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Need help picking a project car : /

G

gdbyrd

New member
I'm about to make a career change that'll do a little more than double my income. So I figure now is as good a time as any to do what I've always wanted. I'm looking for something to do, a 2nd car that'll be a great place to spend some time and get my hands dirty again.

My only problem is I'm not sure where to start. Originally I was thinking about resurrecting something, bringing back an old Stang or Camaro..then I thought more about getting a mid 90's Civic and doing that whole thing...I've considered getting a GTP(since I love my DD so much). Recently I'm looking more and more at getting a 98+ Trans Am to turn into a demon.

Honestly, I think doing anything too old school would be more than I could handle. A civic would be awesome, but it just seems like a lot of money for what you get. I can't find any holes with a GTP, but it just seems like more of the same, and sometimes it'd be fun to have something different.

Do you guys have any advice for helping someone select a project car? I want to get something I am going to be happy with for awhile so I'm trying to think this out as much as I can.
 


1970's Trans Am 6.6
1987 Trans Am (Think "Night Rider")
Or a rare "Ban 3 'Smokey and the Bandit' Trans Am" with a monster 8.8 V8 making over 650hp on a 5-speed manual.
 
I would look into a regal t-type or grand national. Make a GNX clone. If you put a v8 in it, i will slap you.
 
If I were in your shoes, I'd get a C4 vette. They're cheap and it doesn't take much to make them look good (IMO). Cammed LS1 swap, 6 spd.

Of course if I could afford it, I would almost certainly get a C5.
 
A Civic being awesome and a project car? Hummm, not my taste.

Figure you'll be in the 6 figure range i'd look into some of these real cars that can actully be made fast and already look good....

C4 Vette w/ LS1 swap
C5 Vette modded up a bit, very fun!
3rd Gen Camaro with an LS1 Swap + suspen upgrades (Fun even without a mullet)
4th Gen Camaro (endless possibilites)
05-06 GTO Endless potential with more room than a Camaro
Fox Body Notch back Stang is fun too.
86/87 Buick Grand National

Theres a list of REAL cars for you to choose from......
 


The best advice I can give you is pick something you will enjoy driving for a long time. If you do the work right, you will never get as much for it when you sell it as you put into it.

Also, get something that has a ready parts supply.

That being said, I still have a '73 Alfa Spyder sitting in pieces in my garage. My sticking point has been floorboards. I bought new ones, but haven't managed to weld them in. Now the garage is so full I can't get to the car.

Anyway, all of the suggestions sound fine. GM parts are plentiful, and the cars are relatively easy to work on. Remember, the more exotic, the more $$$$$$!

-Ralphie
 
Iron Indian said:
A Civic being awesome and a project car? Hummm, not my taste.

Figure you'll be in the 6 figure range i'd look into some of these real cars that can actully be made fast and already look good....

C4 Vette w/ LS1 swap
C5 Vette modded up a bit, very fun!
3rd Gen Camaro with an LS1 Swap + suspen upgrades (Fun even without a mullet)
4th Gen Camaro (endless possibilites)
05-06 GTO Endless potential with more room than a Camaro
Fox Body Notch back Stang is fun too.
86/87 Buick Grand National

Theres a list of REAL cars for you to choose from......
Click to expand...

Please don't try to press your close-minded views on me....you can't have fun in a 3rd gen without a mullet...................

I really want more than just a project vehicle. I could get any of those vehicles, but I have conditions..I have to have a backseat.

I am having trouble deciding between going all out or just tooling around a little bit. It'll be my first play vehicle in 8 or so years, so I'm not sure how much time I will actually have to invest in it. I don't want to get a rust bucket..nor do I want to be stuck spending days searching for parts. There's a lot of options but I can't narrow it down...
 
Late 80's Notchback Fox Body's are great cars and can be made HELLA fast relatively cheap compared to other cars listed...

OR...be a real badass and build a GNX Clone...800+HP no doubt :D

and of course...I'd say go get a GT GP and turbo the piss outta it LOL
 
How about a 76-78 280Z? They're light, have plenty of motor swap possibilities, and just plain look cool! Finding parts for them isn't too bad, either.
 


gdbyrd said:
Please don't try to press your close-minded views on me....you can't have fun in a 3rd gen without a mullet...................

I really want more than just a project vehicle. I could get any of those vehicles, but I have conditions..I have to have a backseat.

I am having trouble deciding between going all out or just tooling around a little bit. It'll be my first play vehicle in 8 or so years, so I'm not sure how much time I will actually have to invest in it. I don't want to get a rust bucket..nor do I want to be stuck spending days searching for parts. There's a lot of options but I can't narrow it down...
Click to expand...

:th_wtf: I dont have a mullet! And what he is trying to TELL YOU is LSX FTMFW! LOL. LSX motors are SO easy to be made quick! All it takes is a few bolt ons! Don't ask someone for there opinion and then bash them thats rude.
 
Jess3103 said:
:th_wtf: I dont have a mullet! And what he is trying to TELL YOU is LSX FTMFW! LOL. LSX motors are SO easy to be made quick! All it takes is a few bolt ons! Don't ask someone for there opinion and then bash them thats rude.
Click to expand...


LOL, a chick with a mullet.... EWWWWWW, thats Jerry Springer **** right there. Don't ever say that again! :th_lipssealed2: LOL

Seriously though, I didn't find it as a bash unless i'm misunderstanding though, I thought he was kidding but maybe i'm wrong!

But I 100% agree with Jess, LSX motors FTMFW! They are so easy to mod and make quick. Hell all I have is a messly TB SS and people throw on a few minor bolt ons for them and they get in the 12s easy enough, pretty good for a heavy SUV. I also know it would smoke a stock GTP muchless a bolt on GTP, especially on mid to top end power, it burys the 140 mph speedo very easily. And its still stock too! I can't wait to actully do something with it. Here are a couple pics i'll whore on here...

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Picture022.jpg


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Picture059.jpg


If you want something quick and for the family too, this is a good route too...
 
Jess3103 said:
:th_wtf: I dont have a mullet! And what he is trying to TELL YOU is LSX FTMFW! LOL. LSX motors are SO easy to be made quick! All it takes is a few bolt ons! Don't ask someone for there opinion and then bash them thats rude.
Click to expand...

Sheesh, I won't joke anymore. Some people are too sensitive I guess.

LS anything is probably the best way to go. It's so hard to find one in my area that hasn't been thrashed though. How many miles are too many? I found a 98 for 6K but it has like 150K on it...Pretty much everything I'm finding is in the 6 digits on mileage.

Still, a little turbo'd 4 cylinder would be fun. Scream of a turbo and the umph of a BOV is pretty hot. I don't think anyone can argue that :P

And yes, I have had the unfortunate opportunity to see a woman with a mullet...shudder..Best part was her name was Ruth, and she rode a harley.

Edit:
Iron: I'm at work so all the pictures are blocked :*( I'll check it out when I get home. I really don't want anything real new or sparkly. I'm looking for something to work on for me, and VERY occasionally the wife + kids.
 
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Hey man. Pick something you like. Take a look at my little project I'm working on...
 
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gdbyrd said:
Sheesh, I won't joke anymore. Some people are too sensitive I guess.

LS anything is probably the best way to go. It's so hard to find one in my area that hasn't been thrashed though. How many miles are too many? I found a 98 for 6K but it has like 150K on it...Pretty much everything I'm finding is in the 6 digits on mileage.

Still, a little turbo'd 4 cylinder would be fun. Scream of a turbo and the umph of a BOV is pretty hot. I don't think anyone can argue that :P

And yes, I have had the unfortunate opportunity to see a woman with a mullet...shudder..Best part was her name was Ruth, and she rode a harley.

Edit:
Iron: I'm at work so all the pictures are blocked :*( I'll check it out when I get home. I really don't want anything real new or sparkly. I'm looking for something to work on for me, and VERY occasionally the wife + kids.
Click to expand...

No..you never put a smiley or anything out there...Sorry! Its hard to tell if someone is laughing when you cant see them talk! MY FAULT!!!!! :th_tongue2:
 
See what happens when the boobs ain't respected? LOL :p

What about a 1G DSM? Talon/Eclipse/Laser? Great cars and can be had cheap especially if it is turbo model with something wrong motor wise...mostly because it wasn't taken care of. Pull it and drop in a 4G63 that is built...my buddies '91 Talon weighs **** for nothing and I can run him down to about 60-80 from a dig...then jesus...that thing will put bus lengths on me after 100 or so...if you have a facebook I would show you what it did to a bolt on GTP with a race tranny from a 60 roll...passed the guy spinning LOL

Fun little car...he ran 13's in it spinning through 1-3 and wheel hopping 4th @ 110 I think...but we are slapping slicks on it sunday and turning the boost from 14psi to 22psi now that he got a 3BAR GM MAP :D
 
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