GRM Project cars......

I just got my latest issue a few days ago. I'm always at least a week or two behind everyonen else. I think my mailman is reading it or something!! Anyway, It was interesting to see all the projects and showed me just how far back I've been reading this awsome mag! Anyway, I wondered what everyone here would like to see for upcoming projects. Here's my short list (I haven't given it tons of thought, I"m sure I'll add more later)
1) Turbo Dodge, yeah they are older but man can you do lots to one with little money, it's that the point of this mag?
2) P71. I remember (I think it was) C/D did a crown vic project. It was a simple one time article but was very interesting. That project wasn't very grassroots though.....
3) DSM??

Nobody else cares about what cars GRM will build in the future?

Can't say I pay much attention to the build cars. I find tons of details about the challenge cars more intriguing.

Picking project cars can be tough, as there are so many factors to consider. I can say that it had been waaaaay too long since our last VW, hence the latest car to join our fleet. (I have also been traveling today and thus away from the computer until now--free wifi at the Birmingham airport.)

How about a Galant VR4 built up to compete with the Beemer?

You're already trying to match the BMW with it's M3 brethren, why not see if you can play catch up with a 17 or 18 year old Japanese sleeper?

I often wonder, who pays for the projects? Are they paid for by the staffers who write about them (and presumably own them)? Are they GRM-subsidised? I only wonder because some of the cars, when they are sold, must be money losers.

All that being said, I think that the GRM project cars are the most real-world magazine project cars I can think of.

I'm biased.... but you need another Celica project. I don't care what generation, but i think a late model GTS 6 speed would be relevant to a lot of people's interest, and would open some eyes to the fact that you can get a TON of performance for peanuts on them these days.

Your last Celica project was cool.... i just don't feel like it went near as far as most of your other projects.

how about a b-body GM project....... its big, its loud, it insane....and i could sell you one cheap....

I loved the SAAB rally car, but the Bezerkely leaves me cold. The Neon had potential but didn't get developed. I look forward to the MS3. For purely jealous reasons I love the FB RX-7. The "Plastic Explosive" was freaking awesome. GRM needs a high HP build.

Personally I'd like to see a GTO done up for F-Stock and HPDE's. Or maybe a C5 Z06 for SS.

Or a Gremlin. With a 401.

How about an LS1 engine swap into a BMW?

You guys recently mentioned the hankering for an LS1 swap in the magazine when reviewing an LS1 swap book.

And an LS1 into a BMW would be the ultimate sleeper. Imagine an e46 wagon with an LS1 (not that I'm biased or anything!).

dyintorace wrote: How about an LS1 engine swap into a BMW? You guys recently mentioned the hankering for an LS1 swap in the magazine when reviewing an LS1 swap book. And an LS1 into a BMW would be the ultimate sleeper. Imagine an e46 wagon with an LS1 (not that I'm biased or anything!).

The Vorshlag LS1 E36 is a very tempting prospect—look for more on that car in the near future. Duplicating something like that as a project car sounds unlikely, but you never know. Their kit makes it pretty straightforward.

To P71: The Neon is about as fully developed as is practical; it's genuinely quick, revs beyond 7k RPM, and handles great. The brakes are more than adequate, and the LSD works very well. The next step will likely be a rollcage and P40 "Flying Tiger" paintjob, but that won't be any time in the immdiate future. For now it's stuck as a commuter and kid picker-upper, with the occasional Rallycross event for exercise. What else should we do with it?

I say early 90's japanese...

Ha, everyone will hate this but i'd always like to see what some people who actually knew stuff about modifying cars could do with a cavalier. They are dirt cheap, the 2.4 make great power and have good potential. I just want to know if someone can make them handle too.

Am I the only one?

I like the idea of a DSM. Particularly the Tsi AWD 1Gb's.

PaulY wrote: Ha, everyone will hate this but i'd always like to see what some people who actually knew stuff about modifying cars could do with a cavalier. They are dirt cheap, the 2.4 make great power and have good potential. I just want to know if someone can make them handle too. Am I the only one?

I don't hate it, but you're still the only one.

I too was wondering about funding of project cars, cause if you guys are paying then I'm starting to write

If I had my choice of cars to see in the magazine, I'd pick the 3000gt/stealth twins. Those are some seriously cool cars that aren't that expensive, even the vr4 and r/t aren't that expensive, uh oh I may be straying from the Porsche idea lol.

How about a Conquest/Starion?

Tom Heath wrote:

dyintorace wrote: How about an LS1 engine swap into a BMW? You guys recently mentioned the hankering for an LS1 swap in the magazine when reviewing an LS1 swap book. And an LS1 into a BMW would be the ultimate sleeper. Imagine an e46 wagon with an LS1 (not that I'm biased or anything!).

The Vorshlag LS1 E36 is a very tempting prospect—look for more on that car in the near future. Duplicating something like that as a project car sounds unlikely, but you never know. Their kit makes it pretty straightforward. To P71: The Neon is about as fully developed as is practical; it's genuinely quick, revs beyond 7k RPM, and handles great. The brakes are more than adequate, and the LSD works very well. The next step will likely be a rollcage and P40 "Flying Tiger" paintjob, but that won't be any time in the immdiate future. For now it's stuck as a commuter and kid picker-upper, with the occasional Rallycross event for exercise. What else should we do with it?

I'd say boost it..... but after riding in several boosted Neons, and a few fairly modified n/a ones.... i'd honestly have to say that i prefer the n/a ones. I think the Neon project was done pretty thoroughly, personally.

Scratch built A-Mod car.

Do NOT do a Starion! I would not be able to sleep at night for the thought of having one in the driveway!

I like the LS1 into an E36 idea as well. I think I may start searching for a cheap E36 next year.

I really want something with a V8 once I get done with the S52'd E30.

+1 on the Starion/Conquest

I'd also like to see a random car like an XR4Ti, just because...

I guess it would have to be a compromise between something common enough to interest readers and inspire us on our own projects, but not something you've already done a million times (Miata, Civic, etc.) Or a new twist on an old idea - LS1 Miata, for instance. The P71 build is an interesting idea. As-is, it's basically a poor man's BMW 540i. Throw some mods at it (for a Mustang, maybe?) and you could turn it into a poor man's M5 cleverly disguised as an unmarked police car...

Other than being a V8, RWD sedan, I'm really not sure that a P71 is that similiar to a 540. I liked the Neon project, though boosting it using Megasquirt and "DIY" would've been a neat step. All in all, keep up the great work!

Neat ideas. We struggle with the choices because for the most part, these are self-funded. So, I do get a say in what I'm going to spend my own money on.

That said, we strive to get pretty close.

Scratch built A-mod? Maybe not--but how about a top-notch B Mod car and the Berkeley certainly qualifies for that scratch built part.

White_and_Nerdy wrote: The P71 build is an interesting idea. As-is, it's basically a poor man's BMW 540i.

I'm not sure anything more wrong has ever been said.

Tom Heath wrote:

dyintorace wrote: How about an LS1 engine swap into a BMW? You guys recently mentioned the hankering for an LS1 swap in the magazine when reviewing an LS1 swap book. And an LS1 into a BMW would be the ultimate sleeper. Imagine an e46 wagon with an LS1 (not that I'm biased or anything!).

The Vorshlag LS1 E36 is a very tempting prospect—look for more on that car in the near future. Duplicating something like that as a project car sounds unlikely, but you never know. Their kit makes it pretty straightforward.

Good point. The downside is that the Vorshlag kit is unbelievably expensive IMO. If not a BMW, how about an LS1 into something else then? Something sleeper and perhaps uncharted territory. That would mean not an RX-7, not a Porsche, not a Miata, etc.