whats the best project car under $8k?

**allmotoronly** · 10-01-2006, 06:41 PM

Ok guys, I have decided to start a new project, however I can't decide what to start with. Whats the best car under $8000 to start with (and give a reason too please)? I want something that is pretty reliable since I drive a minumum of 50 miles per day and some days I drive as much as 150 miles. Also, I want something decent on gas. When I say decent, I mean nothing under 17 or 18 mpg. Im not going to sit here and say I want something with 1000whp and gets 50mpg.... I'm realistic. I am a little partial to honda but I want to get back to a RWD or AWD car if possible. Let me know whats out there.

**2.0civic** · 10-01-2006, 06:45 PM

240's, GSX's, maybe a camaro or mustang...

my buddy has a 94 gt with a t56 with a vortech t trim and gets about 19-20 highway and if he doesnt keep his foot in it does decent city

**allmotoronly** · 10-01-2006, 07:03 PM

I would kinda like to stay away from V8's, since I already have old skool Trans Am (smokey and the bandit style). I cant afford gas for it so it sits in my garage.

**wantboost** · 10-01-2006, 07:07 PM

1st gen mr2, s13, e30 (i think thats what they are called, 89 3 series) crx, miata, mustang, b13 sentra.

**allmotoronly** · 10-01-2006, 07:09 PM

no crx, miata, mustangs, or sentras, but I will consider the others. thanks

**HalfBaked** · 10-03-2006, 09:06 PM

Originally Posted by allmotoronly

no crx, miata, mustangs, or sentras, but I will consider the others. thanks

hater.

b13 se-rs are the best project cars you can get involved in.

**NewGen33** · 10-01-2006, 07:19 PM

Something different like a 1986-88 (NA) mazda rx-7.

**2.0civic** · 10-01-2006, 07:23 PM

yeah i was going to say FC's or FD's

**allmotoronly** · 10-01-2006, 07:41 PM

yea I like those too... I found a old turbo II one time that I could have got for $300... It was piece of shit and everything needed rebuilding or replacing. I didnt have the garage space at the time. I wonder if the guy still has it...

**NewGen33** · 10-01-2006, 07:57 PM

I know theres someone selling an 86-88 rx7 in peachtree city. I'll be close to it sometime this week if you would like me to get a picture of it for you. Its a darker gray color looks nice for its age.

**allmotoronly** · 10-01-2006, 07:58 PM

NA or turbo II? whats the price?

**NewGen33** · 10-01-2006, 08:25 PM

Not sure, haven't had a chance to stop and take a look but I will sometime this week. LMK if you want some pics or etc.

**TheGodfather** · 10-01-2006, 08:28 PM

My 300ZX has been a project car, and has turned out amazing, but I don't know if you can find one for under $8,000 with anything left over. It's possible, but not likely. I have always wanted to make an EG hatch a project car and early 300ZX, first gen, can be awesome project cars and can flyyyy. Good luck.

**allmotoronly** · 10-01-2006, 08:48 PM

cool thanks I'll add that to my list of considerations. do those have any major problems that are common to the model? I do not know much of the VQ30 engine...

**R_Rated** · 10-02-2006, 12:27 PM

Datsun 510 WOOOOOOOOOOT!
1988 Bimmer 3 series.
old skool VW

**USDM CTR** · 10-24-2006, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by R_Rated

Datsun 510 WOOOOOOOOOOT!
1988 Bimmer 3 series.
old skool VW

datsun is a good car to go with

**allmotoronly** · 10-02-2006, 01:28 PM

bimmer is a posibility. this car is going to be my dd, so it needs to be reliable...

**Cliff** · 10-03-2006, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by R_Rated

Datsun 510 WOOOOOOOOOOT!
1988 Bimmer 3 series.
old skool VW

Originally Posted by allmotoronly

bimmer is a posibility. this car is going to be my dd, so it needs to be reliable...

you do realize the car i posted is the same car that he said and you said was a possibility? now i am just confused

**BlkCD5** · 10-03-2006, 10:51 PM

You can get an old school corolla or a Mk3. I saw an ad for a 91 gsx for 2000 obo. The motor and body is in good shape.

**GTScoob** · 10-03-2006, 11:10 PM

Bah, 3000GTs weigh too much, plus its a Mitsu so you cant count on it cranking everyday.

Buy that kids Impreza wagon with the WRX swap for $6500 in the FS section. Total sleeper and it leaves you 1500 for mods (accessport, bigger turbo, and intercooler, should be able to get all 3 for that much if you shop around). http://forums.importatlanta.com/showthread.php?t=83844

**allmotoronly** · 10-04-2006, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by Cliff

you do realize the car i posted is the same car that he said and you said was a possibility? now i am just confused

thats because after you said something about it, i researched it some more and decided I did not want one...

**EP3sAreFun** · 10-06-2006, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by allmotoronly

bimmer is a posibility. this car is going to be my dd, so it needs to be reliable...

Originally Posted by allmotoronly

yea I dont want a civic/crx/delsol older than a 96 or so. nothing against them, but I have to drive the next car i get for the next two years, so I want something a little newer with under 100k miles... I would like it to have four seats.

your project car is going to be your daily driver? probably not much of a project then. Having your DD and PJ as the same car is a terrible idea. your limited on what you can do and since when does someone spend 5-6 grand on a project car? what happened to buying something that limps home then throwing in a new motor and anything else you need to do.

I'd say get a starion, 2.6ltr turbo factory intercooled, independent rear end, factory midebody w/LSD, great community and damn could i go on. but it takes devotion. i dont think youve got it. Sorry if this offends you, but it sound like you dont have a clue what you want. You dont want a project car, sounds like you want a DD you can dick around with, and i dont mean to sound like theres anything wrong with that.

**R_Rated** · 10-02-2006, 03:11 PM

RWD volvo 240 and do an Ls V8 swap.

**allmotoronly** · 10-02-2006, 04:06 PM

haha thats out of the $8k range...

**R_Rated** · 10-02-2006, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by allmotoronly

haha thats out of the $8k range...

500-2500 for car
4000 for NEW Ls motor from chevy
1500 for NEW tranny

you can find a PERFECT body with bad motor for cheap (like 200 bucks) and those are the prices for NEW engine and tranny.

**allmotoronly** · 10-03-2006, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by R_Rated

500-2500 for car
4000 for NEW Ls motor from chevy
1500 for NEW tranny

you can find a PERFECT body with bad motor for cheap (like 200 bucks) and those are the prices for NEW engine and tranny.

I would just rather not own a volvo... nothing against them, I jost dont want one.

**R_Rated** · 10-03-2006, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by allmotoronly

I would just rather not own a volvo... nothing against them, I jost dont want one.

lol, nobody does. Mine has been fun though.

**StupidBikerBoy** · 10-10-2006, 02:39 AM

Originally Posted by R_Rated

500-2500 for car
4000 for NEW Ls motor from chevy
1500 for NEW tranny

you can find a PERFECT body with bad motor for cheap (like 200 bucks) and those are the prices for NEW engine and tranny.

Not gonna happen anywhere near $8k

$4k is NOT for a complete motor with all acc.
$1500 maybe for an auto, nowhere close for a 6 speed.

Used LS1 complete swaps are going for $5k PLUS.

You may could pull it off with a used swap left basically stock, but it'd be close after all the other money needed to be spent on the swap AND cutting a lot of corners. Then the car will probably look like crap since no money was spent on exterior.

I considered this swap before I started on the RB26 swap. Sometimes I still wish I had stuck with it.

**StupidBikerBoy** · 10-10-2006, 02:40 AM

Get you an early 90's SC300 and do the 2JZ swap.

Plenty of room, power, and styling.

**2.0civic** · 10-10-2006, 02:46 AM

Originally Posted by RB26powered

Not gonna happen anywhere near $8k

$4k is NOT for a complete motor with all acc.
$1500 maybe for an auto, nowhere close for a 6 speed.

Used LS1 complete swaps are going for $5k PLUS.

You may could pull it off with a used swap left basically stock, but it'd be close after all the other money needed to be spent on the swap AND cutting a lot of corners. Then the car will probably look like crap since no money was spent on exterior.

I considered this swap before I started on the RB26 swap. Sometimes I still wish I had stuck with it.

Im assuming with your name and the motor you are referring to that you guys are talking about a ls1 240...your pricing is a little off on the LS1 swap....You can get a t56 6 speed ALL DAY for under 2k and ive found ls1's (complete from oil pan to manifold) for 3k. the motor would be used YES, but still for 5k you would have a low mileage motor and a 6 speed tranny

**StupidBikerBoy** · 10-11-2006, 03:26 AM

Originally Posted by b18hatch

Im assuming with your name and the motor you are referring to that you guys are talking about a ls1 240...your pricing is a little off on the LS1 swap....You can get a t56 6 speed ALL DAY for under 2k and ive found ls1's (complete from oil pan to manifold) for 3k. the motor would be used YES, but still for 5k you would have a low mileage motor and a 6 speed tranny

He quoted prices for NEW LS1 from GM, which is really what I was debating.

You are right though, you can find them for less but every example I have found (looking for one to put in my S10) was not a complete swap, an auto, and/or extremely high mileage. Either way means more money spent on aditional parts needed. The auto wiring harness would also have to be replaced.

I have seen T56's for around $1500.

Of course, LS1's are still relatively new and GM is constantly adding more LS style engines to choose from which means they are getting cheaper fast.

If you run into a good LS swap for $3k, please point me in that direction, my S10 needs some love.

**admedlin** · 10-03-2006, 08:09 AM

buy my car, 1997 honda prelude!! It has a good start on it.....$6500

24/28 mpg

**allmotoronly** · 10-03-2006, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by admedlin

buy my car, 1997 honda prelude!! It has a good start on it.....$6500

24/28 mpg

I just sold my 00 prelude (mugen aero kit, jdm SiR S-Spec swap) a few months ago... I have considered another prelude, but mine had too many problems. If I could find a 99 or 2000 with low miles I would consider it.

**bigdare23** · 10-03-2006, 08:18 AM

I would say a crx but you already ex'ed that off the list

**allmotoronly** · 10-03-2006, 09:55 AM

Originally Posted by bigdare23

I would say a crx but you already ex'ed that off the list

yea I dont want a civic/crx/delsol older than a 96 or so. nothing against them, but I have to drive the next car i get for the next two years, so I want something a little newer with under 100k miles... I would like it to have four seats.

**PSINXS** · 10-03-2006, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by allmotoronly

yea I dont want a civic/crx/delsol older than a 96 or so. nothing against them, but I have to drive the next car i get for the next two years, so I want something a little newer with under 100k miles... I would like it to have four seats.

that kills your project car right there.

**PSINXS** · 10-03-2006, 12:32 PM

240sx, 1g eclipse awd, honda civic or integra shell, foxbody mustang

**Cliff** · 10-03-2006, 03:40 PM

E30 BMW and swap the m3 fenders onto it

**allmotoronly** · 10-03-2006, 09:03 PM

I think I'll pass on that.

**allmotoronly** · 10-03-2006, 09:50 PM

haha i'm not a hater... I just dont want a sentra.

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