how about budget 5.3 into an 80's G-body? Emphasis on cheap/easy fab work and junkyard/ebay parts, things like modifying/fabbing a crossmember with common hand tools and building a jig so you can take it to a (muffler?) shop and have them weld it together.

 

here's a budget story for you. '66 Chevelle with NO RUST for $1500.00, 5.3 with a T350 for $300.00, use the T350 for engine location, then sell the T350 for half of the total 5.3 and T350, buy a TKO500. Then as budget allows, 12" front brakes, 11" rear brakes, 2" tall/dropped spindles. No it doesn't run yet. But it's closer every week.

 

I used to own a 1968 Chevelle 300 deluxe, it was pea green.

I'd try doing something other than a 1gen Camaro, but that's just me. I'd do a 68-72 Nova.

 

A NOVA would be good, but they are so much like a first gen Camaro i wonder if "different" would apply. but yes they are cheap.!!

 

if your on a budget and tring to build it cheap get creative. I found a lot of deal's already. about a year and half ago I bought a ls1/t56 combo for 1200. since sold it to a friend for his s10. about a month ago I bought a 01 6.0 4l80e combo with hrness andcomputer for 1k. niether motor came from the "normal"place. one came from a local dealer that sell's rebuildable's the tther came from az. look around you can still find good stuff "cheap" also do your own fabricating and you'll save yourself some there too.

 

I would love to see a 5.3 buildup, but we all know you will start out with a small budget and then go looking for more power (more money). But hey, that's the way we are.
There seems to be a lot of Vegas crawling out of the woodwork. They are light and still affordable. And when was the last time you saw one on the road?

Ken

 

S10
3rd gen camaro
80s G body
78-8? caprice 2 door

 

FWIW it took me about $0.60 and 5 minutes to convert my auto harness to control my 6 speed transmission. Add half an hour to that if you want to de-pin the original automatic connector that controlled the 4L60e.



My stock bottom end +Katech rod bolts w/ cam and stage 3 heads should scoot on down the road, especially with a ~200 shot on it.

DO IT!

 

If you really wanted a budget build, try to find a way to re-use the truck intake. On some cars that may mean a modified hood, but that would definately fit into the budget idea. While it wouldn't be a serious performance package, a B-body would be a great "budget" build, and there is a ton of room in the bay if you look at an older platform. While definately not budget, I would also love to see some more X-Frame swaps as well, like maybe a 50's/60's Buick (perhaps a 61???), or a 50's Cadilllac. Don't overlook a station wagon either, outside of a few popular choices, you can usually pick up a wagon pretty cheap. Are you talking about the whole project on a budget, or just the driveline? Don't overlook how inexpensive it is to go to your local yard that lets you pull your own parts. You can find a lot of great parts on unpopular cars that are the same part from a popular car and pay less. For a budget build, I would like to see something that uses only basic hand/power tools for any simple fab work, and no crazy expensive details. Thanks for your willingness to explore a new opportunity. I know our swap wasn't as inexpensive as it could have been, and our next swap will definately be cheaper, based on what we know now.

 

I think an 1980 Malibu would be a cool budget build.

 

Cheap - Go 5.3/auto. I see low mile pull outs out for everything ~$2k. You can't beat that. If you can go with manifolds instead of headers, simple mounts, just a tune, yeah, it can be cheap. How about into an older truck?

LOL, remove the bling card.

 

How about a 1966 Impala. They are cheap and better yet they have LOTS OF ROOM. They weigh very little more than a Chevelle.

 

find a cheap third gen to throw it in, flat black with open headers

 

fox bodies are the best option for light, cheap, strong rear end, cheap parts, but a chevy magazine might frown on it for a feature car


Ryan

 

Already done:

http://www.popularhotrodding.com/tec...ant/index.html

--JMarsa

 

I just put a 5.3l in my 83 chevy, I used a 700r4 tranny and disabled the tranny requirements in the computer so i don't see why you couldn't put in a standard. Have the computer reprogrammed and it shouldn't be problem.

 

3rd gen nova with auto trans and cam head work see how much hp you can pull out of it.

 

The truck intake will clear on the G-Body cutlasses and El Caminos, should clear the malibu`s too. If you do a 3rd gen f-body the intake/alt will require a cowl scoop to clear. The truck intake actually flows pretty well. You can grind/sand/paint it to make it look better.

Heres a couple pics I pulled off a long gone e-bay ad.

 

I don't know.. my friend just bought a decent, clean and running '68 Camaro for $8500.. toss in the 5.3L and some stuff.. you could have a fun car for under $25k.. under $20k if you tried REAL hard.

 

Thanks for all the tips.. they will help with the story..