What would be your project car on a budget?

  • Thread starter Thread starter IMADreamer
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CAMAROBOY69
$15,000 is quite a bit to work with actually. I probably wont have time to answer this until tomorrow since I am about to leave work in 12 minutes. Answer these and I will reply tomorrow when I come in.
When you say build the car. How do you mean build it?
1. Road track/ autocross car???
2. Drag race car???
3. Rally car???
4. Show car???
5. Daily driver to have fun with??
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It's your project car set it up how you want. If you want a drag car do that, if you want a show car do that. The door is wide open. I thought it would be fun to see what people do because you can learn a lot about someone when you find out what they would do to modify/restore a car and how they would use it. It really reveals their personality.

On another note I think a lot of you are aiming high. Ferrari V8? Not for 15 grand. Also I think importing any cars is probably out too. It's not like sending a letter. There are a lot of fees and such, plus the shipping alone would be out rageous.

I toiled on this topic all day. I found this nearly as difficult as my search for a new car has been and this isn't even real money. I started off the day leaning towards a camaro project. I thought I would do cams, exhaust cut outs, you know the usual and make it a real boulivard cuiser. Then on my drive home tonight I decided I would like to do an old Miata and see if I could do a budget turbo job on it.

Bottom line, I still haven't figured it out.
 
e30 or early 90s MR2. Both decent platforms, the latter being a bit expensive though. Perhaps an S13 240SX?

... or pick up a trashed MGB or TR6 and spend the rest on getting it to run.
 
Wow, great topic. Lets see, I get $15k...

$7k for an FD RX-7 roller chassis
$3k for a SS Camaro/Trans-Am front clip w/LS1
$3k on NA tuning
$1k for wheels & tires
$1k for new interior
$0.00 for my happiness and thrills
 
A 48/215 (FX) Holden (Australia's first home-grown car) full Restoration.

48215launch5yo.jpg


The $20,000 probably wouldn't QUITE cover the resto job, but if I could find the parts at the right price, it might.

I would give the 132ci (2.15L) straight 6 a slight warm over, but nothing too wild.

A slightly custom interior, using pearl white and imperial blue faux leather (as cost is an issue), with Imperial Blue Metallic exterior paint.
 
As a few have said already, I'd pick up a cheap Mini (under £1,000)
Then I'd strip it out, totally, buy one racing lightweight seat.
Load up a big (V6 even maybe V8 (that might kill it) into the back,
Take out the front (working engine).
Sell the old engine.
With the money from the engine, buy a light blue respray and racing modifications (stickerwise).
Spend the rest of money on a fairly priced Turbo and Racing Exhaust.
 
Duke
I'd take a 2001 DC2 Integra - Type R not required - and install a midships-mounted V6/6MT drivetrain out of the later Accord Coupe. The Accord is about 3-1/2" wider than the Integra, so it may require a little widebody work, but not much.

Add some decent coilovers and a cage, and it would be quite a little trackday beast.
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Has that been done before? I swear I saw pictures of someone doing that.

gOoSeTeR
A 48/215 (FX) Holden (Australia's first home-grown car) full Restoration.

The $20,000 probably wouldn't QUITE cover the resto job, but if I could find the parts at the right price, it might.

I would give the 132ci (2.15L) straight 6 a slight warm over, but nothing too wild.

A slightly custom interior, using pearl white and imperial blue faux leather (as cost is an issue), with Imperial Blue Metallic exterior paint.
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Nice, 48/215's are becoming expensive and restorable ones becoming rare.
 
VIPERGTSR01
Yeah probably was that.
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Yup...

As for the thread topic I would probably buy a 1989 Honda Civic with a B16A swap, turbo it the cheapest, most powerful way possible and slap some big slicks on and have some fun.

(nudge nudge wink wink)
 
Taurine
Yup...

As for the thread topic I would probably buy a 1989 Honda Civic with a B16A swap, turbo it the cheapest, most powerful way possible and slap some big slicks on and have some fun.

(nudge nudge wink wink)
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Ruh roh, does that mean what I think it does?
 
Hmm, for my roughly NZ$24K I think I'd buy a rough Datsun 240Z/260Z and a 1JZ GTE vvti single turbo front cut + 5 speed. Freshen up the Datto and put in the 1JZ and make it handle even better.

$7,500 for the car.
$4-5,000 for front cut.
$5,000 for rust removal, repairs and other work that needs to be done to accept the 1JZ.
$6,500 for wheels, tyres, suspension and brakes.

Mmmmmmm, :drool:
 
hmmmm. I'd probly get a 93-95 Trans-Am, and go from there, likely spending most of my extra cah on Exhaust, intake, a chip, wheels & tires, and if I have it, maybe some good coilovers, and the likes.
or, I'd be very tempted to get a 93 or so civic, and swap in a W41 crate motor, just to see the looks on peoples faces when they found out I put a 190HP American NA 4-banger in a Honda. and cause it'd have the best of both worlds, Handling, combined with power
Or, just a 89-91 Olds calais, or grand-am, putting in the same engine (if I couldnt find one with it already in) then boost, wheels/tires, and suspension
 
I'd go with a Mini, though, $5000AUS-ish isn't much of a budget. Still, It'd be great.
An AE86 Levin would be cool too, but then theres the price for one of those too... :indiff:
 
£1500-Seat Arosa sport
£500 - Turboed VR6 engine
£500 - chassis strenthen
£300 - bucket seats,harrenesses and stripped interior
£300 - lupo GTI kit
£500 - race spec coilover suspension kit
£100 - front and rear struct braces
£200 - rollcage
£1500 - porsche cayenne turbo front brake kit
£300 - ecs 317mm rear brake kit
£1500 - clutch, gearbox,diff and drive shaft upgrades
£50 - aero wipers :lol:
£150 - Xenon/HID headlight kit
£100 - upgraded front speakers (need something to listen to)
£150 - fully respray to ford RS blue with a slightly purple highlight
£300 - 18 inch mk1 skoda octavia vRS alloys with toyo R888's
total £8,000 :D
450 FWHP 800KG bring it on :D

and all that stuff will fit :sly:
 
VIPERGTSR01
Nice, 48/215's are becoming expensive and restorable ones becoming rare.
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Don't I know it! I'm actually currently in the hunt :banghead:
 
VIPERGTSR01
Has that been done before? I swear I saw pictures of someone doing that.
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Taurine
Theres a guy building a mid mounted H22A into a DC2 on Honda-Tech.
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I don't really follow Honda modifying much, so I've never been aware of anybody making that conversion. I'm just a big fan of the old SHOgun idea, and I thought it could be really cool to start with a better-handling package with a little more track and wheelbase.

Actually, the Accord V6 might be a little heavy and have clearance issues for what you'd gain. So lets switch that to a K24/6MT from the Acura TSX, with a supercharger package to fill in the bottom end. That should, all told, be lighter than the V6, and more revhappy. Engine management is going to take some work - better get friendly with the MegaSquirt guys.
 
IMADreamer
It's your project car set it up how you want. If you want a drag car do that, if you want a show car do that. The door is wide open. I thought it would be fun to see what people do because you can learn a lot about someone when you find out what they would do to modify/restore a car and how they would use it. It really reveals their personality.
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I guess since we can build whatever we want within that $15,000 then I say my current 69 Camaro is the perfect candidate for me. However if I had to stay in the $15,000 budget I would have to ditch some of the 2002 interior to save some money. Ditch the dash and rear seats and just keep them stock. Get rid of the expensive MOMO steering wheel and knob. Mabey even the console. I would also get rid of some of the other stuff that is just cosmetic. That would get my car around the $15,000 range. Overal it makes for a perfect "do everything" pro-touring car. I can daily drive it and with the help of my 6 speed transmission I can get around 20mpg on the highway. It has around 400hp so I can at least have some really fun battles on road tracks with the C5 Corvettes. It rides great, looks and sounds great, I could easily drive for 9hours and not get uncomfortable.
My 2nd alternative would be a 67 Mustang fastback. The bad thing about the fastback is the price.They are extremely expensive so I would not be able to do much with 15k on the Mustang. It would probably be rusty to be affordable. Then I would just build it the same pro-touring style but skimp on as many cosmetic items as possible. Only buy the performance parts. If I had enough money I would have a 6 speed tranny for sure but if not then I would settle for at least a 4 speed automatic. Probaly throw a "Shrifter" on it if I had the money so I could manually shift the automatic tranny on the steering wheel.
Bottom line. When I build cars I want them to be comfortable yet perform at the same time. I want to be able to go across the country or attend another Power Tour. It also has to handle rain so it must have road tires not racing slicks. I love attending road track and autocross events so the cars have to handle well too. Cool topic. :)👍
 
Well with $15,000 I could completly redo almost everything on my Beetle. Cosmetically it really only needs paint, because the clearcoat basically doesn't exist in most places. But mechanically, I'd definitely upgrade the engine (1600cc to maybe 1776cc or 2100cc, at least 120hp up from 48), transmission, clutch, all disc brakes.

But as far as buying a new(er) car. If it had to be a daily driver, I'd go for a Toyota MR2, simply because I live in NJ and would have to drive it in the snow.

But if it would be my 2nd (or 3rd) car, either an 3rd-gen RX7 or Miata.
 
I'd go Camaroboy's way with a '69 Camaro.
Restore the V8, give it a nice rumble and probably keep it a show car, and just track it a couple times a year.
Black w/ white stripes.
Maybe 5-spoke aftermarket wheels.
Run to about 420 horsepower.
Keep it as original as it can be on the interior and exterior. No stickers, or fuzzy dice from the mirror.
 
  1. I'd find a Gremlin I6, put real tires on it and supercharge it. They don't weigh anything and no one wants them=Cheap.
  2. Find an Integra ZXi and turbo it like mad.
  3. Find a first gen CRX-HF. Throw away the engine, find a B18C5, and remount it about 4 feet farther back than it was before. Then supercharge the hell out of it. Smite a Lotus Elise (they would weigh about the same).
  4. Find a VW Beetle or Kübelsitzwagen (which would just own in itself). Sell engine and rear suspension. Spend $13,000 on Porsche 993 Turbo rear axle and engine.
  5. Alternatively again, find a 280Z and put a small block in it. Then spend the resulting $13,000 left on #1, 2, 3, #4 or #6.
  6. Steal a Ferrari. Bribe city officials with $15,000.
 
Oops, my internal currency converter went a bit mental last nite. $15000 is about £8000 so I'd still stick with the Mini, it'd just be more like what I'm driving now.

I'd go for fully adjustable suspension all round to help with the track days, assuming the engine was good in the first place 120 BHP+ is possible with careful selection of goodies, more than enough to propell you past standard Elise's and MX-5's, (you've no idea how much fun this is until you see the look on the drivers face).

I've used Mini's as daily drivers for years so I'm used to doing the work myself, they alwasy need something doing to them to keep them in tip top shape. My last one was probably built with an initial budget of a couple of thousand pounds (including the £500 purchase price). After about three years of ownership and swapping standard parts for uprated items as and when they needed replacing I'd probably spent around £5000 on it, nothing special on the outside just some Group 5 arches, 10" wheels/tyres and a budget spray job.

As for Mini's with V6 - V8 engines, the wildest one I ever saw was a 2.8 Ford V6 engine with full Cosworth 4WD running gear, it was road legal too but I'm pretty sure it was well out of reach of our budget. :)

I used to race autograss which is basically 1/4 mile dirt oval racing in home made race cars, there were a few guys (and girls) using spaceframed Mini pick-ups with mid-mounted Rover V8's, Cosworth's and the like! I used to race a 1340 engined Mini pick-up with around 110BHP, it went like a rocket till it got rear-ended by a Nova, almost bent it in half! :ouch:
 

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