Project Car

[dre5491]

Vehicles I'm Looking For:
89-91 CRX
89-95 Civic Hatch
91+ Accord
Any Year Integra
Any Year Prelude(ehh 89+)
Any Year 240sx
Early 90's Eclipse or Talon Turbo

As of now I only have $700 saved up but more should be coming within the next few months. Another flaw is it has to be with in the Cinci area. Can't be any farther than 200 miles from where I live which leaves me wit Mid-North Ohio, Northern KY, And Eastern Indiana...

[8695Beaters]

I assume that you will have a daily driver still? Anything under $1000 will probably not be running or rusted through and through. Always go for a car with good body/interior over good running gear. I'd check autotrader and craigslist. Ebay might even turn up something good.

[dre5491]

Yeah, I still got my truck =).. Thats the reason I wanted to sell my Accord was so I could get a reliable car that wouldnt give me too many fits so I can dump as much money into my project car as possible.. Plus I ain't driving it until I get the new engine for the project car (specially if I get a Honda) I want the Hondas most but I wanted to just broaden my choices by going with the other cars..

[8695Beaters]

I was looking for a CRX before I found my 240SX. All of the CRXs I saw were rusty beaters, so I gave up on them. You're farther North of me, so unless you get really lucky, you'll probably end up with the same problem.

If you like drag racing, then the Eclipse would be a good choice. They don't handle well, so going fast and straight is about their only talent. Just make sure you find the GSX when you shop, because installing AWD and a turbo on one of the N/A cars is supposed to be a real pain.

If you want to road race, then the 240 would probably be your best bet. The rear drive platform will handle more power than any of the FWDs and they are farily light. Since you don't have any preferece on which model, I'd say find the S14. You can bargain a bit, because everyone wants the S13 (that's what I ended up with. When it runs, I will let you know how an SR20DET feels). Even then, a $700 240SX is going to come from a junkyard. The cheapest S13 I saw was for $1500, it was an auto and needed a tranny rebuild. Auto/stick swap is farily common in the chassis (and I think it's pretty easy), so if that's all you can find and afford, go for it. Just make sure there aren't any body leaks or rust.

As for the rest, I guess it all depends on what pops up. Civics are lighter than Integras, but I have never felt the need for less weight (just more power and VTEC). But I assume you know all this already...

[dre5491]

I found a 240 for $500 not much rust (simple places to fix) that had a blown engine... But it was sold.. I have found several Efs but they all have been sold=( and called on a few talons that have been sold =(.. My uncle knows where i can get a talon or an eclipse he forgets which on it is.. the thing is I want something that handles good so if decide one night to just open it up and see what the beast can do I got the good handleing to keep it under control.. Overall I just want something to build and learn fun.. The reason I want a Honda most is because obviously they are super reliable and I won't have to learn much because I alread know what engines are good for them and what aren't... The reason I'm looking for a 4 banger out of any other type of engine is because I'm tired of this kid hassling me at school cuz he has a N/A 300zx and always makes fun of me because I love four cyls. I wanna build a 4 banger that will eat his heavy 300zx alive and he specially hates Honda so that would really piss him off =).. Its just one of them spoiled kids that loves to brag about everything mommy and daddy do for him and get him.. And he just really pisses me off..

[8695Beaters]

Yeah, my buddy just bought a 1994 300ZX NA too. He's not spoiled, but he used to always taunt me with his dad's Maxima (can you say rice?). The 240 I just bought should hand him his *** on an aluminum platter. I think one of my friends at school is jealous of it. He has an S2000 and was ragging on how slow a 13 second 1/4 mile is. All I said was, hey it's faster than you.

Come to think of it, if you find someone who hung a valve on an S2K, then you could get it for cheap. It won't be as cheap as say a Civic or 240, but you can't beat the platform.

[dre5491]

Yeah but I say good luck finding that lol.. Most the ppl around here are into Mustangs and stuff so yea.. I know of one older guy who has a S2k that always takes his kid for a ride through my neighborhood in it.. Honestly it surprises me that these wanna be rich people around here don't have more S2ks.. Oh wait theyre too busy paying gas for their eight feet per gallon Hummers...

[8695Beaters]

Hey it can happen. But insurance is expensive. I saw an EVO for 6K in Texas. Something must have been worng with it, but if I could have afforded the insurance, I would have bought that. I'm still happy with my 240 though.

[dre5491]

Yea that 240 will be super fun if u drop a rb26 in it.. though the other day I rode in one that was the stock Dohc fourbanger engine and a diff turbo on wit.. It was only running 6 PSI cuz the motor needs rebuilt cuz the previous owner did a horrible job and it still was fast as hell.. My friend has a 240 wit a RB20 sittin in his garage.. My advice don't go with that swap because it has been nothing but problems and is a very poor layout for that engine bay.. The design of the engine is a pain because you have to take a bunch of crap off just to get to the valve cover..But my advice is just to pay the extra money and try and find another motor.. An RB26 would be super crazy if ya can afford it..

[8695Beaters]

I bought mine with an SR already swapped. FMI, HKS turbo and exhaust, boost controller and JWT tuning. It already has a rollbar and also has KYB 4-way adjustable shocks and Nitto Neo Gen tires. The fuel pump died just before I bought it, but I'm getting a new one tomorrow. I had to tow it from North NJ to Delaware. It took 8 hours.