Best car for a starting tuner?

[ricergribbs]

hey all, im new to tuning and i was just wondering whats the best car to modify for a low budget? im going off to college this year, so i need to save, but i still want to have fun. i would like to have a drag/street racing car and not use nitrous. i was thinking that a 1st generation mitsubishi eclipse would be perfect. i could get the turbo model for about $500 and then get a greddy turbo kit for it, and from what ive heard they can handle lots of boost on stock internals. my other idea was a 68-74 chevy nova. i could get a rolling chasis for about 500-1000 and then get a small block 350 for it. i would probably end up wanting to really build this car up though before i drove it, so it would be a while before it was running. but the thing that is kind of detering me from this is that i want a sleeper car. i figure that by the time id be done with them, the eclipse could run 12's, and the nova high 10's. ive talked with some of my friends and a few mechanics and they say this is pretty achievable. what do you guys think? any other ideas for cheap cars to modify?

[freakonaleash1187]

what is your idea of cheap? by what you are saying about making an eclipse do a 12, then cheap means pretty expensive. but if you are looking for a cheap car and mod it, then for under 8k you can get a 300zx and make it fast with little mods.

[ricergribbs]

im going off of what i have been told here. but ive heard that the eclipse internals could handle up to like 500hp. so i was thinking to get a new turbo, intercooler, exhaust, and some fuel mods. the car itself would cost me about 500. then i could get these mods for about 1500. so for about 2000$ ive been told i could get it down to mid-high 12's.

[chevydrummer76]

I don't know who told you that but its bs. The mods you listed will cost a lot more than 1500, and I'd say 13's in the 1/4 if you lucky.

[klohiq]

Originally Posted by chevydrummer76

I don't know who told you that but its bs. The mods you listed will cost a lot more than 1500, and I'd say 13's in the 1/4 if you lucky.

high 12's maybe...but I definitely think you are going to be spending more than 1500 since unless you are making your own intercooler (which I don't reccomend seeing as you aren't yet experienced enough and don't seem to have friends with enough knowledge yet either) then that alone will cost a couple hundred. Then the turbo, which unless it's used can be over 1000. Then you need the IC piping, manifold (since I don't think the new turbo will match up with the oem manifold)...lots of shit to buy or fabricate yourself...then you have oil lines, boost gauge, ummm...a bunch of stuff...and if you are going to college why are you spending all this money on a car...you should maybe be thinking about saving money to pay off your loan when you get out...just my opinion...

And 500 for a first gen turbo eclipse in decent condition? where the hell are you looking...I'd like to buy one for that cheap.

[Vettribution]

As far as the Nova idea goes.. its not necessarily a bad idea.. any old GM muscle car is alright in my book. You might wanna start from the engine up though.. You want a solid engine to build up on. Ive seen some nice engines, just depends on what you want for numbers..price per horsepower basically. Ive seen some nice engines with 500 HP for around 5 grand.. I'd look into an LS6 to drop into an older muscle car or something similar. Just some ideas for the non-rice aspect. As far as your Eclipse goes.. Messing with turbo's and cars of the sort with no experience with cars can be a huge mistake if you make the wrong choices.. Make sure to find someone to help you out who does know the right things, or right people before shopping for any type of car that you want to mod and keep in the long run.
Just my three and a half cents.

[ghetto7o2azn]

good luck on finding a car for $500 that is able to do 12's with $1,500 in mods

[ricergribbs]

alrighty, its time that i rephrased my question as my first one seems impossible.

what would you guys recommend as the best car for a starting tuner? something relatively cheap, yet easy to mod, and preferably with a decent aftermarket selection.

[KustmAce]

cheap car+easy to mod+large after market selection= Honda Civic

[Danny Demon]

Buy a bicycle and Go to Class.

DD

[ricergribbs]

heh, dont need a bike, i have an 01 civic, but i just want to get a project car.

[ghetto7o2azn]

get a celica with the 5sfe engine, save ur money and drop a 3sgte in... the 3sgte is capable of 700+ hp... and there is a good aftermarket in turbos, ect....

front clip will cost roughly about $2,000 but ull get at least 200hp depending on where you get it and what year the clip is from....

or you can also stay w/ the 5sfe

-and eclipse turbo is probably another nice choice
-civic, though it seems they are everywhere
-240sx's are nice and are good at drifting if you are into that at all
-integra
-200sx? (yes,no)???

just some that i kno and some that i can imagine to be good starter cars

[GTStang]

Originally Posted by ricergribbs

alrighty, its time that i rephrased my question as my first one seems impossible.

what would you guys recommend as the best car for a starting tuner? something relatively cheap, yet easy to mod, and preferably with a decent aftermarket selection.

Cheap+Easy+ Enermous aftermarket selection= 5.0 Mustang

[ghetto7o2azn]

do del sols have good aftermarket??? they are VERY ugly in my opinion though

[mommaslilinjun]

visit www.dsmtuners.com for info about modding early gen eclipses