Please share your horror stories, a list of what not to do.......
Most expensive mistake you have made when building / modifying a rig? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter BAILEIGH INC
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not my story, but I heard that Toy-Boxes like to have oil put in them after you install them. Apparently they are not happy when they are run without oil. I think the H55 infront of this Toy-box was also run without adding oil. I think the Driver noted that "Cats and Snakes" were trapped inside his transmission and they were trying to get out. I imagine it was an expensive mistake.
I am sure someone here has burned their garage down and or rig to the ground...lol
Not really a mistake but, buying a land cruiser and modding it that is pretty damn expensive to say the least.
My most expensive mistake was swapping out a 350 carbed engine for a 305 TBI. The TBI was/is awesome but the 305 not so much! A year later and less than 500 miles I went to a 350 TBI and am very happy. I just never figured that 45 cubes would have made such a difference. Overall loss wasn't too bad since I did most of the rebuilding myself, but it was still over $1k despite selling the old 305 POS. While the money wassn't really too bad, the frustration and heart burn really added up.
SUA lift was another waste after my truck's maiden voyage to GSMTR. I came home and immediately started my plans for SOA. Only $600 for this one.
I thought I was rocking on some new 31"s when I completed the restoration of my 40. One trip with Hoosier Cruisers and that $800 was a waste. I swapped out the 33's from my 45 and quickly moved to 37" with my SOA.
Restoring my cruiser was also a waste in a sense. I love that my truck is way cleaner than most wheelers, but the money I spent getting the correct parts for the year, correct bolt, etc. have been wasted since my rig is now a 99% dedicated wheeler. It still looks good, but I could have saved at least $3k if I went from where I started to where I am now if I had a clear idea of what i wanted.
With all of that said, the learning experience, people I have met and the stories I can tell from my adventures and mis-adventures are priceless and I don't think that I would change a thing!
Clint
SUA lift was another waste after my truck's maiden voyage to GSMTR. I came home and immediately started my plans for SOA. Only $600 for this one.
I thought I was rocking on some new 31"s when I completed the restoration of my 40. One trip with Hoosier Cruisers and that $800 was a waste. I swapped out the 33's from my 45 and quickly moved to 37" with my SOA.
Restoring my cruiser was also a waste in a sense. I love that my truck is way cleaner than most wheelers, but the money I spent getting the correct parts for the year, correct bolt, etc. have been wasted since my rig is now a 99% dedicated wheeler. It still looks good, but I could have saved at least $3k if I went from where I started to where I am now if I had a clear idea of what i wanted.
With all of that said, the learning experience, people I have met and the stories I can tell from my adventures and mis-adventures are priceless and I don't think that I would change a thing!
Clint
Waggoner5
SILVER Star
Thinking that is no substitute for cubic inches and installing a 502ci engine in an FJ62. What a waste. The LT1 was more than adequate.
My entire 40 project was a giant waste of money and time. I built a small block for it. Did years of body work on it. Coil sprung the front.
Ended up swapping the body to a free stock frame and 2F drivetrain and selling it for next to nothing. The parts I jammed the thing full of were worth more than I sold it for.
Kept me out of the strip bars, I guess.
Ended up swapping the body to a free stock frame and 2F drivetrain and selling it for next to nothing. The parts I jammed the thing full of were worth more than I sold it for.
Kept me out of the strip bars, I guess.
I'd say not using any parts off my '69 to the point that buying my '63 made perfect sense from a "well I have at least two if not three of everything" perspective was a pretty expensive choice but at least in my eyes not a mistake.
Poor planning and buying everything at once, when you change your mind you end up having to repurchase quite a bit. My first ever build happened that way and I was out an extra couple grand because of it.
Poor planning and buying everything at once, when you change your mind you end up having to repurchase quite a bit. My first ever build happened that way and I was out an extra couple grand because of it.
Not really a mistake per se, but when I sold my 62, I COULD HAVE asked to get the 1 year old longs back along with my diffs and tires that myself and the buyer agreed on. Now Im having to re buy longs again.
Ah well...she went to a good home, and she didnt get parted and go to the crusher which is what I was planning originally...
Ah well...she went to a good home, and she didnt get parted and go to the crusher which is what I was planning originally...
the day i ran across this web site. that mistake has set me back at leaste $30k. (worth every dime.)
selling a mint 79fj40 350ed th400 in collage to buy an 84 bronco. so dumb
waiting so long to run hydro steering-so dumb
running rebuildable joints instead of replacable heims-so much work with replacables
thinking 1/4" walled linkes would actually hold and not bend-so wrong
not cut and turning the axles-too late now
how many gazilian hours i spent building junkyard axles when I could have just got built 9's or dynatracks for not all that much more (even turned properly)
being able to wheel my whole family reliably-priceless
selling a mint 79fj40 350ed th400 in collage to buy an 84 bronco. so dumb
waiting so long to run hydro steering-so dumb
running rebuildable joints instead of replacable heims-so much work with replacables
thinking 1/4" walled linkes would actually hold and not bend-so wrong
not cut and turning the axles-too late now
how many gazilian hours i spent building junkyard axles when I could have just got built 9's or dynatracks for not all that much more (even turned properly)
being able to wheel my whole family reliably-priceless
Tapage
Club 4X4 Panamá
buy a high dollar OME suspension for my Tencha and then decide to go SO way ..
My most expensive mistake was starting with a Jeep! That, however, has been a leason learned...
rusty_tlc
Dain Bramaged Member
You mean aside from signing the original bill of sale?
My biggest mistake was riding along with some one on Rubicon and Fordyce. Once I saw what a modified 40 could do I was not happy until mine could do the same.
My biggest mistake was riding along with some one on Rubicon and Fordyce. Once I saw what a modified 40 could do I was not happy until mine could do the same.
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LOL
That was me last year at the Round Up, spent a day riding in the Sunray built buggy with Jim. It was purely addicting in that marvel of a machine.....
My most costly mistake was buying trucks overseas through a dealer who use to be a vendor on MUD, they hi tailed it out of the country leaving dozens of vendors thousands of dollars in the hole...
If that does not count, lets go with the 80 series tranny install, they have three steps on the torque converter, I got it in two steps and sucked it in with the bolts the last little
Rob
When I originally put the sm420 in my truck, one of the needle bearings that supports the main shaft fell out on reassembly without me noticing. After a few weeks of driving the rest of the bearing followed suit. Wasted the mainshaft and a few other parts in the tranny. Whoops.
Should have bought a D60 for the front of my truck straight away...
Should have bought a D60 for the front of my truck straight away...
Keeping my '91 longbed 2wd Chevy S10 running and not just buying a 4wd Toyota sooner. Being in the position of needing rather than wanting the 4wd Toyota because the S10 finally had pissed me off enough. Not spending the extra $3k initially and getting an 80 series instead of the 2wd 4Runner. Building up that 2wd 4Runner into what it is now and not just putting that $ away and buying an 80.
Then again, I dunno, likely I'll find a job soon and be smarter this time.
Then it'll come down to "Do I really want an 80 or to swap in a 3.4 and keep this thing?" and "How much will I end up doling out on an 80 ($15k-25k) to build it up to how I would want it?"
Maybe I just need a Scion for commuting instead.
Then again, I dunno, likely I'll find a job soon and be smarter this time.
Then it'll come down to "Do I really want an 80 or to swap in a 3.4 and keep this thing?" and "How much will I end up doling out on an 80 ($15k-25k) to build it up to how I would want it?"
Maybe I just need a Scion for commuting instead.
When deciding whether to buy a Orion HD or an Atlas to replace the transition case I made for my SM420 - figuring that it would be easier to go with the Orion and use chromoly axles versus doing it "right" and going with the Atlas and a narrowed D60, 14 bolt or other...
Having since broken multiple chromoly axles and other various bits and pieces - now being stuck having to offset a 14 bolt, having problems inboarding lower links for a 4-link to accomodate said offset Orion, and essentially spending twice to get halfway to where I should have gone in the first place.
Having since broken multiple chromoly axles and other various bits and pieces - now being stuck having to offset a 14 bolt, having problems inboarding lower links for a 4-link to accomodate said offset Orion, and essentially spending twice to get halfway to where I should have gone in the first place.
Selling my 80.
Wasn't expensive to sell it, I guess. The expensive part was having the kid who caused the 80 to get sold.
Wasn't expensive to sell it, I guess. The expensive part was having the kid who caused the 80 to get sold.
My most expensive mistake was getting on the internet and finding out that I need to think, rethink, do, redo, do again, still not be happy and think again, then post it and hear that it wont work, then do it again, or just spend 96 pages thinking of a build cuz the internet told me I cant do it unless its perfect.
Damn internet. I went back to doing what the fxxx I wanted and figured out all the interpros that pick at s*** and know everything dont wheel anyways.
I did once start a customers rig in gear once. It was on jack stands in the front with no wheels on it. Well when it fell off the stands the brake rotor landed perfecty on my 225 amp SnapOn mig stinger. It sheared off my welding whip and set me back two days pay.
Nothing like charity work.:whoops:
Damn internet.
I went back to doing what the fxxx I wanted and figured out all the interpros that pick at s*** and know everything dont wheel anyways.I did once start a customers rig in gear once. It was on jack stands in the front with no wheels on it. Well when it fell off the stands the brake rotor landed perfecty on my 225 amp SnapOn mig stinger. It sheared off my welding whip and set me back two days pay.
Nothing like charity work.:whoops:
