What would you do w/ $9k budget?

[4ByHapy]

I'm looking for ideas on what kind of rig to buy/build. I sold all of my rigs, and I have $9k to spend on this project. Requirements: daily driver reliability, able to run in NC conditions (mud, trail rock, and snow- not much emphasis on crawling where I'm at). That's it. Just curious what others would do given the opportunity to buy and build w/ a budget of $9k. I've had just about every kind of rig there is at one point in time (26 to date), so I'm looking for unique/crazy ideas suggestions.


Thanks for the input

[xBabyJesus]

Early 90's YJ with the 4.0 HO motor, axle swap from a waggy, SOA, alloy shafts and CTMs, 4.88 gears, ARBs, onboard air, body protection, 37" MTR's on beadlocks.


That should spend $9k pretty easy.

-J

[MXjunk127]

i'd go with like a 85 toyota with a V-6 swap, or a 95 Chevy 1500 4x4 with a nice lift.

[YETI]

I'd go to the for sale forum and pic somthing out and go wheeling.:flipoff2:

[eh89]

cant go wrong with a classic and get a willys, and if u dont wanna give ur money to me;)

[EXO]

check the forsale forum here, find something thats already built that somone is losing money becuase they want/need to sell then spend the rest of the 9k on changing/upgrading stuff

[EXO]

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=193045

buggy the toy, dd the jeep


how can you go wrong?

[4ByHapy]

Thanks for all the suggestions...keep em coming. I have to wait til Thursday for my money to be in the account- you wouldn't believe how 9g's can burn a freakin hole in your pocket when you weren't expecting to have it. I bought my last rig (my dd for 6 mo) for only $500...can't wait to have enough money for heat, a top, doors: the pleasures of life.

[wa4x4boy@yahoo.com]

79-83 toyota pickup, nice lift, 33" MT/R's, lockers, and a good cd player...
or
1978 toyota landcruiser fj40 with 33 or 35" MT/R's lockers, cool stuff, etc...



Both dream cars of mine (one i own...)

[Weasel]

skip the 37's. I would go 35's max. People forget how much fun smaller tires can be.

My pics in no order:
Toyota 4 runner
Toyota Pickup
Jeep YJ
Jeep Cherokee(unibody can be a pain though)

I second what was said about checking out the for sale forums. Lots of nicly built vehicles.

[Lowtorious]

I'd find an '87+ 3/4 ton solid axle regular cab Chevy truck. Do a shackle hanger flip in the rear and some new 4" springs up front. 38s and wromp on it. That's what I would do if I were start all over again.

[reeser]

i'd go with an 87-91 k5 blazer w/ factory fuel injection for reliability for dd and it's easy to bolt in 1 ton gear and lift it throw some 37's or larger on it and you've got a GREAT dd driver weekend wheeler. this is the setup that i run and i daily drive it about 800+ miles a month.

[FreeRide]

Check this one out, looks like a great truck, would leave you with some left over to personalize it.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=187311

[braxton357]

I would say that yes, there are some killer deals on already built rigs in the for sale section...but building them is half the fun. I would say that if you don't care about looks much (most think their ugly) get an 85 yota and flatbed it with some 36" swampers or bfg muds. mtrs dont work so great around here but are still a choice if you get the big ones (37's). Otherwise, just do like eeeveryone else and buy a jeep:flipoff2:

[daytoncj]

build something fawkin rediculous looking that still can kick ass. just to piss other people off or make them laugh. heres and example:

[daytoncj]

http://www2.freepichosting.com/Images/102902/0.jpg


makes me laugh every time.

[braxton357]

yeah, that would be cool...if he lived in ohio:rolleyes:


















:flipoff2:



oh, and I noticed you (4byhapy) have 2 broncos. What do they look like? i may have seen you before

[daytoncj]

it was a joke

:rolleyes:

they must not have neons in nc? you could always find a gay civiv body or somehting to throw on a built chassis.:flipoff2:

whys everyone hate ohio?

[4ByHapy]

I had an 85 Eddie Bauer on 35's (blue/tan) and an 89 XLT on 33's (black/black...BIG), but they're gone now. Funny, I'm thinking of moving to morganton pretty soon. You'll have to email me so we can get together and hit the trails (happycoop@hotmail.com). My very last rig was a 63 CJ-3B w/ SOA and 35's, 351 crate motor, no top no doors (drove all winter long).

[Rockabilly]

scout or cruiser, for the coolness factor.:D

[braxton357]

oh hell yeah, I love flatfenders. I bet that was cold. I just now got my bronco driveable today and froze my ass off driving around with no top/doors. And yea, we will have to get together sometime.

[Jrod-13]

89' F-350, 7.3L with a stick.

Put in arb's, 4.56's, a 6" and 35" MT's

easy on gas, and a drivetrain thats tough as hell

[Weasel]

Originally posted by Lowtorious
I'd find an '87+ 3/4 ton solid axle regular cab Chevy truck.

Originally posted by reeser
i'd go with an 87-91 k5 blazer

Originally posted by Jrod-13
89' F-350, 7.3L with a stick.


Are you guys for real? Half of that crap wouldn't even fit down our trails. Blazers can fit down some of ours but when they come out there is not any straight sheetmetal left. The above stuff is just to fricking big.

[Keith Strong]

YJ
350
NV4500
D300
60/14bolt
38+

[SlamChops]

if yer lookin for a skinny wheeler, i'd go toyota 4runner or truck, 85 preferably (efi and sfa). i've only got about $3-4 grand in mine so far and it's practically done. some longs & chromo inners, 38s, cage and rock lights and it'd be done.

[4ByHapy]

Anyone have any idea how much it would cost to "build" a new CJ3B or CJ2A (new frame, body, engine, gauges, tires in the 36-38" range; used axles, tcase, transm.)?? I think of all my rigs that was the one I liked the best, but I want a rig I can have as a dd that can handle longer road trips when needed.
BTW, thanks for all the previous suggestions...still considering

[PhattieD]

My personal opinion says the 2nd gen 4runner is the best for daily driver duty and wheelin'. Just SAS it, lock it, hysteer, run 35's, etc. You can get a nice 2nd gen for 5 grand, easily regear, armor, sas, etc. for 4 grand, probably even get dual cases worked in at that price. Great SUV, all the comforts for daily driving, and takes a beating. (Yup, I actually had one, not a second hand opinion!) -PhattieD

[jekbrown]

find a K30 with a beat to hell body but strong engine and you're set. 454 + TH400 + np205 = beef. gears/lockers and big tyres and you're set.

j

[braxton357]

as bad of a daily driver as it would be...build up the old jeep, you definately have enough money. I would help you:D

[Lowtorious]

Food for thought:
I'd rather DD a bigger truck than DD something like my '81 Toyota pickup which is my trail only rig. It's small inside and if I had to drive it everyday I would get annoyed with the 4 cylinder and small interior. Plus, no one says you're garaunteed 4 cylinder gas mileage. On the other hand, a smaller truck has it's advantages. My little truck will fit down very narrow trails, has a 106" wheel base and weighs well under 3K lbs. And, Toyota trucks are a dime a dozen these days. A 2nd or 3rd generation pickup/4Runner would not be a bad choice. Alot of people are going to say SAS ofcourse would be required as well several other $$ modifications. As we all know, it adds up quick.
However, 4ByHapy is from NC and I'm willing to bet the the majority of the trails in that area are not as narrow as you might think. Tellico trails aren't all that cramped and I also like the idea of a factory wide stance and a very beefy drivetrain. Plus, 4ByHapy said he's not too much into crawlin so he might not need things such as crawler gears and highsteer. Also, I think replacing body and drivetrian parts would be easier since doors and fenders are not all that hard to find for that generation Chevy truck. Chevy 350s, TH350 and 400s, t-cases and axles might also be easier to come by locally in NC than Toyota parts.

[The Joker]

So have you figured it out that it really doesnt matter what we would do with 9k it only matters what you will do with 9k? There are a lot of factors to figure for that only you know.

Will more than one person wanna go with you?
Runner or Blazer

Do you wanna be able to sleep in it?
Runner or Blazer (well if you are small like me)

Do you have to haul stuff from time to time?
Pickup

Haul big stuff?
Full size

Do you wanna buy a toy to wheel and a truck to drive?
Toy Pu or Sami and what ever else you want.

[Flat50]

I think Kieth had the right idea for a powertrain, but I would go for a 205 over the 300. Why throw a 300 in with all the one ton stuff.

350
NV4500
205 (203 doubler can be done for $500)
60/14bolt
38+

This is a very popular and rugged combo. From there you can decide to use whatever body and frame suits you. I am using a boxed and tubed CJ3 frame and body. Maybe not the best DD but way up there on the coolness scale.

Anyway, one ton drivetrain is the way to start if you are starting from scratch. If you need to haul, get a utility trailer!

[Islandzuki]

You could build a killer Samurai for 9K........

[paulevans76]

1st gen isuzu trooper with a blown v6 (89-91)
swap in 3.4 (camaro/firebird)
s10 bellhousing to sm420 *edit-or th350 w/ adapter*
whatever t-case(s) you want
sfa waggy d44/yota
chevies, soa rear, 5.38's, arb
36-38's

the 3.4 is TBI and can be hopped up to make near 200 hp easy and the 2.8 brain works with it.

shitload of room for haulin or campin and big coolness/originality factor

besides we need some more people over in the zu section
:flipoff2:

Paul

[paulevans76]

forgot to mention - that stuff is besides two chicks at the same time :grinpimp:

[stomper4x4]

ok heres my .02

$9000
Stay away from anny kind of heep,,,ooopppsss i mean jeep.
Youll will have to spend $9000 on mods alone.
Go with a yota or zuk. More then likely you could find one for round $2000 to $3000 in good condition another $2000 to $3000 in mods an youll have a kickass rig, and some cash to spair...

[SundevilYJ]

Use the 9k as a down payment on this. I wonder what the driver's seat smells like? :D

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2441864632&category=6285:

[paulevans76]

Originally posted by SundevilYJ
Use the 9k as a down payment on this. I wonder what the driver's seat smells like? :D

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2441864632&category=6285:


that 'custom car cover' looks suspiciously like a shit-stained bed sheet :barf:

[SundevilYJ]

Originally posted by paulevans76



that 'custom car cover' looks suspiciously like a shit-stained bed sheet :barf:

She was probably burning coal.:massey:

[LNranger05]

SAS a Gen 1 Ranger with a D44 and 9", lock it, throw a 302 or 351W under the hood, and there won't be too many trails that you can't get through.

Brian

[stomper4x4]

Originally posted by LNranger05
SAS a Gen 1 Ranger with a D44 and 9", lock it, throw a 302 or 351W under the hood, and there won't be too many trails that you can't get through.

Brian

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
He is looking for a reliable DD and Capable Trail Rig.. I hardly think that a Found On Road Dead fits that role...