Baja 1000 Budget Build Plan

[Oldschooljeep48]

Hey Guys, I’m new here and I have a bunch of questions. I did some searching and I haven’t been able to find the answers I am looking for. If there are some previous threads that could help, please point me to them.

I am looking to complete the Baja 1000. I am more interested in being able to finish the race in a running vehicle, not so much the exact classes for competition. So that’s why I’m here, for your input and help.

I’m looking to keep it under 5k total, 1k for:
1. Truck
2. Suspension
3. Roll cage and safety stuff
4. Tires and lights
5. Extras like new hoses and wires, fluids, CB, gages, etc.

So what do you think? Doable? How would you spend the 5k? 2wd for simplicity or 4wd to help me finish? What is the most important area? What could I overbuild and under power to help?

Thanks!

 

[TheUndeadRanger]

more than doable. i'm into my truck about 1500, thats including buying the truck, getting it looking decent, and getting it lifted and built up. i'd say you could buy a truck that was rolled and still runs, buy a cheap suspension lift kit, UPGRADE THE SHOCKS, look on Craigslist for tires, rims, lights, seats and harnesses, and go to a steel yard and buy enough metal to cage the truck. you'd be looking at about $500 at a good yard for more than enough steel to cage the truck's cab and a simple bed cage. if you can, for cost efficiency, keep the stock gauges, add a couple more, and try to only buy things ONCE. i'm on a budget as well but i happen to have a few friends that wheel and deal all day in cars. find someone in your area that knows anything and everything about how to buy and sell cars and trucks and parts and accessories, every town has the creepy guy with all the cars in the yard, ask him for help or parts. i'm telling you now, word of mouth will save you money and be better for you in the end. try dealing locally as much as possible. you don't want to spend $100 on gas to get a part you could pick up for $20 more in town.

Final word of advice. do not get frustrated. ever. it will come together, just give it a chance.


so guys did i miss anything???

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I built my truck for short course on a budget. You can check my build thread;
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79003
I have the prices listed and the time spent getting the truck race ready. I spent over C$3500.00 on cage and safety, the rest still cost me another C$2000.00. This is for a basically stock truck on a very low budget. If I was to do it again and had the money on hand I'd buy one already built, though I have learned a LOT along the way.
Edit-rebuidable and revalveable shocks should be at the top of the list of upgrades.
Good luck,

Richard

 

[Bennybooster]

Get a CHEAP 4.0 2wd 93-97 ranger with a 5 speed. Buy a used long travel kit off of Desert rangers.
Buy some used deavers, and swap in a spooled or welded explorer rear end.
Then make friends with someone who has built a cage before.


I honestly don't think you know exactly what you are getting into, you are looking at over 1000 dollars just for race fees and gas to get there. Also if you want a professionally built cage they are anywhere from 6grand to 12grand. This is a very expensive sport and unless you have insane hook ups I doubt that you could have a Baja 1000 ready vehicle for under 10k.


Not trying to bust your dreams but this is nothing compared to what people will say over on dezertrangers.com witch is a site you should lurk around on if you really want to get into this sport. I am not in that sport because I can't afford it but I have a close family friend that has a class 7 truck and he has about 40k into it.

 

[strvger]

as you're going for the adventure rather than the win, i say go for it! if a stock vw beetle can run it and finish, i'm sure you can as well.
start with a good rebuilder. good, solid drive train, maybe not the best body. build it to the safety/inspection requirements if they have them. the rest of the money goes into lift, tires, wheels, gears, locker, etc.
the one most important thing to remember is: HAVE FUN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

just my $.02.

 

[gwaii]

as you're going for the adventure rather than the win, i say go for it! if a stock vw beetle can run it and finish, i'm sure you can as well.
start with a good rebuilder. good, solid drive train, maybe not the best body. build it to the safety/inspection requirements if they have them. the rest of the money goes into lift, tires, wheels, gears, locker, etc.
the one most important thing to remember is: HAVE FUN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

just my $.02.

this is my thought too.baja is still an all inclusive race,even if everyone just considers the front runners.

i would love to do it just to say i finished....even if it took me a week to do it.

 

[TheUndeadRanger]

as you're going for the adventure rather than the win, i say go for it! if a stock vw beetle can run it and finish, i'm sure you can as well.
start with a good rebuilder. good, solid drive train, maybe not the best body. build it to the safety/inspection requirements if they have them. the rest of the money goes into lift, tires, wheels, gears, locker, etc.
the one most important thing to remember is: HAVE FUN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

just my $.02.

couldn't agree more, i did it for practically pocket change, i'm still throwing money at it but it runs and drives and looks good for all of about $1650, you'd be amazed at how simple it is to get something that is beat to s**t, to look race ready. good luck, take your time, be patient, get creative and have fun doing it. best advice anyone could ever give has already been said here today. have fun!

 

[Oldschooljeep48]

as you're going for the adventure rather than the win, i say go for it! if a stock vw beetle can run it and finish, i'm sure you can as well.
start with a good rebuilder. good, solid drive train, maybe not the best body. build it to the safety/inspection requirements if they have them. the rest of the money goes into lift, tires, wheels, gears, locker, etc.
the one most important thing to remember is: HAVE FUN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

just my $.02.

Pretty much sums it up for me. I know I can spend tons of money on everything, as you can in any auto sport, but I just want to say I did it and finished.

so where should I spend the money guys? Obviously there are some once in a lifetime deals that you cant include, but should I go all out on shocks and skimp on lift? lower gears or a spool in back? Bother with fiberglass? What motor and drive train has the most strength?

I know this is doable, Im just not sure what areas of the truck are the most important.

 

[Oldschooljeep48]

Get a CHEAP 4.0 2wd 93-97 ranger with a 5 speed. Buy a used long travel kit off of Desert rangers.
Buy some used deavers, and swap in a spooled or welded explorer rear end.
Then make friends with someone who has built a cage before.


I honestly don't think you know exactly what you are getting into, you are looking at over 1000 dollars just for race fees and gas to get there. Also if you want a professionally built cage they are anywhere from 6grand to 12grand. This is a very expensive sport and unless you have insane hook ups I doubt that you could have a Baja 1000 ready vehicle for under 10k.


Not trying to bust your dreams but this is nothing compared to what people will say over on dezertrangers.com witch is a site you should lurk around on if you really want to get into this sport. I am not in that sport because I can't afford it but I have a close family friend that has a class 7 truck and he has about 40k into it.

First, I have the travel funds seperate as well as spare parts and whatnot, its the build that I have 5k for. And 6-12k for a cage? Yea, right.... Maybe if its a chromoly tube truck. Thats not what Im looking for, Im just looking to finish in the time limit. If I could make it in not last, that would be sweet as well.

I dont even care what class I run in. If throwing in triple bypass shocks are goignto really help me out but put me up a class, then so be it. Whatever helps me cross that finish line.

As STRVGER said, "if a stock vw beetle can run it and finish, i'm sure you can as well." Thants what Im going for.

 

[strvger]

try looking here on TRS in the PreRunner Forum for a good start. also the tech library will help with some of the buid-up details. don't know where you live, but hopefully there are more than a few jy's around so you can find a good project truck to start with.
how about checking out some of the pre-runner and off-road racing web sites. maybe as those guys crash and burn they will be selling off the parts that are left. might get some decent fox shocks for cheap as well as maybe tires, wheels, etc.
i have done a little 'rallye' driving in the past, and i'm thinking you will be wanting a good gps, trip meter, etc. those aren't cheap, but they might be found in good used condition as well.
as for the basic drivetrain, i'd go with a manual tranny. it gets hot down there and too many parts in an auto to fail, imho. would a solid locker like a Detroit be better than a spool? i'd be afraid of the axle snapping more easily with a spool as the Detroit might offer more of a buffer in those situations... idk. the 4.0 seems to be strong and reliable enough. but if you happen to come across a good sbf for cheap, that would be even better. air filtration will be critical so things like a snorkel to get it as high off the ground as practical would be good.
i'm guessing you won't have much in the way of a support team stationed along the way, so your spares will have to ride along with you and your partner. longer wb ext cab would be my choice there. perhaps using the roll bars to attach as much as you can to them in addition to the lights.
anyway, enough for now. hope this leads to a good start for you. can't wait to see the build start and all the pics you'll be posting up here.

have fun!!!!!

.

 

[straycat]

Darn, to compete with the racers you will need a good amount of money. That is one tough race. You will need to spend a lot of money on the suspension alone to handle the bumps and jumps!!!! That will be fun building something like that!! Post photos as you go along!!!

 

[Bennybooster]

First, I have the travel funds seperate as well as spare parts and whatnot, its the build that I have 5k for. And 6-12k for a cage? Yea, right.... Maybe if its a chromoly tube truck. Thats not what Im looking for, Im just looking to finish in the time limit. If I could make it in not last, that would be sweet as well.

I dont even care what class I run in. If throwing in triple bypass shocks are goignto really help me out but put me up a class, then so be it. Whatever helps me cross that finish line.

As STRVGER said, "if a stock vw beetle can run it and finish, i'm sure you can as well." Thants what Im going for.

Hey I wasnt trying to come down on you, I was trying to figure out whether you wanted to be competitive or just finish. They are lots of people that come on saying they want to win and have no idea what they are talking about.

And yes is Socal a professionally build cage out of DOM can be anywhere from 6k to 12k depending on the size and extensity of the cage.

But definatly have fun with it, I would suggest the truck I suggested in the first post. Not a lot to go wrong. Then check the DR classifieds, theres always something you could get off of there.

 

[strvger]

his only "competition" will the the rigors of the race itself.

 

[Oldschooljeep48]

Hey I wasnt trying to come down on you, I was trying to figure out whether you wanted to be competitive or just finish. They are lots of people that come on saying they want to win and have no idea what they are talking about.

And yes is Socal a professionally build cage out of DOM can be anywhere from 6k to 12k depending on the size and extensity of the cage.

But definatly have fun with it, I would suggest the truck I suggested in the first post. Not a lot to go wrong. Then check the DR classifieds, theres always something you could get off of there.

Sorry didnt meen to jump on you either, sorry. I just want to make it clear Im not building a mini trophy truck, just something SOLID and safe to get me to the finish.

 

[TheUndeadRanger]

i agree with those who've suggested the 4.0 with 5 spd. best bet for power and speed. as well as simplicity, less crap to break. and if your really getting ambitious about finding a decent vehicle, ask around locally for anyone that has or may know of a truck with severe body damage and fix it up. don't really worry about cosmetics too much, worry about engine and tranny. and once thats done, you could pull your own fenders and patch up the rust and call them flared. the simpler you keep it the better. and radio-shack has all you electronic needs. cheaper CB's, antennas, GPS, lighting, everything for low budget. i would really recommend you get to crackin on the truck right after xmas, people get all their new toys and want to get rid of the old ones. its a sad technique but it will save you a small ammount of cash. and i suggest ratchet straps. a lot of ratchet straps. you'll never guess how easily some trucks fall apart and the easiest solution is a good strap. but i'm rambling, most everything i'm telling you is from past and current experiences. just don't get lost in some kinda battle between one part or another. always read reviews, always.