I'm consolidating my hobbies and I sold my V-strom motorcycle to support my truck addiction.

I have around $3k to spend on upgrades for my truck. It's an '84 Standard Cab. It's mechanically sound from front to back, and the interior has been refreshed with a recovered seat and door panels, new vinyl floor with dynamat underneath.

Seals have been replaced from front to back.

The frame has been POR15'ed as has the underside of the cab. A "new" bed that is rust free has been installed, but it's still red, instead of blue, while some of the truck is primered.

Basically, the underside, drive train, body and interior are done. Needs paint.

(I promise a build thread is coming when I decide on which parts to purchase)

I do want to paint it. Probably be best if someone else did it. Or should I give it a shot? I have the compressor, but I'd need the gun.

Anyway, long story short. I do want to paint it.

I want it to be a capable off-road vehicle for SW CO (where I'll be moving back to in a couple of months). I'm not opposed to scrounging for used parts like bumpers and winches and such.

I'm thinking a 3" lift. My tires are good, but only 29's I think. Would they look okay until I get 33s on down the road?

I need a front bumper and winch, and probably a rear bumper. Any suggestions?

Sliders?
Front and rear lockers?

Is $3k enough to do everything I need to do? I can handle installing everything, but would lean towards having someone else paint it.

Looking for some direction, before I start throwing parts at it and end up half-done. This is the last shot I'll have at spending this kind of money on the rig.

Thanks.

 

If you're going to wheel t, I wouldn't paint it. Keep it rust free if possible, but wheeling will give you some scratches and scars. I would do lockers, minimally the rear (selectable), and sliders and bumpers. Plus tires, of course. Ok, $3K gone... Now the next thing you can sell is.....

 

I won't wheel it too much. Mainly just 4WD trails, hunting and fishing adventures, and stuff such as that. Maybe I'll just paint it myself to get it all one color.

Any thoughts on brands of locker's, sliders, bumpers, winch, et..?

 

Lift kit and tires are first IMO, the. Body armor, then lockers, then paint in that order

 

By SW CO you mean South West Colorado? if so what part? Im in Florence CO.
I would suggest for paint just shaker can it with a Dupli Color Match paint. That way it can be touched up easily. But I would do Lockers 1st, Sliders and Bumpers 2nd, then lift, tires and winch. By having your bumpers on before the lift and tires you will know how much, if any the weight of them effects your height. That will give you a better idea of how much lift and what size tires will fit.

 

1) Crossover steering
-box$50-100
-mount fab or buy for $35-50
-crossover steering kit with arms and links $400

2) Spartan lockers front and rear $600

3) Sliders $300 or less

4)RUF up front. 63" Chevys in back. Less than $200

5)Shocks f&r $200

6)4.70 transfer case gears (no driveshaft mods) $400

7) 35"KM2's. $800 or so

8)cage $700-1200

Little over $3000 but you could wheel safely and easily

I'd throw some 30 spline shafts in the front and rear discs eventually

 

V6 Brake mod w/ oversized master cylinder. At a minimum vented rotors and a performance drilled and slotted wouldn't be a bad idea either if not going w/ the V6 mod.

Extended diff and tranny and tcase breather vents.

Do your weight additions first -- things like bumpers, camper shell, etc, if you're going to do them. And then get your lifted suspension to match.

Depending on who you have paint, you may want to do that first to avoid overspray, speckling on new parts. OR you could strip it and prep (fiberglass dents, etc) it except engine bay and possibly interior. Take it to the paint shop and done there. The hardest part is avoiding bugs, dust, etc, if diying. Most cheaper paint shops cut corners on prep.

I'd add engine mods and performance exhaust ot the mix too. LC Engineering and others have pretty decent websites to give you ideas of what might work for your needs.

 

Instead of painting it you could bed liner the outside (heavily) it would stand up to the offroading a lot better