best motor and car combination for the money
 

i know there is no cheap way in the sport. but can someone point me in the right direction on what the cheapest car to build

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

Probably something really slow. That turbo PT Cruiser blasted the index a year or so ago. I think it went something like -1.8 under the index. It must have gotten a bunch of HP since I haven't heard of it since.

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

Its a lot cheaper to buy then build a competitive stocker

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

5.0 Mustang 87 to 89 with automatic. Real fast for the money.

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

x2

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

Very true

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

Need more info... Speed costs money

What are your parameters? 4 cyl? inline 6 ?, V6 ? V8?....... V10?


Some people will race a 16 second car if they think they can win with it...while some others have to have a 10 second car, whether they go rounds with it or not..

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

i have a 1962 nova wagon that im thinking of using. i may do the 194 inline six, it will be slow but in turn should be fun.

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

Probably one of the worst cars for V/SA...2 speed, small cam ,small carb.
If you 're in love with the car, you should make it a 64 and put a 283 in it for J,K,L.
There are plenty of guys on here that can help you with that one..
You're not going to slap together a cheap 283 and be competitive in those classes though...
You still haven't defined "cheap" from your perspective...

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

Mark, you don't know any people like that do you?

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

hear is a tip, Mark and Billy can lead you to some very good picks, Both are very good at it. Go back and look up the Dime Rocket thread, good place to start. Buy if you can, much cheaper.

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

If you really mean that it should be fun and having fun is your main goal then do the 194. Jim Watson from Tennessee or Kentucky runs real well with a 194. A 2V 283 will index and keep from having to cut up the car too. If you want to set the world on fire and make a name for yourself then get a big block Camaro or a late model injected car. Make it a red one.

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

Hey Billy - I figured this thread would draw you out of the woodwork!

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

This is the way to go if your going to use this car.

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

x3


.

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

Mark.......1986 was a good year for you was there on monday for the final.

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

Dennis, I guess it was you and 12 other people LOL

Didn't quite have the luxury of a 16 second car, but it all worked out...
Thanks

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

Pacer with a 6 cylinder, That bastard needs some HP.lol

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

Stop picking on Mantle.:>):>)jealous of the woodgrain side panels?






36 more to go.

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

How about faster cars? B,C,D,E......other than the Drag Paks and Mustangs. The LS1 Corvette/GTO is a steal at 340.

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

You will spend nearly the same money as a drag pack to build an LS1 corvette or GTO that's the downfall to them

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

Mike , I think you're in the wrong thread here...

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

Mark.....why do you think I started my comment with a question? God forbid I try to expand on the original question and inadvertently steer the conversation away from the 23-second cars. You even posted yourself to the OP "You still haven't defined "cheap" from your perspective". To a lot of people in the racing world, 40-grand is a bargain to be going 9-s while atop the qualifying sheet. You're worse than the moderator.

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

Mark, Mike, I thing you're both in the right place. In the thread title the question asked is "what is the best motor and car combo for the money". To that I would have to say either a new Mustang or an LS powered GTO or Vette. In the first post the question changes to "what is the cheapest car to build?". The answer to that would probably be some mid 80s turbo car or 5.0 Mustang.
The question that hasn't been asked yet is "which combo is the best?" and as long as Stock and SS are around that question will be argued.

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

Mike, Billy is correct about how one could interpret the opening post .
In another post, he had asked about building a 194 Chevy II wagon, so I assumed he was on the low buck end of the spectrum.
Yes , the late GTO and Vette looks great as far as being competitive , per $$ spent..

If that is the criteria, then I'd say just get a blown Mustang .. If the HP gets beat up, just wait for the specs to come out in a few months.

As far as being as bad as the moderator; Not hardly .
I'm still willing to have a p-------l discussion,... any time LOL

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

As far as being as bad as the moderator; Not hardly .
I'm still willing to have a p-------l discussion,... any time LOL.. ....I'd like to solve the puzzle Pat.

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

I think that Nova wagon with a 6 cyl and a 3 speed stick would be fun.

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

There you go Bob new project for you Lol.

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

Hi Bob, I agree with you 100% but there's a pretty good sized group on here that feels it's absolutely stupid to build a combo just for the fun of it. If it's not a "killer combo" then why bother. Ya know, we have so many heads-up runs and ya gotta qualify for the field. They only take 128 cars ya know!

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

Take it easy there old timer.Don't get that blood pressure up.





30 more to go.

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

Most US made car in last 20 years would make a good Pure Stocker and a good racing inventment.

Mostly Bolt-On modifications.
DOT's, Gears, Converter, Tune, some Exhaust and Intake work.
Of course PS IHRA approved cam, headers, light wheels and tires would be next.

If it was a vintage car there could be a lot of body, interior work and paint to get it into nice condition.

IMHO...it is not the cost of the car..
but the time to build a competitive vehicle
and
one that is robust to wear
and
remains low maintenance.

Then keeping the legacy costs low such as getting the car to the races.
Driving to the Track and not Trailering is a big savings.
Using Pump Gas instead of Racing Gas.

For me we have to deal with HOA/COA's
and
the costs of storing a Trailer away from the home.

Then there is the WIFE FACTOR !!

Dan

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

Well said Mr. Nees! I recently bought some parts from a guy. Coincidently, his car is a "former" pure stocker, since converted to a legitimate stocker. Now converting the car from an auto trans to a stick. His best has only been .5-.6 tenths under, he's having a ball!

Most of us just want to join in and have some fun. It all depends on what one wants to do. If it's going deep under the index and competing on a national level, deep pockets and a lot of work. If one just wants to run a local or regional level (combos or national opens). It can be done with a less than "killer" combination. If you're looking to start from scratch, Pure Stock would be mighty appealing to build a "starter" combination.

It's main restriction, it's IHRA only. In some cases, some combo's don't allow them either.

To allude to your point. Some of us do build what we have.

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

Good points in this thread.
I agree with the assesment that alot of people building a stocker want to go out and kill the index.

I, however have a different goal. I want to qualify my Pure Stocker with the stock trans and convertor. (shift kit only) and rear gears.
Later, if funds permit I want to upgrade the car to stock so I can run the combo races around here as well as divisional races.

I have no interest in sinking a bunch of my retirement money into trying to blast the index tho.

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

Billy,
The man wants to build something cheap and he has the Nova already. That should be about as cheap as anything to build.
Didn't Steve Tarrence win class pretty often with his 6 cyl stick Nova. Seems like he was stock eliminator runner up at the U S Nationals one year. I know he won a lot of local races.

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

You're right and it was a 194 too.

Re: best motor and car combination for the money
 

I always enjoyed racing, didn't really matter what. Going fast is great, but slow racin beats no racin