Low/No Budget Mods

marks10cc · Post by **marks10cc** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 2:47 pm

Okay... times are tough for some. I'm sure there are more people on this board than just me who have been laid off/downsized or have not received a raise in pay for quite some time. So I was wondering if you guys would help me start a centralized area for links to low or even no budget mods. Say... $50 or less.

The only one I can think of that I've seen is the Quad Beam Mod.

I can think of some others I've done on other engines, but I need to check to see if it's applicable to the W35/LU3.

Thanks guys.... I'm bored and what to fiddle with the ole truck, but I got $40.11 in my pocket

AZS10Crew · Post by **AZS10Crew** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 5:11 pm

You can remove your MAF screen...free.

Cut out your airbox...free.

Disable DRL's...free.

Disable AHL's...free.

Smoked taillight covers...$45.

Exhaust cutout...~$35.

Custom painted fender flares...cheap.

Custom painting interior pieces (like brushed aluminum look dash pieces)...cheap.

Shaved emblems...free (or cost of adhesive remover).

Get a sawz-all and make a convertible...cheap.

2bunik · Post by **2bunik** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 6:03 pm

you can cut the grill between the chrome and replace it with streched metal sold at lowes for a buck.....I did it for my 95 mustang but havent tried it on the good ol' truck yet. but it can be done..

You can make your
own cold air intake..... about 25 bucks ..

paint your tails the color of your truck with some kind of design on them.. so when you hit the brakes only the red part whatever your design may be will light up

you can install a HOOD LIGHT 15 bucks..

Install Lights in the bed so when it's night time and your out in the woods you can find you beer in the bed.. I realized I need this about a week ago when I went to the dump on base at 1 in the A.M. I couldnt see what I was unloading..

You can clear out your headlights in the oven if you have a sonoma...

you can remove the needles on your gauges and paint them another color. if you want. I read it on a ACURA forum... It looked real nice.
Install White face Gauges.

Install white face Temp caontrols...

Install chrome KNobs for you temp controls.

MAYBE THE FAMOUS RAIN DEFLECTORS>>> i dont know how much they are. But There is a post with replys
Im sure will be very help full.

And if you get real bored you can maybe make a nice center console for the back seat with some CUP HOLDERS IN IT ><>>> fiberglass and paint about 25 bucks.
I have been looking for brushed aluminum pieces for my interior so if anyone knows where to get some let me know please.

Post by **HenryJ** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 6:12 pm

Most of them are up there-
Quadbeam mod , Engine block heater , Cut air box & modified headlight support , Heater control valve , Taylor Spiropro plug wires , Billet bowtie , Shaved badges , Laptop tabletop , Salvageyard- roof rack, shields, hitch (if available) , SS exhaust tip , 55w foglight bulb upgrade, aux. driving/fog lights ...

I'm sure there are a few more under $40

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 6:18 pm

Drop in K&N filter too while you're re-working that airbox.

Clear turnsignals off ebay -- $35

Billet Bow-tie for the grille -- $30

buy a set of cheapo small foglamps to mount up under the rear bumper and tie into the reverse lights to you can see when backing up at night in the dark. (Maybe it's just a Blazer thing) $25 with a relay.

Universal extended shackles - $25

T-Bar crank - free - (Alignment $43)

YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE AN UNDER-HOOD LIGHT??? -- go find one in a Junkyard ASAP!!!

Post by **HenryJ** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 9:09 pm

How about Jim's rear cup holders , mount a Maglight, mount a fire extinguisher, add a power port/ cigarette lighter....

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 9:40 am

I been looking for a good spot to mount a maglight and an automotive fire extingusiher.

I've also been kicking around the idea of trying to polish my Alloy wheels -- you can get the kit to do it from Eastwood -- they have a how to on thier site. Problem is that i bet it would take me a few days to do it all, and I need my wheels on my truck.

I do have a set of old 2wd S10 wheels and mostly bald tires out in my shop -- guess I could run those for a weekend and look like a gocart.

Link to the alloy polishing article: Alloy Polishing

2bunik · Post by **2bunik** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 9:52 am

I would like a two cell mag light just behind the center console/ arm rest thing ... so even if you have two people in the back seat .. it will be right in the middle of them two.. actually I think that is what Im gonna hit up doing this weekend. today is PAY DAY...lol Im also gonna install the bed lights and will let you guys know how these cheap mods go..

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 11:56 am

Yeah, I have a 3 cell Mag - It doesnt fit anywhere--I used to carry that in the pocket on the back of the drivers seat until I realized that it was stretching out the elastic.

I carry a rubbermaid box in the cargo area that has jumpers, basic tools, tow straps, some towels, a poncho, etc -- I've been keeping the Mag in there.

**there's another fairly low buck mod -- build a roadside emergency kit.**

Where are you guys finding mounts for the maglights?

kwalsh · Post by **kwalsh** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 12:45 pm

If I left a mag light in container in the cargo box of my truck...
the container would be stolen and then the mag light would be
used to bust the window

adrenalnjunky · Post by **adrenalnjunky** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 12:51 pm

Ahh--that's where having a Blazer makes that harder to do though.

2bunik · Post by **2bunik** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 4:49 pm

I can get my clips from work...

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 11:52 pm

white out my headlights in the oven? how?

KYLE · Post by **KYLE** » Wed Nov 19, 2003 7:07 am

Matt wrote:white out my headlights in the oven? how?

YEAH, I WAS WONDERING THE SAME THING?

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat Nov 29, 2003 2:27 pm

The same topic on S10forum : $100 or less add-ons

TruStinger · Post by **TruStinger** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 12:11 am

i cant stress the importance of a good synthetic oil! something liek royal purple will work great also octane booster like 10$ a bottle will give you a few extra hp.

2bunik · Post by **2bunik** » Sun Aug 22, 2004 2:23 am

Jim's rear cup holders

pictures anyone of these cup holders.

also review of some mods would be great to help with the decision making process

Here's the link - Cup Holders For The Backseat -HJ

mjmcdowell · Post by **mjmcdowell** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 5:14 am

I have an 02 sonoma CC and I just slid the mag-lite on the rt. side of the drivers seat front floor mount and the ctr. consol, out of the publics eye, stays put and can be removed easly, cost, "O", worth, priceless! be safe mjmcdowell

Retep · Post by **Retep** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 7:01 am

mjmcdowell wrote:...I just slid the mag-lite on the rt. side of the drivers seat front floor mount and the ctr. consol, out of the publics eye, stays put and can be removed easly...

Funny, I keep a Mag-lite on the left side of the passenger seat and the center consol. Snug as a bug.

Pete

mjmcdowell · Post by **mjmcdowell** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 6:16 pm

Lets see if I can explain this.. on the left side of the drivers seat covering the track that the seat slides on ther is a small plastic cover I mounted a small black chrome ext. on this cover, I poped the front off carefully checked, re-checked fit and fit when door is closed,( it fits perfect just aft of th moulded can holder part of the door pocket) then mounted the bracket with small screws . It has been there all summer and It 's not in the way getting in or out of the vehicle. The ext. came from' " Auto Zone " parts store. be safe, mjmcdowell

kf6kmx · Post by **kf6kmx** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 12:21 pm

adrenalnjunky wrote:Yeah, I have a 3 cell Mag - It doesnt fit anywhere--I used to carry that in the pocket on the back of the drivers seat until I realized that it was stretching out the elastic.

I carry a rubbermaid box in the cargo area that has jumpers, basic tools, tow straps, some towels, a poncho, etc -- I've been keeping the Mag in there.

**there's another fairly low buck mod -- build a roadside emergency kit.**

Where are you guys finding mounts for the maglights?

The light I came up with works great in the S10.. Its a Smith & Wesson FL7 (police flashlight).. I bought one for myself and one as a gift for my dad a year ago.. Got both of them at the local Big-5.. They have a tag price of $99 each, but about twice a year they run at $25/ea (talk about a markup...) I cant find any listing on S&W page for the light now, maybe it was discontinued recently.. But its worth checking..
The light is compact (about the size of a 2-C light), has a 'no dark spot' ground reflector (non adjustable beam), heavy duty switch, and the interesting thing is the light body itself is the battery (rechargable).
comes with a changing bracket/stand that will securly hold the light in any position, and a house and car charger cables.
I have mine in my '03 mounted to the side of my floor console (tray under the dash) horizontally on the passenger side and hard wired to the truck electrical so its charging all the time. I'll try and take pictures of it tonight or tomorrow and upload them.. I have 12v power run under the front passenger seat and behind the rear seat.. so I just ran the wire from the charging base along the center console, over under the seat, and tapped in.. Its non-key switched (full time) power, so if I plug the light back in, it immediately takes it to a full charge and goes into a maintenance mode and keeps it topped off.

kf6kmx · Post by **kf6kmx** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 7:02 pm

Ok, took pictures of the flashlight install..
Check out
http://www.s-10crewcab.com/coppermine/t ... p?album=84

Also finally uploaded a picture of my truck.. one so far.. and an avatar... finally had a couple minutes to work on things

[/img]

2bunik · Post by **2bunik** » Sat Jan 01, 2005 12:59 pm

chrome rear end cover from summit 26.95

jeff024 · Post by **jeff024** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 3:36 pm

cheap grille just installed

heres where to get 1GRILLE

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 5:03 pm

Thought I'd add the Dual Ignition Coils to this list as well as the End of Road mounts.

Post by **HenryJ** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 1:58 pm

The quick connect jumper / booster cables should be added in here.
They are really handy. Cut one end off of a good heavy gauge set of jumper cables add a quick connector (NAPA/Belden #740235) to one end.

Then run a cable to a convenient place on your bumper and install another quick connector-

I used 2 ga. cables supply power to front and rear connectors via a 100 amp resetable breaker connected to the top post of the Optima Red Top battery.

Post by **HenryJ** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 6:36 pm

More salvage yard parts:

Trip computer display, Homelink and harness $35 , auto dim rearview mirror $5, dual visors $20

Steering link with stabilizer

_STUCKY · Post by **_STUCKY** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 8:30 am

This needed to be higher on the list...

_STUCKY · Post by **_STUCKY** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 9:04 am

How about the " hot feet fix" and tow hooks off of an 88-98 Chevy pickup.

mars2878 · Post by **mars2878** » Sun Sep 09, 2012 9:47 am

Bravada hvac knobs & window switch plates.

northsnoma · Post by **northsnoma** » Sun Sep 09, 2012 11:43 am

^ Pics?

mars2878 · Post by **mars2878** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 9:09 am

standard style

bravada style

mars2878 · Post by **mars2878** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 9:11 am

standard style

bravada style

F9K9 · Post by **F9K9** » Tue Sep 11, 2012 4:37 pm

Nice

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Low/No Budget Mods

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