New technology,makes a 5 cylinder2,5 liter bomb..cant wait for the LS version..

[Russell]

How much $$$$ would it take to make a 65 Falcon comfortable on the highway @ 78 mph for 58 miles 5 days a week year round? I am no where near as hard core as DF

[38P]

http://www.autotraderclassics.com/classic-car/1977-AMC-Gremlin-825473.xhtml?conversationId=509547

$1,500 Gremmie action. Sure, the back seat's a tad tight and there's probably more "cancer" than you'd like, but . . .

-- it's fully Goodguys' eligible

-- The Gremlin at DW '12 (6 on N20) was very popular with the fans

-- You'd probably always be the only one on scene with a turboed-to-the-hilt Gremmie

-- You'll grab more attention with this than nearly any cheap import (unless you're at an import show, of course)

[Russell]

Don't you DD a brand new mustang?

[38P]

How much $$$$ would it take to make a 65 Falcon comfortable on the highway @ 78 mph for 58 miles 5 days a week year round? I am no where near as hard core as DF

Nobody's saying it wouldn't take a huge amount of "sweat equity" and it would probably still be hard for 5k.

No small vintage car in the price range we're discussing can beat the driving comfort of an average aero-era car on the highway. But vintage cars grab more attention and are emissions exempt.

The absolute cheapest thing to do is to find a 10-15 year old manual transmission small four-door car (nearing the bottom of its depreciation cycle and generally viewed as an unwanted commodity beater), megasquirt and turbo it with cheap parts (I'd probably add "the bottle" just for "discussion" purposes), and hope you don't get pinched on emissions.

There ought to be any number of "tote the note" lots that would sell a beater on credit that could be modifed for such purposes.

As for the turbo/megasquirt thing, you'll need to spend some time reading up on the tech, so that you'll be able to sniff out the great deals, and be willing to do everything yourself.

Mike Sitar's legendary Thunderbird (http://toohighpsi.laundrybasketquilt...tTT/tt351W.htm ) ought to be inspiration on what can be done with little money (even if his mill was a lot bigger than what we're talking about)

If you're going for more style than a turbo beater, then you'll have to be a frugal shopper for the "core."

[38P]

Don't you DD a brand new mustang?

Yes. It's not "new" anymore . . . creeping up on 20,000 miles.



But I have several other vehicles, including my old DD (worn-out SVT Focus), a collector car or two and some "project cars" (old crap that's in pieces and still doesn't run). . . and I've played the "econoperformer" and "cheap muscle" games before.

[1badmonkey]

Thirty seconds of web search turned up this imaginary Falcon for $1,100 . . . .

http://www.autotraderclassics.com/classic-car/1965-Ford-Falcon-985901.xhtml?conversationId=509547

Don't get bamboozled by the "Barrett-Jackson" hype . . . there are still some afordable vintage "cores" out there.

not bamboozled at all.... I am just realistic about what it would take to daily drive that car.
that Falcon is a kick ass starting point, but not what i would really call "NICE".

[TheSilverBuick]

Easier to start with a car that's got the mileage, and add power, than to start with a car that has the power and add mileage.

NOW you tell me, d'oh!

[Russell]

"econoperformer" sound good, I see buy in as well as mileage to make a car economical. I was hoping to add some performance and comfort to the equation. I never said I care about "attention" or "style" but my wife gives me crap, when I drive a turd.

To MS a car it has to be 1995 or older 18 years old. Can MS put out the BS that OBDII inspection looks for? I never have made more than one payment for a car.

Mike Sitar got some great deals on parts

[BBR]

My dad had a 1993 Mercury Cougar with a 3.8L and it would regularly exceed 30 mpg on the highway. I always felt like that car had either a very efficient drivetrain or aero or something because it seemed like it would coast forever when you let off the gas. I really liked driving that car.

I'd either start there or put a turbo 2.3L and a 5 speed in that Falcon!

[Russell]

Just boost the little six; you'd probably be at around 25 miles to the gallon with that combo, though. The electronics aren't bad on those cars. My 328 hasn't needed much of anything out of the ordinary for a car I bought with 110,000 miles and put another 80,000 on.

But if I were to pick up this challenge:



I'd probably go with one of these two recipes:

- '90s Civic with a turbo kit.
- Something Mopar with a 2.5 Turbo motor and turn up the boost.

Easier to start with a car that's got the mileage, and add power, than to start with a car that has the power and add mileage.

Matt, I missed your post earlier, while I think you have come up with the closest thing I asked for I don't know if I could live with my self it I owned a Civic. I will have to look into th Mopar, But I did not think they got that good of mileage. The early 2000s ones are still pretty pricey, are the ones from the mid 80s reliable?

[dieselgeek]

Can MS put out the BS that OBDII inspection looks for? I never have made more than one payment for a car.

Nope. And even if it could, it wouldn't matter because the emissions laws in this country aren't really set up to protect the environment, they're set up to make sure you are protecting the Big Oil companies' income.

I.e. even if you COULD put together your own emissions compliant combination of ECU and engine parts that met your local emissions requirements, it wouldn't matter. This is one of Freiburger's big complaints and he's right on. We SHOULD be able to build our own hot rod and make it pass emissions laws... but it doesn't work that way in this country.

[Russell]

Most States don't car about Hot Rodders. When MIL eliminators are cheaper than cats they get used. OBDII inspection is lazy if they cared they would do tail pipe.

[1badmonkey]

put a boosted ecotec in the saturn.....

[38P]

NOW you tell me, d'oh!

Tip for the LGKBS from Nevada: 7+ liter mills are not the optimal choices for fuel economy. Rememberl, you read it here first.

[38P]

Nope. And even if it could, it wouldn't matter because the emissions laws in this country aren't really set up to protect the environment, they're set up to make sure you are protecting the Big Oil companies' income.

Moving into the grand conspiracy portion of today's program . . . next . . . how "Big Oil" killed the miraculous "Fish Carburetor."

DG, please explain your theory on how emissions laws are for the protection of "Big Oil."