7,000 bucks to play with. Any suggestions?

[guywithuglyyota]

I just recently aquired an 81 shorted for 500 bucks! good body, good frame. Just threw in a new engine. Needs new tranny, 2nd gear syncros going out.
I have a good budget to work with I was curious what you guys thought. ist on list being most important

1. New tires 33s or 35s not sure yet(old ones are flat)
2. New tranny L-52 hd?
3. 3' lift (81 toys hade huge fender openings)
4. rear air locker
5. 5.29 gears ( or low first gear in tranny)
6 ultimate dual crawler combo
7 trail armor
8 winch

Any suggestions would be appreciated, my biggest delima is going with 33 or 35 inch tires, I would like the truck to be reliable as possible when im out in the boonies!
My budget is $7,000

[KYOTA]

Sounds like you know what you want to do, I'd put a new clutch (Marlins)  in while the trans. is out.

[kyle_22r]

7,000?  i'd kill for that budget

go with either ARBs front and rear or toyota electric lockers front and rear.  the nice thing about the toyota lockers is that if the electric motor should fail, they can be manually actuated.  you might want to look into putting fuel injection off a 22RE on your motor as well.

also, look into bobby long's new 30 spline chromoly birfields and inners.  i think it's around $650 for the set, but should be about as unbreakable as a birfield gets

[Skinny_Pedal]

just go to the marlin site and you'll have all the fun in the world!

[WHITE_TRASH]

You've gotta be kidding me.  For 7k I could build a outrageous ride and buy a towrig and trailer!  First off Id put the NEW long axles and birfs in the frontend, dual ultimate behind a w56, spool rear, E-lock the front, hub mod instead of spacers, get scrap metal from a scrap yard to build sliders/bumpers etc., Id use 4.88's for a bit of strength, build a 1/4" wall rear driveline and a square tube front driveline, build my own springs front and rear and get a set of 38's.  Id throw a party with the 4k I had left over after I splurged on a new rattlecan paint job. 

[Skinny_Pedal]

someone give this man 4 grand. i want to go to that party!

[Hyena]

Is that what you did to your truck White Trash?  lmao.  He has the money.  Let him spend it all and have a freakin kick but trail rig.  A flexy suspension would be better since you have the money right now. 

[guywithuglyyota]

Yeah, 7 grand is a bit much but man this stuff is expensive! Im 23 in the Air Force, single and have no car payments and rent is cheap so I suppose Id better get this out of the way before life happens!  I appreciate the suggestions, however I do want this truck to be a daily driver, I have a backup beater I love to death however this truck I will keep for as long as we can drive internal combustion engines in this state! I have spoted a few 22re celicas for a FI swap however, I hear it is quite the pain! How does the stock yota carb hold up on steep angles??? from what I hear it does quite well compared to others.  Ill look into the electric locker, sounds smarter than leaky air lines. Does the l-52 have a fairly low first gear? And if not can one be installed. Im three hours from Fresno

[WHITE_TRASH]

In all reality Id go ahead and buy a R151f from Marlin with a 5.15 first gear, dual ultimate case setup, spooled rear, E front 4.88's, High angle drivelines, Marlin cage, sliders and bumpers, complete efi swap from a 3rd gen pickup using a early celica lower intake manifold to hook up to your head, long's NEW axles and birfs, AOR springs w/orbit eye shackle ends, F250 shock mounts (gusseted).  Id also upgrade the brakes to a 1" master cyl. and use the later model 4 large piston calipers and vented rotors.  Get a 86+ rear axle for the added width and bigger brakes too.

[kajo4x4toy]

White trash pretty much nailed it. Here is my take:

1. New tires 33s or 35s not sure yet(old ones are flat)
       Go 35's, .If not you will be buyuing them next year anyways. MTR's or BFG MT's if you are going to be driving it on the street alot.
2. New tranny L-52 hd?
       R151 from Marlin with 5.15 first
3. 3' lift (81 toys hade huge fender openings)
       I would say 3" lift by using modified rears up front and Chevies in the rear
4. rear air locker
      Spool the rear and air or E-lock the front
5. 5.29 gears ( or low first gear in tranny)
      4.88's and the lower first gear and by bobby's new longs and axles
6 ultimate dual crawler combo
      YES
7 trail armor
      YES, What ever you prefer
8 winch
      I am happy with my M8000, reasonably priced and reliable.

By the way I have spent 17 years in the military and have never had an extra $7,000 laying around so I am lost on how you have that much laying around.

[Ferg]

$7K for a budget?!  Build to your hearts content, then send me the left overs!

[greengo]

if i had to do it again, id of put half of my bonus in to the tsp, and work on the truck with the other half. that should be all you need if your mechanically inclined and can fabricate. i think wt covered the basics. id rebuild the motor or go RE, find a good w56 or r151f, backed with the marlin crawler set up. then lockers and gears, and suspension, then armor. as for the tires, go 35"s, i went 33"s and wanted 35"s ever since, well really i want 37"s. but hey man do what you want its your rig, look for sales, you dont always have to buy things new, and build what ever you can yourself and you should have a bad ass rig, and plenty of money left over.

[greengo]

one more thing about the bonus, if you claim 0 and 1 on your taxes their gonna tax the hell out of you, some where in the 25-35% range. but in turn youll get almost 60% of that back in tax returns, or at least thats what happened to me.

[YotaYota]

I had that budget when I started my truck, wish I had reserched more, spent 1800$ on allpro sus alone, im no saying that im not happy w/ it, but i could have saved alot of mony there, tires - BFG's or MTR's, jus go w/ 35's cuz your gonna regret it about a month later. gears are a must, 5.29's or 4.88's, spool rear and selectable front if you can afford it, and the new longs. Build all your own trail armor, it makes your truck your truck.

                                    -Anthony

[el gato]

Well spoken Anthony.  I would follow his lead and should have enough for a winch too.

[FatAzzRunner]

I also spent 1800 on my AllPro junk.  I bought the complete supension kit and I could have done better if I waited to learn what I know now.

I could have a flexier suspension by far, made my own shackles, hangers and other parts and had at least a grand left over to buy hysteer, steering arms, and could have used what was left to buy hydraulic steering or something else.

If I had what truck you have and 7K to blow I would go with:

1.  Junk yard springs front and rear
2.  At least 35's, I told my self I wouldnt ever need bigger than 33's, well I now run 37's and want to go to way different axles and 42's or 44's.
3.  ARB or electric lock the front and rear
4.  and 4.88 gears, I went with 5.29's they are not near as strong as the 4.88's.
5.  I would also only go with a single case with 4.7 gears, you wont really need more than that, at least I never have and I have been many, many places.
6.  Trail armor is a must, but if you can make your own, it will save a lot of money.
7.  I would just get a cheap winch or a good tow strap.  That is one area I saved my money, I have yet to need a winch.  I would like one but would rather buy some other things like axles to go much bigger.

Now keep in mind this only my opinion not those of others on here.

[mudguts]

Take all the info off this thread and check out all the info on this thread http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=4503.msg40639#msg40639.
Between the two, you should be able to build a bitchin rig and still have money left over for a daily driver.  

[el gato]

Speaking of cheap winches, I have a cheap winch that I have used at least 100 times and it runs just as strong as a Warn.  I picked mine up at Harbour Freight for $289 on sale.  It is actually an 8K Mile Marker in cheap skin.  It is the best deal out there.  In its Mile Marker skin I have not seen it cheaper then $470.   

[Tbone]

I would do 4link and coils F/R with a ARB up front, and spool the rear...then shed all the weight that you can and XO the whole thing.  Run 529 0r 488 gears with 37 MTR's, dual t-case with a 4.7-1...put in XM radio and a good CB, buy a cheap winch and go!!!!!!!!!!!     

[YotaYota]

I like Tbone's Idea, short, sweet and to the point, but id go coilovers, like duechtech 15" travel w/ remote res.
and XM is a awsome idea, its on my list of things to get, XM liquid metal - 42 !!!!

[84runner]

Well with that budget go witha coil spring four link set up front and rear, 5.29's ,ARBS, 38's and Bobbys new kit 

[guywithuglyyota]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, Yeah the seven grand is from me not having a life here in the desert of california! Im not going to re-enlist, however after looking around you guys are correct in saying seven grand is a bit too much to spend on a rig all at once, where is the fun in that?  Im starting with a new tranny w/ low 1st gear 35 mtrs and a rear locker, the lift will be three inches and im not sure how to go about it inexpensively. What this chevy spring idea about?

[WHITE_TRASH]

Go read $300 in the projects section if you want to do cheap suspension.  I dont think it can be done any cheaper unless you steal the parts.

[FATB0Y]

7K I would have a rig from He!L

[mplatzer]

iv built a few trucks in my time and to me the most important thing on the trail is a reliable truck.  get the motor in good running order, than get a clutch from marlin and his tranny (5 speed), and work out all the other little kinks. then worry about the mods...

#1 gears and lockers ( should run you about 1200.00$) detroit rear easy in front 529 gears

#2 gearing- you should be able to get by with the mc07 and put it together yourself only cost you 300.00$ or so + extra t-case(150.00$)

#3 marlins crossover hi-steer 300.00$ + 150.00 steering box+ 20.00 for mounting brackets

#4 bobby long unbreakable birfs 250.00$ (inners recomended but not needed)

#5 suspension what ever your preference 450.00 for what ever

#6 wheels and tires (go bigger 35s sound good for trail and daily driver) 1000.00$

#7 least important and i agree with white trash sliders get them at the scrap yard 100.00$

total = about 4720.00 and you have room to play with if you want the dual ultamate

knowing that you have marlin on the other end of the phone... PRICELESS    

[Willy Mammoth]

If you have any thing left I could use a loan?

[FatAzzRunner]

I will sell you my whole freakin rig for 7K and you aint gotta do nuttin to it.  It is locked, caged, bobbed, geared and runnin 37's.  READY TO ROCKCRAWL.

[fuglytruck]

thats funny, u have 7000 bucks to spend,,, i just happen to have a toyota (yellow) thats going for 6,600 bucks    wanna buy it. u will have 400 bucks to finsh what i havent dont to yet.   lol    (FERK)

[guywithuglyyota]

thanks for the offer      I have already nearly soent it all!  I wanted to build my own truck if ya know what I mean. I bought a jeep once that was already built up, it just was not the same. With my truck I know that I torqued every bolt, loctite, gaskets etc....im anal like that I guess. But sometimes I realize that im spending more time installing stuff than wheeling! and that sucks I went with dual arb's high pinion front new trany, new engine, dual ultimate setup, bellfields, sliders, winch all that good stuff. Went to harbor freight and went crazy, all air tools compressor and a kick ass Lincoln welder from home depot ( im just learning to weld) Can you believe I saved all this money from not drinking??? I used to do the bar scene quite often with my freinds but i totalled up how much I was spending and it was out of control.

Luke

[WHITE_TRASH]

Dont feel bad I used to basically live at the bar.  One day I woke up and thought to myself, why do hangover cost so damned much?  Havent frequented them since.  I still drink now and again, hell I even get drunk every few months but NOTHING like it used to be.  Now I can afford to do what I want.