It's been a while since I've been on here. About 5 years to be exact. I had a 99 TA and sold it a long time ago and for the past few years I've been working my *** off and the wife says I can get a toy. I loved my TA and will be going with another. Here is my dilemma. I have $25,000 to spend. I have 3 options I can go with.

Option #1 - Buy a TA that has already been built between 600hp - 800hp that is still streetable. I've seen a few around for sale but the problem is I'm a bit skeptical on buying built cars. I don't know how hard they've been run and I don't know what problems might exist when I buy it that the seller might not divulge. I don't want to buy someone else's problem for $20k - $25k and not have any money left to fix whatever is wrong with it.

Option #2 - Buy a TA for $13k - $16k that has H/C, built trans, built rear, suspension parts, and so forth. I would add a procharger or TT set up.

Option #3 - Buy a TA that is stock around $6k - $8k. Rebuild/build the engine, trans, and rears plus suspension parts and add procharger or TT. The pro with this option is I know what I have. I know what has been done. I would feel confident in this car. The con is that I couldn't build it as far as I want to build it on my $25k budget.

If I were to go with option #3, how would YOU build it (with specifics not just say heads and cam etc). I am open to any and all suggestions on a full build from the front bumper to the rear bumper.

Here are a few side notes
-Must be streetable. It won't be driven every day. It would be taken out on weekends and possibly once or so during the week and it will see the track.
-Must be supercharged or turbo. I'm open to either.
-MUST RETAIN A/C!!!! I live in Alabama. If you don't live down here you might not think A/C is a big deal. Let me assure you, it is.
-Car will be a 6 speed car. My last one was an auto. Sure the Auto is probably better for the track but where is the fun in that. I drive a truck for a living. I have 10 gears so the 6 in the car won't bother me.
-Must be a 4th gen. None of the others really appeal to me except the 1st gen and my budget probably wouldnt even buy the shell of a 1st gen.

Thanks for any and all suggestions guys.

 

Vette!

 

I was originally looking at a Vette but I love the TA and I can get more power from the cheaper TA built than buying a stock vette and deplete my budget. I'm 25 years old. No tickets/wrecks but insurance for a vette is still outrageous for me when I checked a few months ago. Plus, I have an 8 month old son. Although the TA isn't the roomiest in the back, a car seat will still fit

 

Gotcha, depends if you wanted a heavy modded car (could be someone else's headache) or a very low mileage stock car.

 

IMO since you'll need a fully built engine and trans from top to bottom with the power range you want, I'd look for a car that needs a new engine and trans from the get go.

Basically Option 3 in perfect condition except for a blow motor/trans.
This will cut a nice chunk out of the initial cost of the car , which can be put towards a new engine/trans that's been built to handle the power.

I'd consider this Option #4.

 

With a budget like that as long as you are on patient, any way you go will work put well for you on a TA build. I paid less than 10k for a one of eleven Firehawk that I really have shopped for a long time for. If I were to spend a lot less than what your target is 1400 HP is doable. Good luck to you in your hunt. I love vettes but you it is great to see F body cars getting it done.

 

I hadn't thought of finding one with no/blown motor or trans. I'm sure there are some somewhere laying around for $3k or less. I'll have to price a new LS1 or a used LS1 that can be rebuilt/built and see if it would be more beneficial cost-wise.

I am looking for build ideas for the 3rd option as far as what types of heads and cam and everything down to the smallest details such as bearing and rings. If someone can add prices with their suggestions that would be even better. There are just so many options for so many different parts that it can be hard to sit down and figure out what would be the best bang for the buck.

The engine will be built. The trans will be built. The rear will be swapped to a 9in or 12 bolt with 3.73. I will add the usual suspension parts.

 

In regards to option #4 i paid $2400 for my 98 trans am with a rod hanging out the block. What i didnt know is the trans was also bad. Just have to look around deals pop up now and then.

Also throwing out another option. Option # 5 buy a v6 bird to save a few more $. I paid $1600 for my 99 v6 bird that was perfect. Although It would look like a formula rather than a trans am.

Now with your left over money personally i would go with a 9inch for parts availability or if you want an even stronger rear a s60. Also would do suspension mods such as torque arm shocks springs rear control arms sub frame connectors etc. i would also throw a cage in the car. Dont forget some nice wheels/ tires.

Engine wise i think a ls7 would be sweet! But if you cant phantom the price, a 402/408 lq4/lq9 would be still sweet. Or if your wanting an aluminum block a ls3 would be still stout. Throw a fast 102 on there as well as a nice set of heads.
Also your going to need to upgrade your fuel system. Many different options for you to explore there.

Get your trans built to handle all of that power also. Many different sponsors on here will take care of you.

I cant help in the forced induction department because i dont know enough about forced induction.

Id love to have a 25,000 budget and thats what i would do.

 

I've been sitting here looking around at a TT setup with a 408 but I'm not seeing any prices on how much it costs to take the LS2 to a 408. I know the TT kit is around $10k from modularturbos (sponsor here) but I'm not sure if it will work on the LS2 or just the LS1. I would love to have that setup but If it costs $20k to build that engine then there goes the tranny and suspension.

As far as getting a V6 firebird, that is a big no. I hate the firebird and the formula. Something about the front bumper and rear wing I don't like. Just doesn't look right to me. Plus I love T-tops

 

Edit: After more looking, a forged stroker kit for the LS2 is $2,000 for the absolute best kit (1000+ hp). The bare block is $1200. So I would have to add heads, cam, intake, and TT. That would total around $17,000 on the high end. Might be doable if I can find the right roller to put it in.

Might also look into just a built 408 with no procharger or TT set up. I just want to be sitting between 600hp and 800hp. The closer to 800 the better.

 

I say go with 3.

 

Are you looking at installing this yourself or having a shop do it for you? Didnt see that in your original post have a shop do it will quickly eat your $ up. Also dont forget the little things that add up such as i noticed you didnt add machining cost into the ls2 stroker. Bolts gaskets sensors etc will nickel and dime you. I think a trans am with a blown engine would be the most cost effective. Or if you buy a running one you can sell the engine and recoop some of your money back. You can transfer all of the sensors brackets accessories etc off of the old engine onto the new engine. Also if your sinking $25000 into a car id make sure its exactly what you want meaning paint interior options milage year etc dont get antsy and jump on one your not 100% on, been there done that. Just my 2 cents

 

Same reason I went TA over vette, my son who is now 4 loves going for rides in it. Car seats don't fit well rear facing but when you turn it around, it fits well

Good luck with your new family and ride and I'd go with option 3, I bought a stock trans am with 12k miles a few years back for the same reasons you shared

 

Down payment on new ZL1 or Shelby call it a day.

 

I would go with option 4, i would then buy a 4.8 or 5.3 and bore and stroke it to displacement of your choice. Then twin turbo it with a built 4l80 or th400 and throw a 9" or s60 out back

 

Option 3...

Forged and stroked LS2 402-408ci Aluminum block for the street.
10:1 compression
Go with a GM top end, either 317 heads with a LS6 intake or a LS3 head and intake combo. Either way go with a good set of dual springs.
Custom spec cam
Big exhaust
F1-R Procharger
Meth injection

800 hp would be no problem with that cubic inch, and blower.

 

I'd buy this.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/vehicle-c...ger-shark.html

 

All the work will be done by myself and a good friend of mine so there is no cost there except maybe buying him dinner which is fine. As far as options/color/etc, color really isn't an issue. My previous one was white and I like it. I love the SOM but who doesn't. Any color would be fine with me. Options, as long as it is a 6sp and has t-tops and ABSOUTELY NO TAN INTERIOR. Definitely not a fan of the tan interior. Mileage isn't really an issue because the motor/tranny/rear will be fully built either way. So basically, I'm not really picky on the car I start with. Figuring out if I want a TT LS1, PC LS1, 408 TT, 408 N/A, forged 370, etc is the problem. Looking to get in the 10's for $25k basically.

 

My friend that is helping me with the build has a 2013 Shelby GT500. It is a badass car but it was also $60k. The ZL1 is also a bad car but the cheapest I found was $40,000. Plus, for the price of a stock ZL1, you could build something that would blow the doors off of it so bad it would look like a Veyron racing a geo metro.

 

This is what I'm looking for. Specifics on a build. The only thing I see on there that kinda worries me is the meth injection. I've never used it or even read much about it so I'm not sure how streetable it would be or how big of a PITA it would be to find the meth and remember to add it.