ideas for a project car
 

Some time in the near future im considering buying a project car. Im wanting to buy the car, strip inside out refurb and pull out engine and either recondition it or get a more powerful engine. My question is which car would you choose if you were to do this.

Im considering several cars and i am going to mainly focus on big hp.

tossing up between

VL commodore- drop in rb26 twin turbo
datsun 1200 or 1600- drop in 13b turbo
hz/hq- drop in reconditioned 308
ford cortina- 20b conversion or v8
torana- reconditioned v8 or turbo 6

Due to my job at a very well respected deisel engineering workshop i have acess to all the hightech machines and the best trades man to recondition engines. most of the work i will be able to do myself or at the most minimal price so i will be able to save huge $$ on any engine work.

I love old cars that are done up.

what would you do?

From what you've mentioned above the only viable project would be a Torana 'pref A9X, GTR XU1, SLR 5000', good luck finding one though :p

Where's the Ford XY/XA/XB love?

Realy leaning towards the cortina idea. I've seen two cortinas that have been reconditioned one with 20b another with a v8. Both were amazing cars!

Been thinking similar things lately. Once I have sorted my shed out and painted my wagon I might embark on my next project. I am a big fan of old school cars with modern power.
I am thinking of something like an LJ 2 door with a supercharged V6.
Failing that fb, fc or even a HR. Would love a Camaro but never be able to afford one.

vl mate, ive owned 3, i wouldnt go rb26dett though

[quote=malpaso;536215]vl mate, ive owned 3, i wouldnt go rb26dett though[/quote]


sr20det :D

fuk man, every tom dick and harry has done a vl, you wanna do something different, something like a old school ford escort with a celica drive train, ive heard this been done, or get a jag xj6 or something, you wanna do something different, a challenge etc. doing a full restore on a mini.

My dad used to have a TD cortina with a stroked 302 in it.
He ended up getting it all engineered. Owned it from new all the way up to 2009, sold it for 35k and the new owner wrote it off less than 5 mins after taking delivery. Lethal amount of power.
That would be a pretty keen car to build, ran 10 seconds with a manual in it.

rx7 with 2jz kgo

I'd stay away from a VL... they're all too common, and the whole RB26DETT thing's been done into the ground.

The others all seem good, personally I'd go for the Torana... nothing looks tougher than an SLR5000 (even if it isn't a real one)!

VL - Ford 4L with turbo

GO FOR A VL!!!!!

rb26 would be a difficult engine swap, would be much easier to go an rb25 or put an rb25 head on the rb30 bottom end

or be different and drop a 2JZ in it!

when people ask whats done to it you can say, still just a 3L ;)

Combi van with a Porsche 993 Turbo motor? Air cooled goodness?

What about a E30 BMW with the V8 out of the M5. Then you would need to do some engineering. If you dont want to go that extreme then it is a relatively easy swap with the E36 M3 running gear.

Brendon

XB Falcon
[img]http://www.gt351.com.au/image_library/XB_GT_McLeod_Horn_Striped_Coupe.jpg[/img]

or a Mk2 Ford Escort.
[img]http://designercars.net/biler/Ford-Escort-45068.jpg[/img]

Failing that, a HG
[img]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/58/229060838_dcd7b815a0_z.jpg[/img]

or HK Monaro
[img]http://www.caradvice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/holden-hk-monaro-gts-01.JPG[/img]

[QUOTE=Jezza;536239]
or a Mk2 Ford Escort.
[img]http://designercars.net/biler/Ford-Escort-45068.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]

:sad3: The concept was right but the execution failed.

why not do something really different like build a locost?

drop in some form of late model turbo and enjoy wicked handling, awesome speed and massive skids all for very little money!

[QUOTE=urabus;536237]What about a E30 BMW with the V8 out of the M5. Then you would need to do some engineering. If you dont want to go that extreme then it is a relatively easy swap with the E36 M3 running gear.

Brendon[/QUOTE]

A friend of mine who now lives in the UK did that with a genuine E30 M3 and 4.0 BMW v8 from a 540 with the very rare 6 speed BMW manual trans. RHD conversion as well. He reckons it was the best car he ever ownd, and he's had lots! I would love to have one like it one day, but the parts to do it are exxy here in Aus.

E30/2JZ would be easier and possibly more fun but not sound as good.
(if you're into old Beemers)

[QUOTE=MattuZ;536235]GO FOR A VL!!!!!

rb26 would be a difficult engine swap, would be much easier to go an rb25 or put an rb25 head on the rb30 bottom end

or be different and drop a 2JZ in it!

when people ask whats done to it you can say, still just a 3L ;)[/QUOTE]

How is the 26 a hard swap?

Anyhow, I am currently considering E36 with a LS1/2.

the only hard part about the 26 swap is the front drive train, but easy fix with that, is grab the 26 head and put it in a 30 bottem end=TORQUE MONSTER.

[QUOTE=GX-REX;536211] LJ 2 door[/QUOTE]

do this..................... massive supercharger and 2 turbos

you have to modify the sump on the 26, and also i THINK (not 100% sure) you have to modify the firewall to run the twin turbo setup.

VH SL/E, restored to original look and condition, but with a turbocharged injected 355 stroker stuffed under the hood.

te cortina with a 2jz gets my vote

TD with XR6T drivetrain.

VH Charger R/T E49 would be awesome!

[URL=http://img441.imageshack.us/i/rte4922.jpg/][IMG]http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/5026/rte4922.jpg[/IMG][/URL]


If your set on a car on your list then 76/77 LX SS Hatch :icon_supe

This is all sorts of win :)

[URL=http://img248.imageshack.us/i/4022046724f2771c1fe2.jpg/][IMG]http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/244/4022046724f2771c1fe2.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Original form

[URL=http://img148.imageshack.us/i/t6lxss.jpg/][IMG]http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/7425/t6lxss.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

+ 1 for the LX SS hatch. Awesome car and my favorite classic!

old school english ford, MK1 or 2 escort, MK1 or 2 cortina, anglia, capri....

i'm biased though, my current project is a Mk1 Escort 2dr......

my other [I]kinda[/I] project is a HDT VK SS although this one has stopped having money thrown at it for now due to the escort!! :)

[QUOTE=MattuZ;536288]you have to modify the sump on the 26, and also i THINK (not 100% sure) you have to modify the firewall to run the twin turbo setup.[/QUOTE]

$300 bucks of welding to the sump sorts it. No need to touch firewall if mounted correctly.

If my sig doesn't give it away, I'm for the Datto love. Although, considering the ridiculous 'cult' status, I'd steer clear of 1600's. Personally find them overrated anyway. However, 1200 Coupes are still a thing of beauty, or if you can find one a 200B SSS, just for something different. Not the smoothest of lines, but as you're considering a VL as well, then I'm sure a straighter sort of body shape isn't of great concern to you. Easy cars to work on, parts are still decent prices, occasionally you can even still pick up new components from the older Nissan dealers, and there are many, many engine options viable for them. In my few short years on this earth I've seen everything from rotaries, Sr's, Ca's, Z series and even carby pull through turbo setups on Datsuns, a few from that list even gracing my own garage. Just my worthless, no longer used 2 cents.

93 EBII Fairmont Ghia Black Sunroof Leather Stock as a Rock

I6 Barra Turbo Conversion
Atomic 998R Crate Engine
FG Computer
GTX40R on a 6Boost Manifold
Magnum T-56 6 Speed Manual
Final Drive 9" with 3.7 gears
Pedders Coilovers
19" FPV Dark Argent Wheels & Toyo R888's

350kg's lighter than a B or F series taxi and way more individual!

We have a pair of 200Bs if you're interested... we had started one as a project car before we moved onto WRXs... I'll get some pics if you're keen? Can probably let them go cheap..

Rebuild a datto 240z with a new 6. Weighs fark all. Looks good and plenty of room up front :-)

1984 Ke70 Corolla, with something nice shoehorned in.

VW Combi...+ Porsche Engine/Chassis

Win.

:-)

Escort with a nice twin carby 2.0l. Sound awesome and plenty of power. Or smash a turbo on.

or (ive been thinking about this for a while now) MB 190E 2.5 Cossie done in full EVO2 stick ons and DTM warpaint!

[IMG]http://www.desktopcar.net/wallpaper/30343-2/MB-190DTM-03.jpg[/IMG]

actually any below the radar mb would be cool, even a 6.9lt 450 boat!

[QUOTE=WRXRW;536339]93 EBII Fairmont Ghia Black Sunroof Leather Stock as a Rock

I6 Barra Turbo Conversion
Atomic 998R Crate Engine
FG Computer
GTX40R on a 6Boost Manifold
Magnum T-56 6 Speed Manual
Final Drive 9" with 3.7 gears
Pedders Coilovers
19" FPV Dark Argent Wheels & Toyo R888's

350kg's lighter than a B or F series taxi and way more individual![/QUOTE]

Oh dear ugly, please tell me you've got a pic saved somewhere that can make me regain some confidence in you :p

old daihatsu charade with EJ207.... OR the original Golf GTi with two engines, one for the front and one for the back. Seen both, but the golf was insane and the pick of the herd....

[QUOTE=WRXRW;536371]or (ive been thinking about this for a while now) MB 190E 2.5 Cossie done in full EVO2 stick ons and DTM warpaint!

[IMG]http://www.desktopcar.net/wallpaper/30343-2/MB-190DTM-03.jpg[/IMG]

actually any below the radar mb would be cool, even a 6.9lt 450 boat![/QUOTE]

Been watching this with interest...

[IMG]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5260/5420391699_facc7cf5d7_b.jpg[/IMG]

Thats a 2j in the front.

my mate has a MR2 SW20 that he is selling

buy that and bang a camery engine into it with a supercharger would be a weapon