After Military Project - Help!

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)

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/

Old cars unreliable? http://adcache.collectorcartraderonline.com/10/4/8/32575048.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?action=prod_detail&catid=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?action=prod_detail&catid=120&pid=463
$4800 is kinda steep for the power it doesnt make...

http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?action=prod_detail&catid=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?action=prod_detail&catid=1578&pid=2598

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

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.

Originally posted by RedNeck383
Old cars unreliable? http://adcache.collectorcartraderonline.com/10/4/8/32575048.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?action=prod_detail&catid=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?action=prod_detail&catid=120&pid=463
$4800 is kinda steep for the power it doesnt make...

http://www.sdpc2000.com/cart.asp?action=prod_detail&catid=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?action=prod_detail&catid=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?

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)

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.

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/1stgenfordefiinstall.html

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...

Erebuni 357 kit
http://www.erebunicorp.com/images/autos1/RX7357f.jpghttp://www.erebunicorp.com/images/autos1/RX7357r.jpg

Erebuni 361 kit
http://www.erebunicorp.com/images/autos1/RX7361f.jpghttp://www.erebunicorp.com/images/autos1/RX7361r.jpg

First generation Mazda RX7 with Ford 5.0 liter HO
http://members.tripod.com/~grannys/bbergholdt1.jpg

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 :D

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

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 :D

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...

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...

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.

Originally posted by Bryan8412


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...

I understand.....not that i was doubting you, just going off my experience w/ the army. They screwed me outta my college,and $19,800 bonus by sending me to kuwait 2 years ago for the 10 yr Kuwaiti liberation for patrols while we pulled our troops off the iraq border(my MOS was 13Fox, Foward Observer/"Fister"). You'll learn soon enough.....mission comes first, not your enlistment contract. Although, the air force is known to treat their troops better than the army, and with you being a weekend warrior(nat' guard), you won't have to put up with the B.S. 24/7 like i did. RANGER'S LEAD THE WAY!

All military differences aside, i hope you get yourself a kickass car:ylsuper

I would advise against crate motors, it's cheaper to get a used motor and rebuild it just the way you want it.

The RX7 with Ford V8 gets about 20-25mpg as well. Something to consider... Also, the RX7 keeps a 50/50 balance if you move the battery to the trunk...

Check PM Cbass

again, hehe, sorry everyone

Originally posted by StageIII_TurboZ


I understand.....not that i was doubting you, just going off my experience w/ the army. They screwed me outta my college,and $19,800 bonus by sending me to kuwait 2 years ago for the 10 yr Kuwaiti liberation for patrols while we pulled our troops off the iraq border(my MOS was 13Fox, Foward Observer/"Fister"). You'll learn soon enough.....mission comes first, not your enlistment contract. Although, the air force is known to treat their troops better than the army, and with you being a weekend warrior(nat' guard), you won't have to put up with the B.S. 24/7 like i did. RANGER'S LEAD THE WAY!

All military differences aside, i hope you get yourself a kickass car:ylsuper

yeah thanks. that sux they sent you to kuwait tho, you were a ranger!? thats big shit man. if i had no obligation of college i would consider it, the training looks awesome...

Originally posted by Cbass
I would advise against crate motors, it's cheaper to get a used motor and rebuild it just the way you want it.

The RX7 with Ford V8 gets about 20-25mpg as well. Something to consider... Also, the RX7 keeps a 50/50 balance if you move the battery to the trunk...

rebuilding engines is not nearly good as a remanufactued or simply remanufacted engine. You can buy reman 13b's for a couple grand, but you get more value to power with a crate.

I'm sorry;

The new 345ci Hemi is fuel injected. I don't know what the hell I was thinking, perhaps that you wanted DOHC and not pushrod.

really? wow. im going to look that up, i didn't see a EFI hemi but i must have overlooked it. you said it was new?

right now this is what im thinking of doing:

1979 Trans Am in good condition minus engine
350efi
That really nice chevy blue paintjob they had
New trans am decals (stock! no POWERED BY CHEVY shit)
and then these: http://www.cragarforgedalloys.com/SS.html

18" in the back, 17" in the front

what do you think? by the way heres a pic of the color scheme: http://www.allmusclecars.com/pontiac/1979transam.htm

some real or fake HIDS would be nice ;) but the cosmetics is all dependent of the price of the car and engine i get when i buy them both, cause i want to keep it under $8000 so the money left over will go to the cosmetics. maybe ill splurge and do it all anyways :p

You'll have to get a license plate that says Bandit on it. :D

Yeah they just stated putting a new Hemi in the trucks. It is 345ci and more powerful than the Chevy 8.1L engines. It is a pushrod V8 with EFI and to spark plugs per cylinder. Should put out close to 400HP and over 400ft.lbs of torque. They plan to put it in the 1/2 tons in January and they make it sound like they will drop it in the Jeep and then after that there are rumors they are designing a new car to drop that beauty in. There are also talks of an EFI 383ci Hemi to add on to the 426, 511, and 528 Hemi. Tis a nice time to be a Mopar guy. :)

could you post a link? im not finding the same statistics.

also im changing it to 17's in the back and 16's in the front, to give it more of a muscle show of tire, plus cost me less ;)

If you're going the SBC route, I recommend getting a junkyard LT1 or LT4, and rebuiling it as a 383 stroker... you can make an easy 425hp on pump gas, in a civil daily driver. It'll still cost about as much as a crate motor, if you have a speed shop build the engine for you.

i need reliable, not junkyard and rebuilt

but thanks for the suggestion. plus depening on the prices of the labor and the original engine it may end up more

An engine built by a shop will most likely be a lot more reliable than a factory engine actually, just because the shop goes to the trouble of cleaning up everything the factory didn't. Like chamfering the oil galleys, balancing the rotating mass, that sort of thing. They usually magnaflux the block and chase all the threads too...

Unless you're putting out over 500hp, I can't imagine what you could do to make CSB unreliable :rolleyes:

It all depends on the crate engine you pick as far as cost goes... You can get a box stock 250hp crate 350 for $2500, or a ZZ4 for about $4000. A professionally built fuelly LT1 making 400hp should set you back about $3000 plus core... A good LT1 should run $1000 from a wreckers, and even with 100,000 miles on it, it'll still be running strong. With a professional build on top of that, $4K in total, for a balanced, blueprinted motor, made with high quality components.

Originally posted by Cbass
An engine built by a shop will most likely be a lot more reliable than a factory engine actually, just because the shop goes to the trouble of cleaning up everything the factory didn't. Like chamfering the oil galleys, balancing the rotating mass, that sort of thing. They usually magnaflux the block and chase all the threads too...

wha? i definently think chevy knows engines a little better than some guy down the street...

no offense but im pretty sure factory is alot better, unless you're paying an expert to do it like those bigblock shootouts where they have the top gm, ford, and mopar guys build an engine to see who can put out the most HP. but i definently couldn't afford one of those guys, so i'll take an engine whos displacement has been done over and over by GM (350) and is fuel injected by the same company who makes EFIs for millions of cars...

I'm just talking about a mild street build, not much more power than stock. Just the basics, like port matching, porting, balancing the motor, and setting up the ignition for whatever kind of fuel you'd like.

It's basically taking a crate engine and fixing all the niggling little imperfections, like casting flash in the ports, and an unbalanced rotating mass...

At this point, with everything apart, I would probably stroke the motor to a 383 as well, just for the extra power. It doesn't hurt the reliability if it's done right. ;)

Your sig doesn't say where you are, but I'm sure there are a number of good shops that could clean up an engine to better than factory specs in your area.

well crate engines are built for hotrodding and performance, so i highly doubt some guy could do better than chevy could at their own engine, but thats my opinion and you have the right to yours...

as for my town, no definently not, maybe if i went to chicago, but like i said above i think chevy would manufacture their engine better than some guy could...

The problem is that Chevy builds a million motors, and they build them in a factory so they are quickly and cheaply built, resulting in all sorts of things, like unbalanced crankshaft, rods and pistons, casting flash everywhere, stock oil pump...

The sad fact is, that Chevy, Ford and Chrysler do not build engines as well as speed shops, because they have to comprimise with cost, time, and lack of advanced machining.

A speed shop doesn't have to worry about cost, the customer buys what he wants, and pays for it. They don't have to worry about time, because they take as long as it takes to do it right, and they machine the engine with professional milling machines...

At the very least get the rotating mass balanced and the head and manifold port matched, this will increase reliability, fuel economy, and power, even on a crate engine.

Originally posted by Cbass
The problem is that Chevy builds a million motors, and they build them in a factory so they are quickly and cheaply built, resulting in all sorts of things, like unbalanced crankshaft, rods and pistons, casting flash everywhere, stock oil pump...

The sad fact is, that Chevy, Ford and Chrysler do not build engines as well as speed shops, because they have to comprimise with cost, time, and lack of advanced machining.

A speed shop doesn't have to worry about cost, the customer buys what he wants, and pays for it. They don't have to worry about time, because they take as long as it takes to do it right, and they machine the engine with professional milling machines...

At the very least get the rotating mass balanced and the head and manifold port matched, this will increase reliability, fuel economy, and power, even on a crate engine.

come on please dont waste forum bandwidth by repeating what you said before.

until you provide a link that says all these problems occur on brand new 350 fuelinjected hod rod crate engines, its simply your opinion vs. mine.

because of your post and this one to set you straight, it cost some poor low bandwidth guy to refresh his "SERVER BUSY" page only to have it reload the same page, so please try to avoid unnessicary posting...