Best Muscle Car for Beginner

Thanks for the suggestion Klayfish. I think I am far too keen on the look of muscle cars now to get anything else >.<

I'm going to drive this Plymouth on the weekend. Seems like a good option, it's no v8 but if I can talk him down a bit it might work out well.

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3503221152.html

Coldsnap wrote: That Apollo is pretty funny. Guy would be excited to hear I plan on driving this thing to my powerlifting gym, whatever I get. Thanks for the suggestion on the Nova like cars. I think I am going to go that route. Starting to get a better idea of what I want.. Now to find the right car at the right place. what does everyone think of: http://huntsville.craigslist.org/cto/3523161371.html

Now that is a damn good deal. See,2-door, Nova body, fresh-ish 350 engine, bench seat, and 1/3 the price of that 4-door. Do it!

wish it was local :(

Here's some stuff a few hours away. Going to update it over the next 15mins

Nova SS $4,000 http://asheville.craigslist.org/cto/3547235183.html

71 4 Door Nova $3,500 http://asheville.craigslist.org/cto/3471451131.html

70 Nova 4 Door, Family owned $4,800 (Can try talking down on price) http://asheville.craigslist.org/cto/3481165474.html

Take a quick look at some things like spark plugs. There have been some great recommendations of great cars... some of which you couldn't reach the spark plugs unless you have iron knuckles and a few specialized tools. Firebird/Camaro is a good example.

I am a big fan of the years you picked (69-77), however you won't find much muscle. By definition they are not "muscle" cars. You will have to make them muscle-y. Starting in about 1972 the EPA mandated much lower emissions. The emissions equipment itself didn't really rob any HP, but the related changes (lower compression, smaller cams, early-design catalytic converters, etc) neutered the "muscle."

Having said that, a 69 Nova is the same basic car as a 77 Nova, so you can buy the non-muscle 77, put a stout motor in it, and have just as much fun as the guy who spent $10,000 on a 69. A 69 Lemans, Cutlass, GTO, Skylark, etc, is remarkably unchanged as far back as 64 and as late as 1988. The bodies are all different, the engines are all different, and there were all kinds of options, but the frames and suspension are frighteningly interchangeable.

SO.... I vote for the GM A/G body. From 1964 through 1987 they were the same basic platform. For instance, a 67 GTO has the same basic frame as a 1974 Malibu, as a 71 Skylark. What that means is; those frames are set up to accept engines from Buick, Olds, Chevy, or Pontiac. It also means that they are set up to accept about 8 or 9 different automatic and manual transmissions.

You want an 82 El Camino with a Buick 455 and an overdrive automatic? Done. Want a 74 Skylark with a Chevy 6.5L Diesel and a 4-speed manual? Done.

I like Ford Torinos and Dodge Darts as cars that meet all of your criteria.

Not to mention.... A/G bodies have CHEAP parts and they're easy to work on. Need an alternator? Every autozone, pep boys, advance, and o'reilly has 30 of them in stock for $40. It requires a 1/2" wrench, a 9/16" socket, and about 10 minutes to change.

Coldsnap wrote: Thanks for the suggestion Klayfish. I think I am far too keen on the look of muscle cars now to get anything else >.< I'm going to drive this Plymouth on the weekend. Seems like a good option, it's no v8 but if I can talk him down a bit it might work out well. http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/3503221152.html

I like the look of that Duster. It has a disk brake master cylinder in it, so it should already be the 4.5" bolt pattern on the wheels. Rear is probably a 7 1/4", which is the weaker one. But swapping that out later for a 8 1/4" A-body rear, '68-70 B-body 8 3/4, or even a Ford 8" from an early Mustang/Maverick/Granada is very straight forward.

The Duster has the factory electronic ignition in it, and appears to have a Standard Ignition Products ignition box (one of the better replacements out there).

Reproduction seat skins are available, as are dash pads. Dash caps that go over the damaged dash pad are available, and if you take your time installing it will look every bit as good as a reproduction pad.

The slant six is a good one to learn the basics on, and has a cult following. You can upgrade them, but a V8 swap is straight forward too.

If that Duster was closer to me, it would already be in my driveway. And my wife would be smacking me upside my head.

Coldsnap wrote: Here's some stuff a few hours away. Going to update it over the next 15mins Nova SS $4,000 http://asheville.craigslist.org/cto/3547235183.html

I differ a little bit from some of the cheapskates here, but given what you said, I'd lean towards something near the top of your budget, rather than a bigger project for $2K. As anyone on here can attest, it's always cheaper to buy a complete car than build one (especially race cars), the trick is to buy smart as opposed to somebody's bondo'd and poorly built hooptie.

I'd get the most complete, cleanest, rust free car you can find and let the previous owner eat the depreciation on all the hot rod parts and incidentals to get it up and running.

Turning wrenches makes for fun achievable projects. Rust repair is a steep (and expensive) learning curve.

You said you want to learn about really basic things... change the plugs, change the oil, etc. Find a running/driving complete car. You can then bite off little bits at a time of normal maintenance projects. Once the disease fully sets in, the upgrades will be limitless regardless... :)

Things like motor swaps and front end rebuilds and all the other essentials can quickly become very overwhelming to the uninitiated. While a veteran that has been around that block before knows what he's in for, a rookie with no garage will quickly find they lack the tools, money, and space, and what seemed fun initially can become a giant headache.

I think you'll have more fun if you can drive the thing right out of the box, hear some V8 rumble, and go do a burnout or two. I like that $4K Nova coupe above as an example... it might not be the one, but it looks complete, and if it's actually rust free that's a big bonus. The seats are tacky, but that's easy to change. It leaves you a grand to personalize it and fix basic stuff, but you can show up and drive it home.

David S. Wallens wrote: Personally, I'd look at all options. Instead of searching for only a '67 Malibu or whatever, I'd just cruise the classifieds and check out anything cool, old and powered by a V8. I bet you'll find something. Heck, you might even stumble across something you never considered. Good call on the Corvair, too. They are seriously killer deals right now.

He wouldn't have to worry about bleeding air bubbles from the coolant system.

Also, is it just me, or is that '66 4 door chevy II look like a very good deal @ 3k......the early chevy II novas are worth more than the later "muscle" ones, they look better too.

In the south, I'll assume the big bodys(impalas, cutlass, etc) all have giant chrome wheels on them and ride like 4x4's???

Glad to hear the Duster might not be a lemon. Idealy I would buy that Duster drive it away for a year while doing some maintenance and cleaning up that interior. Then a year later if I don't like the speed I can start upgrading the slant six or be brave and drop a v8 in it.

I'm a bit worried it's not going to be too slow feeling for me. Like feeling like my moms old buick grocery getter.

Slant 6's weren't exactly very "quick"......as in you'll have teenagers in a prius yelling obscenities at you to GTFO of the way accelerating

Late to the party here but I bought a BMW 3 series (e30) as a project and got somewhat stumped on some aspects of the rebuild. The solution: I bought a $120 parts car that was mostly complete and not running and took the whole thing apart, 1 piece at a time. Not only did I get a pile of parts that I needed fo rmy rebuild, I got to "practoice" taking apart everything that I'd need to take apart on the parts car and to reverse engineer how I should have disassembled it. Then I did it right on my build.

Lastly, I sold about $1000 in parts as I took apart the parts car. Just keep in mind that you will need some way to get rid of the shell when done, particularly if (like the e30) many of the "good" parts are in the subframes and suspension.

It may be hard to find a parts car for something older/classic, but you can usually find something without a title for fairly cheap.

Coldsnap wrote: That Apollo is pretty funny. Guy would be excited to hear I plan on driving this thing to my powerlifting gym, whatever I get. Thanks for the suggestion on the Nova like cars. I think I am going to go that route. Starting to get a better idea of what I want.. Now to find the right car at the right place. what does everyone think of: http://huntsville.craigslist.org/cto/3523161371.html

Badass. All day long.

I talked to the Duster owner. Going to look at it tomorrow. The windshield wipes don't work, he says he can hear the motor moving but they don't move. He said the only rust spot is around the back left wheel. I will look at that more.

Coldsnap wrote: Glad to hear the Duster might not be a lemon. Idealy I would buy that Duster drive it away for a year while doing some maintenance and cleaning up that interior. Then a year later if I don't like the speed I can start upgrading the slant six or be brave and drop a v8 in it. I'm a bit worried it's not going to be too slow feeling for me. Like feeling like my moms old buick grocery getter.

If its close enough, go see about a test drive. It probably will feel a bit like mom's grocery getter. That's what they were when they were new.

A '74 slant six had some early emissions gear on it and did choke the motor back some. The later slant 6's had a 2bbl carb setup that wakes them back up. It's a pretty straight forward junkyard swap. If you get the Duster, I can post the details.

Gotcha, thank you.

I also offered $3,000 on this 4 door v8 Nova

http://asheville.craigslist.org/cto/3481165474.html "My father bought this car new and I have owned it since, garage kept"

It seems like in order to get a v8 around my budget I'm going to get something that has a glaring fault, whether it's beat up or a 4 door. I'd rather take the 4 door than something that needs a lot of work.

In reply to Coldsnap:

Dude, please no! A 307 4-door Nova isn't worth that much! Just wait it out, you can find a solid 2-door in your budget.

Javelin wrote: In reply to Coldsnap: Dude, please no! A 307 4-door Nova isn't worth that much! Just wait it out, you can find a solid 2-door in your budget.

^ what he said

Okay. Word. Man, expensive 4 doors everywhere. Sorry I keep going back to them lol

Hmm trying to figure something I can get with a v8 for around $3,000-$4,000

How about a ventura?

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/3544600398.html

Coldsnap wrote: How about a ventura? http://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/3544600398.html

looks like a winna

Has anyone talked about 70's AMC cars and how Jeeps like Grand Wagoneers and such have good V8's that are easily swapped using factory parts? A mid-70's Spirit hatchback-coupe with a 304 and some sort of manual trans, etc etc, would be a neat car to have in my book. And if find-able, should be cheap.

Parts availability won't be like a Duster or Nova though.

I know indiana is too far, but these are out there

'76 maverick
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/3514410477.html

'73 omega
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/3483418390.html

'75 comet(I have never seen one of these) http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/3446544230.html

'63 comet 4 door
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/3447709237.html

'65 Falcon 4 door
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/3542649372.html

'62 Falcon Wagon......air ride(If I had 4k now, this would be mine...)
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/3465199742.html

'63.5 Falcon 2 door Futura
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/3449958669.html

'71 Riviera
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/3410235033.html

'66 Rambler
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/3528608257.html

'73 Javelin
http://tippecanoe.craigslist.org/cto/3483161458.html

And my oddball of the day, but you'd have to forego the v8, '76 2002 Tii swap?
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/3454802008.html

Edit: several of these above are v8's, most of the falcons are inline 6's though(because metric E36 M3loads of them were 6's), etc....but swapping a 289, 302, 351 into a falcon is easy....