[btcox]

I have saved up 2k to make my 97 LX450 awesome. It is completely stock, there are several things I want. The total for everything I want came to way over 2000. I know I want a lift 2.5" or 3" the rest is up in the air. I'm looking for suggestions because I cant make up my mind. Thanks, any ideas for cool free things are welcome also.

[Cruiser804]

Lift, tires, sliders, dual batteries, front bumper, rear bumper

[Greg W]

Originally Posted by Cruiser804

Lift, tires, sliders, dual batteries, front bumper, rear bumper

I'd agree in that order. $2000 will be eaten up right away in lift and tires.

[btcox]

Already have a set of 33's... Suggestions on brands would help also. I like the slee short bus front bumper anyone have one? opinions welcome

[ranma21]

I like Bridgestone Revo and Yokohama Geolander AT. The later prove to have more traction in Utah. I had both and I think I am going back for YOKO again. $2000 would get you a front bumper, lift and a snorkel.

[btcox]

I already have a set of BFG AT's... Not my first choice but they were free and they weren't far off from my first choice..

[CreeperSleeper]

SLIDERS FIRST!!! (Yelling to make a point, not trying to be rude...)

[46/71 Hybrid]

I'm gonna go against the norm and say tires, lift, then a good set of tools to include a welder, air compressor, and a couple of HF Grinders. That way, you can build your own sliders and bumpers and after doing a few odd jobs for friends, will be close to your $2k mark. Later on, add a cutting torch, chinese plasma, and bender, and you'll be able to do just about anything.

[sandcruiser]

baseline it.
make sure that all the maintenance is complete and correct. check all the known "problem areas" and get them perfect. That will likely eat into your budget a little.

After that-- spend some money on fuel.

I know that this is a radical concept for some Mudders, but I believe you should *drive* your rig. Go where you go. Do what you do. When you notice a deficiency, correct it.

Since you already have 33s, don't touch the tires for a while. I know some very, very competent drivers who believe that 33 is "as big as 99% of off-road drivers will ever need". Maybe they are wrong. I've done somewhere above 50,000km "offroad" (ok, a bunch are on Central American roads, which aren't as good as most USA fire-roads) on 31" tires. I'll eventually upgrade to 33s.

If you spend your offroad time on 4+ trails, 33's probably aren't tall enough.

Anyway, back to my initial advice: Drive it. It'll tell you what you "need" to do to improve the way it works for what you do.

Unless of course this is just about how it looks. In which case... there are plenty of web wheelers who will opine. Look at their rigs. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

I would do an OME lift and a snorkel, if there is anything left, go for a Tuffy Center console and upgrade your speakers. That way your ride will look tough, sound good, and you can lock up your valuables.

[azrider]

lift and bumpers.

[NLXTACY]

You know what, if my truck was totally stock again I sure as hell would not go lift and tires first thing. What good does that do me as a DD? Plus for the stuff that I DO exercise the truck on, its been totally fine. Just no large rocks for me. That is why from the outside my truck looks the exact same as the day I bought it. All of my time and money has gone into making my truck better, safer, more reliable and more self-sufficient. I have done just about every <$100 mod found on this site and a few that ran me quite a bit more like my power set up. I've spent a few bucks making sure I have a way to air up tires, a way to jack up the truck, a way to start a dead battery, even if its my own. I can power 110 appliances, I can auto-up my window. I can turn on the CDL in high. I can see better at night with the Slee harness. I can stop better with all new Toyota brakes. I can control the crankcase vent with a PCV catch can. I mean I can go on and on but there is soo many ways I can make my truck better and all of them well before I do lift and tires.

Now don't get me wrong. I WILL do lift, tires and armor. In fact I have an IPOR rear bumper/tire carrier coming my way, but I dont need any of those things to have a great truck that can go ALMOST anywhere.

BTW, a lot of trails have bypasses for losers like me who haven't lifted their truck yet

[landtank]

2000.00

450.00 ironman lift kit
365.00 ipor skid plate (on sale right now)
850.00 sliders

That leaves 335.00 for gas to beat the snot out of it.

[elhombre]

I come down on the side of maintance first. A tricked out truck broken down in the driveway from a warped head/blown headgasket will make you sick. At minimum, make sure the radiator is good, hoses are changed, and you have a brand new Mr. T thermostat installed. With that said, a real front bumper and sliders will keep your baby from getting too messed up till you can save up some more money.

[LUV24BY]

What to do with your $2000? I have a simple idea, Just SEND IT TO ME! Lemme dig up our new address here.......

Sorry - couldn't resist!! LOL

I would consider this order of mods:

1. Tires (Find a decent used set off CL or something) If you can, roll with your 33's, then move on to #2
2. Lift (perhaps 2" spacers over the spring itself) that way you have some additional clearance, and still some coin - or go Ironman
3. Bumpers - Are you more likely to go head on into someone or back into something. YOUR answer will determine which end to install on!
4. Winch - Pick up a nice winch and MOUNT IT!
5. Sliders / Armor - Again, look into the classifieds for someone needing money

Your in a good spot - lots of people need $$$, and you got $$$. Search the classifieds, the CL's aroundyou and EBAY. Try slightly used, not brand spankin new. Your $$$ will last much further.

Hell - at LEAST your not considering investing in GM Stock!! LMAO

John

[cruiserruf]

if you already have a set of tires than i'd go with sliders and then lift. than i'd go with the fron bumper. and then lockers if not locked. than rear bumper!!

[btcox]

Thanks for the advise so far. Also if anybody has any used stuff that would help. I would skip out on the lift but I go up to the Beech Mountain quite often and there are some trails that I know I will need more clearance to tackle. I have been driving my rig for a year getting used to it and spent the first year reading threads and doing all of the preventative maintenance that I have read needed to be done (except head gasket). Luckily I work at a place that has 6 mechanics in the back that will help me put everything together once I get it for free.. Any tools I need the mechanics have, and then some. ( I work for a rental equipment company). If anyone has any specs on anything they have fab'ed up that they want to send let me know, I am trying to make a rear drawer system but all of my designs keep failing miserably. Thanks again

[Brian Macgyver]

I would be torn about many of the suggestions above. But of all of them, I would select an OME 2.5" or 3" lift.
When I finished the body work on my truck, The guys in CSC presented me with an OME set of coils and shocks for an OME 3" medium-duty lift. That was the best gift that I could have asked for.
That lift gave me a level of handling that cannot be bested. My 80 handles better than any other lifted SUV that I have ever driven. It handles much better than stock. I am able to run the truck down the legendary 7-mile hill on Interstate 17 in Arizona at 85 MPH without concern through all of the curves. The truck handles like a sports car at speed. I can run back up the hill at 65 MPH. In off-road conditions, the truck performs perfectly.
The OME 2.5, or 3" suspension is a worthwhile investment. It is worth considering.

[Nay]

You should invest half in an OME lift and half in the stock market. Within a few months your losses will be the same on both

[lt1fire]

Since you've already got sliders I'd say a F.O.R. lift and some sliders. That should bring you to a little under $2000

[cruiser-poor]

I was surprised to see how far down the list a lot of people put sliders. Those won't take the whole $2K budget, but if I had to pick a first mod, that's it. If you crunch your rocker panel and/or lower door, you could be spending a lot more than $2K at a body shop.

IMHO the best bang for the buck mod on this rig is the Pin 7/CDL switch.

Another relatively cheap mod that may serve you well is reducing the exposure of your exhaust system. Exhaust rattles are no fun. The tailpipe and under-the-frame loop on our 97s are the most vulnerable parts.

I also agree that even before the mods begin, spend whatever is necessary to baseline the maintenance, if that hasn't already been done.

There's a lot of great info on modifications in the 80-series FAQs.

[Cj80cruiser]

You can make sliders for under $180 if you do it yourself or have a friend help you out.

Whats the intended use of vehicle? Daily driver with occasional off-road trip but nothing really serious I'm guessing.

[Filmpros]

Let me say this first. I am a novice so my opinion is useless...

I went with the baseline approach with my rig when I first got it. Spent more than 2K or sure. Tires, brakes, rotors, pads, all fluids and flushes, belts, hoses, etc. I also needed a Valve Gasket, Distributor Gasket, some bulbs in the dash and other work to get the truck to where I considered it sound and reliable with no know issues.

Now I am having PM done such as head gaskets, hoses, and a few other things that cropped up like a window switch, electric seat issues, noisy rear heater fan, etc.

Then the build starts.

I am one of those people that only want to do things once so I fix everything that may cause trouble so I don't have to deal with it anytime son or when it is inconvenient for me.

However, if you are going to actually take it off road. Lift, Skid Plate, Sliders, and Bumpers if you can manage it...albeit 2K won't get you all that. Protect what you have so you don't cause expensive damage to the truck and have fun with it...

[chitown40]

Best bang for your buck is to pick up a set of slightly used set of OME springs (or even new if you can't find used). Get the 850/860 combo (heavy front/medium rear). Your truck will sit pretty level and you won't need to mess around with spacers right off the bat. That should run you between $200 - $400 depending on the condition of the springs. You already have tires so you are set for the moment. Keep your stock shocks as they will work ok with the 2.5" lift and if you find you don't like the ride or need the absolute full travel, you can upgrade them later. Go sliders next, as with the lift they will act as a semi-decent step for the and they will save you $$$ in body work to the rockers down the road.

You still have almost $1000 left to spend. Don't be in a rush to buy a bumper or winch but keep your eyes out for people upgrading or selling they're used stuff. Remember that whatever you put into the truck, with the way our economy and energy situation is, you probably won't be recouping any of the money spent on it when or if you sell.

You might find that you never need or winch, or don't need to upgrade your tires, etc. Basically build your truck up in stages... you'd be surprised what just a few mods will get you in off-road performance.

And I also 2nd what sandcruiser said, make sure the maintenance is done and the that the truck is in good mechanical condition. A bumper and winch and tires won't save you from a broken birf or an overheating cooling system.

Good luck and have fun with it.

R

[slow95z]

build bumpers and sliders yourself or have a local fab shop do it, buy an OME lift and be done with it for now imo. should be around 2K if you get the fab work done by someone else, can probally do all that for 1K if you do it yourself.

[Bikeman]

If you are not locked, go with a rear locker after sliders.

When I had my Xterra, it was the single best mod I did after sliders.

It transformed the vehicle into something that could do 90% of what a Heep Rubicon could do.

[fzjconvert]

Originally Posted by Filmpros

Let me say this first. I am a novice so my opinion is useless...

I went with the baseline approach with my rig when I first got it. Spent more than 2K or sure. Tires, brakes, rotors, pads, all fluids and flushes, etelts, hoses, c. I also needed a Valve Gasket, Distributor Gasket, some bulb sin the dash and other work to get the truck to where I considered it sound and reliable with no know issues.

Now I am having PM done such as head gaskets, hoses, and a few other things that cropped up like a window switch, electric seat issues, noisy rear heater fan, etc.

Then the build starts.

I am one of those people that only want to do things once so I fix everything that may cause trouble so I don't have to deal with it anytime son or when it is inconvenient for me.

However, if you are going to actually take it off road. Lift, Skid Plate, Sliders, and Bumpers if you can manage it...albeit 2K won't get you all that. Protect what you have so you don't cause expensive damage to the truck and have fun with it...

This is very sound advice...

[TroutBear]

We have a 94 - in nice shape when we picked it up a couple of years back, but first things we really spent on were baselining, including a head gasket PM. Don't be too down on your BFG AT's, lots of folks love 'em - switched to these after our Yoko AT's worn down.

For a DD and some trail use, I really liked Bilsteins when we switched the old shocks. Just adding some incrementals is nice and not a big cash drop - IPF driving lights, snatch strap, shacles, jack and base for it [fits the standard bottlle jack also], build a rear storage box / sleeping platform.

Dual battery add is nice peace of mind - favor Odyssey & Surepower combo myself - along w/ some interior power outlets.
These things don't make you a trail monster, but they make the outing a littel niser.

I'd go for an ARRB rear locker first - then just be thoughtful until you can save up some more for sliders.

[fj40z]

x 2 on patience, and check the classifieds here on Mud often. I picked up an ARB bumper for free in Charlotte of all places. I had to have it powder coated but well worth the price. I have OME heavies and OME shocks and caster correction that I picked up used here on mud as well shipped to the door for around $350. I think I have a little less than $600 in both. When I bought my 80 I swore that sliders were going to be the first mod, now I have tires,lift, and bumper and still no sliders and everytime I go wheeling I wish I had them the most.

[KurtKuhn]

Originally Posted by Cj80cruiser

Whats the intended use of vehicle?

Can't believe it took until post 21 until this got asked...

-KK

[clarkrw3]

Put it in the stock market.........o wait...