I'm looking a getting a car. I have a budget of more or less $12,000.
I kinda need something with four doors, and a bit of oomph.

I looked all over the 'net

And I found this site. So I more or less came to the conclusion that An old beater with a LS1 crammed into it would be a good choice. I really like the idea, in part because I'm very partial to sleeper cars. ("Of course I wasn't going 100, officer. I'm in a friggin' 15 year old Volvo!")

So... did some more research...

Found a LS1 with T56 for $4K on eBay. 51K miles.

Upgrades to help cope with the power:
$900 for wheels and tires
$800 for a suspension kit
$700 for brakes

All from TireRack.

Total parts: $6,400

Since these cost are fairly constant, I have $5,600 left out of my original $12K budget.

Beaters are dirt cheap.
A 93 190E for $2250
A 92 325i for $3000
A 93 Volvo 960 for $1200
A 95 C280 for $2750

I could only think of old Volvos, M-Bs and BMWs as cars that fit my criteria of a fairly light sedan. Caddilac has FF stuff at this price range, as do the Japanese, with the execption of the LS and Q45, both of which are heavy. Feel free to point out any I forgot.

So counting about $3k for the body, (though they can be gotten for far less, esp. the Volvos)

I have $2,600(or more,depending on car chosen) of my budget left.

Which begs the question.... How much is labor? I don't mind doing work myself, but I don't have much mechanical experience. The most expensive thing I've built to date is a computer...

I'm afraid I lack both the proper tools and workspace although a friend of mine's brother is hot rodding an old Ford Pickup, so I think he may be able to help me there. He is currently away, however, so I can't ask him.

-Thanks!

 

https://ls1tech.com/forums/forced-in...urbo-5-3l.html

oh nvm ... u are trying to have someone else do the work for u
look at $5000+ without having them make custom motor mount

good luck

 

put it in a B-Body...

 

Actually, I'd rather do the work myself. But won't I need some sort of tools?