is this challenge legal?

I'm starting to doubt that the project Ive built for the challenge is legal. here's a link to the build thread, complete with a running budget tally.

http://www.s10planet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17252

with the paint job that i just got screwed for, I'm really close to the budget cap. actually, i think i may be just slightly over.

do i count everything that I' ve counted in the budget? am i allowed to do the things i have done to make this thing fit into the budget? i have been completely honest in the build thread, down to spark plugs and wiper blades.

also, do i count in the budget stuff that i bought for it, or just whats currently bolted to it when i hit Florida?

thanks for any help you can throw my way. im praying that i can compete, as its been a dream of mine since i learned about it in 02-03.

if it doesn't really qualify, is there an exhibition class that i can run? i know i wont be competitive with the level of hardware that is coming out. after all, its a 2.8 s10. but it will be driven to Florida and back, as well as being driven daily lately, and in street trim when i run it. unless i gotta gut the interior to make budget......

Michael

That's a very cool, well documented build. I'm still reading it.

Thus far, I'd say Challenge legal. There have been trucks before. If you are over budget, figure out what can get the ax to stay under the limit. I'd love to see this fly.

Same here, I would love to see this in person, gives me some hope for my 88 S-10 that some SHINY HAPPY PERSON decided he wanted the stereo and dvd player outta the dash my brother in law installed b4 selling my wife and I the truck, needless to say they took out 90 percent of the dash when they yanked the stereo. I'm gonna let this load overnight though (I'm on dialup) nice work man. Hope to see you at the challenge.

I will add you won't be the only mini truck there...

so, the budgeting style is challenge legal?

that is great news.

and if anyone wants to help me gut the interior, stereo, etc in florida, im game.

is there someone who can provide an official ruling?

michael

If you think the paint put it over budget, sand it off. Technically, you're removing the "part."

Oh, yeah, props for using the Olds front end.

I didnt get to read the whole thread but I see you counting stereo equipment, sub boxes, etc. The rule is if it isnt on the car during the challenge it doesnt count so take that stuff out. There was also alot of "bought part A" then later "replaced with part B" make sure you are only counting the final part that made it on the vehicle.

Overall though great grassroots spirit making due with what you have and finding budget solutions A+

You still have the grille and passenger fender off the parts truck? I could use them for my own challenge effort...

I think the only thing I might have spotted is that you can only sell up to the original cost in a car/parts vehicle. So you got the car for just about free, and spent 200 on the parts truck, I think that means your recoup budget is just over 200, but I may be wrong on this one... Someone who knows better on this will let you know.

total recoup is $1004.50. Max recoup on any particular item (the challenge car itself, the parts car, a box of parts from a swap meet, etc) is the price paid for that particular item, until the total recoup limit has been reached.

only count what's on the car when it is raced in FL. if you added audio equipment, take it out of the vehicle and take it out of the budget for the challenge. better to have nitrous than subwoofers....

so, im pretty much out due to the recoup rule. i paid 200 for the parts truck, and sold something like 600 out of it.

great for me, bad for the challenge budget.

and its too darn late to change it now.

im sorry, but im definately NOT sandingthe paint off of it. its right at 2000 as it sits, even withut going back in to make sure i subtracted all the parts for stereo, changes in parts, etc.

is there an exhibition class so i can at least come down and play?

also, i dont have much of the parts truck anymore. ive got a one piece paintable grille from a syclone ill sell you. 20 pluch shipping. has some primer overspray on it, and its been on the truck since my brevada grille is STILL at the paint shop, but it is effectively brand new.

no fender though.

hope it also gave you some ideas for your challenge truck. id especially call tony at UB Machine for the tall ball joint arms, as well as power performance for the tall upper and lower balljoints. maks an incredible difference in these trucks.

michal

Syclone grille works. How much to ship to a business in 30024?

i have no idea. ill try to get to it next week.

problems is finsing a box big enough to ship it in.

need inner fenders? or anything else? im amazed by the amount of crap i have sitting around for these trucks.

Michael

Got any lowering blocks laying around? BTW - I like what you did with the coilovers to add spring rate to the back.

Other entrants have competed exhibition when they inadvertently messed up the budget. Come on!

I did want to say that the build is excellent, I am very impressed and would like to see it at the challenge, exhibition or not, it would be nice to see how it fares.

If you remove the passenger seat, the stereo, overhead assembly, and the gauge panels, where will that leave you? (i already read 10 pages of build - awesome by the way, inspiring even - but Im not going to go back through and re-read it to dig out those numbers)

umm...

removal would be...

right around 180.

still not enough to make up fro the rocoup rule.

youll see me in florida running exhibition at least.

and thankls for the compliments. im one of only 3 or 4 guys on the east coast building these trucks specifically for autocross taht i know of.

oh, and no blocks. best and cheapest blocks are the cast iron ones from 4X4 dodge rams, 3/4 and 1 ton. three inches and indestructable.

Michael

Did you spend 2600 dollars in parts and supplies ON the truck itself?

Just because you sold 600 bucks of parts off your parts truck, it's not clear that money went into your 'good' truck. Maybe I'm missing something?

Just because you sold 600 bucks of parts off your truck doesn't mean you can't pocket 400 bucks. Or use that 400 bucks as part of your 'initial' 2009 dollars.

Dusterbd13 wrote: oh, and no blocks. best and cheapest blocks are the cast iron ones from 4X4 dodge rams, 3/4 and 1 ton. three inches and indestructable. Michael

Awesome info! Thanks! That, coupled with some torsion bar mods up front should get me in the weeds pretty good.

Dusterbd13 wrote: umm... removal would be... right around 180. still not enough to make up fro the rocoup rule. youll see me in florida running exhibition at least. and thankls for the compliments. im one of only 3 or 4 guys on the east coast building these trucks specifically for autocross taht i know of.

Exhibition Shmecksibition! Sorry, I couldn't read the entire 10 pages of the thread or whatever, but exactly how far are you off the mark? Surely there are some unnecessary items that could be removed or replaced with cheaper, similar items to get you under budget. Help us help you!

oohh good point rex...didnt think of it that way. I guess you could just add in FMV for the parts that came off the parts truck that went into the competitor rather than including the entire components of the parts truck.

When you register, is there a prescreening before you actually arrive, or is it a pass fail upon arrival? Can a potential competitor submit their build journal (in this case a thread) and get a ruling before hand?

therex wrote: Did you spend 2600 dollars in parts and supplies ON the truck itself? Just because you sold 600 bucks of parts off your parts truck, it's not clear that money went into your 'good' truck. Maybe I'm missing something? Just because you sold 600 bucks of parts off your truck doesn't mean you can't pocket 400 bucks. Or use that 400 bucks as part of your 'initial' 2009 dollars.

I'm missing your point.

He bought the parts truck for $200. He sold $600 off it. He's over budget, but he won't ever be able to reclaim more than the $200 he spent, regardless of how much he pocketed or which parts are on the truck. How's he gonna lower his budget by having less on the "good" truck?

Duster13: I'm betting we can still get you in under budget. Print a condensed version of your entire budget (so we don't have to dig it out of 10 pages worth). There's a lot of creative minds here- especially when it comes to being cheapa$$es.

Duster13: I'm betting we can still get you in under budget. Print a condensed version of your entire budget (so we don't have to dig it out of 10 pages worth). There's a lot of creative minds here- especially when it comes to being cheapa$$es.

Precisely. Just on page one:

*You don't need wiper blades. You don't need those brand new plug wires, plugs, rotor, cap, etc. Fix the old plug wires, and if the old cap and rotor were fine, use them too; or grab all of this from the 'parts' truck (??? - not sure whether or not you still have it.)

*Seatbelts are "safety items," and therefore, do not need to be included in the budget. On top of that, if the reason for replacing them is that they were faulty, some manufacturers will replace them FO FREEEE!

*I saw the bright, shiny, green, brand new coil springs. These are totally unnecessary. A spring is a spring (yes, I know; spring rates, height, and diameter will be different, but you get my drift.) Spend an afternoon at the junkyard with a tape measure, a spring compressor, and some hand tools, and find BIG vehicles (think: biggest vans you can find.) This will, presumably, give you a jump in spring rate, and you can cut the springs to whatever height you want/get creative with perches. Also, one big, long-ass spring (assuming it's not progressive) can become two equal-length springs pretty easily with a hacksaw.

EDIT: It'll suck to have to do it, but the hundred bucks worth of gauges can go. Use the panel as a template for one out of some SCRAP lexan, acrylic, plastic, whatever. Find someone who works with either, and try to grab some for free (every little bit counts!) Or you could even hack up a flat piece of dash from the parts truck.