The cav is a real money pit and no matter how much I spend it wont be what I want. I had plans to spend about 5 grand more on it and I reckon I can get another 5 grand from selling my parts and then selling the stock car. So I have a 1 grand budget and I'm looking for ideas. I'm not afraid of engine swaps but it has to be a reliable one that can be accomplished in a timely manner. I'd prefer new GM engines since I already own HP Tuners and know how to use it. Here's my criterior.
RWD or AWD
2 door
back seat or at least a back seat area
not convertible
Independent Rear Suspension and handle good
light weight ie under 2800 lbs
sub 13 sec 1/4 within the 10 grand budget (faster is better)
Actually available (aka not super rare)
the cheaper the insurance the better
Right now the best fit I've found is an LSx swapped FC RX7. LSx swapped e30 bmw is out because the swap takes forever, and just building an e30 with a bmw engine cost too much money.
1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
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What about LSx swapped 240sx? I imagine insurance would be cheaper than the rx7.
Thats an idea. I'll have to look into that swap. Finding decent shape 240's around here was tough the last time I looked.
1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by:
Kronos Performance
WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer
Picky picky.
There was a time when I was planning swapping the 2.5 liter TI motor from my 89 LeBaron coupe into an old late eighties Dodge D50. The swap is pretty straightforward. The Dodge Dakota sport comes with the same motor, just mounted longitudinal (and sadly with no turbo) so you can use the same trans and one of the mounts. IIRC you can use the same intake manifold, but the exhaust has to have the stock flange cut off and one from an SVO welded on so the turbo outlet is to the front. One mount has to be fabricated, and the holes from one of the front drive motor mounts tapped and plugged because it's exposed to either the galley or the pan, I don't remember.
This probably wont satisfy your want for roadholding, but it's just so cool IMO
I don't need a @!#$ sig.
Yeha thats kind of cool, but theres also no doubt in my mind that if I wanted a truck it would either be a slammed s10 with an LSx or a lifted 7.3 Litre diesel ford.
Looked further into the 240sx, the car is more money but the swap parts are much cheaper, and I get the feeling that other parts will be cheaper as well. Now to look at how hard the swap is.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Monday, February 07, 2011 4:30 PM
1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by:
Kronos Performance
WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer
I would say miata...but no back seat?
I like the idea of an lsx swapped e30
Schaffer wrote:I would say miata...but no back seat?
I like the idea of an lsx swapped e30
So did I until I did some reading. everything custom fab'ed and not a sole has done it in less than a year. I love e30's but not that much.
1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by:
Kronos Performance
WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer
Monza
porshe 944 is popular
s10
older dodge dakota..smaller and lighter.
Those really dont help, the Monza and Porsche are hard to find and the s10 and dakota are trucks.
1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by:
Kronos Performance
WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer
im liking the 240 LSX swap or a S10 LSX swap myself
RIP JESSE GERARD.....Youll always be in my thoughts and prayers...
944s are a dime a dozen in GA. be sure to check craigslist.
What about a used GTO and you'd have everything you would want to start with except the weight. At that point you can do what you want with out any swap or swap money.
zilvia.net is a good resource for nissan s chassis information
Copter wrote:What about a used GTO and you'd have everything you would want to start with except the weight. At that point you can do what you want with out any swap or swap money.
the LS1 gto's go for 15k+ and the LS2 gto's go for even more.
1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by:
Kronos Performance
WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer
I thought about doing a 240/LS conversion, but finding a nice condition unmolested 240 is hard. They seem to be all going for $5-7k. It's def not hard to find nice interior parts if you want to replace a bunch of @!#$ on a cheap 240.
Theres a few around here. I am learning how to weld so I might be able to patch rust. I have found a few semi local rollers waiting for a swap already.
1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by:
Kronos Performance
WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer
I love either the RX7 or the 240 idea. They are both awesome cars and have a lot of history in the scene.
I know you said you like GM engines but you really cant beat the after market support for Hondas.
TheSundownFire (GME Chat) wrote:I know you said you like GM engines but you really cant beat the after market support for Hondas.
hmmm honda makes one rwd car and its not only out of my price range but also a convertible.
1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by:
Kronos Performance
WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer
I apologize. Ill leave this thread and never return.
240 or rx7 is pretty much all there is according to your specs.....
What about an late c3 vette or early c4 vette? Both can be had dirt cheap, but don't have rear seats. A mid 80's vette with an lsx swap would handle well and could be done pretty cheap. I see decent 84-86's for under 3k all the time.
I love how the c3 vettes look. And they do have IRS and the later ones are the best chassis wise. hmmm. Very good ls1 swap candidate. I bet they're expensive though, off the craigslist.
1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by:
Kronos Performance
WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer
You can pick up 74-82's vettes fairly cheap. I picked up a 76 vette for 2k 2 years ago. Floors had some rust from the t tops leaking, but the body and frame were real clean. It was a drivable car until the guy pulled the motor to freshen it up. I threw the motor back together and ending up selling it because I already have too many projects.... I see decent late c3's for under 4k all the time. You can also get historical/collector plates and insurance which would be cheap. Just make sure to check for frame rust
I'd go with a c4 if you want one to drive and handle well. For the few grand that you can buy an early c4, you get a car that has irs, a great suspension, an overdrive trans, great chassis, targa top, and a good aftermarket. An lsx will drop in a lot easier were that sbc was than a rotary or a 4cyl and the suspension and chassis was made for it. . Prob the cheapest year to get would be an 84 because of the crossfire fuel injection and a few quirks of the 84's that make them less desirable than the newer models.
Yeah I'm not seeing those prices around here. All the C3's are around 8-17 grand and all the C4's are 6-14 grand. There was one C3 for a grand with no engine or trans but it was originally an auto, and I have no idea what it would take to convert one to stick.
1994 Saturn SL2 Home Coming Edition: backup car
2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport Coupe: In a Junk Yard
1995 Mazda Miata R-package Class=STR
Sponsored by:
Kronos Performance
WPI Class of '12 Mechanical Engineering
WPI SAE Risk and Sustainability Management Officer
