Since the Camaro got crunched all my plans this race season are gone. What kind of car will make the best / cheapest drag car?? I'm really not picky here I just need a R/C to drop the camaro's old engine and tranny in. The hard expensive part is basicly done. Im kinda looking for somthing no one would ever think to make a drag car out of. I was thinking of going Nova but all the old Nova's reguardless of shape are $$$$ so thats shot.... somting different is just more appeling, V8 super bug


Move on quickly feel pain later.

Thanks!

 

I know im gonna get sh#t on for this but my idea has always been a YUGO

 

Monte Carlo or a Pickup Truck should be cheap to get.

 

80s G-bodies

full frame
fit any engine /trans
cheap
everywhere
sleeper look very easily

 

A G-body could be a possibility..

How about a dodge intrepid???? there RDW and I think theres enough room to manhandle a v8 into one? Of course I would need to go full aftermarket guages. A 355 soild cam'ed, Th400 Intrepid. Think it can be done??

 

Sorry, but they're front-wheel-drive. The engine looks like it'd be RWD, but they did that for weight distrubution and packaging. Now, if you pick up a NASCAR Intrepid, that'd be all set up for a V8 and RWD.

 

Your choices for a good rear wheel drive GM vehicle is pickup trucks (small or full size), 88 and older G body and F-bodies.

Converting a FWD car to RWD isn't as hard as it looks. Since making a good drag car usually includes balkhalfing the car then any good body style is a good choice. Look at the SuperStock cars. Some of the best SuperStock GT cars are all RWD conversions. Olds Calais and Buick Summerset are some of the most popular cars.

I've seen a Ford Probe done up to run in SuperGas. Looked real sharp. I've also seen an 8 second Chevette.

Since so much is usually changed to make a good drag car, find a body style you like first. Finding a RWD vehicle just makes it easier to start with.

Look at all the cars on the road. Either drag racing is going to die off for lack of good RWD vehicles or more and more of the FWD vehicles will be converted to RWD just to have a newer vehicle. It's almost to the point now where the majority of the 60's and 70's muscle cars that are still the foundation for drag racing will be called nostalga racing. 30 year old cars are antiques now aren't they?

Since you want a drag car why not just forget about a door car and go right to an altered or dragster. A mild SBC in a dragster can still run 10's or 11's keeping the racing cheap and easier on parts. Just becasue it's a dragster doesn't mean it has to run sub 10's. I've seen a low 12 second snowmobile powered dragster. It ran in Pro ET.

 

Yea I was poking around on the net and found intrepids are FDW, they just got the 80's caddy tranny setup going on.
I'm really wanting somthing that doesent have to be modified to much and in a pinch I can drive around on the street like the camaro. Stephen, If you livied here and had the turn/brake lights hooked up your car would go to go on the street. Theres a guy how drives a dragster around in the summer I've already got a very fast truck 12.1 @124 but Id rather drag a car. I did find a 78 camaro in the paper today no engine $900 but the body is very crappy. I'm not in a hurry, just thinking ahead for next year.


Thanks for the reply's guys!


SSC

 

I would need more than just lights to be street legal I couldn't afford to drive it on the street. Just moving it in and out of the shop all winter, I've filled the fuel cell twice now. I hope 4 gallons is enough to get me down the track and back to the pits! I wouldn't be the only one who's run out of fuel going down the track.

Don't jump into something too quickly. Stay away from rust buckets. It'll cost you more to rebuild a body than to build the rest of the race car. When I was looking for a car, the Camaro sort of fell into my lap. I wasn't looking for one but the price was right and the body was in almost mint condition. At least there was no rust. Just a few dents and dings.

I was originally looking for a G-body. An early to mid 80's Monte Carlo, Olds Cutlass or a Buick Regal type of car.

If I had to do it again, I'd find a FWD car like a Summerset or Calais and have it converted to RWD. Even a newer Cavalier, Grand Prix and Grand Am would look good.

 

If I were to get a FWD I would need to build a real frame under it right? Im thinking I could get a car/small truck thats has been rolled and just use the frame/suspension and pop the FWD body on top. Would this work?? I know its alot more involved than just poping the body on but generaly speaking.
Thanks.



SSC

 

2 dr Malibu

Or a mid 80's cutlass would be my choices

 

well godforbid if anything should happen to my camaro. I always wanted a 70 Chevelle or would be happy with a 68-72 one also. But good luck finding one cheap...

 

Id give my left nut for a 65 Chevelle Malibu!!!
I offered a lady 3k a few years back for a red rustbucket, power glide & 327 and she said her husband was going to restore the car. They eventaully did restore it and did a damn good job but painted it purple Not a wave in it. I think they should have sold it to me.

I really dont like the body style of 68's/72 but Ive been on the lookout for 8 years for the older body style closest ive come was a 4 door.

SSC

 

Don't forget the Vega, Monza, Astre and Sunbird ( the rwd models ).

 

Can't go wrong with a vett......chevett that is. Hot rod did it with a caddy motor quite fast. Check into it nothin like a 2000 pound pop can and 8 cylinders.

 

Well I found somthing at the junk yard. Its a 86 S15 extended cab pickup that has already had a v8 swap done so the steering shaft has already been modified (thats how I knew it had a v8 in it) Theres nothing left, wiring harness has been removed and they think the rear end is shot. I offerd them $300 for the truck and am waiting for them to call back, apperently one of the parts pullers wants the thing also so I just got to wait and see.

 

a first gen RX-7 is 2200 lbs

put either a V8 in there or get a turbo setup for the rotary and you have one fast *** car


now who woulda thought I would pick this for a drag car?

 

cheap, light, fast drag car?

notchback stang

if i had to do it all over again, thats what i'd do

 

What about a newer crown vic. or Impala? Say a run to hell cop car? Around here they are already RWD and usally a good suspen. package on them. 4 door would kinda make it look like it was a "family" car!


Hope I can help

-Terry-

 

ok why not a fiero, don't flame me, but I had one and loved it, in fact I'm going to buy one when I'm done with this car and do a v8 conversion, they are rear wheel drive and a mid engine. do a search there is a guy I remember who had a 455 engine and he was racing with the stock 4-speed tranny, and it would still be a gm, people think its hard to do the conversion, but if you have a garage and a engine lift its easy, and the kits aren't that expensive. take a look on the net and see what you find. plus I think I saw somewhere a 285 lt-1 engine can push a fiero into the 11's if done right

 

Another F-Body.
You want it to be simple. That is probably the smartest/simplest thing to do!
Find a V6. You have everything with the Camaro.
You could probably walk away with one for a lot less without a motor!
Just a thought.

 

A CHEVETTE, you could get one for $100 ( a really good one ) swap the frame ?$$$??? and then drop in a 350 and you got a light powerful car that looks like a SHETBOX and could take anything on the road

 

GO FOR A 79' CAPRICE 2DR. I ALMOST BOUGHT ONE A LITTLE WHILE AGO AND I FOUND THAT THEY WEIGH LIKE 3600 POUNDS. ITS A COMPLETE SLEEPER. IT WONT BE ABLE TO TURN LIKE THA CAMAROS BUT IF YOU THROUGH A FIBERGLASS HOOD AND TRUNK LID, PUT BUCKET SEATS IN AND FIND AN ALUMINUM DRIVESHAFT FOR IT IT COULD BE ALMOST AS QUICK AS YOU CAMARO. IF YOU REALLY WANNA DO IT OUT THROW IN A HURST SHIFTER AND MAKE IT A 60'S STYLE MANUAL CAR.

 

Get a 77-90 B-Body Caprice with the police package. I just got a 90 for $300. Im gonna strip the whole interior and remove the A/C and heater. Its a pretty big sleeper and it was CHEAP. Plus, having an old cap car is just cool...

 

I'd say go with another 85 camaro. Theres one around me here with no engine and transmission. I bet it could be had for $200, its been sittin marked at $350 for over a year now.
aaron


captn_crash84@hotmail.com
84 Trans am
86 Trans am

 

You know what I've always wanted to do? [dreaming mode on]

I've always wondered why Dodge did not make the Avenger into a pony car.

Now you could take a 4 cyl Avenger - cut it up and set it on a full frame - cut it down the middle to convert to RWD. Drop in a modern V8 (modded, of course) and you'd have an Sleeper that also LOOKS bad. Everyone would take you for granted (since we all know Avengers are an easy kill)...but then you'd show 'em!

[dreaming mode off]

I still think it would be cool.

 

I would have to agree..for fun the chevette there RWD and weigh nothing. The 80's malibus and Cutless's are the new wave in drag racing, well by me anyways and it should work for you. just a suggestion.

 

Personally, I think a monza would be a super sleeper.

 

A late 80's Porcshe 944... light, sleeper, conversion kits available to drop in your drivetrain. Same with the RX7s. Or how about an old Volvo. Seen a few of those with stroker motors in them.

 

ive always thought it would be realy cool to take a caviler and make it into a sleeper. u can find the first body style all day for under 400, adn if u can find one with a blown engine then great.
there are only two things i can think that might be minor problems. 1.) stock there front wheel drive 2.) im not to sure if you could fit a 350 under the hod without doing a littel triming theat might take away teh sleeper look thou.jsut thoughid throw that at you.

kolby

 

A 94 Porsche 911 turbo (allready a low 12 second car) take the turbo markings off, put a stage 5 turbo upgrade in, 50% larger intercooler, bigger TB, cutt off the catts and route the waste gate pipes into high flow striaght threw mufflers, boost controler.
Bingo an easy low 11 second street car.
Or like the other guys said for 10 grand or less get a Porsche 944 turbo, boost controller, intercooler, no catt, supertrap exhaust. easy 12's with that.
I used to have a mpeg of a suped up 911 turbo loosing to a dodgecharger with a blown 454 he only lost by about half a car.length.
David

 

Vegas work good for drag cars!!

 

so how much would backhalving a cavalier cost?