Would love to hear veteran (and rookies) GRM Challenger"s or any other budget builders tips and ideas on how you've saved money.
Maybe this will be a repository for practical solutions and help keep the Challenge supreme Court thread from getting cluttered up with conversational posts.
A few that I've thought wereally neat:
Running a CL ad offering to haul off old appliances for free as a source for no cost sheet metal.
Using all thread to fabricate low cost hood pins.
Getting permission to go through trash bin for fg fabric scraps at boat repair shop.
Using broken sling blade to make shift lever
Black plastic garden edging to make air dam.
Cheap vinyl shower curtain to cover hood as a vinyl wrap.
Harbour freight cheap trailer lights for taillights
Old radio flyer wagon bed as a radiator shell cover shroud
Small kegerator keg as 3 gallon fuel tank
Roll on bedliner for budget one step body work AND flat black paint job
Really wanna see YOUR cheap and innovative ideas.
Stolen from pimpm3:
Using bedrails found on side of road for free angle iron.
So far, youve covered most of mine.
But: 1/2 ply scrap from a construction dumpster for aero.
Shorten your own driveshaft.
Respond to REALLY old ads for parts that are overpriced and lowball
Tractor supply hardware by the pound
Buy steel at scrap yard for scrap prices
Seperate out your scrap for max recoup
In reply to Dusterbd13:
You forgot VW fenders for flares
Old shower towel bar + garbage night lamp cord, home coiled with heat gun and water quench + push button from kit = nitrous button shift handle for $0
In reply to patgizz:
Brilliant! I was hoping the master would contribute.
Wow. Isn't this what ALL Challenge cars are?? So, you're trying to assemble a list of everybody's cheapass ideas to use for yourself??!??
In reply to SVreX:
Think of who you're talking to. That poor C4 needs all the help it can get.
In reply to SVreX:
Well of course! I'm stroke addled and can't think of some of this innovative E36 M3. You've seen my lack of fab skills firsthand...
I forgot one I used last year. Help the parking lot build take their trash to the dumpster. Pick the best stuff to keep for yourself.
Cutting board for diamond plate door spacers for my Samurai.
Using a circular saw with the blade running backwards to cut said diamond plate doors.
Aluminum extension ladder cut down to make a roof rack.
Ok, here's a few ideas from my past Challenge cars...
2 liter Coke bottle for a catch can
Anything that can be bought at Home Depot can be found in construction dumpsters (plywood for aero, Lexan scraps, window screening make goodness fiberglass formwork, dryer duct works well for brake ducts, pipe insulation makes good padding, etc)
My airscoop on 1 car was an office wall file bin
I've made several shock tower reinforcing bars out of drop rods for ceiling fans
A 12" 400 lb NASCAR spring cut in half suffices for (2) 6" 800 lb springs
Zip ties work instead of reinforced SS brake lines (spaced every 1/ 2" on the rubber lines)- I've used this trick on every car since 2004. I'm surprised no one has stolen it yet!
I'll throw out some more later...
Didn't the guys who built the killer fast autoX Jeep Cherokee wrap their rear leaf springs with duct tape to effectively stiffen them up?
Trying to figure out how to do that on C4 transverse composite monoleaf.....8
Some of mine:
Motorboat bilge pump for air/water intercooler flow (set up for 12 volt operation and pumps a lot of water)
Tractor paint comes in a variety of bright and dark colors and is 1/3 the cost of entry level automotive paint. I got a gallon of paint, plus the needed reducer and hardener for ~$67 from Tractor Supply Company)
I'll reiterate separating your scrap metal before selling it. $0.30/lb for aluminum sure beats the $0.10/lb for "dirty aluminum" (steel and aluminum mixed)
Most parts stores have a slush fund commercial account that they will run you under if you ask and pay cash. Alternately, you can set up your own that all your buddies use to get you vilume discount.
Dont wait until you need it to keep going to buy parts. You will always wind up spending more. Perfect example: swedged tubing. I needed some for strut rods to be able to roll the car off the lift. Spent 32 dollars. I can get it used for 10.
Lastly, if it comes down to challenge budget vs real budget, sometimes you have to replace perfectly good parts with cheaper perfectly good parts.
Hang out at the drag strip/roadcourse to scoop up cast off race tires.
Old political campaign signs can be used for a great many things.
Silver spray paint for head gasket sealer.
This thread needs to include how to find/negotiate killer deals for the cars!
pinchvalve wrote: This thread needs to include how to find/negotiate killer deals for the cars!
I'm sure JW will be along shortly.
In reply to Trackmouse:
LOL! Did that really work? I heard of the copper crap but I've never used it. I usually tend to stay away from "fixes in a can" unless necessity or challenge dictate it. Do tell!
Monitor forum (grm and marque specific) for sale ads like a hawk. Good stuff comes up for cheap.
Make friends at the parts houses. They call when stuff is discontinued and is CHEAP.
In reply to SVreX:
Does the zip tie trick on the brake hoses make a noticeable difference in pedal feel? All the hoses on our car are new rubber, but im not opposed to better for free.
Dusterbd13 wrote: So far, youve covered most of mine Shorten your own driveshaft.
I really don't see how an unbalanced piece of steel spinning at 4000rpm, inches next to your leg, counts as a good idea.
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