Project Car Ideas (Need your help)
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 119
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Project Car Ideas (Need your help) Ok, It may be 6 moths - a year before I can afford it but I need yall's input on a good car to use as a project. Here are my stipulations:
1. Must have a v8 motor (i need the power)
2. Need the best "bang for the buck" as I am only a high school student with limited income.
3. Has to be good on insurance (I know all v8s are bad for this, but if they're not brand-spankin-new then it isnt so bad)
4. Need's to be able to be streetable
5. Going for all motor! And a street/strip setup.
What are your ideas for the type of car and mods? Estimated price?
1. Must have a v8 motor (i need the power)
2. Need the best "bang for the buck" as I am only a high school student with limited income.
3. Has to be good on insurance (I know all v8s are bad for this, but if they're not brand-spankin-new then it isnt so bad)
4. Need's to be able to be streetable
5. Going for all motor! And a street/strip setup.
What are your ideas for the type of car and mods? Estimated price?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 119
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I want to spend less than $2,500. Wanting lower if possible. With a motor and tranny so I can drive it home! Gas mileage doesn't matter because it'll be a weekend car. After the initial price of the car, prices are unlimited!
I don't think he was talking about a third gen RX7. You can find all kinds of 2nd gen rx7s for under 2500$.
In all honesty, if your budget is 2500$ then you might need to give a hard look at Fox body Mustangs. You can find a cheap 4 cyl. LX for cheap {less than a grand}. Get a low mile 5.0 for under 750$, use the original 4cyl tranny for a while till you tear it up and buy a V8 T5 for around 500 bucks.
The car will have low insurance since it will have a 4cyl VIN, very little money and the car will be in the 13s with a nearly stock motor. My wife has a 85 LX and it has turned a best of a 14.21@95mph and the only mods were UD pulleys, 1.7 roller rockers {bought used for 100$}, 3.73 gears and a set of old Hoosier slicks {the slicks and a 10 hole wheels were 100$}.
I've just added a set of long tube headers, and off-road H-pipe and a Flowmaster cat-back and hopefully I will be running high 13s ny next time at the track. Add a set of decent heads, a cam and a good intake {buy all used for less than 1000 bucks} and the car will be running low 13s if not high 12s.
Later when more money is available start on the suspension and brakes {the real weak point on Fox Bodies}.
In all honesty, if your budget is 2500$ then you might need to give a hard look at Fox body Mustangs. You can find a cheap 4 cyl. LX for cheap {less than a grand}. Get a low mile 5.0 for under 750$, use the original 4cyl tranny for a while till you tear it up and buy a V8 T5 for around 500 bucks.
The car will have low insurance since it will have a 4cyl VIN, very little money and the car will be in the 13s with a nearly stock motor. My wife has a 85 LX and it has turned a best of a 14.21@95mph and the only mods were UD pulleys, 1.7 roller rockers {bought used for 100$}, 3.73 gears and a set of old Hoosier slicks {the slicks and a 10 hole wheels were 100$}.
I've just added a set of long tube headers, and off-road H-pipe and a Flowmaster cat-back and hopefully I will be running high 13s ny next time at the track. Add a set of decent heads, a cam and a good intake {buy all used for less than 1000 bucks} and the car will be running low 13s if not high 12s.
Later when more money is available start on the suspension and brakes {the real weak point on Fox Bodies}.
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Originally Posted by Judd
I don't think he was talking about a third gen RX7. You can find all kinds of 2nd gen rx7s for under 2500$.
In all honesty, if your budget is 2500$ then you might need to give a hard look at Fox body Mustangs. You can find a cheap 4 cyl. LX for cheap {less than a grand}. Get a low mile 5.0 for under 750$, use the original 4cyl tranny for a while till you tear it up and buy a V8 T5 for around 500 bucks.
The car will have low insurance since it will have a 4cyl VIN, very little money and the car will be in the 13s with a nearly stock motor. My wife has a 85 LX and it has turned a best of a 14.21@95mph and the only mods were UD pulleys, 1.7 roller rockers {bought used for 100$}, 3.73 gears and a set of old Hoosier slicks {the slicks and a 10 hole wheels were 100$}.
I've just added a set of long tube headers, and off-road H-pipe and a Flowmaster cat-back and hopefully I will be running high 13s ny next time at the track. Add a set of decent heads, a cam and a good intake {buy all used for less than 1000 bucks} and the car will be running low 13s if not high 12s.
Later when more money is available start on the suspension and brakes {the real weak point on Fox Bodies}.
In all honesty, if your budget is 2500$ then you might need to give a hard look at Fox body Mustangs. You can find a cheap 4 cyl. LX for cheap {less than a grand}. Get a low mile 5.0 for under 750$, use the original 4cyl tranny for a while till you tear it up and buy a V8 T5 for around 500 bucks.
The car will have low insurance since it will have a 4cyl VIN, very little money and the car will be in the 13s with a nearly stock motor. My wife has a 85 LX and it has turned a best of a 14.21@95mph and the only mods were UD pulleys, 1.7 roller rockers {bought used for 100$}, 3.73 gears and a set of old Hoosier slicks {the slicks and a 10 hole wheels were 100$}.
I've just added a set of long tube headers, and off-road H-pipe and a Flowmaster cat-back and hopefully I will be running high 13s ny next time at the track. Add a set of decent heads, a cam and a good intake {buy all used for less than 1000 bucks} and the car will be running low 13s if not high 12s.
Later when more money is available start on the suspension and brakes {the real weak point on Fox Bodies}.
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the rx7 is a good idea... Joe Vick has a shop in buford and lives just up the street, his specialty is Toyota MR2's and RX6's, RX8's. He finds these little pieces of **** all over the place and takes them home, slaps a good tranny in there, a v8, and a turbo 
Im sure you can search for a used rx7 on auto trader, they are so light and easy to manuever, and the v8 swap isnt that difficult from what i understand.
Im sure you can search for a used rx7 on auto trader, they are so light and easy to manuever, and the v8 swap isnt that difficult from what i understand.
Originally Posted by FIREHAWK#608
I'd use the $2500 as mod money for a '98 Camaro Z28. You CAN get them for 8k. You need to finance that amount. The payment wont be much. You can do it.
Originally Posted by METALBEAST
Have you ever tried converting a 4 cyl Mustang to a V8? I have and its ALOT more complicated and expensive than just swapping the engine. Its taken my buddy Tommy and I almost 2 years to convert his 89 Coupe from a 4 banger to a V8. You would be better off finding a cheap Fox or 3rd gen.
Yes you are right about that..
..it is almost as big a pain in the *** as putting siding on a garage... 
Originally Posted by slt200mph
Yes you are right about that.. ..it is almost as big a pain in the *** as putting siding on a garage...
..it is almost as big a pain in the *** as putting siding on a garage... 
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 119
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So it looks like I'm gonna try and find a Fox-body stang or a 3rd gen camaro... I'm keeping my Grand Am as a DD. Anyone know exactly how hard it is to convert a 4cyl LX into a 5.0? And everyone is telling me not to get a car older than 1980... but I had a 75 camaro before my grand am and LOVED it! Any more ideas/suggestions?
Originally Posted by I drive the Grand Am
What about an RS v6 3rd gen or 4th gen converted to a 350/LT1/LS1?
Read my first post. Its cheaper to buy a car with a V8 in it than to convert it over. No offense intended, but it sounds like you have not really worked on cars very much. Add the learning curve to that and...well, you get the idea.
Originally Posted by METALBEAST
Have you ever tried converting a 4 cyl Mustang to a V8? I have and its ALOT more complicated and expensive than just swapping the engine. Its taken my buddy Tommy and I almost 2 years to convert his 89 Coupe from a 4 banger to a V8. You would be better off finding a cheap Fox or 3rd gen.
A. You and your buddy were fiddle farting around {low on money or time}.
B. You were trying to do a concours factory perfect conversion {even that shouldn't take two dern years!}.
C. You and your buddy just don't know what you are doing.
Which is it, A, B or C? I honestly think the answer is A. If a person has a daily driver and is of regular mechanical aptitude, then I really think it's not over one's head. Not even close. If you don't have a daily driver, or have trouble changing your brakes, then I think you should be worried about it. In that case, your right.
I see your from Cleveland, if you will meet us at the Waffle House Sunday at the end of Ga. 400 at 10AM, I will introduce you to the guy with the converted 4 cyl LX. AND he will introduce you to a guy that has probably do at least fifeteen conversions.
He said he wanted cheap insurance and it had to cost around 2500 bucks, there ain't really a better way unless you luck up on a deal.
Last edited by Judd; Jul 23, 2005 at 01:20 AM.
Auto Trader. As already stated find something w/a V8. Unless you're a pretty decent wrench w/tools, stay away from motor/driveline conversions. If it's a "project" car(IE: you'll work on it slowly over a predetermined time frame), you should be able to find something that's got issues relatively cheap. Old SBC cars are CHEAP to mod. Parts are EVERYWHERE. Old Nova/3rd gen. F-body or an Oldsmobile Cutlas are all plentifull.
I personally like the early/mid-eighties two door Monte Carlos for hot rod makeovers. With paint, minimal interior work and minor suspension work they are IMO luxury hotrods. Nothing to having the seats re-upholstered for a few hundred $$$(if needed), and carpet can be found at JC Whittney's cheap. A GM crate motor(ZZ 350 comes to mind)w/a mild cam will make plenty enough power to get the car in the 12's w/the right gear.
They look great(if done right), have comfy interiors(the ladies like creature comforts), and can run like a raped ape.... don't weigh any more than a comparably equiped F-body(if that). Best of all worlds. Also easier to insure than an f-body or Fox body. Just a thought.
Damn... I think I've just talked myself into MY next project car
I personally like the early/mid-eighties two door Monte Carlos for hot rod makeovers. With paint, minimal interior work and minor suspension work they are IMO luxury hotrods. Nothing to having the seats re-upholstered for a few hundred $$$(if needed), and carpet can be found at JC Whittney's cheap. A GM crate motor(ZZ 350 comes to mind)w/a mild cam will make plenty enough power to get the car in the 12's w/the right gear.
They look great(if done right), have comfy interiors(the ladies like creature comforts), and can run like a raped ape.... don't weigh any more than a comparably equiped F-body(if that). Best of all worlds. Also easier to insure than an f-body or Fox body. Just a thought.
Damn... I think I've just talked myself into MY next project car