Thinking about a budget project car - need some ideas

[DietDrThunder]

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

They put the radiator in the front, cut slats or put on a grill.

 

[Howard]

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

If you like seeing small cars twist like domestics from the 70s...

 

[exdeath]

If you like seeing small cars twist like domestics from the 70s...

Would have to measure wheelbase before and after a few runs :sneaky:

 

[exdeath]

Ok, so you build one of these Corvairs.

That has got to be a pain in the ass to launch without 50 foot wheelie bars or 2 tons of lead in the trunk.

 

[Howard]

d'oh

 

[unxpurg8d]

I have an MG Midget that could use a new friend...

 

[nismotigerwvu]

+1 for a 240SX, you can snag an s13 for a couple of hundred bucks and just rebuild the KA24(D)E with a turbo in mind and make some as much power as the car can reasonably put down without really breaking the bank.

 

[Excelsior]

Just get a miata. Almost a no-brainer. I say this as an S2000 owner.

 

[jme5343]

Well folks, I went with a 1991 MR2. I flew out to York, PA from Fargo, ND last Friday and drove it home, arriving about 12:30 Sunday morning.

I'll post some pics and other details later tonight, but I'll say this...my wrenching has already begun. I have some white smoke on idle *after* driving it, so I'm hoping it's turbo seals. If not, well, that's what project cars are for, right?

Thank you for all the suggestions, but the allure of jlee's project was just too tempting!

 

[jlee]

Well folks, I went with a 1991 MR2. I flew out to York, PA from Fargo, ND last Friday and drove it home, arriving about 12:30 Sunday morning.

I'll post some pics and other details later tonight, but I'll say this...my wrenching has already begun. I have some white smoke on idle *after* driving it, so I'm hoping it's turbo seals. If not, well, that's what project cars are for, right?

Thank you for all the suggestions, but the allure of jlee's project was just too tempting!

Easy way to check the turbo - pull the intake off and see if you can wiggle the compressor wheel in the turbo housing. If it moves more than a minuscule amount, it's going.

 

[jme5343]

Pictars!

 

[JCH13]

Holy clean car batman! That must have been a bit of coin... but it looks REALLY nice.

 

[Throckmorton]

Wow, in red it looks like a mini Ferrari

 

[jlee]

How are your engine bay fans wired? I see no wires....and I really like that....

 

[jme5343]

jlee, he's just got them run behind the shroud and then ducking behind the heat shield and then through the tunnel. Funny thing about that whole deal is they were wired to a switch on the left side of the dash. It started smoking and filled the car up with smoke at the perfect time....right as I was getting into Chicago traffic, lol. I didn't panic, just rolled down the window and cut across a few lanes to the closest exit. It's not hooked up right now, I'm going to fish new wires through the tunnel with the existing ones.

 

[jlee]

jlee, he's just got them run behind the shroud and then ducking behind the heat shield and then through the tunnel. Funny thing about that whole deal is they were wired to a switch on the left side of the dash. It started smoking and filled the car up with smoke at the perfect time....right as I was getting into Chicago traffic, lol. I didn't panic, just rolled down the window and cut across a few lanes to the closest exit. It's not hooked up right now, I'm going to fish new wires through the tunnel with the existing ones.

Ahh, he ran the wires into the passenger compartment? Hmm, I was going to run mine off a relay in the engine bay..maybe I should re-think that approach.