ideas for the cheapest fun daily driver i could build.....

Alright...like the title says....lay some ideas on me!

I have been racking my brain trying to come up with the funest daily driver I could build on a budget. I have a complete 4.8 and another 5.3 I could use in the swap. (the 5.3 is dod and vvt which would be good for fuel and mileage etc)

E30 or E28 BMW?
Nissan 240sx (super played out....i know)
Older Supra?
Some type of 80s Benz?
Fiero? Haha

I really don't know. All of those are kinda cool, but I've seen dozens of each. I would like something that can take a corner, looks half way decent and still rips on command.

I feel like there are a bunch of vehicles im counting out. Lay down some ideas guys.

(I really miss how fun my turbo scion was, or my supercharged Monte. I think that is where this is all coming from.)

Impreza/wrx - Small, light, corner like a mofo with just springs, motor is WAY far forward because of the trans-axle being behind it and still driving front wheels. I bet a mild build 5.3 could easily get 20 MPG and have about 100 HP more than stock WRX (227 hp) on a stock 5.3 with headers. These cars lack bottom end BAD.

I plan to do it to mine as soon as anything motor related farts out, maybe sooner if I can find a cheap roller to build off of. That is the project i was asking you about motor plates for. The steering shaft goes down into the cross-member, which is a PITA for motor mounts, I was figuring if I could take mounts out of the equation it would leave more room for good headers. It would also make it so that the cross-member and steering would not have to be fiddled with and therefore not need to be re-engineered, which I think is important.

Assuming you could make it happen I know there would be a small market for "kits" consisting of motor plates, tranny mounts, and headers. And then maybe even wiring. I know I would be down for it.

I have a small stash of cash set aside for finding a deal on a T56 to go in my project.

Pooge wrote:

Impreza/wrx - Small, light, corner like a mofo with just springs.

That is a pretty cool unique recomendation. What year(s) are you referring to?
How do their rear diffs hold up?

My only concern, is that to pass inspection it would have to be pre 98 (anything below 98 won't require an OBD2 plug in).

I hate Subarus more then you will ever know (personal long story), so it would be pretty cool to stuff a chevy under the hood LOL. At lease then it wont sound like it has a misfire LOL
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While we are on the topic of Subarus.....

How about an SVX

RX7 ?? this car is a blast to drive !!

Grumpy wrote:

RX7 ?? this car is a blast to drive !!

I have considered that too. I actually really like the body lines, but it seems those cars still bring pretty big bucks complete.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads20/1992_subaru_svx_2_dr_ls_awd_coupe+pic+31766960695776172971330613774.jpg

I 'd think those ^^^ would be harder to get then an RX7...no?

I cant believe I'm saying it..but..thats not a bad looking vehicle

LS in there.....wow

sdstick wrote:

I 'd think those ^^^ would be harder to get then an RX7...no?

I cant believe I'm saying it..but..thats not a bad looking vehicle

LS in there.....wow

All over craigslist for under 2500.

Most have high mileage, but about 3/4 appear to have decent body and paint.

http://westernmass.craigslist.org/bar/3309699167.html
http://nwct.craigslist.org/cto/3333960949.html
http://albany.craigslist.org/cto/3314535188.html
http://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/cto/3383658145.html

....I think I may have found the next project when the truck is done?

Miata. Make sure it is red. Then your Hello Kitty sticker will look cooler.

Smart car. Just put one seat in the far back.

I was referring to a 2002-2004 WRX, I'm not sure how Mass works, but here you can swap in any year motor same year or newer. If you wire it up right with all sensors and EFI it should all plug well for OBD. My 96 is OBD2 with a newer motor with no issues, just passed inspection a couple months ago.

bfurches wrote:

sdstick wrote:

I 'd think those ^^^ would be harder to get then an RX7...no?

I cant believe I'm saying it..but..thats not a bad looking vehicle

LS in there.....wow

All over craigslist for under 2500.

Most have high mileage, but about 3/4 appear to have decent body and paint.

http://westernmass.craigslist.org/bar/3309699167.html
http://nwct.craigslist.org/cto/3333960949.html
http://albany.craigslist.org/cto/3314535188.html
http://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/cto/3383658145.html

....I think I may have found the next project when the truck is done?

Relatively rare car, very cool and strange looking, but not very desirable, so you can snag them up decent price.

bfurches wrote:

http://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/cto/3383658145.html

....I think I may have found the next project when the truck is done?

Thats my home town....I still like that white /black from your 1st post

Pooge wrote:

I was referring to a 2002-2004 WRX, I'm not sure how Mass works, but here you can swap in any year motor same year or newer. If you wire it up right with all sensors and EFI it should all plug well for OBD. My 96 is OBD2 with a newer motor with no issues, just passed inspection a couple months ago.

Relatively rare car, very cool and strange looking, but not very desirable, so you can snag them up decent price.

The problem with 2000+ is that it is canbus interface, and the inspection machine looks for the vin. Since I would be running a GM pcm, there is no way to program the vin from the subaru in, thus sending a red flag to the registry (resulting in a nice inspection from the registry/ state police which I am ALL SET WITH!) lol

I think we have a similar year swap ratio thing....however there are a ton of stipulations.

....the other thing is, I think the 2002-2004 is a little out of my price range

However, drop yours off so I can get started on the motor plates for you

sdstick wrote:

bfurches wrote:

http://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/cto/3383658145.html

....I think I may have found the next project when the truck is done?

Thats my home town....I still like that white /black from your 1st post

That meens you are obligated to purchase and deliver it to me.

See you then....








lol jk

Dude, I hope your socks are on tight, because I am fixin' to knock those mothers off!

Mistubishi Starion or Chrysler Conquest!

http://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/cto/3407023455.html
http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/3403256010.html

Sure you'll need to ditch every part of the existing driveline, probably brace the thing up, and you may never actually change all 8 plugs again, but that would be way cool.

bangshiftbrian wrote:

Dude, I hope your socks are on tight, because I am fixin' to knock those mothers off!

Mistubishi Starion or Chrysler Conquest!

http://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/cto/3407023455.html
http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/3403256010.html

Sure you'll need to ditch every part of the existing driveline, probably brace the thing up, and you may never actually change all 8 plugs again, but that would be way cool.

I've been wanting one of those BAD since I first saw one a few years ago! V8 would be even cooler. But I feel like a new HEMI would be necessary in a conquest

bangshiftbrian wrote:

Dude, I hope your socks are on tight, because I am fixin' to knock those mothers off!

Mistubishi Starion or Chrysler Conquest!

http://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/cto/3407023455.html
http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/cto/3403256010.html

Sure you'll need to ditch every part of the existing driveline, probably brace the thing up, and you may never actually change all 8 plugs again, but that would be way cool.

There was one semi local (conquest i believe), that had been on ls1tech for a while. I believe it was 5.3 turbo? All Black....pretty bad ride!