- Thread starter
- #21
Haha I think I need both
Builds Broke College Kid Build Thread
- Thread starter landcruisertx
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Another fellow broke college kid. Good build keep it up!
Another college kid checking in lol. Way too much of my money has been spent on this thing. But at least it gets me from point a to point b most of the time lol.
- Thread starter
- #24
Here's an update...
I found an amazing deal on Facebook marketplace for a Dobinsons stock height kit which I snatched! The previous owner had installed aftermarket shocks which were ok in the back but underrated crap in the front looked like toothpicks holding up a brick in the front... I accidentally cross-threaded one of the top mounts for the shock so I had to fix that. Ordered the proper tools from Ace hardware who have a curbside pickup in my area! I Will post before and after pics soon
I found an amazing deal on Facebook marketplace for a Dobinsons stock height kit which I snatched! The previous owner had installed aftermarket shocks which were ok in the back but underrated crap in the front looked like toothpicks holding up a brick in the front... I accidentally cross-threaded one of the top mounts for the shock so I had to fix that. Ordered the proper tools from Ace hardware who have a curbside pickup in my area! I Will post before and after pics soon
Your rig looks good. I am going to enjoy following this build. I like my red 80, too.
- Thread starter
- #26
Thank you for the support, I will try to update regularly!
- Thread starter
- #27
Update as of 4/17/20
-roof rack delete
-Dobinsons stock height suspension installed
-starting to trace down oil leaks
Roof Rack Delete
For my roof rack delete, I followed the numerous threads that have been previously created... I Liked the way @SUMMIT CRUISERS and @SUMMIT CRUISERS Jr deleted their racks.
My little step by step
1) remove factory rack, drill out nutserts.
2) mask off and sand area which is being worked on.
3) dent the holes left by nutserts in with some sort of punch.
4) fill with JB Weld Steel Stick+Bondo+sand once more
5) prime, paint, seal ( I just primed with Rustoleum automotive primer and painted with Rustoleum outdoor paint.)
-roof rack delete
-Dobinsons stock height suspension installed
-starting to trace down oil leaks
Roof Rack Delete
For my roof rack delete, I followed the numerous threads that have been previously created... I Liked the way @SUMMIT CRUISERS and @SUMMIT CRUISERS Jr deleted their racks.
My little step by step
1) remove factory rack, drill out nutserts.
2) mask off and sand area which is being worked on.
3) dent the holes left by nutserts in with some sort of punch.
4) fill with JB Weld Steel Stick+Bondo+sand once more
5) prime, paint, seal ( I just primed with Rustoleum automotive primer and painted with Rustoleum outdoor paint.)
- Thread starter
- #28
^^^ continued ^^^
Had two bolts get cross-threaded and thanks to very good advice I was able to get everything sorted out. Click Here to see that thread. Suspension install went easy enough, I didn't use a car lift just 3 jacks and 2 heavy-duty jack stands. The photo is of the shocks I took out of the front vs what I put in...
The cruiser drives very, very differently now. Here's what I have noticed so far. I can throw the cruiser into turns and myself and my passengers do not fly to the opposite side of the car anymore. It's a bit bumpier at lower speeds, feels like my parent's farm truck, but once you go above 50mph the suspension feels a lot like my dad's lx450 but then every now and then you hit a big bump and you remember your in an 80. Less cloudy but bumps and waves in the road are softened tremendously. This, of course, could be exaggerated by the break-in period which is happening right now, and my driving has gone down a lot since COVID-19 so the time frame is a bit stretched. I give the Dobinsons stock springs with the Heavy-duty Shocks a fat thumbs up. No need for spacers because the springs are already leveled.
Both pictures are of after the new suspension, below is the before picture.
Tracking down oil leaks...
I've got quite the list of springtime leaks of several liquids, not just engine oil.
1) the leak in the photo below
2) steering gearbox is tinkling away lot and lots of PS oil
3) PS hoses are saying their final goodbyes
4) Rear coolant hoses near the exhaust started leaking
4) engine oil sensor O-ring going bad
Had two bolts get cross-threaded and thanks to very good advice I was able to get everything sorted out. Click Here to see that thread. Suspension install went easy enough, I didn't use a car lift just 3 jacks and 2 heavy-duty jack stands. The photo is of the shocks I took out of the front vs what I put in...
The cruiser drives very, very differently now. Here's what I have noticed so far. I can throw the cruiser into turns and myself and my passengers do not fly to the opposite side of the car anymore. It's a bit bumpier at lower speeds, feels like my parent's farm truck, but once you go above 50mph the suspension feels a lot like my dad's lx450 but then every now and then you hit a big bump and you remember your in an 80. Less cloudy but bumps and waves in the road are softened tremendously. This, of course, could be exaggerated by the break-in period which is happening right now, and my driving has gone down a lot since COVID-19 so the time frame is a bit stretched. I give the Dobinsons stock springs with the Heavy-duty Shocks a fat thumbs up. No need for spacers because the springs are already leveled.
Both pictures are of after the new suspension, below is the before picture.
Tracking down oil leaks...
I've got quite the list of springtime leaks of several liquids, not just engine oil.
1) the leak in the photo below
2) steering gearbox is tinkling away lot and lots of PS oil
3) PS hoses are saying their final goodbyes
4) Rear coolant hoses near the exhaust started leaking
4) engine oil sensor O-ring going bad
Last edited:
^^^ continued ^^^View attachment 2276000
Had two bolts get cross-threaded and thanks to very good advice I was able to get everything sorted out. Click Here to see that thread. Suspension install went easy enough, I didn't use a car lift just 3 jacks and 2 heavy-duty jack stands. The photo is of the shocks I took out of the front vs what I put in...
The cruiser drives very, very differently now. Here's what I have noticed so far. I can throw the cruiser into turns and myself and my passengers do not fly to the opposite side of the car anymore. It's a bit bumpier at lower speeds, feels like my parent's farm truck, but once you go above 50mph the suspension feels a lot like my dad's lx450 but then every now and then you hit a big bump and you remember your in an 80. Less cloudy but bumps and waves in the road are softened tremendously. This, of course, could be exaggerated by the break-in period which is happening right now, and my driving has gone down a lot since COVID-19 so the time frame is a bit stretched. I give the Dobinsons stock springs with the Heavy-duty Shocks a fat thumbs up. No need for spacers because the springs are already leveled.
View attachment 2276003View attachment 2276004
Both pictures are of after the new suspension, below is the before picture.
View attachment 2276005
Tracking down oil leaks...
I've got quite the list of springtime leaks of several liquids, not just engine oil.
1) the leak in the photo below
2) steering gearbox is tinkling away lot and lots of PS oil
3) PS hoses are saying their final goodbyes
4) Rear coolant hoses near the exhaust started leaking
4) engine oil sensor O-ring going bad
View attachment 2276006
Looking good! Can you reply with a hub to fender flare measurement now that the Dobinsons stock height suspension is installed.
- Thread starter
- #30
Yes, will go measure in a few
- Thread starter
- #31
front and back are about 20.5 inches from bottom of fender flare to the centerpoint on both axles.
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- #32
I decided to spend the evening in the garage and start building a rear drawer system from ply stock I had. This lockdown is giving a lot of "me" time which I don't usually have a lot of.
When I was in college it was the bus, the subway or the shoe-leather express.
Looks like you have a lot of talent and motivation for a 19 year old man. Great job!
- Thread starter
- #35
Thank you! Much of that should be credited towards my parents raising me this way
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- #36
My parents were raised in a big city in another country so when I go to visit I get to experience that, I am thankful for the opportunities I have been given by my parents/landlord and lordess
Looking really good! Are you planning on taking the roof ribs off as well at some point? I'm trying to decide if I want to weld the holes up or just put some sort of epoxy to seal them. Suspension and drawers look great too.
- Thread starter
- #38
Thank you, I’m planning on doing then eventually, jb weld steel sticks work very well as far as I can tell.
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- #39
Has anyone found 40" locking drawers slides that do not cost an arm or a leg?
- Thread starter
- #40
I had some free time between classes so I went out and made sure the box was square and using a flush cut router bit made all the edges uniform. Thinking of using D rings to bolt box into place. Also trying to find out how much I actually want to spend on this build, I don't want to slack off but I do not want to overkill.
