General LSX Automobile Discussion - what is a donor car?

can someone please tell me what a donor car is i have been looking up info on it and i cant seem to find anything i would greatly appreciate it

a donor car is normally a complete car that has been wrecked used to pull parts for a motor/tranny/rear swap

A car that is used for parts for another car.

oh so how do people buy donor cars do they get them from insurance companys or salvage yards or something and another question where would be the best place to buy a ls1 engine im doing a swap into an rx7 and i need a motor hoping to find a cheap one around 1500

Any car can be a donor car. But yeah, insurance companies, body shops, salvage yards, ebay, craigslist etc..

I hate to be this guy but I have to ask is this a real thread or are you yanking our chains? i mean no doisrespect either way and learning is something everyone needs to do at some point but to answer your second question insurance companies salvage yards or private sellers

sorry that was a real question this is going to be my first project and im trying figure out where i can buy these things and i have read about the donor car thing but i couldnt figure out what it actually was i appreciate the info guys

ok cool Good luck on your build man. what are you building anyways? do lots of research before you start cuttingand try and find a local to lend a hand if possible or a friend will do in a pinch

there is a DONAR Looking LT 1 Formula looking thing a few miles from me.

im actually building a 89 mazda rx7 turbo 2 im going to do an ls1 swap on it i know they have they kits for it and it would be pretty bad ass to do the swap

Don't want to rain on your parade, more trying to inject some reason. Great project but not something I'd recommend for someone brand new to this. Also taking into the dollars invested vs. the final projects worth, you'd be light years ahead financially and in a running LS1 car right away if you sold the RX7 and just bought an LS1 Camaro or Firebird.

well basically if i just went and bought a ls1 car im looking to pay what 10k for a pretty clean z28 when me puting 10k in this rx7 i would have a pretty well built rx7 ls1 swap car that would walk a 10k camaro or firebird just because of the weight difference im looking at what 3500 for a complete swap and then another 3500 for the swap kit thats 7k then put another 3k in it for a head and cam package and 400 horse in the light rx7 would kill an ls1 car

well basically if i just went and bought a ls1 car im looking to pay what 10k for a pretty clean z28 when me puting 10k in this rx7 i would have a pretty well built rx7 ls1 swap car that would walk a 10k camaro or firebird just because of the weight difference im looking at what 3500 for a complete swap and then another 3500 for the swap kit thats 7k then put another 3k in it for a head and cam package and 400 horse in the light rx7 would kill an ls1 car

It will cost more, it always does. You also have to look at financially, is it a wise move, say one day when you go to sell it (you will no matter what you think now) have $12,000 invested in a $2000 car? (no offense) It will barely be worth half of the money spent on the entire modifications. Plus how much is the down time worth to you? The car will be down 1-2 years I gaurantee it. All projects like this take forever and are never fully finished.

If I were you and had $10,000 in my pocket, I'd buy a 50k mile SS (can be done if you look hard enough) and slowly mod it over time. Or I'd get a mint 94-96 Corvette and pimp that. Weight makes no difference as a standard Camaro weighs around 3300-3400lbs. A C4 Corvette weighs about 100-200lbs less. ALso when it's all said and done, you'd have an SS or a Corvette instead of a late 80s long forgotten japanese import.

Good luck man either way but note that my comments are geared to saving you a TON of money, headache, and time.

well basically if i just went and bought a ls1 car im looking to pay what 10k for a pretty clean z28 when me puting 10k in this rx7 i would have a pretty well built rx7 ls1 swap car that would walk a 10k camaro or firebird just because of the weight difference im looking at what 3500 for a complete swap and then another 3500 for the swap kit thats 7k then put another 3k in it for a head and cam package and 400 horse in the light rx7 would kill an ls1 car

What an awful plan.
Take that money and put it into the LS1 car that you already have and it'll still be way faster. A swap like that is just a waste. I can actually see the RX7 exploding from the sheer awesomeness of the LS1.:D

if you have a GTO & leave it at my house for a couple of days it will become a "donor car":nod:

your right i think i would rather wait and just get an ss or something cause they are just so much nicer lol