I have a hankering for a beater thrash build.
Basically, I wanna shove a junkyard LS or Vortec and AR 5 speed in something. Maybe Crown Vic IFS, T-Bird or MKVIII IRS too. Cheap fender flares, thinking trailer fenders ala autocross Ranger. Bullbar on the front. Madmax meets rat.
Something I can build for relatively cheap, decent performance, with no real regards for aesthetics. Something sleeper-esque would be a bonus.
What does the hive-mind have in that realm?
Any and all of them?
I have to plead ignorance to most RWD cars...I have a truck for the biz, the wife and I have Subarus as our DD's, and I've owned a half-dozen mid-engine cars over the last 20 years.
Other than Corvette, Camaro, GTO and Mustangs, I really don't have a clue what other options are out there. I mean, I guess I know about Novas and G-bodies, 240SX, 240Zs/260Zs, 350Zs/370Zs, etc. but I'm hoping that some other RWD options that are a little more under-the-radar are out there.
Sorry for not being GRM'ish enough.
A more helpful suggestion: I’ve always thought a BMW 318ti (the funky little hatchback) would be fun with V8 torque.
Mercedes C123
Mike said:Mercedes C123
Those do better with a Ford 302
Lexus SC?
Mike said:
Lexus SC?
Now this I like. A quick google tells me this is basically a Supra underneath?
Anything Infiniti RWD?
BlueInGreen - Jon said:A more helpful suggestion: I’ve always thought a BMW 318ti (the funky little hatchback) would be fun with V8 torque.
How cheap can these be found?
Mike said:Mercedes C123
A guy around these parts has a diesel Merc that is going on 400k miles.
I honestly don't think I can find anything like this in BFE, let alone afford it for a beater bash project car.
I know you said coupe, and I like your thinking. Hopefully I'm not too off track by reminding what a cheap single cab short bed can do. The LS engine will come pre-installed, just add boost.
Craiglist->Max Price 3500$-> scroll until something looks neat. If it looks neat, Google it and figure out if it's RWD.
Why limit yourself to just coupes? Or stuff that the factory said should be FWD?
In reply to Gingerbeardman :
Much of it. The early M45 was a consideration, but it's a sedan. For a coupe, G35/G37.
Isuzu Impulse? The RWD one, not the later FWD version. Peugot 505?
Suzuki X-90?
yupididit said:Mike said:Mercedes C123
Those do better with a Ford 302
Wait... What??
Floating Doc said:I know you said coupe, and I like your thinking. Hopefully I'm not too off track by reminding what a cheap single cab short bed can do. The LS engine will come pre-installed, just add boost.
I'm not anti-truck, but I have a Silverado that I use for work and...I hate driving the damned thing. It rides like an ox-cart unloaded and while less inclined to slip left or right when loaded, it's not exactly sporty...lotsa chatter-bumps around here on the dirt roads and I hate having my fillings rattled out while driving down them in the truck. It excels at hauling crap and getting to job sites. Other than the AC that will freeze me out in 90+ degree heat, and the insta-torque of the LS engine, it's not my go-to driver.
Medchin said:Craiglist->Max Price 3500$-> scroll until something looks neat. If it looks neat, Google it and figure out if it's RWD.
Why limit yourself to just coupes? Or stuff that the factory said should be FWD?
I just figured coupes would be the lightest of the factory offerings...
I'm not opposed to a FWD<RWD conversion, but having the basics in place while cobbling the other bits together can prevent project-car hell.
I'm basically wanting to build something that handles better than decent, will have more than enough horsepower without expensive mods, can be manually shifted for some visceral engagement, and that ultimately I can throw away without shedding tears should I encounter wildlife in the road...which happens on a regular basis around here. Deer, elk, moose, cows, horses, sheep, coyotes, etc.
I hit a deer three weeks ago in my truck, broke the marker light plastic mount bracket and shoved the bumper into the tire, but otherwise unscathed. Only my second deer strike in 25 years of driving, so I consider myself one of the lucky ones, but in the area where I live, it averages 5 or more deer strikes per week, EVERY WEEK.
I don't really wanna throw a lot of cash into a car that I may total when Bambi tries to Bo Duke hoodslide across from a borrow-ditch dash.
Mike said:In reply to Gingerbeardman :
Much of it. The early M45 was a consideration, but it's a sedan. For a coupe, G35/G37.
M45 is an option. Coupe isn't mandatory, I just figured coupes would be lighter from the factory.
Fox body of any flavor (I like the MK VII myself)
SN95
MN12 (Lincoln Mk VIII, T-Bird, Cougar)
3rd gen F body
E30
E36
E46
MK3 Supra
SC300/400
280ZX
300ZX
70s Nova
Pinto
Chevette
FB
FC
Basically just look through craigslist and marketplace looking for something in the 3 figure range and if it looks neat Google it and see if you think it's worth hacking into.
Mike said:Suzuki X-90?
That looks like I imagine Deathcab for Cutie would if a band were a car...
Daylan C said:Fox body of any flavor (I like the MK VII myself)
SN95
MN12 (Lincoln Mk VIII, T-Bird, Cougar)
3rd gen F body
E30
E36
E46
MK3 Supra
SC300/400
280ZX
300ZX
70s Nova
Pinto
Chevette
FB
FC
Basically just look through craigslist and marketplace looking for something in the 3 figure range and if it looks neat Google it and see if you think it's worth hacking into.
Fox body or MN12 are really common here.
SC300/400 and M45 are findable. BMWs are almost unheard of. All of that vintage stuff was sold off long ago or turned into scrap metal a decade ago.
What is an FB or FC?
yupididit said:
Those cars are awesome and I dig what he's doing...but the last time I saw one of those on the road around here was when I was in HS, back in the mid 90s. Cash for Clunkers did a number on the "cool" cars in this area...plenty of POS Buicks and Tauruses (Tauri?), but none of the fun stuff.
In reply to Gingerbeardman :
Early RX7s.
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