The Project Car is No Longer a Project. Long Live the Project Car!

"way2blu does a rev update" (way2blu) 05/12/2018 at 13:02 • Filed to: Toyota MR2, Project Car, unnecessary car shopping without E90M3

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I hereby proclaim: My MR2 is complete. At least, it’s as complete as I’m willing to make it. It’s now a fairly functional daily driver, and looks nice too. Chassis issues stand in the way of serious autocross participation, so I need a new project.

Upon deeper investigation of my MR2's condition, it seems that previous subframe damage was repaired extensively, and poorly. Rather than spend excessive amounts of time and money to tighten up and reinforce the chassis, I’d rather get a second vehicle to work on.

My project criteria are pretty simple:

Autocross-able, as in low enough center of mass not to tip over

Cheap, accessible parts and easy to repair (I want to do a lot of the work myself this time)

Simplicity . Classic cars will probably be better without all the modern tech

Manual transmission

Criteria that don’t matter (even though they’re usually assumed for autocross)

Drive type — I’m good with FWD to RWD to AWD and anything in between

Bodystyle — I’ll autocross anything if it’ll have a low center of mass

Weight — I don’t care if it’s heavy, that might even be fun

My eventual goal is to get a car that I can work on, drive, and document for blogging and YouTube adventures. Gimme your most creative recommendations! :D

djmt1 > way2blu does a rev update 05/12/2018 at 13:08

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MGB

sony1492 > way2blu does a rev update 05/12/2018 at 13:19

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Manual sc300, or autobox 400 (I know it’s not in the criteria but it would make for an interesting read and if you get the 1uz you have extensive OPPO tech support). EG civic Sedan(unoriginal but potentially better weight distribution than the hatch), vw Rabbit, Chevy s10(make your own cyclone).

way2blu does a rev update > djmt1 05/12/2018 at 13:20

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Funny you say that...

This was my ‘65 MKII Midget. Sold it 2 years ago but would be entirely agreeable to another (preferably later-year) MG.

way2blu does a rev update > sony1492 05/12/2018 at 13:24

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I’d love to get the SC300/400. I dream of supercharging the 2JZ. Everyone does turbo swaps but for autocross I’d think a more linear power curve would be more fun.

The 1UZ could be very enjoyable too with proper upgrades.

The S10 sounds rather compelling too but I’d need to lower it immediately before I could take it to any autocross events.

djmt1 > way2blu does a rev update 05/12/2018 at 13:28

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So an RV8 then?

I mean they just became importable.

sony1492 > way2blu does a rev update 05/12/2018 at 13:32

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The s10 would need immediate work, just like a true project.

Also E36 would be a good bet, but unoriginal.

way2blu does a rev update > djmt1 05/12/2018 at 13:35

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I’d prefer something sold domestically, if only to avoid having to #OvernightPartsFromTheUK

That said, it looks like a very cool option...

way2blu does a rev update > sony1492 05/12/2018 at 13:38

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See, I expect to need immediate work no matter what I buy. Adding a “known” work expenditure to a bunch of unknowns seems like a bit much.

Knowing friends who have E36s, I’m wary of potential repair cost & difficulty. I’m still firmly in the “novice” category for wrenching.

sony1492 > way2blu does a rev update 05/12/2018 at 13:52

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Owning a car that is too expensive to have repaired elseware will force you past your novice level of wrenching pretty quick.

BeaterGT > way2blu does a rev update 05/12/2018 at 14:23

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Stripped out Civic or some small Japanese car. Old Fbody or Mustang. Budget?

lone_liberal > way2blu does a rev update 05/12/2018 at 14:23

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Wait, I thought project cars were only done when you sold or wrecked them? You can actually finish a project?

way2blu does a rev update > BeaterGT 05/12/2018 at 14:31

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I’d aim for a relatively low purchase price. More important is simplicity of repairs, I’d like something I can learn on quickly.

way2blu does a rev update > lone_liberal 05/12/2018 at 14:34

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I guess I’ve got the restraint to say that it’s become what I want it to be. I’ll save the wild ambitions for the next project...

19JRC99 > way2blu does a rev update 05/12/2018 at 15:12

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Foxbody. Meets the criteria exactly.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > way2blu does a rev update 05/12/2018 at 15:27

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I think there’s lots of fun to be had with all those sporty FWD coupes that proliferated in the late 80's and early 90's. Good chassis dynamics, but mostly conventional, proven tech and they’re common/old enough that any that are left should be pretty affordable.

Die-Trying > way2blu does a rev update 05/12/2018 at 19:07

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congratulations on “finishing” a project car. its a proud moment to call something DONE.

picture for reference only...... have you considered a t bucket?

spectacular power to weight ratio, they weigh MAYBE 1700lbs, if you happen to have made it heavy somehow, AND have fat girl with you....

you could run the quarter mile in 10.38 at 130 mph, with ONLY 300 horsepower, weighing that same 1700lbs....... if you can get it to stick going around corners, with say, STICKY tires, it should be quick around a course......

in all honesty though, i am not sure what is legal to run at events, all i know is that one of these could be competitive........