Cheap Truck Challenge

[Jim Oaks]

Two of the 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine Editors are doing a Cheap Truck Challenge Build. They each have a budget of $2,012 for a truck, and $2,012 for parts. They can't use any leftover money from one part of the budget, and roll it over in to the other budget.

The idea is to build a daily driver / trail rig that a 16-year old kid would build from money he's making flipping burgers.

Once the trucks are built, they're going to have an off-road shootout Points will be given for:

Ride & Drive
Off-Road Aptitude
Best Paintjob
Loudest Radio & Exhaust <--(lame)
Long Jump Contest (because we should encourage 16-year old kids to destroy their truck)
Sex Appeal
Fuel Economy
Drag Race
General Ability To Cause Mayhem (I'm not sensing a high opinion of teenagers)

Should be interesting.

What would really be interesting is to go up against them with our own Cheap Truck Build.

 

[Bennybooster]

Who wants to donate me the money, Ill build it!!



(Oh and I am WAY over 4 grand into mine and I am nowhere near starting my axle swap...)

 

[Mark_88]

I'm sure we could come up with a winner...the more spent on a good truck the less that would have to be spent on upgrades...but how many kids can make $4,000 flipping burgers? Guess that's a summer job working every day and long hours...

 

[Redneckryder]

I am only into my truck a little over $1000....and it's fairly capable. $2012 to upgrade it? Could be awesome!!

 

[doorgunner]

Cheep truck build on TRS....there should be a few guys starting builds on this site.........Goood idea.......(unfortunately---I passed up "Cheap" $6,000 ago.....)

 

[cody93]

were you are located can also help with the cost, example, locations of good salvage yards that have good prices can go along way, plus abundant resources(welding supplies, auto parts, etc)

 

[dangerranger83]

I made $13,707 last year flipping burgers and did all of my work to my truck from that one same job that I have had for 2 years now. And now going to be doing a 302 swap doing that same job.

Total into mine is just over $3500 and I got the truck for free and that includes the current 302 swap.

So it is doable, but just doesnt happen at any good speed though.

 

[kryptonitecb]

Let us know how many freebies sponsors donate to the magazines build. I see this all the time on tv, they spend X amount but realistically spent double that if sponsor donations are counted.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

 

[Jim Oaks]

Here's a good example of something to start with:

http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/cto/3048226932.html

$1,200

Replace the clutch, get another fender from the junkyard, and install new wheel bearings and manual hubs.

Add this used 4-inch lift:

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=127426

Through in a block and add-a-leaf in the rear.

And then shop for some used mud tires. You can usually find decent used 31-35 inch tires if you're patient.

I'd paint it myself right here in my garage.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Let us know how many freebies sponsors donate to the magazines build. I see this all the time on tv, they spend X amount but realistically spent double that if sponsor donations are counted.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

I think those editors are doing it out of pocket.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I'm well past the age for burger flipping. However, when I was that young, I found a '68 torino [nice body and interior, pooched 351c] in a field for $100.00. Eventually it had a 429/c-6 that I got from a '68 mercury marquis for a $100.00. And a rearend from a '58 edsel for $125.00. 4:10 gears from from an unknown vintage six-cylinder truck' $50.00. And finally some meats for approximately $100.00. I beat 95% of the cars I raced, all on a burger flipping budget. So it's possible, but it takes time. That car took somewhere in the neighborhood of four years to get semi-finished. But I did drive it during those years. I would say that it could be possible to have a good all around truck for the prices they are suggesting. In fact, I'm just about finished collecting all the pieces now;

'84 B-II good paint, 4" lift, no drivetrain or interior.............[free], did a favor for the neighbor.
'84 B-II good interior [$50]_______________________________________$50
Motor choices- 429/c-6 [$175/$100]or 4.0/m5od[$100/$100]___________$250
d-35 [$100]with 44 outers [free]__________________________________$350
extended radius arms [Free]
FS 8.8 [free] from wrecked truck insurance paid
5.13 gears front/rear[$550]______________________________________$900
35/12.5r15 [$175]______________________________________________$1075
Rims [$50]____________________________________________________$1125
And misc. [$500]_______________________________________________$1625

$1625 total, all in!
That's the plan so far. I don't know how well it would jump, but it should do everything else quite well and look decent doing it. Although I'm not into stereo systems I'm sure I could scrounge up something suitable. The only problem is time, I have a lot on the go right now.

Richard

 

[509lifted]

mark 88 i have a friend that works 40 hrs a week during the summer and makes 7,000 every summer our min wage is 9.04 an hour since he works 4 months at 40 hrs a week he is making 7232 plus or minus some

 

[jhammel85]

I bought mine for a thousand and I've only put about a thousand in. Vote me in! lol

 

[RangerSVT]

I bought my donor truck for 1250, used the motor and trans out of it, sold leftover parts and original powertrain for 1300. I got paid $50 to do my V8 swap. Finding complete donors for the parts you need is the way to go. I was in a rush to do this swap and paid twice what I paid when I did my V8 swap for my ranger. My rangers donor ran me 700 for the complete truck after 2 months looking. My tracs donor I looked for 2 weeks...


SVT

 

[adsm08]

I did most of that with my bone-stock 87 when I was 16.