good cheap v8 car| Grassroots Motorsports forum |

JacktheRiffer New Reader
9/21/13 6:26 p.m.

Looking for something that is cheap and come with a good v8 and decent handling or something that can be had cheap and then swap in a v8 cheaply.

Any suggestions?

Teh E36 M3 Dork
9/21/13 6:44 p.m.

I think we're talking about a Mustang or P71. Or this is a crazy floundering troll canoe that knows we're going to offer him a miata as our answer. either way, I think we've covered the GRM bases.

Good Day.

1988RedT2 UberDork
9/21/13 6:46 p.m.

Ford Fairmont

fasted58 PowerDork
9/21/13 6:49 p.m.

Mustang

aussiesmg MegaDork
9/21/13 6:50 p.m.

Ian F UltimaDork
9/21/13 7:04 p.m.

"Cheap" can mean many things on this forum...

When I think "V8 with decent handling" a Vette is the first thing that comes to mind. Newest one you can afford. I'd consider a C5 if I had room.

t25torx Reader
9/21/13 7:06 p.m.

Mustang, Camaro, Thunderbird, Cougar, Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, Cutlass.... I could go on, and on, and on..

JacktheRiffer New Reader
9/21/13 7:07 p.m.

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

Ian F UltimaDork
9/21/13 7:09 p.m.

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...

aussiesmg MegaDork
9/21/13 7:22 p.m.

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

Check my $20xx Mustang build thread

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/86-mustang-challenger-build/41304/page1/

06HHR Reader
9/21/13 7:23 p.m.

I'll just leave this right here..http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/learn-me-4th-gen-trans-ams/71055/page1/

HappyAndy SuperDork
9/21/13 7:31 p.m.

I think we need to know a bit more.

First of all, what do you define as cheap?

What do intended to use it for, and where?

What is your skill level and experience?

Do you plan modify it a little, a lot, or completely reinvent it?

For versatile V8 fun on a budget, any of the mainstream pony cars are hard to beat, whats best for you could be narrowed down by how you answer the questions I listed

aussiesmg MegaDork
9/21/13 7:42 p.m.

JacktheRiffer wrote: Looking for something that is cheap and come with a good v8 and decent handling

Nah he gave us enough, Fox Mustang or 3rd Gen is the answer to this question

06HHR Reader
9/21/13 7:45 p.m.

aussiesmg wrote:
JacktheRiffer wrote: Looking for something that is cheap and come with a good v8 and decent handling
Nah he gave us enough, Fox Mustang or 3rd Gen is the answer to this question

I agree, I loved my 4th gen, but you can't beat the bang for the buck you can get out of a Fox or a 3rd gen F body. People are almost giving them away now (as long as it isn't a notchback Fox Mustang or an 1LE Camaro) and parts are still cheap and plentiful.

JacktheRiffer New Reader
9/21/13 7:58 p.m.

HappyAndy wrote: I think we need to know a bit more. First of all, what do you define as cheap? What do intended to use it for, and where? What is your skill level and experience? Do you plan modify it a little, a lot, or completely reinvent it? For versatile V8 fun on a budget, any of the mainstream pony cars are hard to beat, whats best for you could be narrowed down by how you answer the questions I listed

Anything at or under 3k$

Scca/NASA track days and auto-x

Fair skill on working on cars and fabricating

mostly little mods

aussiesmg MegaDork
9/21/13 8:01 p.m.

If you go Fox, try to find one with most of the mods done, they add nothing to the car's value.

Be sure to get "welded" in frame rail connectors and check the floor under the seats for cracks. Easily fixed but a good negotiating tool.

$3K should get a very nice Fox hatchback

Everything you might want for one of these or the 3rd gen is on the shelf in a parts store, or in an eBay auction

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Mustang-GT-1989-ford-mustang-gt-hatchback-2-door-5-0-l-/151123177709?forcerrptr=true&hash=item232fa4b0ed&item=151123177709&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

benzbaronDaryn Dork
9/21/13 8:01 p.m.

Older Mercedes V8s are to be had all day long for 2000$. An older mercedes handles pretty well once you replace the suspension bushings and shocks. It isn't no corvette though.

FranktheTank HalfDork
9/21/13 8:28 p.m.

Trucks... I like trucks but if I had to make something handle I'd go with a 460 Ranchero or an v-8 El Camino. The power business is done you just need to tune the suspension and balance the weight.

Then later do some heads a nasty cam flat tops then rebuild the trans and beef up the exploding rearend parts... but hey that's every race car, I just have a nasty habit of flashing forward to the future on these things.

mad_machine GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
9/21/13 8:30 p.m.

C4s and C5s can be had reasonably cheap.

So can E39 BMWs....

volvoclearinghouse HalfDork
9/21/13 8:36 p.m.

Early 70's Mopar with a 318 or bigger.

The_Jed SuperDork
9/21/13 9:12 p.m.

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/200x-classifieds/bmw-540-m-sport-for-saletrade-2000-rome-ga/71046/page1/

patgizz GRM+ Memberand UberDork
9/21/13 9:27 p.m.

LT1 camaro or bird is light years ahead of a 3rd gen in power and interior plus almost as cheap.

HiTempguy UltraDork
9/21/13 9:47 p.m.

I'm probably pretty jaded when it comes to v8 cars. A LT1 4th gen is "adequate" stock in the power department. Considering how fast they are, there isn't much else on the market worth buying. 5.0L mushtangs and camaro's are BALLS slow, and lets face it, the 5.0L mushtang needs a lot of work to hang with a LT1 camaro (relatively speaking).

Ian F UltimaDork
9/21/13 9:50 p.m.

aussiesmg wrote: $3K should get a very nice Fox hatchback Everything you might want for one of these or the 3rd gen is on the shelf in a parts store, or in an eBay auction http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Mustang-GT-1989-ford-mustang-gt-hatchback-2-door-5-0-l-/151123177709?forcerrptr=true&hash=item232fa4b0ed&item=151123177709&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

Something tells me his reserve is a hell of a lot more than $3000.

Seriously... I looked pretty hard for a Fox back before I bought my E30 in 2010... Challenge money wouldn't even buy a car that could move under its own power. I doubt they've gotten any cheaper in the last 3.5 years.

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

Now you're just being silly...

aussiesmg MegaDork
9/21/13 10:04 p.m.

Ian F wrote:
aussiesmg wrote: $3K should get a very nice Fox hatchback Everything you might want for one of these or the 3rd gen is on the shelf in a parts store, or in an eBay auction http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Mustang-GT-1989-ford-mustang-gt-hatchback-2-door-5-0-l-/151123177709?forcerrptr=true&hash=item232fa4b0ed&item=151123177709&pt=US_Cars_Trucks
Something tells me his reserve is a hell of a lot more than $3000. Seriously... I looked pretty hard for a Fox back before I bought my E30 in 2010... Challenge money wouldn't even buy a car that could move under its own power. I doubt they've gotten any cheaper in the last 3.5 years.
volvoclearinghouse wrote: Early 70's Mopar with a 318 or bigger.
Now you're just being silly...

I bought my notch for $2K in 2010, 408 stroker, manual and LSD rear end, decent shell and a pile of new parts

They're out there