For some reason I just can't get past wanting something with a V8. I've always had underpowered 4 cylinders and turbo charged cars. What are some good, GRM style cheap V8 cars that I can get some good power out of for around $3k?
Discuss...
For some reason I just can't get past wanting something with a V8. I've always had underpowered 4 cylinders and turbo charged cars. What are some good, GRM style cheap V8 cars that I can get some good power out of for around $3k?
Discuss...
Fox Body Mustang. If those are getting expensive, the mid 90s Stangs are pretty cheap.
Last I saw you could pick up 4th-gen F-bodies for that kind of money. I'm a true-blue Ford guy, but he F-bodies have more cubic inches, a T56, and better suspension than the Mustangs of that era.
Fox bodies are slow. You aren't making more than ~325whp with one unless you go to a stroker.
Never understood the fascination with them. At the same time, prices are going up. The answer is 4th gen camaro's. LT1 cars are good for 13's no sweat, plenty quick, and they are dirt cheap.
Also, the v8 fever never passes once you've done a clutch kick u-turn with the tires roasting.
I had a 4th gen Camaro. It did one thing well, and one thing only. But it did that really well 
I'd be looking for a better carrying case for the motor.
Like a big ol' sedan. Panther!
73-86 Chevy/GMC Short bed pickup. I know its way out of the price range, but look to RoadKill's Muscle Truck for inspiration.
Keith Tanner wrote: I had a 4th gen Camaro. It did one thing well, and one thing only. But it did that really well
Fixed that for you.
5.2 or 5.9 dakota. Absolutely a riot to hoon.
Appleseed wrote: 73-86 Chevy/GMC Short bed pickup.
There ain't nothing cheaper than a half-ton Chevy pickup.
If you can work a grinder and a welder, any truck can be a short box.
My adventures with one (and I love it): The Crusty Chevy
Get it out of your system. Mustang or Camaro. Don't really matter since both are going to deliver a torque banquet that is way beyond what you are accustomed to. These two will at least offer a pretense of handling ability as long s you don't ask for too much from the factory suspension.
73-86 C10 is a good one, stay away from the heavy duty 20,25,30,35 trucks. One of the easiest vehicles to work on too. They have a double wishbone front end that can be made to handle ok without much work.
Or you might look for a 99+ half ton Chevy/GMC with a 4.8 or 5.3, those can be boosted on the cheap and make stupid power, something like 500+hp reliably on the stock longblock. Making power NA isn't hard either. That engine more or less bolts into the older trucks too, will take old style trans with the correct factory flexplate/flywheel, mounts bolt up with a set of adapter plates you can buy for cheap or build.
If you live in the rust belt, I'm not sure $3k will get you a LS1 f body that won't rip the axle out of the car the first time it's launched (rust).
Scottah said, " V8 Fever... Will it pass?"
If you are lucky it won't.
There really isn't any replacement for displacement.
It shall not pass. I'm so tired of driving gutless 4 cylinders.. 
Don't get a truck. Trucks are awful for having fun in.
In reply to HiTempguy:
98+ 4th gen......the t56 in the 93-7 sucks.
3k puts you in sn95 gt territory, but I'd rather spend a little more for an SVT. Especially if you look at 96-8 sn95's.
yamaha wrote: In reply to HiTempguy: 98+ 4th gen......the t56 in the 93-7 sucks.
In what way? A T56 is essentially a T56. Having owned a couple, there is very little difference shifting a lt1 t56 vs a ls1 t56. And you aren't getting a LS1 car for $3k.
HiTempguy wrote: Fox bodies are slow. You aren't making more than ~325whp with one unless you go to a stroker. Never understood the fascination with them. At the same time, prices are going up. The answer is 4th gen camaro's. LT1 cars are good for 13's no sweat, plenty quick, and they are dirt cheap. Also, the v8 fever never passes once you've done a clutch kick u-turn with the tires roasting.
325 is the max for a non stroker 302? You might want to inform the ford forums.
Wait. You want v8 power? Or the sound of v8 power? For sound, buy a lousy stang, chumparo, or "the Walton's" farm truck. For a REAL rush, get a light rwd chassis and stuff a v8 in it.
HiTempguy wrote:yamaha wrote: In reply to HiTempguy: 98+ 4th gen......the t56 in the 93-7 sucks.In what way? A T56 is essentially a T56. Having owned a couple, there is very little difference shifting a lt1 t56 vs a ls1 t56. And you aren't getting a LS1 car for $3k.
Lol, you can occasionally get an LS1 car for 3k. I have purchased 3 for 3k and under... of course I check craigslist 5x daily for everything. Only one was a T56 car, which I sold for challenge money on this forum.
I had a fever once. More cowbell cleared it right up.
I thought I wanted another V8 a couple of years back, and bought an '08 Mustang GT loaded with Shelby bits. I kept it all of 3 months before I moved on. It was fun in a tire roasting burnout kind of way, but eventually you want to turn, with a little bit of steering feel thrown in on the side.
It was a beautiful car and sounded awesome though.
In reply to HiTempguy:
Infuriating pull clutch, optispark, waterpump, etc are just beginners. The inner doors sheering off the door skins are just a bonus.
While fast, they could be enjoyable in a "Wad it up and throw it away" kind of way.
I could have bought a 95 GTS(yes, GTS) Mustang last week for $2800.....the sn95 might be a bit slower stock vs stock, but it is a better car than the 93-7 fbody.
Keith Tanner wrote: I had a 4th gen Camaro. It did one thing well, and one thing only. But it did that really well
Thought you'd say LS1 and Miata!
Scottah wrote: V8 Fever... Will it pass?
Yes, it will pass, but do learn to drive it so that can happen somewhere other than on a straight 
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