Building a 13 Second Drag Car, help me.

[jbell]

what would you do.

background
i have the goal of a car that runs 13.9 or faster, and it reliable to the point where it can be a daily driver.

why this is so hard
i want to do it for under the ammount listed under the pic of the car.

why not a bike/mustang/f-body
bike- sorry. not till im not living where i am.
mustang- there are like 30 (literaly) here that run 11. dime a dozen? yes.
f-body- sorry. i just dont like them.

the contestants

http://john.thelgnet.com/choice/crx1.jpghttp://john.thelgnet.com/choice/crx2.jpg
crx
available funds - $3000
car $900
a B18 swap $1700.
$1400 will go toward other mods. I can port everything with a router.
(sport compact pulled 13's with street tires and n/a, no nitrous, nothing. if i use n2o, i can hit 12.9)

2nd easiest, by far.



http://john.thelgnet.com/choice/fiero1.jpghttp://john.thelgnet.com/choice/fiero2.jpg
fiero
available funds - $3000
car $800
caddy v8, 4.9l, 200hp, 275lb/torque swap $2000
$200 will go toward exhaust and intake. I can port everything with a router.

hardest, by far.



http://john.thelgnet.com/choice/talon1.jpghttp://john.thelgnet.com/choice/talon2.jpg
talon
available funds - $3000
car $2000
ACT 6 puck clutch disk $65
home made boost controller $10
Autometer boost gauge $30
GReddy EGT gauge $150
cutout $100
K+N filter $40

easiest, less reliable.



http://john.thelgnet.com/choice/z1.jpghttp://john.thelgnet.com/choice/z2.jpg
240z (yes thats a 240 and not a 280)
available funds - $3500
car $1000
sr20det (200+hp) swap $2000
supporting parts $500

mid difficulty, reliable. style



thoughts
im not a mechanic. i have good resources, instructions, lots of help, and the like.. but again, im not a mechanic.
-do you guys think these will bring me into 13's?
-do you think my prices are right?
please please give me your thoughts, corrections, and choice.


thanks in advance,
john

[finboy]

where are you getting deals like that on those cars???????

[jbell]

im buying them with what i need, i.e.

crx, i need the body.
fiero, i need the shell/body.
talon, i need it decently running
240z, i need the body.

[finboy]

what do you think of these?

http://images.cardomain.com/installs/221000-221999/221020_18_full.jpg

http://images.cardomain.com/installs/202000-202999/202596_201_full.jpg

http://images.cardomain.com/installs/220000-220999/220547_1_full.jpg

http://images.cardomain.com/installs/222000-222999/222025_4_full.jpg

http://www.coleaudio.com/~mason/MVC-014Fn.JPG

http://nautilus.shore.net/~esimpson/csx2.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/hightorquea/Jack7.jpg

http://www.trippcat.com/chuk/shelby/DSC00419.JPG

see, not all of them are ugly

[jbell]

sorry, i want it to be one of the top four.

[T5_X]

I think the fiero is gonna be a more. In a mid engine car, the Engine is usually mounted like it is FWD cause the engine is almost right over the rear wheels, and your caddy 4.9 is probably out of a front engine RWD car. I know you can get V8 conversions for the fiero to put a 350 in I think, I believe they run around $1000-1500. I have no Idea what tranny you would use though. I doubt that tranny on the fiero stock will bolt up to the caddy engine, but I don't know for sure. As well, when you do an engine swap, its much easier if you do it with a whole donor car. Is the caddy engine from a standard or auto car? Since its a caddy, probably auto which means more work involved.

And an SR20DET swap is NOT gonna be 2 grand! . Your getting it out of a J spec RWD car and need it shipped here, I think just the engine starts at $1700 US not including tranny and ECU or shipping. I believe there's lots of kits out there to drop chev 350s into the 240z. That'd probably be way cheaper and less difficult.

[finboy]

the caddy is fwd, but i'm thinking a caddy transaxle might be required for real power.

and for the 350 in a light car, try an rx7. there are a couple guys around town with them, including one of the guys i hang out with, but he didn't do the swap. from what i have hear it is 500 for engine/tranny mounts, then i imagine upgraded rad, fuel pump, i'd build up suspension, and the rear end, you need a new hood or cut a hole in the stock one for clearence, cooling it is a complaint from both v8 rxy guys i've talked to, very little air gets to the rad because of the restrictive front bumper.

why not a front drive talon?

[boi-alien]

where are you getting the pricing for your swaps? 1700 for a B18?? you can't even get a b16 done for 1700....

[LaughingTiger]

Originally posted by finboy
what do you think of these?
see, not all of them are ugly



.....................:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[finboy]

Originally posted by LaughingTiger




.....................:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

some of those would walk all over you.

[LaughingTiger]

Dude...... how the hell can you get those cars, even find them for
that money???????:dunno:

[LaughingTiger]

Originally posted by finboy


some of those would walk all over you.


Maybe...:rofl: if you think, but you said they weren't ugly!!!

:rofl: :rofl:

[finboy]

personal preference i guess. what mods do you have?

[LaughingTiger]

Originally posted by finboy
personal preference i guess. what mods do you have?


Finboy.... there will alway's be personal preference, I know..
I'm just playing w/ you..:rolleyes:

I have a problem... I have to make a choice and would like everyones opinion because I am on an equal scale... Go check out
my post on car talk "HELP ME CHOOSE".. tell me what you think??
then you will know my mods...

[LaughingTiger]

The North American 91-95 MR@ has 200hp and 200 ft/lbs .....
the JDM gts engine in japan has 241hp and 220ft/lbs:D
For a very light car and Mid-engine rear set up.. It's quick..

Bike or Engine upgrade ............What to do??

[Redlyne_mr2]

your prices are extremely unrealistic unless of course your from the US and were dealing in US dollars..even 900 dollars for a crx shell is cheap..unless of course its destroyed....a more likely option is to go with a first gen crx and swap in a b16a with some nitrous
Note: a b18 in a crx will not get you into the 13's at calgary's altitude unless you have some power adders

[LaughingTiger]

Originally posted by Redlyne_mr2
your prices are extremely unrealistic unless of course your from the US and were dealing in US dollars..even 900 dollars for a crx shell is cheap..unless of course its destroyed....a more likely option is to go with a first gen crx and swap in a b16a with some nitrous


That's what I was thinking.... How the fuck can you buy those cars
for that price..... maybe you are dreaming

[infamous]

i think mabye he's playing gran turismo 3.....:dunno: ...even from what i know, there is no way in hell that you can get yourself a 13 second car that is reliable for under 3500....sorry to burst your bubble, but it can't be done...unless you have certain "ghetto" connections...:rofl:

[GT2NV]

LEO WHERE ARE YOU????? lol jkjk id never wanna get him into this mess:thumbsdow

[infamous]

hahaha exactly what i was thinking...him and his gtp!!! he should easily be able to help out jbell... :rofl:

[Toma]

You are porting with a router eh?

Man, you read way to many magazines ......... I think you are seriously setting yourself up for failure and a huge money pit..... but I guess you need to learn somehow.

Where do you live?

[Toma]

Nevermind....I see you are in the US..... so $3000 is like $5000.

[SpoonEK9@STRD]

lol your crx running 12's on n2o....

[RiCE-DaDDy]

i love the 240z idea, i never knew how good the car actually looks!!

[jbell]

Originally posted by Ranger_X31
I think the fiero is gonna be a more. In a mid engine car, the Engine is usually mounted like it is FWD cause the engine is almost right over the rear wheels, and your caddy 4.9 is probably out of a front engine RWD car. I know you can get V8 conversions for the fiero to put a 350 in I think, I believe they run around $1000-1500. I have no Idea what tranny you would use though. I doubt that tranny on the fiero stock will bolt up to the caddy engine, but I don't know for sure. As well, when you do an engine swap, its much easier if you do it with a whole donor car. Is the caddy engine from a standard or auto car? Since its a caddy, probably auto which means more work involved.

And an SR20DET swap is NOT gonna be 2 grand! . Your getting it out of a J spec RWD car and need it shipped here, I think just the engine starts at $1700 US not including tranny and ECU or shipping. I believe there's lots of kits out there to drop chev 350s into the 240z. That'd probably be way cheaper and less difficult.

the caddy engine is fwd, and you can use the fiero tranny, its rated up to 300hp.

what do you estimate for a sr20 swap?

[jbell]

Originally posted by Redlyne_mr2
your prices are extremely unrealistic unless of course your from the US and were dealing in US dollars..even 900 dollars for a crx shell is cheap..unless of course its destroyed....a more likely option is to go with a first gen crx and swap in a b16a with some nitrous
Note: a b18 in a crx will not get you into the 13's at calgary's altitude unless you have some power adders

i live in new jersey. usa.

[three.eighteen.]

err what about insurance above this car and mods...and a "shit happens fund"...well cus shit happens...you cant build a racecar on a budget and expect it to work out hunky dory, i bought my bimmer thinking 15,000-11,000(for the car) leaves 4k for mods...nope...tune up, new rubber, fixing "shit happens" and im in debt to my dad lol

[shadowz]

Seriously think about it , my friend had a crx and is using a b16a and is running a 15.1 all motor, with all the porting an polishing you can do I would say at best he would run a 14.9, but even with N20 on stock internals it would at best run a 14.2 but good luck anyway

[HillBilly]

I think you should take the $3000 and invest it. If you can manage to get a 13.9sec car for that much, its going to be a piece of shit. Wait until you have at least $25,000 and buy a nice 13 sec car. My opinion...

[Dope Dealer]

Originally posted by Stealth R/T
I think you should take the $3000 and invest it. If you can manage to get a 13.9sec car for that much, its going to be a piece of shit. Wait until you have at least $25,000 and buy a nice 13 sec car. My opinion...

Stock market is terrible right now. But it would be a good time to get some cheap stocks, however, who knows if they will go up :)

I only invested in a special bank account, which earns me a lot more interest than usual with a normal banking account.

[finboy]

Originally posted by Stealth R/T
I think you should take the $3000 and invest it. If you can manage to get a 13.9sec car for that much, its going to be a piece of shit. Wait until you have at least $25,000 and buy a nice 13 sec car. My opinion...

25,000 for 13's?????????? :nut:

[90_Shelby]

That GLH Omni looks killer, if I could find one in decent shape I would definetely swap my drivetrain in it, can you say 12's on street tires. :D And of course Boost Infested's ride looks killer as always.:D :D

[jbell]

Originally posted by 90_Shelby
That GLH Omni looks killer, if I could find one in decent shape I would definetely swap my drivetrain in it, can you say 12's on street tires. :D And of course Boost Infested's ride looks killer as always.:D :D

thats the ugiest car i have ever seen.

datsun 510 > it.

[finboy]

Originally posted by 90_Shelby
That GLH Omni looks killer, if I could find one in decent shape I would definetely swap my drivetrain in it, can you say 12's on street tires. :D And of course Boost Infested's ride looks killer as always.:D :D

check this out, too bad i'm a broke ass motha f*(&.

1986 omni glh,
2.5 TII, a555, exh, port, etc. eng knocks, extra 2.2, low 14 1/4, 2200, 209-1192

[finboy]

Originally posted by jbell


thats the ugiest car i have ever seen.

datsun 510 > it.

hell no.

omni glh ownz ALL!!!!!!!!

:D

i have to resort to looking for a shadow for a transplant.

[jbell]

show me some pics.

[90_Shelby]

$2200:barf:
No Thanx

[finboy]

2200 too much? what price are you expecting for one of these pimping thangs, esspecially one that hits 14's.

http://images.cardomain.com/installs/221000-221999/221020_18_full.jpg

[jbell]

14's aint fast, and good lord thats fugly.

[finboy]

thats not even worked on much, and it is at 3500 feet of elevation.

it looks :bigpimp: if ya ask me

[90_Shelby]

$2200- It's still an Omni
14's- It's not hard to make a Turbo Dodge run 14's
THE ENGINE IS FUCKED- Does this mean one with a good engine is worth $5000??


I bought my 90 Shelby for $3000, 127k, no rust. Thats not a good deal for me.

[finboy]

true.

i'm keeping my eye out for a shodow with a fried motor, so i can swap over the engine from my daytona (damn it is ugly).

should be a fun winter project.

[Arthur Dent]

As mentioned your cost estimates seem slightly low but anyway.

The best drag swaps I have seen are:

Datsun 240Z/260Z/280Z with a 350 or 383 Chev V8 or 302 Ford V8. Relatively easy swap but hard to find rust free shells. Ford motor lighter but more expensive to get HP.

2nd Gen Mazda RX-7 with Ford or Chev V8. Get RX with a blown engine for cheap and swap in big 8.

Triumph TR7 with a Buick 3800

or for a real budget dragster do a Chevette with a Buick 3800 V6.