Ground rules for 5k Builds

[Beagle]

While I understand that (how do I say this delicately?) sometimes projects take far longer than originally envisioned

shit, I haven't even begun to take Monica's car apart yet. How's the Fiat?

[SuperBuickGuy]

haven't had the car a year yet.... I don't think I'm doing too bad for a working Dad with a wife that travels a lot.

oh don't get me wrong, I think you're flying on your project; especially given the amount of time available to do such fun things.... still, my guess, you'll run it next year on drag week and finally be done with it just in time for his first day of school in kindergarten.

[SuperBuickGuy]

shit, I haven't even begun to take Monica's car apart yet. How's the Fiat?

just as fast as the Buick, your point?
That said, last I checked, it was just as fast as every project you've started on here

[Mater]

So how is the competiton stacking up? I have around 3k in my Capri it went 143 mph

i have less then 700 in the lebaron and it is no where near even close

on the other hand i have 1800 (what i paid for the thing) in the grand prix and it goes low 14's lol

ie it's stock

[Bob Holmes]

In my opinion, I have the fastest pro-jackstand Mustang on here.

[Beagle]

just as fast as the Buick, your point?
That said, last I checked, it was just as fast as every project you've started on here

Monica's moves under it's own power! I have gotten around to immobilizing it yet. :P

[SuperBuickGuy]

Monica's moves under it's own power! I have gotten around to immobilizing it yet. :P

It's just a matter of time my friend.

[STINEY]

Monica's moves under it's owners' power! I have gotten around to immobilizing it yet. :P

There SBG fixed it for ya!


No offense Beags, my fox hasn't moved under its own power since I've had it, and that has been a few years now.

[Thumpin455]

I love looking at all the stuff guys do to keep costs down, and I'm all for using up my leftover parts stash, but somewhere along the line, it's sad to admit I lost my taste for the kind of machine I would end up with for 5K.

Last year, in a multicar trade with 2 of my brothers, I ended up with the 67 Belvedere that one of them had just finished Drag Week 2011 with. As a point of reference I gave up 4K in boot, and a clean, painted, project 70 Barracuda. I then dumped 3150 dollars in parts alone into it before my daughter drove it on Drag Week 2012. I still have improvement plans tha will keep me wrenching and spending on it right up until Drag Week 2013.

Where did I go wrong???

Going back a couple days... Bill I think you just started out with too nice of a car that someone wanted more money for. There is a reason I am not using some others I have, mainly I have too much in them already. Its not the kind of project you start with a $4000 car, its the kind you start with a $500 or less car. I have traded a pair of seats that I got free for a car that would work great for this, its a 71 Ventura, all manual and originally had a 6 in it. Its a 9" rear from being a drag car with an engine/trans I have laying around. I could stuff a $4000 650hp engine in it and run bottom tens real easy, and that would be the only thing I have to buy for it. Its fun to build a car on a budget when you have next to nothing in the car.

Anyway, the LeMans will be a decent looking car, have quite a bit of power, and it should drive quite well once its all done. Its in the shop for the winter, up on dollies, about to pull it apart and start fixing rust and taking it to bare metal. The engine is on a cart waiting to go in, but I think I will blast the frame and paint it first. I have gotten spoiled working on clean stuff lately, so this one will get a frame off too. For me that isnt a big deal, its just cleaning and painting with cheap tractor enamel.

I went 11.71@115 for around $4500 in an over geared 3800lb car, it ran out of steam at the 1000' mark. The LeMans should be quite a bit closer to 3000lbs and geared right for the powerband, and running a very similar engine. The only problem it might have is getting it to hook.

[Beagle]

There SBG fixed it for ya!


No offense Beags, my fox hasn't moved under its own power since I've had it, and that has been a few years now.

hers runs, and my office looks like the Summit warehouse with all the 351 junk for it. I won't take it apart until I make the black one run. I had big plans for the last couple of weeks but life gets in the way. I took my dad down to Houston last week, lost an Aunt very unexpectedly, services tomorrow. I have a week off at the end of October though, so maybe... just maybe.

[threedoor]

My REO should fit under the 5K build but it would only win an incredibly sloooooow race. Or get someone elses car to a race slowly.

[Ron Ward]

Say hello to my little friend... $950 into it so far... including the rotisserie.

[Huskinhano]

That's nice Ron!

[Ron Ward]

That's nice Ron!

Thanks! Thinking I'm going to do the Rustoleum and a paint roller technique.

What I REALLY want to do is my own interior. Upholstery is TERRIBLY expensive. I'm gonna figure out a cheap, yet aesthetically pleasing method to do interior…. Either that, or we sit on milk crates.

Can you say big block and a 4-speed? I can…. it's gonna happen…. soon.

[G-Motive]

I think the trick to winning this game is to find the coolest ground zero car you can possibly find, if your skills are really there the car will be worth every penny of 5k and then some when done, I'd like to see it worth twice that.