Best car/engine combo for a newbie?

[ricergribbs]

Hi, i was thinking about getting a project car. im still undecided about wether import or muscle car or what. i was hoping some people could give me ideas of what the best muscle car is to rebuild/restore for a beginner? i was thinking about a 68 or 69 (or if i cant find one of those then a 70-74) chevy nova. i could get one for relatively cheap, in decent condition, but without an engine/transmission. i would like to build up a 350 then and drop it in there with a t-10 transmission, but am still undecided about the diff. any ideas on how much it would cost to get the 350 to about 400-450 hp? i dont need to use bling bling parts. also, seeing as this is my only muscle car idea, feel free to leave some comments on what u think i could do, or if u feel like flaming go ahead, always good to learn.

[Tomsriv]

Nova's are the least expensive of the Muscle cars of that era. A good example might cost you 5-6000, and anything cheaper than that will probably need about 5-6000 in miscellanous work. You can build a 400hp SBC for about $3000. Edelbrock has been making a kit for years that makes 420hp on a 350. That makes it really easy for a n00b.

Nova's are pretty much untouchable for straightline acceleration. If you want something that looks different their are lots of cool cars from that era, but the Nova is the fastest and cheapest.

Buick's, Olds, Pontiac's, Mopars and Fords are all fine cars but it would be a little harder to find parts and they are a little more expensive. I recommend a Chevy for a beginner.

[ricergribbs]

not bad. well actually i can get one for about 1500-2000, it could use a paint job and some interior touchups, but i would want to paint it some nice color anyway, and you need an interior to match, all this would cost me about 1000$ . and i could get a 350 for practically nothing (under 100$), but the only thing it would be good for would be the block, then i could get a 350 rebuild kit from summit for $500, and the heads for 1500$. then id want to get a dual quad intake, so thats about another 750. then theres the headers, about 300. and a nice exhaust, 350. then you can forget the extra money thats just there in case you need it, lets say about 500. these prices are from summit, so really i could get everything for cheaper. so in the end, including the price of the car, id think it would cost me about 5000-6000. did i miss anything? oh yeah, transmission and rear end. i could get these at a swap meet for about 500 for both. my friend got a t-10 transmission for his 454 chevelle for like 300$, and i could get a rear end from him for pretty cheap. so lets say about 5500-6500. if someone could, plz list anything big that i mightve overlooked, thanks.

[ricergribbs]

heres another thing i just found. a late 70's corvette, they werent very popular so i can find one for under 1000$ in pretty good condition, and it wont need paint/interior work. it would come with a 350, but they werent too powerful, but this doesnt matter as id be ripping the engine apart anyways.

edit:
and for those of u who are really picky, yes i know that the 'vette isnt technically a muscle car, but i already had this thread going so just posted here.

[kratefan]

Originally Posted by ricergribbs

Hi, i was thinking about getting a project car. im still undecided about wether import or muscle car or what. i was hoping some people could give me ideas of what the best muscle car is to rebuild/restore for a beginner? i was thinking about a 68 or 69 (or if i cant find one of those then a 70-74) chevy nova. i could get one for relatively cheap, in decent condition, but without an engine/transmission. i would like to build up a 350 then and drop it in there with a t-10 transmission, but am still undecided about the diff. any ideas on how much it would cost to get the 350 to about 400-450 hp? i dont need to use bling bling parts. also, seeing as this is my only muscle car idea, feel free to leave some comments on what u think i could do, or if u feel like flaming go ahead, always good to learn.

Depending on your skill at transplanting engines, you could get a Buick Apollo and fill the bay with 455 cid of junkyard Buick. Gross hp of 350 and torque (read that acceleration) of 510 lbs/ft. I knew a guy who put a stock boneyard 455 into a 1978 Electra (4400 lbs) and ran mid 14's. Knock off a 1000 lbs and you'd be running 13's. Add a dose of laughing gas and 12's shouldn't be a problem.
Jeff
Rice always tastes better when properly cooked!

[Tomsriv]

Mid-70's Corvettes should be a good buy. It all depends on the smog inspections in your state. Here in California 74+ still has to be smogged so if you pulled the weak-suck 180hp sorry excuse for a V8 350 out and installed a 500hp 350 you might not pass smog.

[calgary_redneck]

ya you really can't go wrong with a nova they are small light and pretty tough. Almost any part you can imagine is avalable through the restoration companies and many of the camaro firebird parts fit too. Almost and of gm engines fit in them relitively easily any where from a 454 to 455 olds pontiac or buick no problem.

[justav6]

i certainly agree about the nova, they are pretty quick and certainly the cheapest. I do have another suggestion though. look into a 86 or 87 buick t-type. they have the same engine as the grand nationals, and theyr much cheaper. they are in my opinion with out a doubt the easiest cars to beef up. you can find one for about 4-5k, and it will probrably be already modified. its almost impossible to find a stock one. stock they ran 13's but most of the ones youl find today are well into the 11's. plus they get about 20 miles to the gallon, have power everything, ac, and look mean as hell! i have an 87 gn i got for 7k, and my brother has an 86 t-type for 5k. another plus in insurance companies consider them regals! im being 100% honest when i say this, i lost 1 race ever, and it ws to a new trans am the day before my trans blew. since fixing it i got my rematch, and it wasnt even close. i plan on keeping my gn until the day i die.

[68 chevelle]

the best combo for a new racer is a 67 68 camaro or a 66 67 mustang gutted
either car can fit the 350 edle brock engine witch will put out about 475 hp right when you drop it in

thats pretty good if you ask me

[BleedDodge]

68_chevelle hasn't got a clue...

[68 chevelle]

yea whatever BleedDodge it all depends if he wants a new car or a old car
and if he wants a old car the combo i said it great for starters

your probally just mad because if he gets what i said he will beat yor car thats too bad buddy

[macktoschool]

Originally Posted by calgary_redneck

ya you really can't go wrong with a nova they are small light and pretty tough. Almost any part you can imagine is avalable through the restoration companies and many of the camaro firebird parts fit too. Almost and of gm engines fit in them relitively easily any where from a 454 to 455 olds pontiac or buick no problem.

I agree the Nova is a cheap car to build fast. I would suggest you get some traction bars though. My Buddy in High school had a 1972 with a hot 350 + 4SP, and if you didn't close the ashtray, you would have cigarette butts in the backseat from the wheel hop.

[BleedDodge]

Originally Posted by 68 chevelle

the best combo for a new racer is a 67 68 camaro or a 66 67 mustang gutted
either car can fit the 350 edle brock engine witch will put out about 475 hp right when you drop it in

thats pretty good if you ask me

This doesn't mean anything, I don't know where you get this from. It has to be a joke...

I read that and it was way too funny.