![The Cost Of Free](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/5787/396718/5e1422d94304d/Chevy-Vortec.jpg)
Bad ideas? We’ve had them, and probably will continue to have them despite our best efforts. Like a junkie, we always seem to be looking for that next fix, only our heroin comes in the form of trucks and 4x4. We’re not junkies—we’re junkys. We crave capable off-road rigs both big and small. And like most addictions, it creates a problem.
The problem is money, the root of all evil. We apparently would prefer to spend it on many ragged pieces of 4x4 crap than one or two nicer 4x4 pieces of crap. We hoard derelict off-road vehicles and projects in hopes that we can one day take them on an adventure off the beaten (more like “off the paved”) path. That’s why free or nearly free trucks and 4x4s are very hard for us to refuse. This is the exact problem with the 1997 Crew Cab Chevy 3500HD truck that is the focus of this article. It seemed free, a deal too good to pass up.
Of course, working at the world’s largest off-road magazine only enables our habit, justifying some, if not all, of our projects because we need them for work. (Yeah, that’s it!) We introduced this truck to you before, and we even started collecting parts for the build, namely, the locked and loaded 2 1 ⁄2-ton axles we plan to tuck under it. It’s a free truck, which is one of the most sought-after trucks for people with our particular addiction. And while it’s not four-wheel drive (yet), it does have a 454 engine, a beefy transmission, and solid front and rear axles. That’s right— leaf-sprung beam front axle. These issues, we’ve convinced ourselves, are easy to overcome given our current path of enabling our addiction, even if it means spending money on a free truck. But at what cost…really?
Denne historien er fra March 2020-utgaven av 4-Wheel & Off-Road.
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Denne historien er fra March 2020-utgaven av 4-Wheel & Off-Road.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
![No Buggy Said It Was Easy](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5787/396718/5e14261537142/crp_No-Buggy-Said-It-Was-Easy-Where-Sheetmetal-Goes-To-Die.jpg)
No Buggy Said It Was Easy
Where Sheetmetal Goes To Die
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Easy Jeep JK Wrangler Brake Upgrade
Bigger Brakes For Your Bigger Jeep
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The Cost Of Free
Trying to revive a Chevy Vortec 454
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Quick Auto Cooler Upgrade
Jeep JK Transmission Cooler Installation
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Wrangler - It's Not Hard To Enter Easy!
Install AMP Research Powersteps On A JL Wrangler
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Slickrock Trail
HIGH SIERRA OASIS
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Fresh Fluid
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Fixing An Aged Truck Dash
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Best Of Sema
OUR FAVORITE PRODUCTS AMONG THE OFFERINGS AT THE SEMA SHOW
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Armor Up!
Add Quick & Easy Body Protection To A CJ-7