So lets say you are fed up with your current turbocharged GS.

your considering your next project car what would you start with.

Lets say it needs to have a purchase cost of 20K or less and you are willing to put about 10K into it to start with.
The goal would be a min 500hp daily driver, stiff suspension able to handle on the corners etc.

Must be manual transmission and must be reliable and stylish


Ideas?

Really, I don't think much beats a 2jz-gte swapped SC300 with 6 speed and TT rear end. Plus, we let you stay on CL if you get another Lexus. :D

I take it your GS is a 300, and if you don't want to do the same engine again, how about an LS1 swapped FD RX-7. Not sure how much one with a blown engine would cost but you may be able to make it work. When I start making my own money and get out of college that is one thing I want to try more than anything else.

James

So lets say you are fed up with your current turbocharged GS.

your considering your next project car what would you start with.

Lets say it needs to have a purchase cost of 20K or less and you are willing to put about 10K into it to start with.
The goal would be a min 500hp daily driver, stiff suspension able to handle on the corners etc.

Must be manual transmission and must be reliable and stylish


Ideas?
Does it matter if its a sedan or coupe? I'm thinking C-5 vette.

Really, I don't think much beats a 2jz-gte swapped SC300 with 6 speed and TT rear end. Plus, we let you stay on CL if you get another Lexus. :D

I take it your GS is a 300, and if you don't want to do the same engine again, how about an LS1 swapped FD RX-7. Not sure how much one with a blown engine would cost but you may be able to make it work. When I start making my own money and get out of college that is one thing I want to try more than anything else.

James
Morris has a custom turbo GS 400 :eek2: Maybe a full single turbo engine swap?

Nope on the SC, I dont care for the look, its a little too long for me. Plus my first lex was a SC400. Most importantly I want sommething with lots of aftermarket support and cheap performance parts.

The C5 is a thought, I'll have to consider it.

I am thinking that what I want is basically a street legal race car.

C5 corvette, Supra, RX7, e36 M3 (500hp might be a little tough), WRX, DSM, etc.

Corvette is what I would opt with or like someone else said a rx7 with a vette engine! A guy I know has a red FD with a LS6 (405hp) swap done. Thing is mean!

Nope on the SC, I dont care for the look, its a little too long for me. Plus my first lex was a SC400. Most importantly I want sommething with lots of aftermarket support and cheap performance parts.

The C5 is a thought, I'll have to consider it.

I am thinking that what I want is basically a street legal race car.

Damn well I haven't been spending enough timein the GS world. C5s have been done, I'm still saying FD RX7, but you should be the first to put the 7L LS7 in it! :eek2: No weight with 500 NA hp would be obscene.

James

Whats a FD
I think the supra is out of the price range, same for WRX.

Look for a used Mustang Cobra......( a car that sold new for around 30K or so ) hopefully one that has not been driven very hard and torn up. There were no Cobra automatics......all of them were manuals. A couple of thousand at a speed shop will probably give you around 500 HP.
Parts are readily available and there is a Ford dealer on almost every block with SVT parts that should fit.

Yea the mustang definitely came to mind, even maybe a first year Pontiac GTO, not the style of GS but it could work

how do the mustangs handle, I thought they were strictly straight line?

Whats a FD
I think the supra is out of the price range, same for WRX.
Morris, FD= this
http://tanakatire.web.infoseek.co.jp/505/Mazda_RX7_2.jpg
Only thing is rotary power is fragile.

Hmm, a used WRX is a good idea, you can get those under 20 with no issues. They have tons of support, can make 500hp and handle awesome.

Mustang is another good idea. They are not handling kings but the Corbra has a IRL instead of the 1970s suspension of the rest of the Mustangs (last generation).

GTO is a wondeful idea as well.

Sick, about the rotary, that's why I said swap in the new LS7 (C6 Z06) engine and now you have torque for days.

James

Sick, about the rotary, that's why I said swap in the new LS7 (C6 Z06) engine and now you have torque for days.

James
Gotcha, I totally read that but didn't read it :D

Well I dont know if you are bent on RWD as most of the options have been, but how about a Honda Prelude? You can get some serious power out of that with the turbo kits available. Maybe not 500hp, but damn close.

On the RWD line, How about an NSX or S2000. Both are capable of 350-400 with little effort.

Buick Regal, and all the variants of the G-Body(I think its G-Body??), Early 90's T-Bird or Impala, Fiero or RX-7 or 240Z with a 350 Chebby. But instead put in a Mopar 340 R block (the block they use in nascar you can buy a block for like 2-3K or a fully assembled used nascar engine for about 10K) I think it comes down to who your really a fanboy of I guess.

not 500 hp
but I would go with a MR2 Spyder with a 2ZZGE swap, with the 6 speed tranny and ECU from the elise, and some suspension work would be a very fun daily driver and would handle the corners really well, or just turbo the 1ZZFE instead of the 2ZZGE swap

FD would be awesome... sure the rotary will break.... but... if u have a spare car, FD's are awesome fun. plus u can get one for relatively cheap and have money to work with, plus money in case of a needed rebuild. or of course u could swap it.

Morris so did you complete your 500 HP project? I can't imagine dipping all that money into the GS and turn around and sell it.... :uh: Mustangs are probably the easiest to work with... You can take a 302 and bore it out to any cubic inch you want and get tons of HP... But to me nothin stands out like a turbo GS going down the street...... :woot:

Buick Regal, and all the variants of the G-Body(I think its G-Body??), Early 90's T-Bird or Impala, Fiero or RX-7 or 240Z with a 350 Chebby. But instead put in a Mopar 340 R block (the block they use in nascar you can buy a block for like 2-3K or a fully assembled used nascar engine for about 10K) I think it comes down to who your really a fanboy of I guess.

Man, I'm such a **** for the Regal (yes, G bodies) but he said he wanted MT and something that could handle. I bet a TR could outhandle a cruise ship, but that's about it. :p

http://www.hinsonsupercars.com/
Still I persist with the FD. These guys at Hinson had a TT small block chevy in one of them making an estimated 1200hp last I head. I have the vid, but nowhere to host it.

James

I would say an SC300, V160, 2JZ-GTE, 19 inch Works, either Vertex o AC kit Painted black with a heavy cherry pearl. Perfect project. But ohh wait I can't find a 5spd SC that is with in 300 miles of me. Such Crap.

Yea the mustang definitely came to mind, even maybe a first year Pontiac GTO, not the style of GS but it could work

how do the mustangs handle, I thought they were strictly straight line?

True, Mustangs are not Miatas or MR2's, but the Cobra has an independent rear suspension instead of the solid beam axle of other Mustangs...this gives it a little bit of an edge in the ride / handling department.

( The IRS kit, BTW, can be purchased and retrofitted to some non-Cobra models, but from your post it was HP and torque you were looking for, so you might as well start with the Cobra anyway and save money )

mmarshall - Cobra's a great idea. :thumbup: Definitely a fun ride! morris - handling isn't bad actually, but it's NOT going to be a comfortable cruiser.

A WRX is another bet - lots of support for it. Only thing I'd be concerned about is you're a BIG dude and might not be comfortable.

A Vette is another possibility.

Inexpensive power comes in domestics or low end imports (even Civics can have insane power).

You said 500HP but that power in a GS is a whole bunch different than 500 in a small car. Is 500 a must have no matter how small the car?

A Caterham 7 is the most amazing handling car I've ever seen and FAST. I saw a guy do an autocross course without braking ONCE. :eek2:

A WRX is another bet - lots of support for it. Only thing I'd be concerned about is you're a BIG dude and might not be comfortable.

A:
I'm not an expert on the WRX / STI, but I'm not sure that small block can safely take 500 HP. Even full competition rally versions ( or Evos) don't run that much that I know of.

True, Mustangs are not Miatas
What about a monster Miata? http://www.scottkeen.com/miata/megamonster.asp

Recently, there was or is a jet/turbine powered Mitsubishi Eclipse for sale on ebay.
The reserve wasn't met so I think it's still for sale.

http://i4.ebayimg.com/02/i/05/2c/db/2c_1.JPG

All of these are great suggestions well except the miata and s2000 :) I would look funny in one of those.

I had a grand national back in the days I really enjoyed that car except for the soft suspesion.

Any way at this point it really is just pie in the sky, I have put too much money into the GS to pull out now. I'm basically tapped out for the most part.

I think if I were to do something it would be leaning toward the cobra or maybe a GTO but I think the GTO is out of the price range still.

99 Cobra non SC model can be had under $20k. Pick up any Mustang performance magazine and have your way with performance and suspension parts. Mustangs can turn otherwise Steve Saleen and Sean Hyland would be dead. Most Mustang are known for the 1/4 mile and such.
01 Cobra are starting to come down to the $20's. Starting with a factory low compression V8 motor gives you many options like the Kenny Bell 2.3 blower,Paxton,Vortech, a turbo or two. Many or well over 600whp once its tuned and you switch out the factory SC.

The same can be said for the last Gen F bodys. And they are little more easy to find than a Cobra. I'm partial to Stangs though :D