Good base cars

[AMGalltheway]

Cheap, Fast, Reliable.
Pick two.

[zudo]

Probably going to be a daily driver, street races time to time hopefully...

Thanks for the advice guys!

[AMGalltheway]

then you probably want cheap and reliable something fast maybe later but learn on something more forgiving and yes slow my car is slow (NA diesel) but it is a blast(torque ftw)

[zudo]

But has potential, yeah?

[-The Stig-]

Of making black smoke and your clothes stink of diesel fuel... yep. Sure does!


Heheh.

[AMGalltheway]

potential watch this
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYlTG326IY0

[-The Stig-]

Pretty cool!

But one thing... all that money and effort in boosting up those diesels and they don't throw in a decent limited-slip? What's with the peg leg burnouts and half hearted donuts?

[MrPbody]

'87 Supra, 9.40 @ 141 MPH, 1998. I built it. It's a "street" car. Fredrick, MD

'93 VR-4, 3.4Lr, 8.90s, 1999. I built it. "street car" Baltimore, MD

'76 Toyota Hi-Lux, 20R engine, 13.20 @ 101, 1987. I built it. Tucson, AZ

NHRA record holder, 1996, 2.6 Mitsi "Conquest", Q/SA, I built it. He moved West

Mitsi 2.4Lr. (destroked G54B), 14 poles, Track Champ, 1997, NASCAR "Mini-Stock" I built it. Richmond, VA

Saturn 1.9Lr, NA, 2,500 lb. car, 14.20 @ 99, 2005. I built it. Richmond, VA

Our policy is "We don't care what color you paint it, we'll build it!"

It's funny that you pick out certain portions of my posts and ignore the rest. If you're a racer, the "TA/FC" should mean something to you. Yes, a Camaro body going nearly 300 MPH. Not unlike your Toyota example, blown/alcohol.

A good friend here in the Richmond area has been creditied with the quickest Honda 2.2 "NA, FWD" in the world. Whether or not it's true, I can't say. The car has been 8.80s. There are ZERO Japanese-made parts in the engine. Dart block, Dart head, Moldex crank, Crower rods and cams, Ross pistons, fabricated (in Richmond) intake and exhaust, etc. The cost is staggering. In excess of $15K to build it, and about $6K to "freshen" it. They tried to make 500 HP with the stock block, but it blew the bores right out of it (top of cylinders walking everywhere).

All of those cars you site are great. This is ALL "street racing", not "racing". Perhaps it would have been better posted in the "Street Racing" forum instead.

But give the redneck crap a rest. You know NOTHING about me, except I don't follow trends or styles. The rednecks around here HATE me (that's GOOD thing). I'm a California kid with massive experience in all kinds of American-style racing (drags, circle, RR, and street). I am not "anti-import", I'm just more realistic. I understand the laws of physics as they relate to engines, and KNOW what is real and what is hype. I defy you to find ONE 3,800 lb. ricer without power adders going 11.20s IN STREET TRIM, and driven regularly on 93 octane. I have no less than 20 customers doing it with Pontiacs. Wanna talk about the Chevys?

Who you ARE talking to, is a man that has been going "against the grain" for most of his life. When everyone says "Chevrolet", I say "Pontiac". When they say it can't be done", I say "Why not?" We built a 12 second 6-cylinder Nova in 1973, and it was a daily driver for a couple years. At the time, we got the same "Why?" you get when you spend so much money on a Datsun...

To add another cliche, "The only thing that beats cubic inches is cubic money. When cubic money is applied to cubic inches, end of game".

So, if you are as open-minded as you claim I'm not, you will see from the list of cars I've provided engines for, I am fully qualified to say what I say. How many V8 cars have you built?

PAX

Jim

[CivRacer95]

Ah....both of you shut up already (Pbody and Cassies). You two can whine and bitch about what you know, but to be honest, the OP has the decision to make. Just present him with cars that are good for starters.

I used to drive an 85 Trans Am with a 5.2 V8. Switched after a few years to a 95 Civic, then bought myself an Eclipse GS-T. For one, the imports were a hell of a lot easier to work on. I'll just say for example, changing the spark plugs on my TA was far more difficult than the Civic or the Eclipse, but I will admit that a 3000GT SL was more of a hassle than the TA. You gotta look at the fact that this guy may be a begginer and he needs something to understand and work on.

Something basic. Don't expect him to just jump into this game knowing everything. Or just reading what you guys post and suddenly become an expert with all the knowledge right in his back pocket. He's a "noob", so help the guy out with something useful other than your "my dick is bigger than yours" arguments.

To the OP, find yourself a solid car. Something really cheap, and something you would feel comfortable learning about. The Civic is something that is a choice for a lot of young learners. I chose it, and it helped me out greatly. You also should consider the fact that if something breaks on your next to be vehicle, how much are you willing to spend on fixing it, or can you afford to fix it?

The main point is, how much money to you have to spend, and also, how much time do you have to spend on your next vehicle? Keep that in mind when you look for your next vehicle. That's really all you need to know. And also, print up the thread with the base vehicles and bring it about with you. Just go out there and test drive whatever you can too before you buy. Also, bring a friend who is knowledgeable. That's another plus as well.

[CassiesMan]

Originally Posted by MrPbody

It's funny that you pick out certain portions of my posts and ignore the rest. If you're a racer, the "TA/FC" should mean something to you. Yes, a Camaro body going nearly 300 MPH. Not unlike your Toyota example, blown/alcohol.

Dude, you don't get it, do you?

This is Tommy Bahn's Supra. It can and has been daily driven. It can and has been on the street. It is a Toyota Supra with a modified motor and suspension. It holds the record for fastest standing mile street car. It is a fully street legal 1998 Toyota Supra with a 3.4L Stroker and a GT4718. It was clocked at 228.7mph The next fastest car in that same class was a Twin Turbo Viper that ran 223 (8.0L Twin Turboed V10. No replacement for displacement=fail). Get on YouTube and looks some of these cars up. There are videos of them putteirng around on the street just fine, going on food runs (Titan), etc.:



This is a TA/FC Camaro that'll go 300mph:



Notice any differences?

Now then, back on topic before mister "If'n it ain't a big block, its a POS" brings more arguments in here about imports not being able to go fast with a zillion dollars worth of work...[/hijack]

Listen, your budget is the only restriction. Beyond that, it is personal preference. The only reason I recomend starting out on something like Civic or a 240SX or a 5.Slow Mustang or such is the graduated power. You take someone who has no clue what they are doing, or just flat out not used to it, and drop them in some fast ass car, they are going to become a blip in the time line. Fast for about a week before that painfull lesson of physics that two objects cannot occupy the same space at the same time becomes more than just a lesson.

Starting with something like the Civic or the 240SX or the Stang or whatever gives you a chance to ease into the power. Then you can start building on it. Once you get used to driving it, you can start building into the power slowly until it is where you want to be.

Sleeper is right, there is no such thing as maxing out a car. As soon as you reach the physical limits of the motor you have, you can just swap to a new one (in most cases). Or you can rebuild it for different set ups, etc. Based on what you've said your looking for, but without mention of budget, I'd think a cheap front driver or maybe a rear driver would be the way to go. Seriously, start with something slow or else Darwin will be right again.

I'd really look into the Civic for a front driver or the 240 for a rear driver.

[MrPbody]

Civracer,

I did exactly what you suggested (recommended a reasonable and inexpensive way to get into racing), and got called names for it. I can't help it if I say what's right instead of what's "popular".

Cassiesman,

If you're happy with your car, GREAT! But don't blow sunshine around like the imports are the ONLY way to go. Promoting V8s is hardly a "redneck" thing. Comparing a top-end car to a drag car is pretty lame, I admit. I didn't realize that was your example. My point was to illustrate the amount of power available from a given engine design. A car going 230 MPH in a flying mile is not quite the same as a car going from zero to 300 in 5.5 seconds. And that's a Corvette body in the FC pic... Peter Ripley's '93 ZR-1 went 238 at the flying mile track in NC in 1998, and it goes 10.80s in the 1/4 mile to boot! Purely street.

I don't get my information from a computer. I get it at the track. I don't think I've ever even logged on to "youtube". Growing up in L.A. in the '60s, we learned early, TV lies. Does that mean I don't believe it? No. It means I take it all with a grain of salt. Rather than "dis" me because of your own preconceived ideas about people, you might wanna listen a bit, and learn some things.

Read my list of small engines again. I've been building imports since before a lot of you were out of short pants. I have no personal issue with them (or you). I also KNOW, the output of any engine is governed by the laws of physics. Why are the EcoTech GM engines banned in NOPI? Why is the 2.5 Pontiac banned in NOPI? Why are the GM twin cam 60 degree V6s banned in NOPI? Because they make more power at the same level of tune as the imports of similar displacement. Only the Saturn, Neon and Focus engines were "legal" last time I checked. I think it would be cool if someone would turbo a twin cam 3.4 GM in a Fiero... We're working on a NA version right now, but funds for a 'charged engine aren't available. Looking at 400-420 HP with a 390 CFM carb, revving to 7,500. Should be lots of fun. Even found a 4-speed car to put it in (4-speeds have more desirable gearing for drags than the 5-speeds in Fieros). As an official "old fart", underhood electronics are not my forte, thus the carb. EFI would be more efficient, but wouldn't make any more usable power. Since it's more of a racer than a streeter, MPG is of little or no concern. The distributor from a 1980 Citation with the 2.8 suffices for ignition.

On that note, I'll leave this alone. BTW, Kevin, my co-worker, has a '90 240SX for sale. Nice enough little car, runs well, looks good. Anyone interested?

Jim

[Sleepr awd]

I dont' get how you think we live our lives by "NOPI" like it is the God of all imports, because if it is, then i'm an atheist. Who cares about ecotech? it's just chevy's version of vtec, and last I recall they were doing pretty damn good with it. Maybe if they did open it up, you'd see some better competition. And the reason you don't see any large motored Japanese and import engines is because they are highly impractical in a country with the population of the united states, but that is the size of California, and only 10-15% of the land is habitable. Street racing isn't everything either. Lots of people compete in entry level autocross, rallying, and the likes with cars similar to most people's daily driven vehicles. There are more practical uses in racing than drag. Drag racing is actually, not even the greatest in theory and the only reason people do it, is because turning takes too much talent. Assuming everyone wants a fast drag car is like assuming everyone likes Snickers candy bars. They didn't make other flavors for no reason, and if the candy bar gets the job done, then what the hell does it matter?

And the most open minded people in this thread told the OP to get what he wants and be happy with it. You pointed him in only one direction for one racing style. Just the facts.

[zudo]

Thanks for the advice all, I'll start looking around...

[CassiesMan]

Originally Posted by Sleepr awd

I dont' get how you think we live our lives by "NOPI" like it is the God of all imports, because if it is, then i'm an atheist.

I love NOPI dude...whenever it rolls in I just troll around the highways for all those "performance enthusiasts" who add 90000000 pounds of useless and stupid sound equipment and make up for it with a single CAI. Its like hunting deer in a warehouse with a belt fed machine gun. Just line 'dem bitches up and knock 'em down.

[Gotian]

Um guys, what if this guy wanted to use his car for other things like drifting, autocrossing, or roadcourses, then all your arguments about 1/4 mile times and top speeds would actually mean jack shit...

god i hate drag racing, its like saying who's penis can grow the fastest...