After Military Project - Help!

[Bryan8412]

Ok I enlisted in the Air National Guard and I leave to train after graduation for 300 days (120 days at the end at home base).

When I get out i should have $6000, 300 days of full time pay, $4000 coming monthly, and roughly $500 a month in addition to that.

So I said what the hell, I'll build a raw car. Thats what brings me here.

1) A new car is too expensive
2) An old car is too unreliable
3) I need somthing that will last me roughly 10 years

So that leads me to placing a new engine in an old car. So now i need suggestions. I want to stay under $8000 for the most part, but all suggestions are welcome. Here are my ideas so far:

1. 350 ramjet crate in an old GM car
2. 360/380 magnum hemi in an old dodge car (prob charger) and convert to EFI

So everyone make there suggestion including engine and car. For the GM im debating, and would like something old like a GTO or chevelle, but i dont think i could get it as a daily driver for under 8. And the dodge would prob be a charger but unsure of restoration costs again. So what are your suggestions?

(make sure it's fuel injection for reliability's sake)

[Cbass]

Allow me to suggest a Ford 5.0L/T5 in a Mazda RX7. RX7s handle great, and don't look bad, but the rotary is often too much trouble.

If you get a 5.0L, there is a massive aftermarket, for as much power as you want. Even a 250hp 5.0 will make a 2300lb RX7 scream. The RX7 was designed by Mazda, at about the same time they designed the Fox platform. If you put the engine/suspension crossmember in backwards, a Ford smallblock with Ford mounts will bolt directly into it, and a 5.0 HO will even fit under the hood.

The modifications required are a new tranny crossmember, and a custom length driveshaft. Both are relatively easy to do, but you can also buy them from Granny's speed shop. There are lots of people who have done this, and it is very well documented.

If you have something against Fords, you can do the same thing with a Chevy or Dodge engine, but you will need a custom front crossmember... $$$

http://members.tripod.com/~grannys/

[-The Stig-]

Old cars unreliable? http://adcache.collectorcartraderonl...8/32575048.htm

For less than $5,000 you get a Nova (SS at that!) with a all new drive line... Engine, tranny, posi rear end. And if you're wanting EFI aftermarket companies make adaptors... so what? another $1,000 to $2,000 and you've got a reliable old car with EFI. Just change the rear end from 4.10's to like 3.55's to save gas but retain good pick up and go.


Chargers, and any Mopar for that matter are expensive to buy and build.

i've never heard of a 380 mopar motor.. i think you're thinking of the 383 . http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...id=122&pid=616 Heres a Magnum 360 or 5.9L that makes 380hp/410ft-lbs... at a decent $3500.

Here's your beloved RJ 350 http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...id=120&pid=463
$4800 is kinda steep for the power it doesnt make...

http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...id=120&pid=117
the ZZ4 350 makes slightly more power and is $3600.

I'd go with the ZZ4 350, and upgrade to the EFI at a later time.

Or... a Fast Burn 383 with LT4 Cam 430hp 430ft-lbs ... but you pay the price.. $4900 http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...=1578&pid=2598

the possibilities are endless... but if you look around you can always find somebodies near finished project car... for cheap!

[Marc-OS]

My friend joined the army, and with the money he gets he's gonna get a Mitsubishi 3000GT (AWD, v6 w/ twin turbos). You can get 'em for under $10,000 for the older, early 90's versions, and there's a fair amount of aftermarket support for it.

[Bryan8412]

Originally posted by RedNeck383
Old cars unreliable? http://adcache.collectorcartraderonl...8/32575048.htm

For less than $5,000 you get a Nova (SS at that!) with a all new drive line... Engine, tranny, posi rear end. And if you're wanting EFI aftermarket companies make adaptors... so what? another $1,000 to $2,000 and you've got a reliable old car with EFI. Just change the rear end from 4.10's to like 3.55's to save gas but retain good pick up and go.


Chargers, and any Mopar for that matter are expensive to buy and build.

i've never heard of a 380 mopar motor.. i think you're thinking of the 383 . http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...id=122&pid=616 Heres a Magnum 360 or 5.9L that makes 380hp/410ft-lbs... at a decent $3500.

Here's your beloved RJ 350 http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...id=120&pid=463
$4800 is kinda steep for the power it doesnt make...

http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...id=120&pid=117
the ZZ4 350 makes slightly more power and is $3600.

I'd go with the ZZ4 350, and upgrade to the EFI at a later time.

Or... a Fast Burn 383 with LT4 Cam 430hp 430ft-lbs ... but you pay the price.. $4900 http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?act...=1578&pid=2598

the possibilities are endless... but if you look around you can always find somebodies near finished project car... for cheap!

well for starters you missed my point completely. I meant older cars with older engines. A new car is too expensive, a used(thats a better term) wont have as many miles as i need.

next, it was not a 380, it's a 360/380. They used the hp in the name to distinguish between the two crate 360's (one makes 300hp, the other 380hp i think).

lastly, the ramjet you listed is overpriced. Ive seen it for at least $3500 and by the time i plan to invest i think it may go a little lower, but this is for 400 ftlbs with an untuned EFI so it should push good numbers for the price.

but thanks for the useful links. ignoring engine, what car would be good to "retrofit" as a reliable daily driver?

I like the mazda idea but would the swap be difficult? and how much would one without a motor cost?

[Bryan8412]

Wow thanks for the link alot (the collector car listings). Before i searched and couldn't find many without a tranny/engine but now im finding ones. This is awesome thanks alot.

I may get a loan if i find a good deal and pay it off later. Im really hooked on 67 and 69 chevelles and if i can find a decent one ill take it (im taking out powersteer ac and all that so all i really need is a engineless trannyless-maybe- shell setup to go)

[-The Stig-]

Originally posted by Bryan8412


next, it was not a 380, it's a 360/380. They used the hp in the name to distinguish between the two crate 360's (one makes 300hp, the other 380hp i think).

ah, i wasnt aware you were doing that... my whoops

as for cars... the skys the limit... whatever falls into your price bracket and whatever you think looks best.

[Cbass]

Originally posted by Bryan8412

but thanks for the useful links. ignoring engine, what car would be good to "retrofit" as a reliable daily driver?

I like the mazda idea but would the swap be difficult? and how much would one without a motor cost?

Engine aside(any EFI V8 will fit into an RX7), the swap is very easy. The Ford 5.0 with AOD or T5 is a bolt on conversion. The only modification required is smacking the firewall with a sledgehammer in a few spots. This may sound drastic, but it's really easy.

Here is the grannys page

http://members.tripod.com/~grannys/1stgenrx7fordv8.html

This is a page written by a guy who did this swap in California. He has lots of good details.

http://members.tripod.com/~grannys/1...fiinstall.html

[Cbass]

A good condition first gen RX7 with a running motor goes for about $1000. That's for one in good tune.

An RX7 with no motor(they are very easy to find, in junkyards across the world), go for anywhere from $50-$500, depending on modifications and options. You could pick up an RX7 with leather seats, air conditioning, power everything, nice wheels for about $1500, if the engine is perfect. Look on Ebay, they are always going for cheap there.

The stock first gen RX7 isn't the best looking car, it's a pretty sad ripoff of the Porsche 924. However, the 81-85 cars have a nice rear end, and there are any number of non offensive/ricey body kits available for them. All the parts except for engine parts are cheap, and available at the Mazda dealership. A complete coilover suspension kit with sway bars should cost around $1000-$1500...

http://www.erebunicorp.com/ge/mazrx779.htm

The 357 and 361 kits are quite nice, I am planning on getting the 361 if I put my 400M in an RX7. Whether I do it or not depends on whether I get a Porsche 931 for free or not...

[Cbass]

Erebuni 357 kit


Erebuni 361 kit


First generation Mazda RX7 with Ford 5.0 liter HO

[StageIII_TurboZ]

UM.....i've already ETS'd from the Army (honorable, and i was active duty, not a weekend warrior), and basic training pay, assuming your going in as an E-1, is only approx, $990 a month.......thats roughly $4000 after basic and advanced individual training (i'm assuming thats where your getting 120 days from, since Basic is only 10 wks[2 1/2 months]....they say 9, but start from week 0 'hell week') But, even if you are getting $6000 (i'm not calling bs) In MY OPINION, i'd get an 80's model 300ZX, and turbo the hell out of it (thats what i did). For almost 8G's, i was able to purchase a car, do the propper repairs, since there were a few things wrong with it when i bought it, and mod it out capable of 12's......if i could learn to launch w/out spinning i guesstimate i'd be in the 11's, since my trap speed is anywhere between 121-125mph. But, thats just my opinion. (as far as STREET racing, i have yet to be beat, but then again i live in Oklahoma) i've only been beat twice at the track, 1 by a Saleen mustang which i still stayed glued to his ass end, and 1 to a modded out F-150 Lightning. But, it's your $$ so do what you wish

[Polygon]

Man, you could always get the new 345ci Hemi from Mopar and drop it in a Dart or Duster.

[Bryan8412]

Originally posted by StageIII_TurboZ
UM.....i've already ETS'd from the Army (honorable, and i was active duty, not a weekend warrior), and basic training pay, assuming your going in as an E-1, is only approx, $990 a month.......thats roughly $4000 after basic and advanced individual training (i'm assuming thats where your getting 120 days from, since Basic is only 10 wks[2 1/2 months]....they say 9, but start from week 0 'hell week') But, even if you are getting $6000 (i'm not calling bs) In MY OPINION, i'd get an 80's model 300ZX, and turbo the hell out of it (thats what i did). For almost 8G's, i was able to purchase a car, do the propper repairs, since there were a few things wrong with it when i bought it, and mod it out capable of 12's......if i could learn to launch w/out spinning i guesstimate i'd be in the 11's, since my trap speed is anywhere between 121-125mph. But, thats just my opinion. (as far as STREET racing, i have yet to be beat, but then again i live in Oklahoma) i've only been beat twice at the track, 1 by a Saleen mustang which i still stayed glued to his ass end, and 1 to a modded out F-150 Lightning. But, it's your $$ so do what you wish

you're comparing apples to oranges; not only am i in the air national guard, but the job im entering is not popular and thus a bonus was given as an incentive to learn that skill. in addition to the $8000 bonus, i get several hundred a month when im in school as a part of my bonus, then as usual i get the 200 some a month for my one weekends pay...

[Bryan8412]

Originally posted by Polygon
Man, you could always get the new 345ci Hemi from Mopar and drop it in a Dart or Duster.

i need EFI tho, how much was that engine?

i think right now im leaning towards a 1979 trans am with the 350rj...

[Polygon]

Hehe, well you won't find a Hemi with fuel injection unless it was converted. I am sure it can be done, but the 345ci Hemi puts out close to 400HP and over 400ft/lbs of torque and still gets better mileage than the 360ci Magnum it replaces. However; if EFI is what you need then I suppose a Hemi is out of the question. I am not sure how much it costs though, it just barely hit the market.