New project:Ole' Blue!!!

I'm a newbie here (& sort of to mini's also), this is my 1991 Mazda, that my daughter named "Ole' Blue" !lol
I bought it for $1500 the way it sits, I've fixed a few things on it-since I got it.(Exhaust was falling off & the convertor was clogged up/ door locks were broke/oil change/ tune-up/rear shocks & balanced all the tires).

I made those covers the other day, just to close up the holes where the bumper goes....



My plan is to get all the body work done & paint it(Its a 50 footer for sure!)lol , I ordered a chrome grill for it & want to put a toyota frt.bumper on it, the stock bumper on it is shot!



The way it sits now, it has a 3 inch block in the back & just turned down torsions , I think it looks & rides decent, but was thinking of Mono-leafn' the back & a ball joint flip up front(I've been reading the "tech" section on here )....how much lower would that sit it down? & change the ride?

I'll update this thread as I change things on it....

Almost forgot, a guy I know is trying to sell me a bagged 98 S10, its a project truck-needs to be put back together-but has decent paint & runs/drives good & sits the frame on the ground w/stock wheels on it. I can get it for a little more then I payed for my mazda..just wondering if "bagged" trucks are ALOT of problems & hard to re-sell?

Welcome Evans50!
Nice truck for sure, and a good price to boot.......

I'm an older guy, so the lowered scene ain't my thing, but I have no problems with other doing their trucks.........can't see all the hype with laying frame though.......I think it just tears stuff up, but that's just me.

My thoughts about lowering.......if it is done right (time and money involved unfortunately) then the lowered vehicle will be easier to sell, but the ride better not be too harsh, so that is going to involve notching the frame and using good air bags so the ride height can be restored for driving in regular traffic........and it costs money to do that.
Also, keep in mind that you are limiting your buying audience when it is altered from a stock appearing truck........most buyers are looking for a truck, not a play toy so you will not be appealing to the truck buyers, more or less.
But, if you minimize the non-reversing mods to the truck, you can always put it back to a stock condition to sell it also.

Whatever you do, make sure you post plenty of pictures, as we are always interested in what other projects members have going!

Enjoy the forums!

I would stay away, unless you are confident you can part it out. It is common for bagged trucks not to be bagged properly and people get in over their heads. It ends up as a pile of parts and people sell it off. I'm not saying that is what it is just typically what you find when someone is trying to sell a bagged vehicle.

Thanks for the info on the bagged truck.....he told me a "professional" did the job, but I'll prolly just stay away from the truck + I got to thinking-it would be a hard sell here in Md. since its a 98 & it would never go through "Legal" inspection!(Has to be a 1992 to tag it historic).

I just got back from a pick & pull yard looking for a toyota bumper(did'nt find any worth a crap!lol) , but what year should I look for? Or use a 4-runner bumper? Any info would be appreciated! Thanx

What part of Maryland? I am in DC

Baltimore,Md.

In my opinion, a good compromise between ride and height for a static setup is three inch blocks, remove the center leaf and put some air shocks ($40 give or take at autozone, each). Cut the bump stops about an inch in the rear and replace the front ones with universal low profile energy suspension ones. Reindex the torsions two splines and adjust accordingly. I'm not a fan of removing bump stops and letting metal hit metal. I had this setup on mine for a while, it rode great and I could air up the shocks and put my dirt bike + gear and tools. It was about 2 inches lower than yours. The problem with mono leafing is that the spring becomes prone to wraping.

Iam local to"certifit" & they have the 90 toyota bumper(2wd) in stock, where to get brackets from? Rollpans.com or?

Also...what front shocks should I use, think I read on here-90 something Isuzu? You know how those guys are at autoparts stores then need a make/model does it have ac etc.!!!!lol