In my quest for cheap thrills, the thought struck me that big (ish) american muscle is easier and cheaper to modify and maintain than anything. so i decided to sell my 1973 turbo vw beetle and buy something i can go fast in, make handle reasonably well, and use every day. Then it hit me, out of all the vehicles I've owned, the ones that were the most reliable and the most fun were the old GM trucks.
Then the hunt began. I wanted a first gen, 2 wheel drive, short bed, manual trans, and a 4.3. I figured I could find one with a blown motor for a couple hundred, rebuild it cheaply, strip the truck add a cage and buckets, slam it, and find decent rubber/wheels. My goal was to buy and build this truck for less than $2000 all in.
A couple months cruising the local classifieds and nothing... everything was either 4x4 or had a 4 banger. Then came a family trip. 300 miles across state to visit some family. So i got on the interwebs and found a prospect. Hazy pictures of a rough looking red 1990. The add just said 4.3 strong runner, $1500. I called the owner and he confirmed it was two wheel drive. And the best part. It was two blocks off the interstate right on my way. So on my way out of town i grabbed $1000 out of the ATM and thought I'd see if he would bargain with me.
This truck is clean. Really clean. Original paint and no rust. The interior is perfect with only one small tear in the seat cover. I drove it around the block and it RAN. Smooth, quiet. Good power. NO LEAKS.
And he took $1000.
So i drove it 278 miles home with no plates or insurance. No problems, and no trouble. Remaining budget $1000.
Now to be honest, I am not counting routine maintenance costs into my budget (tune ups, oil changes, filters, etc...) I will say though that with new plugs, wires, cap, rotor, fuel and air filters, and a TBI rebuild, this thing runs like new.
Trouble is this: This truck is too nice for me to gut out and ruin. So no buckets or cage or racing trim. But on the upside, my wife likes riding in it since i charged the AC.
Couple weeks in I decided to pull the trigger on lowering. Cut one coil off the front and installed 3.5" blocks out back. Remaining budget $900
I plan to install a full exhaust with long tubes, dual 2.25 pipes via mandrell bend kit from Summit, 4.10 rear gears and good rubber. After work today I am picking up some 17" wheels off an 89 slowmaro. All four and two have some good 245-45zr17s for $120. Remaining budget $780.
Any tips on how to best spend money going forward would be welcome. STRICT budget though. And I have some pics up in the lowered first gen thread. More to come.
Then the hunt began. I wanted a first gen, 2 wheel drive, short bed, manual trans, and a 4.3. I figured I could find one with a blown motor for a couple hundred, rebuild it cheaply, strip the truck add a cage and buckets, slam it, and find decent rubber/wheels. My goal was to buy and build this truck for less than $2000 all in.
A couple months cruising the local classifieds and nothing... everything was either 4x4 or had a 4 banger. Then came a family trip. 300 miles across state to visit some family. So i got on the interwebs and found a prospect. Hazy pictures of a rough looking red 1990. The add just said 4.3 strong runner, $1500. I called the owner and he confirmed it was two wheel drive. And the best part. It was two blocks off the interstate right on my way. So on my way out of town i grabbed $1000 out of the ATM and thought I'd see if he would bargain with me.
This truck is clean. Really clean. Original paint and no rust. The interior is perfect with only one small tear in the seat cover. I drove it around the block and it RAN. Smooth, quiet. Good power. NO LEAKS.
And he took $1000.
So i drove it 278 miles home with no plates or insurance. No problems, and no trouble. Remaining budget $1000.
Now to be honest, I am not counting routine maintenance costs into my budget (tune ups, oil changes, filters, etc...) I will say though that with new plugs, wires, cap, rotor, fuel and air filters, and a TBI rebuild, this thing runs like new.
Trouble is this: This truck is too nice for me to gut out and ruin. So no buckets or cage or racing trim. But on the upside, my wife likes riding in it since i charged the AC.
Couple weeks in I decided to pull the trigger on lowering. Cut one coil off the front and installed 3.5" blocks out back. Remaining budget $900
I plan to install a full exhaust with long tubes, dual 2.25 pipes via mandrell bend kit from Summit, 4.10 rear gears and good rubber. After work today I am picking up some 17" wheels off an 89 slowmaro. All four and two have some good 245-45zr17s for $120. Remaining budget $780.
Any tips on how to best spend money going forward would be welcome. STRICT budget though. And I have some pics up in the lowered first gen thread. More to come.