Project "Budget Beater"
 

Ok Fella's

I drove to Myrtle Beach this morning and picked up this 94 C1500. It has a V8 Auto, tilt cruise power windows and locks. It has a set of 22" Cattivo Design wheels. The body is in good shape, no rust, 2 dents in cab and door. The tailgate is dinged up. It has a flowmaster muffler, no tailpipes!! The suspension was lowered by somebody with no idea about suspension Geometry!!!! :dohh: When I start fixin that I will take some pics. I think they just tried to see how screwed up they could make it. I plan on spindles, coil springs, and flip kit. And new shocks. I paid $2000.00 for it. Do yall think I got I good deal or payed to much?

http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/r...69/94C1500.jpg

Re: Project "Budjet Beater"
 

If those wheels are free of curb rash, then I think you got a good deal. I like the primer. More pics? Good luck with the PO hackery:lol:

Re: Project "Budjet Beater"
 

Wheels look fine. I cleaned one up no scratches. Tires have good tread also. I looked the wheels up they are about $315.00 apiece, they look new.

Re: Project "Budjet Beater"
 

I think you did good man, whats the inside look like?

Re: Project "Budjet Beater"
 

If you didn't mind paying what you paid, I think you did okay. As for the P.O. and the suspension errors, what have you found? It looks to have a 6-inch lowering on the rear. There should be a C-notch on the frame and the axle probably has been flipped to top side of the leaf springs. Up front, a set of spindles usually lowers it by 2-inches. Anything beyond would be via shorter springs. Sometimes, in the early days of lowering these trucks, the lower A-arms would be modified.

So, what have you found?

Re: Project "Budjet Beater"
 

Looks like a deal to me but depends on the P O's screw ups !


It took me quite a bit of work and $$$$ to straighten out all the P O's screw-ups on my 97, And he ran a speed shop no less.... :dum:

Good Luck with it and keep us posted, And with plenty of pics !!!

Re: Project "Budget Beater"
 

The interior looks good, it s dark blue. Dash has no cracks. It has buckets and console. The drivers seat has a 5 inch split from all the years of getting in and out. New grant steering wheel, and cd player. Interior needs cleaning real good. PO smoked, I don,t!

The suspension beats all I have ever seen. The c notch looks ok, I am going to beef it up some. I am going to take the bed off and start over. Believe it or not the rear end housing is on the bottom of the leaf spring!! All the leaves were removed and the one remaining has been heated and bent. I am going to put good springs back on and do a flip kit. This should raise it up to where the tire is visible at the top. The front has heated springs also. I am not sure about the spindles, they look stock. It is sitting on the rubber bumpers.

I will take some pics and post them later. I have a new years party and then flying to Arizona for a week.

Michael

Re: Project "Budjet Beater"
 

That's a good starting point. Sounds like PO had no clue how to lower a truck right. I also have a project starting, but I fixing all my own goofs.:lol:

Re: Project "Budjet Beater"
 

Wow damn the PO sounds like he should stay away from rigs haha! But yea nice looking truck good starting point at least. Don't look to bad overall :D

Re: Project "Budjet Beater"
 

I would have passed on it but w/some improvements it could be something.

Re: Project "Budjet Beater"
 

Yeah I would have liked to started with a nicer truck, but I could pay cash for this one. I have been pricing the 88-98 trucks latley and the value has apparently gone up. A nice truck that you could drive starts at 5000.00 around this area and goes up to 8500.00. I had planned on lowering and possibly painting so I will start with this one. I sold this one 3 years ago for 3000.00, guess I should have keep it!!

http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/r...9/IMG_1390.jpg

Re: Project "Budjet Beater"
 

Looks like you may have given that one away, Looks sharp.... And I dig the exhaust tips ! :metal:

I've noticed each build exceeds the previous one, So here's too this one being better than your last.... ;)

Re: Project "Budjet Beater"
 

I have a habit of fixing one up and then selling it.....usually for a loss. Guess I should deal in volume....:lol:

Losing interest in any project is usually what helps the next guy save some money. Speaking of that...I'm really thinking about cutting my losses on my '69 when it comes out of the paint/body shop. Yeah, I should go ahead and finish it, but personal health issues come first. Gotta have my third prostate biopsy in 366 days, on Jan. 8. Getting tired of having them.

Re: Project "Budjet Beater"
 

how much was your old one lowered. remember the tire sizes? It looked really nice. Sure this one will be better.

The good thing in my opinion on the previous owner hack, is all the things named, rear leafs, front coils, is all stuff that can be removed and replaced with stock for about 500 bucks then you can flip the rear, spindles and coil the front and have a nice ride.

I guess what i am sayin is atleast he didnt cut the frame and try to backhalf it or something, so it would be way beyong repair, or take alot more money to repair. All those things listed you can swap in your driveway in a weekend easy enough.

Re: Project "Budjet Beater"
 

2 1/2 dropped spindle, 1 coil cut off brand new stock spring, and shackles, and hangers. 3.5 front, 4 back. 275/60/15 on 8 inch rallys. Need a little more backspacing on front. Tire rubbed if truck bottomed out.

Re: Project "Budjet Beater"
 

That black and silver truck is sharp. Wish I'd been around when you sold it:lol:

Re: Project "Budjet Beater"
 

I actually sold it twice!! I bought at the county drug auction. I worked for the county garage so I got to drive it to the sale. Bid on it and got it. Promptly took it home repainted cleaned it up, changed the ignition switch, and door locks. The dealer lived in the County!! I was going to work for the power company so I needed a truck for transportation. Drove it 2 years, sold it to my brotherinlaw, bought it back a year later. The wife didn't like my 2004 4 door Silverado, so I sold it again when she bought a Suburban! I loved the truck that is why I bought another one. I traded my 4 door in on the wife a Tahoe so now I can get back to my favorite type truck. It had 148,000 thousand when I bought it and 230,000 when it left. The only problem was a water pump between all those miles.

Re: Project "Budjet Beater"
 

love the flat black , always have. I have two gallons of tangerine twist on the shelf but.... love the primer . makes them look wicked !!!! Enjoy Eric

Re: Project "Budjet Beater"
 

love the flat black , always have. I have two gallons of tangerine twist on the shelf but.... love the primer . makes them look wicked !!!! Enjoy Eric

Re: Project "Budjet Beater"
 

Eric, What size tire/wheel combo is on that rig ? Looks awesome dude !

Like your sig line too LMAO !!!!

Re: Project "Budjet Beater"
 

hi, they are m&h racemaster drag radials 390/40/17 had to lower the back of the truck an additional 2" after installing them , made the sign also, its made out of aluminum w/ a grinder. Here's how it looks in blue! Eric

Re: Project "Budget Beater"
 

Well I bought a set of stock leafs for the rear, and used the old hardware to attach the housing to the springs. I ordered a flip kit, but I had to see what it would look like raised back up in the rear.

http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/r...94c1500001.jpg

Hope to have more updates soon but I have been working alot of overtime!

Michael

Re: Project "Budjet Beater"
 

looking good man keep us updated.

Re: Project "Budjet Beater"
 

any updates here?

Re: Project "Budjet Beater"
 

Sorry I have not posted any pics or updates. I have been working hard on my Pro-Touring Camaro! All I have done is drove the truck as my daily driver. Maybe I can get it ready to paint this fall.