Thinking about a budget project car - need some ideas

[jme5343]

Jlee's mr has gotten me looking about those, I've had a buick regal gs in the past, had a corrado, crx, etc. I want something that is fairly normal to work on, and ideally something that has strong forum support, both for getting parts and technical support.

So options are an early 90s mr2, buick regal gs(supercharged), an older mustang, and whatever else you guys mention. I'd like to keep the initial purchase at 3-5k, but that's not totally solid.

I haven't ever done a complete engine pull out, but I've been deep, so something that needs some wrenching doesn't scare me. At the end of the project I want something fast and fun to drive. I don't plan to take this vehicle across country with the family or anything.

 

[Vic Vega]

Fox body Mustang... inexspensive, reliable, easy to work on, hugemongous aftermarket.

Even with a mostly stock 87-93 302 you can make good power and they are light cars, notches come in under 3,000 lbs. Just having the stock E7 heads worked with a Cobra upper/lower also worked and a decent exhaust should put down 300 or so at the wheels. AFR heads are cheap and can make 400 at the wheels with little effort.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

SN95 Mustang with the 5.0L V8 - '94 & '95 model years.

240SX and save for a swap

Datsun 240/260Z and save for a swap

2nd Gen RX7 and save for a swap

 

[jlee]

I'm partial...but if you have the time and money to take a $3k MR2 and turn it into a nice car, you'll have a blast. A $3k MR2 Turbo will be in very rough shape. You should be able to find a decent n/a for $3-5k, but you'll want more power.

 

[jlee]

Registration required, but this car ran 12.1 @ 112mph with 277whp and is for sale for $4k in Lancaster, PA: http://mr2oc.com/showthread.php?t=414971

 

[jme5343]

I'm in MN, but honestly I think I would prefer a Mr to a stang.

 

[jlee]

I'm in MN, but honestly I think I would prefer a Mr to a stang.

Register on MR2OC and see if you can find a local owner who will take you for a drive.

 

[Vic Vega]

Fox Mustangs were the hot car during my youth so I'm partial to them but many are done up in such a way they are a turn off to me. I like the cars to retain their stock appearance with plenty of upgrades under the hood.

 

[jme5343]

Register on MR2OC and see if you can find a local owner who will take you for a drive.

Registered and waiting for an approval. Way back in the day I had a buddy with a gen1, but the turbo potential on these makes me grin.

Vic, I haven't written off the mustang, it will ultimately come down to bang for the buck. I definitely wouldn't have any heartburn driving a fox body, a quick craigslist search turns up some pretty nice ones in Fargo and Minneapolis. But, true to my style, I would also like something a little "exotic" and the mr fits that niche

 

[thedarkwolf]

I had a fox body mustang and now I have a miata. Fox body mustangs are a lot like driving something from the 60s. They are loud, rattle, have shitty brakes stock, bad interior, but the old 5.0l feels really powerful and are fun to drive. Build a turbo miata .

 

[jme5343]

Would anyone think about taking a chance on this? http://fargo.craigslist.org/cto/2271283416.html

I have a pretty decent garage setup that I could keep her in while I work on it....

 

[DietDrThunder]

If you are looking for an inexpensive but different project car that will always grab you a lot of attention, look at the 1960 (came out in the fall of 1959) through 1969 Chevrolet Corvair. There were nearly 2 million of them made, parts are cheap, reproduction parts are cheap in comparison to Camaro's, Mustangs, Corvettes, etc. There is a good base of parts vendors and a great support base as well.

Here are a few of the models you can choose from:
1960 through 1964 4 door sedan - 3spd, 4spd, or automatic

1961 through 1962 wagon - Sorry, it limited me to 10 photos so I left the wagon photo out.

1960 through 1964 2 door coupe - which includes the turbo charged Spyder

1962 through 1964 Convertible - which includes the turbo charged Spyder

1962 through 1965 9 passanger vans

1962 through 1965 pickups
Rampside

Loadside

1965 through 1969 Coupe (4 spd with turbo charged only available '65 and '66, 2 1 - barrel carbs or 4 - 1 barrel carbs with 4 -spd or automatic)

1965 through 1969 4 door sedan (4 spd and automatic, 2 - 1 barrel carbs or 4 -1 barrel carbs)

1965 through 1969 Convertible (4 spd with turbo charged only available '65 and '66, 2 1 - barrel carbs or 4 - 1 barrel carbs with 4 -spd or automatic)

All used a simular 6 cylinder air-cooled rear engine:

Here is the best forum for support and they are a great bunch of guys with tons of knowledge:
http://corvaircenter.com/phorum/list.php?1

Here is a link to some of the vendors:
http://corvaircenter.com/links.php

For $3K to $4K you can find one that has very little left to restore and one that is ready to drive. There are a lot of interchangeable parts throughout all models, so finding parts, whether new are used is not hard to do.

 

[MaxFusion16]

mk2/mk3 supra

cheap, rwd, 5speed, plenty of engine options, power is not an issue.

just watch out for rear quarter panel rust.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

If you want budget, A Mustang of F-body is the way to go. You will get more bang for your buck with those platforms over anything else.

Just be aware going into this. You will never see the money you put into the vehicle in return.

 

[jme5343]

Cepak - some of those look awesome, I appreciate the links and will look into it. I'm looking for a good deal of muscle, though, like no less than a 12 second car.

Max, I'll check it out, I remember seeing a couple running around when I was in HS

Lebowski - part of my plan is to buy one that someone else has put some $$ into for a fraction of what they have invested

 

[DietDrThunder]

Cepak - some of those look awesome, I appreciate the links and will look into it. I'm looking for a good deal of muscle, though, like no less than a 12 second car.

Max, I'll check it out, I remember seeing a couple running around when I was in HS

Lebowski - part of my plan is to buy one that someone else has put some $$ into for a fraction of what they have invested

Ok, so you build one of these Corvairs.

 

[jme5343]

Muahahahaha, that last one is awesome.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

Lol engine in the back? and a flat nose? Possibly the worst design I have ever seen. Where is the cooling coming from?

 

[JCH13]

I had a fox body mustang and now I have a miata. Fox body mustangs are a lot like driving something from the 60s. They are loud, rattle, have shitty brakes stock, bad interior, but the old 5.0l feels really powerful and are fun to drive. Build a turbo miata .

[BROKEN RECORD]

Miata or turbo Miata - cheap parts, cheap insurance, easy to work on, great fun to drive, great for track days, you can't lose. :awe:

[/BROKEN RECORD]

 

[jme5343]

JCH, thedarkwolf, what's the best Miata forum, and do they have classifieds?

 

[JCH13]

miata.net and miataturbo.net are my usual haunts, lots of great information, I hardly ever post because so many questions have already been answered. Both have good classifieds and FS forums. I got my first Miata through CL, and my second through miataturbo.net via NASIOC via JLee (long story).

Keep your eyes peeled, I plan on starting a build thread for my turbo Miata as soon as the weather warms up a little bit. Somewhere in the archives are a couple threads on the debauchery that has already transpired with that car :awe:

 

[thedarkwolf]

http://clubroadster.net/vb_forum/home.php
There is also that miata forum but they are more looks than performance.
I had a 94 turbo miata but wrecked well I still have it sitting in my back yard. I'd swap the turbo divetrain into my 95 miata but I don't want to be put in the crazy autox class again plus I really don't miss the extra power much. Only time I really notice while driving like a normal person is getting on the interstate.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

If you go miata, screw going turbo. http://www.monstermiata.com/ is where it is at.

 

[Mursilis]

[BROKEN RECORD]

Miata or turbo Miata - cheap parts, cheap insurance, easy to work on, great fun to drive, great for track days, you can't lose. :awe:

[/BROKEN RECORD]

This. I have one. Tons of fun. Now if only I had more time to actually drive it. Grrrr....

 

[exdeath]

If you go miata, screw going turbo. http://www.monstermiata.com/ is where it is at.

No I think I would prefer a turbo...on the V8 of course.