$17k BUDGET....What would you do???

[novajess1972]

Hey guys!

I have a budget of roughly $17k cash to spend on a project. I have built a few cars before (70 Chevelle, 67 El Camino, 71 Nova, and 72 C-10) but I am looking for some fresh ideas. Before you all rip me apart....I do have several ideas in mind....just want to know what my Lateral-g Community compadres would do with a $17k budget. I have been leaning towards another X Body (Nova)...preferably 70-72. All I know at this point is that I am considering an LSX engine of some sort and either a T-56/480le auto tranny combo and something along the lines of an 18x10F and 18x12R wheel/tire package and mini tubs in the rear with a killer stance of course. Not sure yet if I want to lay down the $$$$ for Air Ride but it's in the air

Please chime in on how you would complete this package or with an totally different ideas of your own.

Thanks!

[1984 camaro]

Find a project thats started And The owner needs to sell fast. the 17,000 will be gone in the LSX engine

[novajess1972]

LOL! Yeah, tell me about it. I just sold my 98 Z28. Just the cam, intake, and headers package hit me for 3500!!!

Let me adjust the budget since I haven't found a car yet. I expect to pay around 6-7k for a vehicle in decent shape that doesn't need paint/body.

New budget is $10k on all the mods for the vehicle. And I can probably locate a used LS engine and tranny somewhere for $1500-2000. I know this isn't a lot of money to work wth considering the bad azz rides you guys are working on and have completed, but it's just my cash budget....trying not to go into to credit card debt over this thing. We all know it's not hard to do.

Alright guys....let's go with it!!!!

[Mkelcy]

http://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46421 :yes:

[novajess1972]

http://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46421 :yes:

If this guy were local, I would definitely consider it!

Thanks, Mkelcy...

[radrambler]

ok, many variables in this question. you need a set plan once you find "the car" because thats going to set the budget for what gets done!!
do you want performance only?? looks cool only (stance and wheel/tire) ? 17k really can get spent quick..this is how i would start"

1. find the best body condition vehicle you can.granny car that has bolton parts available for that platform. 5-7k should get a helluva nice original un hotrodded 68-72 nova or skylark 70-72 or mid 70-80s camaro
2. get a pullout eng/trans combo say 5.3 or 6.0 truck combo( 1.5 -2k) or less if you research internet(craigslist.org)ebay..
3.get your engine harness and fuel system bought (1k)
3. dont look at 10 inch wide fronts ..youll blow your budget trying to make that work in your favor ,go 8 or 8.5s and move forward .
4 budget how much you want to spend on suspension and ask questions of people who have these parts installed and working on their cars .going with stock style suspension with aftermarket adds..sway bars, springs,brakes .....will be most cost effective
5 wheels /tires depnds on the style you like and how much you have left after the above

but like all of the above it depends on the cost of the car first and trickles down from there
you have to spend the initial"purchase price" to get any of us to be able to give you a "real plan"

also depend on how handy you are in fabrication and the tools you have avaible to use .
if you have great abilities it opens this build thing up to other ideas.... we here have a bunch

radrambler

[novajess1972]

ok, many variables in this question. you need a set plan once you find "the car" because thats going to set the budget for what gets done!!
do you want performance only?? looks cool only (stance and wheel/tire) ? 17k really can get spent quick..this is how i would start"

1. find the best body condition vehicle you can.granny car that has bolton parts available for that platform. 5-7k should get a helluva nice original un hotrodded 68-72 nova or skylark 70-72 or mid 70-80s camaro
2. get a pullout eng/trans combo say 5.3 or 6.0 truck combo( 1.5 -2k) or less if you research internet(craigslist.org)ebay..
3.get your engine harness and fuel system bought (1k)
3. dont look at 10 inch wide fronts ..youll blow your budget trying to make that work in your favor ,go 8 or 8.5s and move forward .
4 budget how much you want to spend on suspension and ask questions of people who have these parts installed and working on their cars .going with stock style suspension with aftermarket adds..sway bars, springs,brakes .....will be most cost effective
5 wheels /tires depnds on the style you like and how much you have left after the above

but like all of the above it depends on the cost of the car first and trickles down from there
you have to spend the initial"purchase price" to get any of us to be able to give you a "real plan"

radrambler

I want good looks initially, but with suspension/chassis upgrades as I go. My motor isn't going to be anything wild, so the drivetrain doesn't have to be bulletproof just yet....but i will be searching for some good quality parts here and there. And I certainly am not opposed to used and traded for items. And I don't see myself really doing any roadcourse/autocross-type stuff, either, so nothing fancy, as it relates to chassis, either.

I figure a nice LS1/LS6....probably just a nice medium lift cam. Nothing radical. To save some money, I might opt to finally build a 1973 454 BB that my uncle gave to me a coupel years ago. Just been sitting in my buddy's garage. Who knows??? Maybe a disc brake conversion/upgrade (Wilwoods not necessary....LOL) along with some tubular control arms, sway bar, and some lowered springs/spindles up front. Maybe disc rears if budget allows. When I mentioned the wheels....I based it on a set of CCW 505s (18x10f and 18x11r)that I had on the 98 Z28 I sold a few months ago. I've never run anything wider than 8.5s on the front of any of my classic builds....so I should be okay on the wheel/tire budget. However, I must have the rears wide...it's a must for me. At least 10s out back. I'd also like to find a Ford 9in laying around somewhere, too. To me this is simple enough to get me started. Just gotta find the car.

To answer your question, I have the basic set of tools to get the job done. I can do most suspension, brake, motor work. I learn as I go, but I do not have any real fabrication skills. I, unfortunately, have to outsource the larger tasks.

Thanks, RadRambler!!!

Keep chiming in with your comments/suggestions, guys! This is good stuff....

[radrambler]

well

what state are you in...could play a roll in what you can find in good shape..
id say "no to big block" ..fuel cost are not coming down and if it doesnt make huge power then its just dead weight thats not needed..
what body style do you want to use ?

radrambler

[novajess1972]

well

what state are you in...could play a roll in what you can find in good shape..
id say "no to big block" ..fuel cost are not coming down and if it doesnt make huge power then its just dead weight thats not needed..
what body style do you want to use ?

radrambler

I am in Houston, Texas. I am partial to Novas. I think they are very versatile and provide a great platform in which to work. And they are just killer cars to me...and still relatively cheap....especially compared to Camaros and Chevelles.

[radrambler]

ok

nova it is.
so search craigslist.org ...houston tx. and other close cities everyday...i have found all kinds of cars and parts /deals on craiglist.if you dont check everyday at least once youll loose out on that possible deal..since you have cash in hand you can make a deal..it tuff times for alot of people and they advertise on craigslist because its free.
i would start looking at every nova that looks like or sounds like its original...should be no problem finding the car ...

radrambler

[jy211]

http://www.lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=16675

$13K left to finish it....:D

[deuce_454]

that looks the way to go! that car... an air ride street challenge system, a front clip, 5K in the engine, JY 6.0 and carb and a DIY paint and wire job and you should have enough for a decent set of wheels!

[novajess1972]

that looks the way to go! that car... an air ride street challenge system, a front clip, 5K in the engine, JY 6.0 and carb and a DIY paint and wire job and you should have enough for a decent set of wheels!

:question:

How is that gonna fit into the budget? After buying the car, I figured on having about $10k left over.

$5000 motor + $2000 at the least for Air Ride + $2500 front clip + I cant paint for **** (LOL) = $9500 before paint

:(

[jy211]

http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/cto/798510300.html

http://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/cto/807779283.html

http://miami.craigslist.org/brw/cto/853359252.html

There's decent projects around...

In Orlando area: http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/cto/817310167.html

[dropit69]

might be able to get him down some have some money left for upgrades.
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/cto/853553699.html

[Ummgawa]

Sit on the dough for another 6-8 months. Toys will be selling for 50 cents on the dollar.

[novajess1972]

Unfortunately for the US, you just might have a point!

[NvrDun71]

Not much to contribute to your thread here, but always thought it was funny when I would see your screename as my name is Jess, I'm building a 71' Nova, and also live in Houston. Small world....... Jess really isn't too common a name. On a side note I may know of a 70' or 71' Nova for sale not too far from my house on the NW side of town, unsure of its exact condition tho....

[novajess1972]

Bad ass, dude!

My name is actually Jesse, but some some reason (not sure why as I have had the screen name for at least 3-4 years now) I chose to shorten it. I have always had a love for Novas, as a 78 4-door POS was my first vehicle. Then I owned a 71 Nova for part of 2005-2006, then sold it to concentrate on a 67 El Camino. Anyhoo, I live in Humble and would love to see what you have done with your 71. Maybe we can meet up somewhere soon.

And I do want to check those Novas out eventually...

[amaronut]

Put the cash in a mason jar and bury it until this whole goverment "bail out" situation is over.............

[bmxmon]

If you want to get by on the cheap as far as bodywork goes I would look into late models. Normally in better shape per dollar than musclecar era stuff, plus their suspension design is generally alot better. I bet you could build a sweet 3rd gen with a carb'd 5.3L and all the suspension bits for under your budget. IMO 17K is alot of money to be able to drop at once on a project car. I'd stick to a gen III motor out of a truck. The additional weight can be overcome with the money you'll save.

[NvrDun71]

Bad ass, dude!

My name is actually Jesse, but some some reason (not sure why as I have had the screen name for at least 3-4 years now) I chose to shorten it. I have always had a love for Novas, as a 78 4-door POS was my first vehicle. Then I owned a 71 Nova for part of 2005-2006, then sold it to concentrate on a 67 El Camino. Anyhoo, I live in Humble and would love to see what you have done with your 71. Maybe we can meet up somewhere soon.

And I do want to check those Novas out eventually...

Would definitely be down for that man, maybe hit up a car show sometime. Finally making some decent progress on my car now as I have been gathering parts for it for the past few years. It doesn't hold a candle to most of the other cars built on here, but it should be a fun car when done. Will have to start a build thread sometime soon and get a few pics up...