What's your opinion? (3 Viewers)

[CreeperSleeper]

I have my bone stock 80 and $500, what should I do to fix this?

The veh is used as a daily driver with mild off roading (until I save up enough to lift it...). It has brand new tires (not what I would have picked... stock size road tires), but that's it.

I was thinking of either: 1) trade in my new tires for some 305/70R16 MTs (probably Wild Country or BFG because of price), 2) Rock slides (I'm pulling the running boards off tonight anyway) or 3) upgrade the sound system (I have a sub and amp lying around, but I don't know if I should upgrade speakers and add the sub or upgrade the deck and add the sub).

So many choises! Do you guys think that I missed something? Any advise (with a reason, preferably) would be great. TIA

 

[reffug]

Have you baselined all fluids, checked belts, plugs, and all other general PM????? Just a question because I would want all that done before I contemplated any modding of the vehicle but thats just me.

 

[CreeperSleeper]

Fluids and belts are good. Didn't thing about plugs... I'll check those tonight.

 

[woody]

IMO, sliders are a #1 upgrade, prior to most every other. The savings from crushed sheetmetal will be worth more than new tires.

I put a CB in mine first

 

[MaddBaggins]

First thing I did was change all fluids. Then spark plugs and air filter. Then I got new tires, rims, Slee xfer case plate and on to the lift kit, etc...

 

[NorCalDoug]

Sliders will run just under $900 from slee. The tube/weld-on ones from marlin crawler are $500.
Transfer case skid plate from slee is little more than $100.

I just picked up a set of step sliders for the wife's 80. They're very nice! I'd suggest those -- but it means waiting a while (to save up the remaining $400).

 

[CreeperSleeper]

Who is running the Marlin Crawler sliders? Do you like them?

 

[reffug]

I put a CB in mine first

You know this was something that I kinda always took for granted but hear lately I have wheeled with alot of people who do not have CB's and talked to alot who do not think they are important . IMO they are very necessary and also come in really handy on the trail and add to the fun one can have when traveling in a convoy . Ok reffug stepping off soapbox.

 

[Junk]

Take it to a craps game. Then get hammered and buy whatever bling you want.

Once you decide what you need to do, you'll be able to save up some more coinage.

 

[cruiserman]

Tires first. Sell yours and find some used ones.

 

[CreeperSleeper]

So I'm down to sliders or tires (I have a CB somewhere...)

 

[AZcruiser]

I added marlin Sliders last Christmas. Pretty good quality for the money. 2" DOM steel is a good choice, some local shops might use seam steel instead. I like the weld and the ability to remove of the support ladders for cat repair. Chris Geiger suggests marking them assembled to the chassis then remove the slider. Not so easy, I had some real trouble installing the rails on after the supports were welded. i think if your a good welder you wont have any problems but a co worker who welded them was average and I think too much heat might have warped the mount plates. Basically these are on an there not coming off easy.
Junk is right, these are going to get beatup so spend your money wisely and dont over spend.
Stubbs welding has a good product too but mainly welds for 4runners and Tacos.

 

[CreeperSleeper]

My dad is a metal fab, so I'm not worried about the welding, I just want to make sure I don't push them into the body. I also don't really want to spend $900 on sliders...

 

[AZcruiser]

Leave yourself 3/8"-5" clearance from the pinch weld and you should be fine for body flex.

 

[Arleaux]

Get some spinners and some of those cool purple undercarriage lights.

 

[CharlieS]

I'm with Reffug. If you only have $500 to spend, use the cash to buy the maintenance parts you'll need.

You can quickly blast through that cash, just doing the basics. Front end service parts (ifyou get all the berarings) and new brake parts will do it.

I'd baseline all your fluids, put on new belts, replace your brake pads if they need it, make sure your front axle is in good shape. Have your battery load tested (I wonder how much longer mine is going to last).

After that you will start spending big hunks of money. Even if you do all the work yourself, you won't get much in the way of parts for $500. A mild OME lift will run you $800 by the time you are through, a bumper $550-$900+ (low end is TJM higher end is ARB or Slee) by the time you pay freight, sliders from $400 to $1500(?).

If your dad is a fabricator and is willing to help, sliders are only going to run you the cost of materials. Steel is getting expensive these days, but it can't be more than a couple of hundred in mild steel to build a set of sliders. If you look around this site, you should find a link to a set of good plans (George's maybe?). I'm sure your dad has a bender and a plasma cutter if hes a fabricator. In that case you can do a lot with the purchase of materials. Bumpers, skid plates, sliders, etc. Your imagination and your materials budget are the only limit.

Charlie

 

[Kalawang]

Hold on to the money and drive your car for a while. Any repairs needed will come to you or make themselves apparent.


Kalawang

 

[Fochdog]

It depends on the terrain you plan to wheel in.

Rocks/boulders get sliders.

Mud/loose dirt get MT tires.

Rocks/boulders and mud/loose dirt you decide.

 

[ace10]

Hold on to the money and drive your car for a while. Any repairs needed will come to you or make themselves apparent.


Kalawang

i agree. especially if you're tight on the dollars, then i'd bank 'em and sit tight. gas ain't getting any cheaper and $500 will get burned on a brake job or (heaven forbid) a HG job.

i've never understood the notion of modding a vehicle that is newly acquired. why not wait until you're bored of it, then throw some $$ at it. it's a great way to avoid/defer new-car-itis.

$0.02, so now you've got $500.02

 

[atijerino]

Get some spinners and some of those cool purple undercarriage lights.

Don't forget the carbon fiber!