheels : FREE
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