Cheap 80 junk---post your stuff

[Cj80cruiser]

Trying to change the direction of this thread to cheap clearance mods for trail use

There's a lot of threads on mods for people with deep pockets but I'm interested on ideas done on the cheap. Anything is fair game. Land Speeder probably has the cheapest rear bumper which I'm copying. Rear frame cut off 3" and rear crossmember tucked up. What you have to offer this thread?

 

[nicholas]

I'm sure this has been covered before, but some of the easiest, cheapest I have done/going to do are:

Raventai temp gauge mod ($1.80 for parts $8 shipping)

Auto-up window mod ($.80 cents)

Tranny temp gauge ($45 autometer)

Diff breather extensions

100 Series pads

Driver side grab handle- the roof one from a passenger side donor ($5 from irbis) The holes are already tapped from the factory, just remove the plugs.

Rear seat belt for 3rd row to make the LX an 8 seater-second row middle belt from a donor ($20 from irbis)

George's LED's. I believe he is still selling the drivers so you can make your own map light.

TRD Supercharger from Dan

Landtank MAF

Possible future mods:

Wildyotes- style J moose roof rack made from some old aluminum atv ramps I have.

 

[Cj80cruiser]

I'm sure this has been covered before, but some of the easiest, cheapest I have done/going to do are:

Raventai temp gauge mod ($1.80 for parts $8 shipping)

Auto-up window mod ($.80 cents)

Tranny temp gauge ($45 autometer)

Diff breather extensions

100 Series pads

Driver side grab handle- the roof one from a passenger side donor ($5 from irbis) The holes are already tapped from the factory, just remove the plugs.

Rear seat belt for 3rd row to make the LX an 8 seater-second row middle belt from a donor ($20 from irbis)

George's LED's. I believe he is still selling the drivers so you can make your own map light.

TRD Supercharger from Dan

Landtank MAF

Possible future mods:

Wildyotes- style J moose roof rack made from some old aluminum atv ramps I have.

A few of these are cheap and I guess cheap is a relative term but I'm looking for damn near free stuff. The RavenTai temp gauge, diff breathers, tranny temp gauge, auto window up...etc I would classify as fairly cheap but the S/C, atv ramp roof rack....

I'm assuming the flipoff flipoff2 is where you stopped naming cheap stuff

 

[Stefangoalie]

Between my 1 inch body lift and front coil spacers I spent $11, homemade is the way to go. That $11 was all on hardware by the way!

 

[nicholas]

A few of these are cheap and I guess cheap is a relative term but I'm looking for damn near free stuff. The RavenTai temp gauge, diff breathers, tranny temp gauge, auto window up...etc I would classify as fairly cheap but the S/C, atv ramp roof rack....

I'm assuming the flipoff flipoff2 is where you stopped naming cheap stuff

Sorry, I was just being a smart @ about the S/C and MAF.

However, the atv ramp turned into roof rack job seems pretty dang cheap if you already have the ramps or could find some at a garage sale or CL. Definitely cheaper than the roof rack shown in the picture. The thing that really kills you is purchasing the gutter mounts. But as for the rack itself, it seems rather affordable compared to the alternatives. So, not quite free, but definitely a lower cost mod if you can pick up a ramp on the cheap. There is a thread somewhere that shows the build.

 

[nicholas]

Between my 1 inch body lift and front coil spacers I spent $11, homemade is the way to go. That $11 was all on hardware by the way!

Now that is a freakin' bargain. It seems like I can rarely do any mods under $20 bucks besides the ones I mentioned. $5 for wire connectors here, $15 grade 5 hardware there, and before I know it things always end up costing more than I'd like to spend.


Do you have a parts/shopping list and a write up on this project?

 

[Ebag333]

Grey wire mod (linkie in my sig).
Overkill belly skid plate (cheap in comparison)

 

[Brian Macgyver]

Among the cheapest mods are;
A rollover repair for less than $1000. I bought my 96 factory locked 80 for $3500. It was rolled over. It was not a light roll, but a very destructive one. The truck was rolled in a desert canyon. The roof was crushed down 6 inches at the front. It was a chop-top! The left side looked like a barn had hit it at speed during a tornado. It was flattened. The left quarter was crushed more than 3 inches. Even the left-side door handles were broken. The rig was rolled hard.
Straightening the truck was my full-time job for 3 weeks, ten hours a day. I removed the interior, and gently pressed out the roof. Then I straightened the sides and the hood. I applied slim layers of body filler to smooth the surface. Then I gave it a coat of green paint. It is seen in my avatar. I replaced the windshield, left door glass, left taillight, and parts of the left rear view mirror. The rest is factory original after a hard roll.
It is rare to find a truck that can sustain a hard rollover and come out clean without replacing any original parts of the body. After I had painted and polished the rig, I had internet offers of $10,000 to buy it. I was amazed! Every person offering knew that it was rolled!
This was a clean LC 80. But it was also a rolled-over wreck! It rolled with a bit of fame, and a couple of people wanted it. But I refused. I do not do that kind of work for profit. My family needs a solid truck, and I will take care of them. But I do not do that much work so that others can enjoy the results. I am out of that business, and I will have nothing to do with it. I don't work on cars or trucks unless I can drive them. Toyotas do not need me to work.....

 

[nicholas]

Hard work, but that was a cheap 80 without counting your labor. Great find!

 

[landcrusher80]

$$ cheap

Bought a 92 JDM in 2003 with a 1hd-t Vx Limited . Locked with OEM Winch, OEM Roof Rack for under Us$1900
not wrecked low mileage ...........

 

[jfz80]

Cant seem to find it but i thought there was a "best mods for under 50 bux" thread somewhere.

 

[Cj80cruiser]

Cant seem to find it but i thought there was a "best mods for under 50 bux" thread somewhere.

There was....atleast I think I remember one.

Id rather this thread turn into a more trail oriented mods list. Like cheap clearence mods.

 

[Bikeman]

Remove your swaybars, or at least the rear. The front can get ripped off, or the bracket it attaches them to will rip off, taking the hard brake line with it.

 

[Lka1988]

Clearance mod?

Compared to Slee's Shortbus bumper, my custom bumper that I bought for $75 is relatively cheap.

 

[jfz80]

There was....atleast I think I remember one.

Id rather this thread turn into a more trail oriented mods list. Like cheap clearence mods.

ok, gotcha......................................case of sawzall blades

but seriously spare tire lift mod if you keep yours underneath.

 

[Ebag333]

Id rather this thread turn into a more trail oriented mods list. Like cheap clearence mods.

How about the hitch pin mod (poor man's three link)?

 

[Lka1988]

How about the hitch pin mod (poor man's three link)?

Do go on...

 

[Ebag333]

Do go on...

(Image thanks to Vistataco)


Basically pull the front bolt on the DS control arm, and replace with a hitch pin. When you're ready to go wheeling, pull the hitch pin. It allows more flex and allows your arms to twist more, making the front end more supple.

In the pic above you can see it on the right. He has his in place in that pic.

 

[Stefangoalie]

Now that is a freakin' bargain. It seems like I can rarely do any mods under $20 bucks besides the ones I mentioned. $5 for wire connectors here, $15 grade 5 hardware there, and before I know it things always end up costing more than I'd like to spend.


Do you have a parts/shopping list and a write up on this project?

I did a brief write up on the coil spacers, search "homemade coil spacers" . Didn't take any pics of the body lift along the way. I've still got extra material laying around if someone else wants to make some cheap/free spacers.

 

[Lka1988]

(Image thanks to Vistataco)


Basically pull the front bolt on the DS control arm, and replace with a hitch pin. When you're ready to go wheeling, pull the hitch pin. It allows more flex and allows your arms to twist more, making the front end more supple.

In the pic above you can see it on the right. He has his in place in that pic.

That is a great idea! You don't run the risk of running with only one bolt in place on the roads....insta-flex! I like it.