Budgets are tough

[budpins]

I have a question for you guys with some experience. I have a bone stock 68 camaro with manual drums, 12 bolt open, go figure, and 454 block with 396 crank and 1974 smog heads. The trans is TH400 but I have the z bar and pedals for the original manual set up. The car is as I bought it. Pieced together to say the least. Here is the question: I have a budget of 20,000 for drivetrain, suspension, and brakes. This includes everything but body work and interior restoration. It is not a lot of money but I would like to stay within it because I promised my wife. Anyway, looking for something that is reliable, safe, and can at least perform as well as a new Mustang GT. I'm sure there are plenty of people on this board that have the experience to know what works and what is just for show. Tired of being beaten by those kids in the Fords. Any help will be greatly appreciated. I do not intend to race competitively, maybe for fun. Would like to be a bit faster than currently; 14.20 1/4mile.

[andrewb70]

Ditch that boat anchor of an engine and get yourself a Gen III small block. It will loose at least 300 pounds off the nose of the car and make your car run easy low 13s all day long. Keep your suspension mods simple. Do the best bang for the buck mods. I would stick with stock lower control arms AFX spindles and some stock C5 Corvette brakes. Put a posi in the 12 bolt. These 3 things can possible be accomplished under 10K if you sell the big bclok to offset some costs. It will be like your driving a completely different car.

Just my 2 cents.

Andrew

[Colvindesign]

There is a guy near me in Chicago parting out an entire new GTO, I'm sure he'd sell off the engine trans and rear in one purchase.

Otherwise look on ebay, there are rolling C5 chassis with engine trans and suspension all together for 8-9k.

[wantahertzdonut]

There is a guy near me in Chicago parting out an entire new GTO, I'm sure he'd sell off the engine trans and rear in one purchase.

Parting out a GTO already? Is it at least wrecked?

[Diognes56]

Ditch that boat anchor of an engine and get yourself a Gen III small block. It will loose at least 300 pounds off the nose of the car and make your car run easy low 13s all day long. Keep your suspension mods simple. Do the best bang for the buck mods. I would stick with stock lower control arms AFX spindles and some stock C5 Corvette brakes. Put a posi in the 12 bolt. These 3 things can possible be accomplished under 10K if you sell the big bclok to offset some costs. It will be like your driving a completely different car.

Just my 2 cents.

Andrew

+1

David

[Steve68]

And look in the For Sale sections, people always upgrade, and sell perfectly good new and used parts for cheap,

[ls67]

I am nearing the finishline with a 67 frame off restoration and conversion to ls1, t56, rack and pinion, and 4 wheel disc brakes the only suspension changes I made were drop coils in the front, lowering the back and edelbrock preformer shocks. I dont think there is a stock gt anywhere around here that wants any of this car. It is insanely fast. I have done all the work myself and am in under 20k, so it is possible!!!! My advice is to find a donor car and get drivetrain, breaks, radiator, fans, master cylinder cruise control wiper motor and even seats if you want, but most everything you need can be found on the donor or donors it is always handy to make good friends with a local salvage man you can save alot of $$ on the little stuff like that and trust me the little stuff adds up.

[budpins]

I appreciate all your input. I had no idea a genIII transplant could be done for a reasonable price. I had been getting overwhelmed by writing my budget but now I see I have to sharpen my pencil and get a little more creative. Thank you again. By the way, what donor car has the most usable/swapable parts? GTO, F-body, or even CTS-V?

Thanks again.

[David Sloan]

Ditch that boat anchor of an engine and get yourself a Gen III small block. It will loose at least 300 pounds off the nose of the car and make your car run easy low 13s all day long. Keep your suspension mods simple. Do the best bang for the buck mods. I would stick with stock lower control arms AFX spindles and some stock C5 Corvette brakes. Put a posi in the 12 bolt. These 3 things can possible be accomplished under 10K if you sell the big bclok to offset some costs. It will be like your driving a completely different car.

Just my 2 cents.

Andrew

+2 an drive the pee out of it:3gears:


Do a search on the LS1 to find wrecks or motor trans, combos for sale. find out were your salvage yards are at an go visit them!! hope this helps!!
Were are you at??

[BADVELLE]

How about this, do something different, stick with the BBC! Almost every newer car being built now has the Gen III powertrain + 6-speed, be different, stay with the torque/power of the BBC.

[Randy67]

I agree with Badvelle, stick with the big block, since you already have it. You could always do a junkyard turbo or supercharger setup for more fun factor. :naughty:

[Colvindesign]

Parting out a GTO already? Is it at least wrecked?

Say's it's in good condition,

Here's the ad in case anyone is interested

http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/car/199719347.html

[rockdogz]

I agree with Badvelle, stick with the big block, since you already have it. You could always do a junkyard turbo or supercharger setup for more fun factor. :naughty:
Yeah, what about just some new heads? What's it running for intake/carb?

[MarkM66]

Yeah, what about just some new heads? What's it running for intake/carb?

Yeah, maybe put some Aluminum heads on it. It'll lose weight, and give some power.

Upgrade the brakes. Touring Classics makes a good kit for the price.

For suspension, Guldstrand mod, hotchkis springs and some Bilstien shocks will do just fine on a budget.

Put a posi in that rear, and if you have money left over, look into a TKO600 5 speed.

[budpins]

It has a factory high-rise, (cast iron), spread bore with a 780 four idle circuit mech Holley that I can't get tuned right. I do like the way people ooh and aah when they see how big that motor is in the car. Just don't know if the weight is that big of a factor if I were to go aluminum intake and heads. I thought that a bbc with aluminum was not that big of a weight penalty. Headers sure are a bear though. The other problem is I would love fuel injection if budget allows. Classic case of two wants and only one option. Rest assured, updated handling is what I want but I know I will not be doing any serious road racing.
Jason

[rocketrod]

Yeah, maybe put some Aluminum heads on it. It'll lose weight, and give some power.

Upgrade the brakes. Touring Classics makes a good kit for the price.

For suspension, Guldstrand mod, hotchkis springs and some Bilstien shocks will do just fine on a budget.

Put a posi in that rear, and if you have money left over, look into a TKO600 5 speed.
I vote for sticking with the BBC and the above mentioned mods for a street driven car.

[Tiger]

Budgets arent hard at all....
1. decide what you want
2. write down on a piece of paper ALL the parts you need to acomplish what you want and the prices.
3. sum up the prices
4. double it up and voila you know how much you will spend.

:o)

as for going BBC or gen 3 I'd probably stick to the BBC but those are two totally different roads....

If I remember right a 454 block with a 396 = 427cid

I'd use:
the bbc with a nice intake and aluminum heads
a six speed trans
a nice frontclip with vette suspension and vette brakes
and a posi in the 12bolt or a vette axle for the rear.
17 or 18" rallye wheels
add some small parts and $19K should be about gone.
for the last $1000 take your wife to the beach for the weekend (in the "finished" car) and explain to her that you need to spend another $10k to get that 540cid shortblock to match the heads.