Why Do It?
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Date: 3 Dec 1997 12:42:03 U
From: "Jay Kopycinski"
Subject: 4x4 noise
To: "Toyota 4x4 List"
Subject: Time: 8:37 AM
OFFICE MEMO 4x4 noise Date: 12/1/97
breeze@cysource.com (Jeffrey Delzer) wrote:
>Steve, you've taken the words right out of my mouth! "why on earth are
>you trying to destroy your truck?" That's exactly what goes through my
>mind when I see people doing body work by boulders, pin-striping by
>brushes and brambles, replacing perfectly good steering and suspension
>components with stuff that breaks all too often, "bobbing" their bed,
>swapping IFS for straight axle, and on and on. (I knew I could get
>through this without any mention of tying up the LSBV control rod, I
>just knew I could.) Personally, I paid $19K for a truck that stickered
>at $24K, and I'm not about to drop it's value, both current and resale,
>to near-zero by doing any of the things I mentioned above. To each his
>own, though. That's what makes the world go 'round.
Jeff.....I've made a few mods to my truck, so I thought I'd respond
to your message. First, I never try to destroy my truck. In fact,
I try to do just the opposite.......cleanly negotiate obstacles without
incurring any damage, without destroying the landscape, and do it
while trying to make it look as graceful as possible.
I've got scrapes, scratches and dents on my truck. I've broken parts
on it. That's all part of what I like to do. There is always the risk
that I will damage my truck. I do my best to minimize the risk, but
it is there.
When Toyota (or anyone else) builds a truck, they do so to try to
provide an average product suited for the average user. They are
under numerous constraints placed on them by their accountants
that watch their product cost, safety boards, the EPA, and who
knows how many other government agencies. Consequently, the
end product is at best a compromise product. Lucky for us
Toyota trucks are quite capable right out of the box :-)
I don't change out well performing stock components just to
change things. I do so to upgrade to superior parts for my
application. Look around and you'll see aftermarket parts
for all kinds of vehicles. These are parts to improve OEM
performance......parts that were not put on the vehicle from the
factory because they are application specific, too expensive,
or because of some other restraint.
True, when you dent, scratch, or otherwise damage your truck,
the resale value will drop. I've owned my truck for 12 years and
have no intentions of selling it. I chose to spend money improving
the performance (for my needs) on my truck.
People often ask me how I can take my truck out in the boonies
and risk breaking it given that it's an expensive piece of machinery.
Well, I could spend my money on cable TV and stare into a brain
sucking void all day, but I don't. Or I could buy $60 football
tickets, or spend $80 in greens fees on the weekends.
Like you said, to each his own.
Instead, I spend time and money playing with my truck. By
doing so I've developed lots of mechanical skills, and have
a great sense of self-reliance knowing that when and if
my truck breaks down anywhere, I have a pretty good chance
of being able to fix it.
It's one of those things......it's not for everybody and some
people just don't understand it.
Now see....you got me rambling again.....but I didn't mention
anything about LSBV control rods ;-) ;-) ;-) ;-)
Jay Kopycinski
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Date: Fri, 25 Sep 98 16:07:00 -0500
From: Rosenberger Bud
Subject: RE: Tired 81 longbed part two
>My point is, would it be cheaper to just buy another truck that may be
more trail worthy to start with and go >from there.
This is a common but tough question to answer. I think we have all
thought along those lines. Here's some ideas of what I have done and
hopefully it helps. They aren't real specific. See Scott Ellinger's
post "Re: variant on the front suspension (where does it come from?)"
from this past Wednesday for ideas and prices for a really nice rig.
Over time and with patience you could build yours and could beat those
prices too.
1. Decide if you basically like the vehicle. If not sell it and buy
something that you do like. The last thing you want to do is put a lot
of time and money into a truck that you don't like. Everytime you work
on it you think "I wish I'd have gotten a _______" After a Scout and a
Chevy Luv, I finally bought the truck I really wanted in the first place,
only 9 years later, but someone else got to break it in for me!
2. Make a list of things that must be fixed to make it run properly.
(sounds like an engine/rebuild to start with)
3. Make another list of what you need to make it perform the way you'd
like it to. (maybe PS, since you mentioned it, lockers, gears, etc)
4. Make anther list of those "wouldn't it be nice" kind of items!
5. Get prices on all the options you'd like and write them on your lists.
6. Total them up. ;(
7. Stop crying!
8. Prioritize the lists. Here's the tricky part:
9. If you are married, show your wife the list, watch her laugh or yell,
curl it up in a ball and throw it and your dreams away. Get back to work
and stop daydreaming! :)
10. If you are single, decide if it is worth the $ that you will need to
spend on it, then based on your priorities that you worked out in step 8,
go for it. If it needs too much work, look for what you really want and
buy one of those.
Try finding a parts vehicle or one better than yours and use yours for
parts. If you don't have the room to keep a parts veh., strip off what
you need, fix your truck and get rid of the rest. I know that Eli has
done this sort of thing with his truck and I've done it to many. For us
in the rust belt, the question is usually "is it going to rust in half
any time soon" Mechanical stuff can be fixed but a bad frame makes it
worthless.
11. If you decide to ditch your truck, call Eli and he'll come and get
it!
Kidding aside, I hope this helps. Ask any other q's you have and we can
help!
Bud
PS we just had an earthquake! I thought only you left coasters had
those! Very mild, of course.
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