Post your best budget mods! ($50 or less)

[camrycurt]

Originally Posted by TobyArnot

I may have posted this inside another post, but here's my less than $15 throttle rod. (2) 1/4-28 Female Rods Ends (3.99/surplus), 12" of 1/4-28 all-thread ($3.49/Lowe's), Couple of jamnuts from the junk bin and a length of 1/4" rubber hose. Couple of quick bends for offset, cut to length, silicone the hose and slid it on. Add a few pieces of (new!!!) hardware, and bingo. PO had a piece of crap. Finally got rid of that.

Very slick! Great job!

[R.L.]

Originally Posted by 71meangreenc10

Less than $25, you can get wiper delay that is simple to install and works well. I have used them in two trucks.....Love it.....

All you need is wire crimpers (or vise grips for those who prefer) and a drill to mount it.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/windshield-...wx?filterid=j1

Smitty

Thank you for this, I'll use this.

[prairewolf]

not a mod but truck related...I pulled our 67 out of garage today, ... power steering fluid leak spot on concrete.... for floor dry I used Dirt ... it works good.sweeps up good,price is good.... it is readily available and disposing of it is easy. .... I had some Very dry dirt in a bucket from old yardwork project so it was perfect...

[steelhorse]

Ok I'm not sure if this counts but here it goes.I bought a 87 c10 from the local boneyard for $450(I know wait for it)Sold the bed for $400,the Trans for $250,kept the front suspension and brake along with the steering components.Then sold the cab and frame for $200,then the engine for another $200.I also sold the doors for $100 a piece.I used the extra money to buy a front bed panel on craigslist along with a oe tailgate(stepside)got all the bed crossmembers and a stepside fender and step thrown in along with 4 chrome vent windows and a perfect oe door in mint cond for $300.Then I found a set of drop spindles and ordered a rear 4 inch drop kit and a rear crossmember with exhaust cutouts.By the time I was done with assorted parts I had $22 dollars in it.

[ls1nova71]

I'm going with the headlight relay mod. If you get relays and wiring at the junk yard, it van be done for about 10 bucks.
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[mrein3]

Originally Posted by ls1nova71

I'm going with the headlight relay mod. If you get relays and wiring at the junk yard, it van be done for about 10 bucks.
Posted via Mobile Device

I agree with this one. The headlight relay mod is a must do for everybody. I bought two new relays and new wire and still got it done for under $20. Here is a link to a recent thread on this forum with a nice picture.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=465003

Another cheap mod I like is putting a quartz clock in the dash in the open hole to the right of the steering column. I think I paid $5 for the clock out of an 80s Suburban. I grabbed the Sub's factory connector. The hole in the clear plastic is made with a heated nail. I learned the heated nail trick on this forum. That clock keeps really good time. I have less than $15 into it counting the plastic polish I used to remove the factory markings on the back of that spot in the bezel.

[Andy4639]

Well I have been replacing all the gauges in the 71 with SpeedHut and I did away with the speed-O cable to the transmission. So I needed something to cover the hook up on the side of the tail shaft.

Bought a $4.00 box at O-Rileys auto store of rubber cap plugs. The biggest one fit like a glove over the end. No dirt getting inside now!
The threads will hold it on to!

[custom1970]

I agree with rattle can of black paint and some silver model paint,....

[CG]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

#4... Lets keep it simple, something the average moron with little tallent (like me) can do.

Cmon Andy, we all know you are an above average moron

Great idea for a thread, I hope people can keep to your rules for 50 buck (or less) ideas.

[gcburdic]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

#5... a quick overview, or a link to step by step instructions is best, so this thread doesn't become a 30 page thread that you have to sift through to find that trick you need.

Great thread Andy!!!!...for those that have posted or will post......please help the moron in me out and post up a link or quick overview

BTW....Woodgrain dash bezel http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=465303 ...post#11....$14....by leddzepp....thanks Scott!!!!

[KMACD71]

Can of white paint, bottle of orange model paint and brushes for the needles and you can brighten up your bezels and I believe with the LED bulb swap you can still be under $50.00.

[Heavy Evy]

Originally Posted by KMACD71

Can of white paint, bottle of orange model paint and brushes for the needles and you can brighten up your bezels and I believe with the LED bulb swap you can still be under $50.00.

Wow that looks great amigo!

[saskgreen]

Originally Posted by KMACD71

Can of white paint, bottle of orange model paint and brushes for the needles and you can brighten up your bezels and I believe with the LED bulb swap you can still be under $50.00.

Any tips or tricks I should be aware of? Looks alot better, going to have to do this with mine!

[Bad70sbchevy]

I was cheap on mine, used red standard lights instead of LEDs and some chrome spray Nothing really much to it, I just took the metal bezel out and painted the whole thing on both sides or the colored lights won't show up as good.

[KY Colonel]

Originally Posted by KMACD71

Can of white paint, bottle of orange model paint and brushes for the needles and you can brighten up your bezels and I believe with the LED bulb swap you can still be under $50.00.

That ROCKS!

[PanelDeland]

Did my entire engine bay for about $30.00.Just cleaning and paint.Even painted the new inner fenders(outside of the budget deal) with the same paint.

Did my steering wheel with a $5.00 syringe of Epoxy and some brake cleaner and paint.The leather steering wheel wrap brought it in at about $30.00

Did the interior for about $30.00 in supplies.I did have to get a bit spendier on the dash pad.Seats set me back another $50.00 and the bracket steel was liberated from other junk.

Drip rail seam sealer.

Pulled 68 door panels and padded them with thin packing foam and made liners of rubberized cloth(Liberated from the workplace).

I think I paid $17xx for the sway bar at Pull-a-Part,with brackets and the rubbers are useable.I haven't installed yet but think paint and bolts and I can do it for about $25.Another $8.00 or so for new rubber if I decide to.

I's pooor so I does cheap stuff when I can but each of these was an improvement over what it was.

[dubds10]

Just took off the old carb and put on a brand new Edelbrock 550 4b with a nice chrome air cleaner that was on my buddy's caddy engine lol Also put on a Flowmaster 40 with dual outs. Total cost was $20 for the extra fuel line, hose clamps and fuel filter and a few hours of time. All major parts were FREE and the truck has come alive again and sounds great. Just going to go buy a new edelbrock manifold for it though and take off the stocker and put the stock manifold and 4brl carb onto my burb to get it going.

Should probably go clean the engine bay while it's not raining out though so everything looks new lol

[JORGIE95961]

lol

[brad_man_72]

fill up the gas tank.. Oh under $50... Start with 1/4 tank

fresh paint on a set of ralleys really dresses up a truck, or painted bumper, trim ect.
paint everything behind the grill black, makes the grill pop. Nothing shiny distracting you from the lines of the truck. Black is great for hiding stuff.

[eightbanger]

This one is an unfinished mod & may stay that way, tried to make a taillamp that had an orange blinker by cutting into two spare housings & welding them together (a friend did that for free) then buying two clear lenses $20 cutting & gluing them together, and all I needed was to mod the wiring a little after that...but then, I had a DOH! moment, there was no reflector anymore

[Roadmarks]

I did a homemade radio delete plate out a piece of an old road sign I picked up by the side of the road for free. I cut it to size with a hack saw and a piece of angle as a guide.
I did the rest of the edge finishing with a saw and sandpaper. I did some pseudo engine turning with a 1/4" power drill and some little wads of steel wool. I have a power plug for a GPS and a passenger's side light and switch on it. Total cost about $5.00! Next I'm going to do the inside hood release.

[crazy longhorn]

1 full ring off the front coils(free 2 " drop) A little fab work , nothing special, & a set of front shock relocaters for under 20 bones. A 1 ton sway bar(free from a free parts truck), & a new set of bushings & bolts(under 40 bones, & a nice addition to the old truck). A variable ratio box , from a free 84 Burb parts truck, & 30 bones in hoses. Axle flip at the rear, & relocate spring hangers, for a 4" drop(a little welding required on the spring saddles & rear shock relocators).....still under 50bones A set of old school slapper bars,also under 50 bones. Rod ends on all of the clutch linkage.....a great improvement, & still under the 50 dollar limit. I could go on & on, the old longhorn WAS basically a low bucks build , untill it came to the drive line crazyL

[mightymouse]

i like powder-coat I've had several items coated for less than 50.00 brackets' hinges ' pulleys etc. and its very durable...

[gferris5]

underhood light from any dodge caravan in a junkyard, find one from a Jeep and you can have an extendable magnetic light. Pretty darn useful.

[gferris5]

and don't forget my best thread ever, the junkyard shopping list (though it kind of died...):

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=248607