Help me choose my next project

[allmotoronly]

This time I'm going back to my car tuning roots. I've decided to build a budget V8 "muscle car" for mostly track use. I've thought over the options. For extra fun and to make it a challange I'm going to give myself a $10k budget for the whole thing. I guess the only two cars that meet my requirements are the GM F-body (Camaro/Firebird) and the Ford Mustang. The next question is which body/engine combination should I choose?

Answer the poll and please reply with why you made that choice.

reps given for USEFUL information

[IndianStig]

definetly go with an LT1 camaro/ta with an STS rear turbokit

[PURP]

Get what you want. Cause ultimately, it doesn't matter what everyone else thinks. Don't let the internet pursued your decision. Just do you, man.

[allmotoronly]

ok poll is up. My top choice at the moment would be the 94-95 Mustang GT 5.0L for two reasons. One: IMO they are better looking than fox body mustangs. Two: A 302 SBF can be made into a monster with the $6k+ I would have left over after buying the car.

The $10k budget is just for the initial build. I will of course do a few other necessary upgrades to make the car track worthy (rebuild transmission, suspension work, etc)

[allmotoronly]

Get what you want. Cause ultimately, it doesn't matter what everyone else thinks. Don't let the internet pursued your decision. Just do you, man.

Ok that was a typical generic IA response.

I didn't post a thread saying "what car should I buy?", knowing there are thousands of different cars out there to choose from. I gave my top two choices and was looking for some input from people who may have more knowledge or hands on experience about either of these cars than I. I have no problem picking my own cars. Thats why I have built countless differrent types of cars over the years. I don't have any experience with newer F bodies (I own a 78 Trans Am, but it has pretty much nothing in common with newer F bodies), and I only have a little experience with mustangs (my brother in law had a 98 GT and now has a 97 cobra that I have done some work on). I have probably forgotten more about honda's than you will ever know, but I'm tired of spending huge amounts of money on a honda just to make it as fast as a stock or bolt ons only V8 car.

[SampaGuy]

All of those cars drive about the same way lol. I would get a camaro for the T-tops.

[allmotoronly]

All of those cars drive about the same way lol. I would get a camaro for the T-tops.

T tops might compromise the structural integrity. I just want a plain hard top.

[HypnoToad]

cant get any bettter for a project than a foxbody

[okra1981]

'94-'95 because I can picture it on a road course, the Fox body seems more ridiculous in my mind, don't get me wrong, they look good in a straight line. I bet a Camaro like Hypno's would be a pretty good track car as well, but it wasn't listed.

[pr0x3n3ta]

Get an rx7 if you want some real bang for the buck

[Bruce Leroy]

Turbo bmw... e36 325i's can be had for dirt cheap. And they make good power when boosted.

heres one,
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/cto/1124874491.html

If you bought this, and spent the rest on mods, you would have a fast ass car.

[87 Turbo II]

Get an rx7 if you want some real bang for the buck
Anyone who want's these cars isn't going to appreciate the Rx-7, even the turbocharged ones aren't as torquey as a V8.

[allmotoronly]

Anyone who want's these cars isn't going to appreciate the Rx-7, even the turbocharged ones aren't as torquey as a V8.

I appreciate the RX-7... I've just been through that stage already. I wouldn't know where to start with a rotary engine. And I'm pretty sure a FD with a LS swap would completely blow my budget. I really want a car I can mostly build myself, including the engine, which I plan to only send out for machine shop work. This is a budget build. I want the most bang for the buck. Thats why I've picked these otherwise shitty american cars to build. The enigines are simple to work on and they make a shitload of power if built right. If my budget was a little higher I may consider something else, but I've already bought too much shit this year as it is...

[eraser4g63]

As an RX-7 owner I can attest to have Torque just depends on how it is put together. I voted for the fox body, build the motor and turbo charge the shit out of it with a lil bit of Nitrous, There is a car that will haul ass.

[ksniperfox]

foxbody. like you said, easy engine to work on and easy to make power. build the bottom a little, with some aluminum heads and boost it, or throw some nitrous at it. there is a plethora of aftermarket parts to support you. the bodies can be had for a dime a dozen...

add some good tires and whatnot for the track and youre set.

[HypnoToad]

foxbody. like you said, easy engine to work on and easy to make power. build the bottom a little, with some aluminum heads and boost it, or throw some nitrous at it. there is a plethora of aftermarket parts to support you. the bodies can be had for a dime a dozen...

add some good tires and whatnot for the track and youre set.

well u could do one better and get a foxbody and put a sbc in it:D

[wannab20hatch]

none of the above

www.pacificroadster.com

cobra kit car. cant be had for 10k and you just need a cheap ass foxbody donor car. talk about coolness factor. if i had 10k its what i would do.

[atlxpat]

none of those, 280z drop in an LS1
i heard you can get near 50/50 weight ratio with an ls1 in it with light weight parts

[03RCode]

For power/money ratio its hard to beat a 96-98 GT. Do a PI head swap (port the heads while before install), small cams (XE262's for example), PI intake, plenum, TB, CAI, gear, tune. That will make plenty of power for a fun street car, get decent mileage, as well as still be VERY reliable. With just a PI swap without porting, cams, etc. I ran a 13.090 in my 96 GT.

[IndianStig]

LT1+STS Rear Turbo would not blow your budget.

http://www.ststurbo.com/camaro_lt1

$4000 car
$4095 Turbo Kit
$500 tuning
__________
$8595+shipping for kit and installation which is not hard on a rear turbo kit i hear

[allmotoronly]

For power/money ratio its hard to beat a 96-98 GT. Do a PI head swap (port the heads while before install), small cams (XE262's for example), PI intake, plenum, TB, CAI, gear, tune. That will make plenty of power for a fun street car, get decent mileage, as well as still be VERY reliable. With just a PI swap without porting, cams, etc. I ran a 13.090 in my 96 GT.
Yea, but for the same amount of money I could get a 94-95 and build the 302 (331 striker kit, alum heads, comp roller cam, efi to carb conversion, victor or intake manifold, holley 750 carb, msd ignition, 75-125 shot of spray, etc). It would make more power. I don't want a 13 sec car, I want a sub 12 sec car.

[03RCode]

Thats why I said port the heads, cam, gear, etc. My car ran a 13.090 on street tires, 3.23 gear, stock shifter, stock air intake tube, and on stock cams. No porting at all on the heads either.

[allmotoronly]

Yea but trying to make over 400hp on a 2 valve 4.6 is going to cost a lot more in the long run than on a 5.0...

[primespark22]

drop an ls1 on a civic and your set then just do 1500 on mods and your set
lol

[allmotoronly]

drop an ls1 on a civic and your set then just do 1500 on mods and your set
lol
I'm pretty sure it would cost more than $1500 just in parts to put a rwd ls1 engine into a fwd car.... Besides, I'm done with honda's for a while.

[WTF?]

what the fuck is a V8 :thinking:.........im just kidding i say go with the 94-94 5.slow only because i had one loved every min. of it and wish i had never gotten rid of it