I know this has been done before, but its been a while. Just curious what you would pick if you were going to build a well rounded project car. It would likely need to be driven short distances to work. Any longer trips I can always take the wifes car or the bike.

Not really interested in just going in straight lines either, so no dragsters. Was thinking about a max of around $10,000 to start off with. Assuming more would likely be added to it as time went along.

Ideas I was thinking of just off the top of my head:

2nd or 3rd gen rx7, used to have a second gen, loved it. a 3rd gen would put me over 10,000 but i would consider it. they are just hot

nissan 300zx turbo - dont know as much about them, seem heavy

mid 90s get mustang - very easy to work on, tons of parts available

mid 90s camaro or firebird - see above

mid 80s porsche 944 turbo - not really a project car, just hot

older vette - havent really priced one, and my height could be an issue

What am I missing? Basically just considering selling the truck when its paid off in March. Mainly since my wife got her car I dont need to have a brand new car for reliability. And i really dont like having that much money tied up in a car that still has alot of depreciating to do. Plus I want something to be able to wrench on like i used to. Too expensive to do to a newer car.

10/27/2006 6:39:53 PM

go for the 944. great car for the money but still room for work/mods/upgrades.

10/27/2006 6:46:37 PM

aye. shoot for the 951. A good source for mods can be found a www.lindseyracing.com. Try to get a 87 model or later. Especially if you are going to keep the I-4 and upgrade turbo, intercooler, etc, stick with the 951. If you're looking for a project involving an engine swap, I'd say go with a late model 944 (can't do too much to the n/a motor). I feel that the turbo's should remain how they were designed, Turbo'd. There's so much room for modifcation that there isn't really any reason to swap that engine out.


Then again, 3rd gen rx-7's are hot.

btw. you can pick up some nice older 911's for around $10-15k too.

[Edited on October 27, 2006 at 6:56 PM. Reason : .]

10/27/2006 6:56:08 PM

87-93 5.0
/end thread

10/27/2006 7:03:03 PM

a third gen rx-7 i think would be ideal, like i said though to get one with low miles on the engine and in decent shape seems to be around 12,000

10/27/2006 7:09:05 PM

what the hell is ideal about an FD besides you like them? hardly a budget project car, not even close.

[Edited on October 27, 2006 at 7:12 PM. Reason : .]

10/27/2006 7:11:49 PM

definately not a budget car - thats the strike against it

just always thought they were gorgeous cars, very well rounded, handle great, plenty of power. infinately tuneable, and they sit similar to my old FC which I mentioned above i loved.

really just started this to see what other options are out there that maybe im not thinking of. something that would be interesting, and a fun project.

thought about going to 4 x 4 rout, but thats better if you know a couple people that like to go all the time which i dont

[Edited on October 27, 2006 at 7:26 PM. Reason : ....]

10/27/2006 7:23:53 PM

Buy my 944 - it's about half your budget - non-turbo, but it's cheap b/c of that.

More details in the garage classifieds post. Or here: http://raleigh.craigslist.org/car/225494189.html

10/27/2006 9:22:58 PM

hey instead of wasting ur money give it to me.

10/27/2006 9:27:39 PM

Quote :

"87-93 5.0 /end thread "

Still the best way to go fast cheap and easily.

10/27/2006 9:29:53 PM

a vette

depends on what year you are looking though.

the price of it when u are finished is gonna be a bit easier to put on the market, meaning it should be easier to sell.

id go with an older Vette

10/27/2006 9:30:58 PM

5 litre y0

10/27/2006 9:54:49 PM

you really need a honda integra type rsx accord.

10/27/2006 9:56:20 PM

I think you need the hottest car on the road.

An automatic 1989 BMW 325i.

10/27/2006 11:46:31 PM

MKI supercharged mr2 (85-89)
leaves you plenty of money for upgrade parts

10/28/2006 12:08:42 AM

Quote :

"MKI supercharged mr2 (85-89) leaves you plenty of money for upgrade parts "

Seriously they look like shit... but they drive like a go-cart
its awesome there really is no turn too sharp they just whip around everything
and the motor is pretty beefy



+300hp in this care is just ridicules the hp/lb ratio is HUGE

10/28/2006 12:46:12 AM

Here's the real deal:

2nd or 3rd gen rx7, used to have a second gen, loved it. a 3rd gen would put me over 10,000 but i would consider it. they are just hot
- This is kindof like buying a dog with no legs. It's pretty fucking cool at first and then you realize that it's a pain in the ass.

nissan 300zx turbo - dont know as much about them, seem heavy
- Heavy as balls. Handles like my Momma's buick.

mid 90s get mustang - very easy to work on, tons of parts available
- Handles worse than my momma's buick.

mid 90s camaro or firebird - see above
- Sti > F-150 > Firebird. Catch my drift?

mid 80s porsche 944 turbo - not really a project car, just hot
- Not bad I guess. Just get ready to drop some money making it tight.

older vette - havent really priced one, and my height could be an issue
- Height=ok. Everything else=the suck. But they look cool I guess.

10/28/2006 12:47:10 AM

I'm surprised nobody has said nissan 240 yet.

for 10 grand you could make a redunkulous project car.

10/28/2006 12:57:58 AM

if you want to work over a car, & you want to spend $10k. you want a 944 turbo. period.

10/28/2006 1:05:55 AM

id like to take a 5.0 and make a cobra replica

kinda like superformance.com does

except without spending all the money on premade crap

id fab as much as I could

10/28/2006 1:07:50 AM

oh yay, a mustang. my above statement stands. pending yourself not being a redneck.

10/28/2006 1:23:27 AM

M

R

2

10/28/2006 2:41:58 AM

i'm pretty sure he means $10,000 for the car and parts.......at lot of the stuff being suggest would run almost 10grand by the time you bought the car and got it in working order so that you didn't need to spend money on replacement parts a month after you uped the power


that being said

CONSIDER
fox body mustang
mki mr2
2nd gen rx7

everything else has to much of a cult following and you'd have to much in the car itself to have money for any real project to be taking place

back in freshman year me and a friend considered going in on an mki mr2 together and build it for scca.....still think that is the best way to go if it is truely a project and not just for straight lines

10/28/2006 3:24:59 AM

Quote :

"1976 dodge ramcharger. 4wd, 318, 3 speed manual on the column. 1000 obo. pm for more details."

10/28/2006 3:25:15 AM

I think you'd be better off buying someone elses project for far less than they have put into it than starting with a car and dumping tons of cash into it.

10/28/2006 7:55:16 AM

the only thing about an mr2 that everyone seems to like above it that I am about 6'3". i do fit into an FC, but just barely. an mr2 i would imagine would be worse.

I know there are at least two people on here that do alot of wrenching on the porsches. I believe Ahmet and [user]nah123[/user]? used to have 944s. how expensive and hard to find are the parts? are their alot of bullshit specialty tools?

10/28/2006 8:10:28 AM

Parts aren't really that hard to find. They can be reasonably priced and not extremely expensive as one would think. The expensive part of the car comes to if you take it to the shop to get something installed/replaced/fixed. That's where you start crying. Otherwise, if you plan on doing the work yourself, maintenance costs should be average. I know a salvage yard thats in Rocky Mount that has almost every part you'll ever need. Special tools aren't really required. (aside from your common mechanic's set, (ie: torque wrench, hammer, etc ) Some say you need the $1,000 timing belt tensioning tool or w/e, but I've found that using the Kricket Tensioning guage works perfectly fine. Local hardware store sell 'em for like 10 bucks. 944's aren't as complicated as most people believe. I'm no expert on the 944, just my experience so far. Ahmet, chime in anytime..



[Edited on October 28, 2006 at 9:48 AM. Reason : .]

10/28/2006 9:45:57 AM

Quote :

"nissan 300zx turbo - dont know as much about them, seem heavy - Heavy as balls. Handles like my Momma's buick. "

That's a bit overdramatic, especially for the 1990+ models. Mine handles pretty damn good. Sticks like fucking glue as a matter of fact, then gives way to predictable understeer. I'd certainly go with a Z32(1990+ 300ZX) over an old 240 or something. Much more refined and just as cheap these days.

I didn't suggest a Z simply because an engine swap into that tightass little bonnet would be a nightmare and stock parts are ass-rapingly expensive.

I agree with the poster up above that you get better results easier with a very small car. How 'bout a 5.0 swap into a miata? There are bolt on kits out there and if you're frugal you can probably do it for under $10 large.

10/28/2006 10:06:34 AM

^understeer me likey oversteer

miata wouldnt be a bad idea, except im too big, i would need one for each foot.

[Edited on October 28, 2006 at 10:51 AM. Reason : ..]

10/28/2006 10:50:49 AM

They're roomier than you might think. I'm 6'2" and I've driven a few with no problem at all. Don't expect a refined supercar though...Mazda is the Ford of japan.

10/28/2006 10:56:35 AM

^^ 944 parts are easy to find - the dealership has surprisingly been the least expensive place to get a lot of small things and trim bits - but pelican parts would be the most prominent aftermarket site.

the notable 'specialty tool' is the belt tensioner thing, but as has been noted - a kricket works on pre 87 ones - post 87 944's have a spring tensioner on the timing belt - makes it somewhat easier

10/28/2006 11:18:17 AM

older nissan s13 240sx (cheap and easy to find), swap in an LS1 (the LS1 is lighter than the KA24 anyways) this would make a great projecto car. Plus there is tons of aftermarket for the 240

[Edited on October 28, 2006 at 2:54 PM. Reason : s]

10/28/2006 2:53:12 PM

Quote :

"a third gen rx-7 i think would be ideal, like i said though to get one with low miles on the engine and in decent shape seems to be around 12,000"

well, you are headed in the right direction if you want a true project.

10/28/2006 9:38:04 PM

the turbo mr2s are siiiick too and they don't cost an ass ton to get parts for like a 944

10/28/2006 11:59:58 PM

good luck trying to find an FD that isn't ragged out, isn't a scam, and isn't 3500 miles away

10/29/2006 12:04:09 AM

^

good luck trying to find and FD he can afford that isn't one of those..
you can find one they just cost $texas

not to mention you're almost guaranteed to blow the motor at some point.

[Edited on October 29, 2006 at 12:58 AM. Reason : .]

10/29/2006 12:58:35 AM

^^^

Here's one with the standard 3sGTE swap,

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7832164689850527904


This video's pretty nice also:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1322034926011284786

[Edited on October 29, 2006 at 1:19 AM. Reason : ]

10/29/2006 1:17:46 AM

What is your purpose with this project car? I'm tired and may have missed it in this thread. If its just to build up a car then I think the domestics would have the most resources available to cheaply build up.

10/29/2006 2:31:10 AM

fox bodies are fun and probablly cheaper than the imports
300zx twinturbo, only one ive seen pooped on my friends 5oh in the 1/8th, 17" street tires with a beaner spinning the tires and went 8.5 er so at shadyside(garbage track)

[Edited on October 29, 2006 at 2:52 AM. Reason : .~]

10/29/2006 2:51:48 AM

The purpose is just have something to play with, thats fun to drive, and semi reliable. I dont want it to be in the garage ALL the time. Ive always spent alot of time working on cars with the exception of the last couple of years, I want to get back into it.

A fox body mustang would definately be the easiest and the cheapist. They are just so common, you cant throw a stone around here without hitting one.

And yes an FD would be a serious project. They definately can have their issues, as with any rotory engine. Was thinking about maybe trying to find one with a blown motor relatively cheap, and buy a rebuilt and ported engine for it ($4000 - $5000). That way you pretty much start with a clean slate and arent worried about what some asswhipe did to the engine before you got it.

I would expect I could find a roller pretty cheap.


What about 3000gts? Ive always expected that you can make good power out of them. Again they can just be heavy. Anyone have any experience with them?

[Edited on October 29, 2006 at 4:40 PM. Reason : ...]

10/29/2006 4:39:27 PM

I've never driven the 4wd/turbo versions, but the fwd models I have driven drove like shiiiiiiiiiiit.

[Edited on October 29, 2006 at 4:55 PM. Reason : ditto for dodge stealths, although I like the looks of them]

10/29/2006 4:54:29 PM

Yea it would definately have to be a VR4, thus AWD and turbo. Seem to be reasonably priced. $7000 range it looks like.

10/29/2006 6:03:04 PM

My suggestion is to not do a project car unless... Well, just don't do a project car.

944s are not too bad to work on, and they can be reliable. I never used a tensioning gauge, I do everything by feel. Haven't had one break yet. Parts are usually somewhat reasonable, but you'll run into more specialty stuff and the Porsche tax that'd be absent from other models.

Handling/powerband is very distinctive, and it really isn't for everyone. Make sure it's what you want before you dive in.
Ahmet

10/29/2006 6:28:48 PM

^ yea ive got some time to do some research. im not likely to do anything until around March.

10/29/2006 8:17:22 PM