project car ideas?

"Singhjr96" (singhjr96) 02/03/2014 at 23:08 • Filed to: None

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GOD DAMN IT KINJA. I was making a post and the website flipped on me right before I finished and was about to post it. Then I made it again, and it said it was posted, then it said it was scheduled, and it never posted. Also yes I know I posted this before but I'm still stuck.

Ok so heres what the story is. I recently got a daily driver, but it is not a car that I want to hoon around, SO of course this calls for a second project car. So being a teen, my parents say that I will have to fully pay for this car by myself. I always thought I would never be able to afford it till I saw these two posts.

http://jalopnik.com/how-to-build-a…

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I don't have all of the tools these guys have or the garage, so this isn't exactly how I am going to be do this, but I will be using this as somewhat of a mini guide.

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/how-to-score-a…

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This I thought was a great idea. So from this point I could either:

1.Get a cheap car, and also a scrapped (yet good running motor) car, and combine those two together.

2.Get a better cheap car. I could spend all of the budget on the car, or I can possibly pour some money into upgrades.

I am getting a job, and am going to have to save up for this car over the summer. I am also considering make this a project car for my senior project. So I want the car(s) to be under $3000 dollars total. This is just what I should have to start off with, but of course I will save up, and make even more upgrades as time goes on. Tell me either option 1 or 2, and what car(s) you would suggest. It can be any car from nissans, to old school minis. At this point I am open to any idea. Just remember, if you had $3000, what would you build?

YSI-what can brown do for you > Singhjr96 02/03/2014 at 23:13

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S13. You can get them for under 3 grand in various states of decay. . .

Singhjr96 > YSI-what can brown do for you 02/03/2014 at 23:15

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I love s13's. I looked at them But I want a body that is perfect, of very minimal rust, so I can sink all of my money into mechanical stuff, like brakes motors etc. That's hard to find. Living in a place like Washington, those are pretty desired after here, and they're either already modded, or in really bad shape.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Singhjr96 02/03/2014 at 23:15

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malaise era land barge.

Singhjr96 > YSI-what can brown do for you 02/03/2014 at 23:16

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Here's something I found though

puddler > Singhjr96 02/03/2014 at 23:16

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http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/4314920481…

JasonStern911 > YSI-what can brown do for you 02/03/2014 at 23:17

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I'd be careful with S13s... Nearly every one I see on craigslist is someone else's abandoned project. Never buy someone else's project.

YSI-what can brown do for you > Singhjr96 02/03/2014 at 23:18

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They are usually people's "drift" car, which means they are usually in terrible shape. It is good if you are planning of staring from the bottom and doing it right.

YSI-what can brown do for you > JasonStern911 02/03/2014 at 23:18

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Or a 17 year olds idea of a good idea.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Singhjr96 02/03/2014 at 23:18

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Be bold - get something oddball for drifting. My vote? El camino! Do it bubba drift style! Keep it simple and cheap with an LS motor and a manual trans out of a camaro or something you can pick up at a junkyard for cheap. Shoot for 300-400hp out of a 5.3 or 5.7L V8 and it'll be a great basic drift machine that will still be streetable. Get a big, shiny, radiator and some other heavy duty parts to keep it al running smoothly and it should last a while.

JasonStern911 > Singhjr96 02/03/2014 at 23:27

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Track/drifting/suspension oriented:
NA Miata

Drag racing/engine oriented:
5.0/Modular V8 SN95 Mustang
SBC powered 3rd generation Camaro

Retro/Quirky:
VW Beetle
Volvo 240

Off of the top of my head, that's all I can initially think of. Everything else is probably going to be either cost prohibitive or so much of a time sink that you'll lose interest. The fact you're asking means you have no sentimental attachment to the car, so if you get something that needs initial work, you're going to be less likely to dump endless time and money into it as you would after driving and hopefully connecting with the car. Plus, on a budget, it's stupid to venture off on some lower production or over-inflated value car. There's a reason Miatas, Mustangs, Camaros, and old Beetles are plentiful.

Once you decide, never buy someone else's project car. There's a reason they abandoned the project, and you'll never know for sure if it's the reason they tell you when they are trying to get money out of you.

Also, try not to buy a car that doesn't drive unless you get a killer deal on it. Sure, the seller may say it ran great until (insert simple enough part to replace) broke. But in non-op condition, you won't be able to get a feel for the current condition of the transmission, wheel bearings, etc. Why gamble when you can just be patient?

Dukie - Jalopnik Emergency Management Asshole > Singhjr96 02/03/2014 at 23:35

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MkII Supra.

You can find them under $3000, and they get decent power out of the 5M. LSD standard, and a W58 to row.

3rd Gen Celica GT-S

If you get the right one, it's a MkII Supra with a 22RE. Reliable and you can get silly with a few tweaks.

Singhjr96 > JasonStern911 02/03/2014 at 23:37

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Yeah agreed totally(about the project car bit). There are few cars I do want, but they're way overinflated, or hard to find unmolested, or with what I want. So I needed some ideas.

JasonStern911 > Singhjr96 02/03/2014 at 23:43

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Like I said:

Track/drifting/suspension oriented:
NA Miata

Drag racing/engine oriented:
5.0/Modular V8 SN95 Mustang
SBC powered 3rd generation Camaro

Retro/Quirky:
VW Beetle
Volvo 240

Everything else is probably going to be either cost prohibitive or so much of a time sink that you'll lose interest.

Maybe if you live in the southwest, you could add a 280Z/280ZX to that list. Or maybe a G-body or MR2. $3k isn't a lot of money to work with, especially if your plan is to hoon the thing...

Singhjr96 > Singhjr96 02/03/2014 at 23:43

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I JUST HAD A GREAT IDEA. A YUGO!!!!! lol. I'm actually somewhat serious on this. lol. What's the biggest engine you guy's think I could fit in there? It looks somewhat like a e30 in a ways. I like those old school retro cars. To bad good e30's are hard to come by.

Singhjr96 > JasonStern911 02/03/2014 at 23:48

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Lol. the part I didn't agree with was the project car idea. If some old man bought a mustang dropped a motor in it, and everything runs great, I would buy it. But of course there's no way you can get that for sub $3000.

thereisnospork > Singhjr96 02/04/2014 at 00:08

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Chevy Chevette for a 472-500ci cadillac big block swap. Cheap starter car, cheap engine, and with a fair amount of work to justify the 'project' in project car. Plus Hot Rod magazine did it at some point so there's some literature to follow.

Not to mention the unlimited tire-shredding-grin-inducing potential, even without applying any of the readily available go-fast parts for the motor. Could also be the basis for a drag car if that's your thing, and I imagine it could make a hilarious drift car.

JasonStern911 > Singhjr96 02/04/2014 at 00:31

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If the old man has a running Mustang with a fresh motor, then it's probably not an abandoned project.

Just offering advice. Honestly, it makes no difference to me if you listen. But don't say you weren't warned if you get a "killer deal" on someone's project that was "90% finished" with "thousands invested", only to find problems with things you cannot properly check for when the vehicle does not run (transmission issues, shot wheel bearings, steering components), bolts not properly torqued to spec that eventually come undone while driving, bolts seared off when you try to fix/replace something, pieces JB welded together, old gasket material not properly cleaned off of mating surfaces eventually causing leaks, ridiculous amounts of sludge in the "rebuilt engine", and various other easily avoidable problems that would be incredibly difficult to find by looking at a non-running car for fifteen minutes. Obviously, I'm just some asshole on the internet who has no idea what he's talking about, and the guy giving you a "sweet deal" has your best interests at heart, despite gaining financially from unloading it on you.

Singhjr96 > JasonStern911 02/04/2014 at 00:34

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No No, I agree with what your saying, I'm saying that sometimes there are great project cars, that are pretty much almost finished, and really just need like an interior. The only way to find a car like that is by spending around 35,000. Anything under that is most likely to have some money pit problems. But those are like unicorns. No matter how much the car cost, I would take it to get checked by a professional mechanic to look at it.

JasonStern911 > Singhjr96 02/04/2014 at 00:50

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No matter how much the car cost, I would take it to get checked by a professional mechanic to look at it.

Smart man. The one non-RX8 used car I got burned on was a Del Sol for my girl. I noticed it was leaking oil, traced it to the oil pan gasket. Noticed vibration when driving, traced it to a failing tie rod. Talked the guy down. Replaced the oil gasket. It helped, but the crankshaft seal was also leaking! Replaced the tie rod. It helped, but the wheel bearings were also shot! Cost more to get it sorted out as the vehicle was worth, at which point it was sold as my girl wouldn't stop complaining about how she wanted a convertible but the targa top was too heavy. Easily avoidable with a pre-purchase inspection. /sigh

Axial > Singhjr96 02/04/2014 at 02:09

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The answer to every thing is not, in fact, Miata. It is C4. Everything the Miata thinks it can do well, the C4 will do better.