We love a good budget build around here. Mainly because we all are working underneath a budget. What can we say…we aren’t farmers, we can’t grow cash trees. But you can have fun for low dollar input, and Dario Gaiga from Infamous Automotive is working towards a very ambitious goal: running nine seconds in the quarter for under two thousand dollars. How is he doing it? With a $200 1980 Chevrolet Malibu Landau coupe, a mid-2000s 6.0L LS engine he scored for $236, a $250 turbocharger setup, $165 reground cam, and bits and pieces that together, should push the Malibu around nicely…IF all of the parts talk nicely together.
The “cheap turbo LS” build can be done, but you have to know what you are kitbashing together, and Gaiga knew what he was doing when he was raiding the local junkyard on Half-Price Day. The Malibu is together and has made a couple of early passes down the track, where it’s ran a best of 10.85@126 MPH. There is still tuning and work to be done for the nines, but for the first, out-of-the-garage effort, that’s still a damn stout number. Gaiga is documenting the build on his YouTube channel, thehouseofboost, and we will be paying attention to see just how far the Malibu goes. Between his work at the shop, the time he spends helping out others, and his other projects, don’t expect the Malibu to be a quick series, but this is more of a reality build: near-nonexistant budget, when you’re able to find the time. Plus, it’s good use of an A/G Malibu that was looking pretty rough in the first place…
Dario definitely knows what he’s doing. He has built more than his fair share of cool, fast cars. He has a bitchin’ early chevette with a turbo LS that is plenty fast and super light.
I might be able to pull this off with a Buick…. a Buick powered Buick…. good concept.
I have a hard time believing it can be done for $2K. Between engine, trans, turbo setup, rear, tuning, etc, its the nickel and dime items that add up.
Now $5K may be a little more realistic.
Yep, around here that\’s a $2000 Malibu and junkyard 6.0 ls\’s are $1000 when you can find them. And the FIRST pass at the track faster than 11.00 gets you sent home with no roll bar. 9\’s?, nope got to have a certified roll cage.
This car is a UNICORN BUILD, I\’m sure it can be done…..it just doesn\’t happen in the real world for $2000, unless you fail to add up the parts you have just laying around.
Yea, that\’s it….I could do it for $2000. I have a third gen Camaro back there, and I have that 500 inch former number 1 qualifier NHRA Pro Stock engine….and the clutch….and the Liberty 5 speed. I could spend $2000 with all the \”junk\” I have sitting on shelves and build a 9 second car……It just wouldn\’t be a $2000 car.
I fear people have been watching too many racing (UN)reality shows.
I could wheel n deal and build a 8 second car for $50 but on this build everything has been accounted for. That\’s why it\’s called \”Extreme Cheapskates\” and not \”Joe Dirt builds a Malibu\”
Watch the videos he is making documenting it, he is keeping track of everything with receipts to show. Maybe a bolt or two from the leftover piles but nothing in the car has been free.
I know Dario well enough to be an aquaitance..Here we run at 4000 plus elevation mostly plus 1000 more. He does all his own work and shops haRd. He is honest as all that. If he says 2000 it is 2000..Turn up the boast big guy..Geter done
Cool build – love the concept
Just a crazy stupid thought – was there any consideration for the cost of safety equipment. Like belts and a roll bar/cage. He’s wearing a serious suit, neck collar and helmet but that won’t help much if he’s upside down and rolling
I have a twin turbo LS chevette that is tagged for six seconds, that’s why I have the suite, this car has no safety equipment except for screw in valve stems and a driveshaft loop. I understand the risk that I’m taking.
None of the strips around me would allow that to even go down the strip. He needs another $3K in safety equipment to be legal – cage with funny car style halo, axles, c-clip eliminators, harmonic balancer, belts, window net, etc, etc.
Even to get it legal for just 10 flat is not cheap and then dip into a 9.99 occasionally.
Be a fun street basher or 1/8 mile car though and shows you that you don’t need a lot of $$$ into the drivetrain to have a really fast car these days.
Funny car cage is not required until 8.49.
Don’t forget this is in Canada…that’s only $1459.85 USD
He knows his stuff. A great guy.
Jealous haters need to watch his youtube videos…This isn\’t \”Fake News\”…it is the real deal…This is how you Make America Great Again…not that other way.