beginner car

[thelawnmower]

Hey guys,

I was wondering if anybody could help me pick out a beginner car for me to restor. I want something that can be fast, a coupe, not a sedan, and something that I can try new things with. Preferribly a good amount of engine space so I can drop a big engine into it, and I think that about covers it. So any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

P.S. Any links would be greatly appreciated as well, Im not afraid to read like some people. I also intend on taking a welding class next spring, so by the time I can afford a car I'll hopefully be able to do bodywork and so on.

[MrPbody]

In today's market, the most affordable cars that meet your needs are the GM G-bodies, '78-'87. Those are: Chevy Malibu and Monte Carlo, Pontiac Grand Prix, LeMans and Grand Am (rare), Olds Cutlass, Buick Regal. They have good frames and suspensions that lend themselves well to high performance upgrades. Parts are readily available.
All the necessary hardware to install a big block Chevy in a Malibu is available in "kit" form. If you choose the Pontiac, headers are available through Indian Adventures. The bigger engines from Olds and Buick would be an exercise to install.
You'll get the best results from a big engine if you stick with the Chevy or Pontiac. The small block Chevy should not be discounted, as pound for pound, dollar for dollar, it's pretty hard to beat the SBC. If you want more than 500 streetable horsepower, though, the bigger engines are better, as they can make that level of power at a much lower level of "tune". 454 or 455P (or variations on the theme) are "king" street motors.
Of course, you could always go the Ford route... Rustangs are pretty cheap and available. There are kits to put the 429/460 into the Fox body. ANIMAL!!!
The Dodge engines are excellent, but finding a suitable body to put them in has become a lottery of sorts. Cudas, Chargers, RoadRunners, etc. have all gone nutso in price (like the GM muscle cars). I suppose you could put a 440 in a Duster... But then you'ld have to be seen driving a Duster (ICK!).

[SamBlob]

Originally Posted by MrPbody

The Dodge engines are excellent, but finding a suitable body to put them in has become a lottery of sorts. Cudas, Chargers, RoadRunners, etc. have all gone nutso in price (like the GM muscle cars).

Coronets? Belvederes? Satellites?

Originally Posted by MrPbody

I suppose you could put a 440 in a Duster... But then you'ld have to be seen driving a Duster (ICK!).

??? What's wrong wif Dusters? Granted, a RB block in a Duster would be a TIGHT fit, but it can be done (although not without surgery...). But Dusters are about as cool as Mustangs (and FAR MORE cool than Mustang IIs!), and if you can't live with the Valiant front end, there's always the Dodge Demon or Dodge Dart Sport.

[MrPbody]

Coronets, Sattelites, Belvederes? All rusted away long ago... There may be SOME left, but my point was to get the guy off an easier path than to try to unearth moldy oldies. What's wrong with Dusters? Well, let's see.... Light (not a BAD thing), tinny (bad), butt-ugly (bad), cheezy chassis (bad), sloppy construction (bad). There are more, but this should suffice. My parents had a '73 in '75. It was a pig (318 smogger), wore tires like crazy, steering is too soft and way too "touchy", brakes were also very "touchy". No comparison between the overall performance potential (includes road manners) of GM cars of the era and the others. Had 'em all, liked only a few.