good cheap v8 car

Lexus LS400 or SC400 but might be a bit heavy to be good handling.

For a cheap v8 car infinity q45's are very cheap and have 276hp stock I believe. For a cheap swap there is always a datsun Z car with an sbc.

Just found a couple of cheap FC RX-7 shells on my local craigslist...

JacktheRiffer wrote: Anything at or under 3k$ Scca/NASA track days and auto-x Fair skill on working on cars and fabricating mostly little mods

That sounds like Mustang / Camaro territory, although you MIGHT be able to find a C4 Corvette in your budget if you're lucky. If you're outside the Rust Belt, Mopar A-bodies (Dodge Dart, Plymouth Valiant / Duster, and several others) could also fit the bill.

VGS30 wrote: For a cheap v8 car infinity q45's are very cheap and have 276hp stock I believe. For a cheap swap there is always a datsun Z car with an sbc.

....and loons like me who actually want the boat anchor....er, I mean L-series motor....that it came with.

volvoclearinghouse wrote: Early 70's Mopar with a 318 or bigger.

Was looking for this, would have said so myself if I didn't see it here already.

Rolls Royce Silver Shadow.

Hoop wrote: Rolls Royce Silver Shadow.

in that price range, the tin worm will have made it into swiss cheese

JacktheRiffer wrote: Just found a couple of cheap FC RX-7 shells on my local craigslist...

Now you're talkin'!

Ian F wrote:

JacktheRiffer wrote: Can fox body's or 3rd gen camaros handle well or be made to do so?

Sure... with enough time and money, anything can handle well...

Does that go with "any suspension will work if you don't let it."?

Just asking... Back to your regularly scheduled thread...

So for the rx7s...which v8 is better ford 302 or chevy 350

I would pick up a 5.3L LS series motor out of a truck and start with it.

+1 for newest Corvette you can afford.

With a budget of around $3k, I'd buy the newest Mustang you can afford, which would probably be the SN95 chassis. I'd take a '94 - '95 over the 96-98 because the 5.0L was better than the non-PI (Performance Improved) 4.6L.

The early SN95s are fully depreciated and often go for less than a comparable Fox body. And at least they have 4 wheel disc brakes five lugs, and ABS, as opposed to the rear drums, no-ABS, and 4 lugs of the non-Cobra Fox body.

G-body. Monte Carlo, Cutlass, Grand Prix, El Camino, Malibu, etc.

Full frame, and you can swap on F-body or B-body spindles to dramatically improve handling. Parts are dirt cheap, aftermarket support is prolific.

I personally dislike F-bodies. Wimpy flexy unibodies, lack of GRM rear axle choices, common, overpriced.

I like the P71, but there is nothing happy about a 3700-lb car with 281 cubes. The GM B-body comes with 350 cubes and cheaper aftermarket support. Fox body is a good idea. Lots of swappable parts with other Ford platforms.

Put circle track suspension on a G body, add turbo truck LSx as funds allow.

Surprised that only one person has seconded the idea of a v8 powered 5 series.

In reply to mad_machine:

Probably because a $3k 5-series is most likely pretty ragged, yes? Especially a 540i.

JacktheRiffer wrote: Fair skill on working on cars and fabricating mostly little mods. So for the rx7s...which v8 is better ford 302 or chevy 350

"mostly little mods" and swapping a V8 into an RX7 aren't exactly congruent.

curtis73 wrote: G-body. Monte Carlo, Cutlass, Grand Prix, El Camino, Malibu, etc. Full frame, and you can swap on F-body or B-body spindles to dramatically improve handling. Parts are dirt cheap, aftermarket support is prolific. I personally dislike F-bodies. Wimpy flexy unibodies, lack of GRM rear axle choices, common, overpriced. I like the P71, but there is nothing happy about a 3700-lb car with 281 cubes. The GM B-body comes with 350 cubes and cheaper aftermarket support. Fox body is a good idea. Lots of swappable parts with other Ford platforms.

what is "non GRM" about a GM 7.5 rear end? any F body rear made from 82-02 is a bolt in swap, and 99% of the G bodies and S series trucks (the 1% being the oddballs with 8.5 rears) and every Astro van that you see in the junkyards are potential differential and/or gear donors..

In reply to novaderrik:

Exactly, have fun going bigger/stronger for cheap without making your own 9" housing.

you really don't need "stronger" than a stock 7.5/7.625 unless you have some sticky slicks and are trying to pull 1.2 second 60 foot times at the drag strip or doing burnouts and letting the tires just come to a quick stop at the end...

My vote is for a 88-92 TPI 3rdgen. ive seen 5spd 305 cars go for $2000. get some good tires and replace the struts/shocks and your close to $3000 for a very good handling fun V8 car.

mattmacklind wrote:

volvoclearinghouse wrote: Early 70's Mopar with a 318 or bigger.

Was looking for this, would have said so myself if I didn't see it here already.

I'm being serious. Something from the Dart/ Valiant/ Duster family would be perfect. An under 3000 lb platform with double wishbone front suspension, front disc brakes, and good aftermarket support, that can be had for Challenge money.

Don't knock stick axles, leaf springs, and torsion bars until you've driven a car with them. Don't worry about fuel economy, either. I had a '74 Satellite, which is a B body, tipping the scales at north of 3800 lbs, with a 318 and regularly got 19 to 20 mpg highway, not doing 55 mph, either. And it would still do big smokey burnouts.

I vote G-body as well. They are really easy to find cheap and there are a ton of parts available.