Questions about fender flares on my '89...?

[Daven]

Well if it wasn't super rusted... I would say maybe half an hour to an hour? . Its really just the 6 bed bolts (hardest part), 3 bolts for the filler neck, and 8 phillips screws for the taillights.

So i guess i'll check out the salvage later on and hope i can find something there. Is it just 89-92' that will fit or is Gen 1 box the same as well? Either way i wanna get that lift and stuff goin first lol. The rust is just cosmetic

 

[Original_Ranger84]

What I think you should do... and this is just my opinion. Is you seem to want to lift it and wheel it in the winter or so?

I think you need to stop and make a list of all you want to do to your truck and find out what is most important to you at the time. Aka if there is any engine/driveline problems you want to get resolved first like ticking, or changing fluids around... those kind of things. Because A lift is going to be expensive as well as the wheels/tires and the gears... I mean if you get the cheap lift which is 600 with the shipping we'll say, then get the tires and new rims more then likely that will run 200 minimum for the rims unless you can find CL rims and the tires would be around 7-800$ for basic 33's another 1000 for them, and then gettin gears for your axles will be a good 1000 to get them and have them installed. So thats like 2500 right there which is more then half the value of the truck. If you start breaking axles your gonna switch to the bigger D35/8.8 and gears for them.... ect ect...
I'm not trying to get you down or anything but I would say start slow. get the lift, find some really cheap almost bald tires in the size you want get them on and see how you like the ride and stuff. decide from there where you want to go... cause I have an 84 that I had the exact same plans for and I ended up spending more money on the engine conversions that i wanted then anythign else, I put a 3" BL on my truck with some 31's and I was so happy and impressed by how much of a difference it made! You may find that you don't actually need all of that.

 

[Daven]

What I think you should do... and this is just my opinion. Is you seem to want to lift it and wheel it in the winter or so?

I think you need to stop and make a list of all you want to do to your truck and find out what is most important to you at the time. Aka if there is any engine/driveline problems you want to get resolved first like ticking, or changing fluids around... those kind of things. Because A lift is going to be expensive as well as the wheels/tires and the gears... I mean if you get the cheap lift which is 600 with the shipping we'll say, then get the tires and new rims more then likely that will run 200 minimum for the rims unless you can find CL rims and the tires would be around 7-800$ for basic 33's another 1000 for them, and then gettin gears for your axles will be a good 1000 to get them and have them installed. So thats like 2500 right there which is more then half the value of the truck. If you start breaking axles your gonna switch to the bigger D35/8.8 and gears for them.... ect ect...
I'm not trying to get you down or anything but I would say start slow. get the lift, find some really cheap almost bald tires in the size you want get them on and see how you like the ride and stuff. decide from there where you want to go... cause I have an 84 that I had the exact same plans for and I ended up spending more money on the engine conversions that i wanted then anythign else, I put a 3" BL on my truck with some 31's and I was so happy and impressed by how much of a difference it made! You may find that you don't actually need all of that.

I completely understand what u are saying. I am going to get the lift and tires first to get the ball rolling. Thatll cost me and im checking out my options now for what to do. The engine in my truck right now is going to need changing, but is good for now and will last until i do eventually swap either a 4.0 or a 302. I dont plan to do any too serious offroading, so i want to try to avoid axle swaps since it is a pain not knowing a thing about it and having nothing required to do it. This is my DD and will stay that way even when i do end up getting a summer car, after i get the car it will be my winter beast. I dont go offroading too much, if anything this truck is to be able to say i can get thru that, and then do it. Alot of it is really for show, who wouldnt want that huge 4x4 for the winter beast that is still relatively good on gas compared to many others?

This topic was basically just so i can weigh my options to remove the rust eventually because i figured if there was a off-roady aternative that i would want to do later on anyways, i could just do that and save that money. lol i dont know what cutout flares are, i was just asking because the name seemed to be self-explanitory

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Hahaha alright just making sure, there seems to be alot of people that come on here that are like OMG BIGGEST LIFT AND HUGE ENGINE AND MUD TYREZ!!!!! NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDD!!!! with no concept of what they actually want.

Although one thing I will point out is that I wouldn't expect too decent of mileage out of it when your done.

I say go for removing the rust though, it isn't as important right now as tires, it will still be rusting when you get around to it lol although if its on the edge of being rusted past the point you can save it I would do them first and them make damn sure it won't rust again with rhino liner and stuff!

 

[Daven]

Hahaha alright just making sure, there seems to be alot of people that come on here that are like OMG BIGGEST LIFT AND HUGE ENGINE AND MUD TYREZ!!!!! NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDD!!!! with no concept of what they actually want.

Although one thing I will point out is that I wouldn't expect too decent of mileage out of it when your done.

I say go for removing the rust though, it isn't as important right now as tires, it will still be rusting when you get around to it lol although if its on the edge of being rusted past the point you can save it I would do them first and them make damn sure it won't rust again with rhino liner and stuff!

Ya right now im looking around a bit to see if i can find someone to weld in some new metal there, but seeing as i have no contacts for that sort of thing it may take a while. But if can find an alternative to paying the apearant thousands of dollars to have a shop put new bedsides on, im definately going to take it.

Right now im saving to get the lifts, tires, and gears done so i should have money if i find someone. Sucks that ill need to repaint after somehow... I dont think i just want to rattlecan it lol

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Ya right now im looking around a bit to see if i can find someone to weld in some new metal there, but seeing as i have no contacts for that sort of thing it may take a while. But if can find an alternative to paying the apearant thousands of dollars to have a shop put new bedsides on, im definately going to take it.

Right now im saving to get the lifts, tires, and gears done so i should have money if i find someone. Sucks that ill need to repaint after somehow... I dont think i just want to rattlecan it lol

Well you mentioned an auto shop class? You could probably have them atleast mount the tires and put the lift on if they have a halfway decent teacher? Or if there is an auto shop class at a local college you may be able to see if they want to do it? I know they aren't the best but more then likely they would do it for free to next to nothing and get a decent job done on installing the lift and mounting tires is almost impossible to **** up unless you rip the bead. You can also probably get a metal shop to weld on you some new fenders or bed sides...But I would stick to a proffesional if you want to get the gears done.

And my suggestion for paint is to paint the upper body to match but then take bed liner and cover the bottom 6" or so of your truck with it and all underneath because it will stop any new rust from forming and there will be rock protection and all as well.