Need help shopping
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Texas
Need help shopping
I have a 1986 with the Z51 package and 135,xxx miles. I've got $5,000, now what do I do? Is an engine swap doable for that (or would a rebuild be a better idea)? Would I need to rebuild the auto trans? What bang for the buck mods can I do to make it a fun daily driver/occasional autocrosser? I have no place to do anything so shop labor would need to be included.
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 1
From: Warwick RI
I have a 1986 with the Z51 package and 135,xxx miles. I've got $5,000, now what do I do? Is an engine swap doable for that (or would a rebuild be a better idea)? Would I need to rebuild the auto trans? What bang for the buck mods can I do to make it a fun daily driver/occasional autocrosser? I have no place to do anything so shop labor would need to be included.
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
You answered your own question without realizing it. You don't do your own labor so modding yours is not a smart move. Paying someone to hot rod your car is for those that have lots of play money.
Take that $5k, add it to what you can sell yours for and get a newer 6 speed car. They are a bargain right now
Just my $.02
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Texas
or pick up a GM crate motor.....and just pay for the swap.
Paying someone to hot rod your car is for those that have lots of play money.
I already ordered a pair of high-flow cats and have a shop that's going to make me some 2.5" exhaust and hpipe. Is that the right way to start?
Buying a newer one isn't really an option to me, in a month or 2 this is going to be my only means of transportation, so i can't just wait for it to crap out. And newer means insurance goes up, right now my 86 is 75$ a year cheaper than my b5 passat (liability vs full coverage :P), but after 1990 the price goes up.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
If your tranny runs....just leave it in there. I've heard of people getting engine swaps done for around $700-1000 at small mom and pop type shops here in my area. Depending on crate motor you choose you may want to pickup an new flexplate and a more agressive stall converter.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 1
From: Warwick RI
How much does a swap normally cost if a shop does it? I've found several motors in the $2500 range, but would the transmission need a rebuild before it got a new motor?
It doesnt have to be "hot-rodded", it just has to outrun a 2005 wrx with bolt ons.
I already ordered a pair of high-flow cats and have a shop that's going to make me some 2.5" exhaust and hpipe. Is that the right way to start?
Buying a newer one isn't really an option to me, in a month or 2 this is going to be my only means of transportation, so i can't just wait for it to crap out. And newer means insurance goes up, right now my 86 is 75$ a year cheaper than my b5 passat (liability vs full coverage :P), but after 1990 the price goes up.
It doesnt have to be "hot-rodded", it just has to outrun a 2005 wrx with bolt ons.
I already ordered a pair of high-flow cats and have a shop that's going to make me some 2.5" exhaust and hpipe. Is that the right way to start?
Buying a newer one isn't really an option to me, in a month or 2 this is going to be my only means of transportation, so i can't just wait for it to crap out. And newer means insurance goes up, right now my 86 is 75$ a year cheaper than my b5 passat (liability vs full coverage :P), but after 1990 the price goes up.
Exhaust is a great start but then you may have to learn to turn a wrench because $5K doesn't go that far with paying someone labor. The WRX from what I understand is quite a performer and with some bolt-ons may be even more formidable. I will defer to the experts for comparison
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Texas
My definition of "hot-rodding" is to modify a vehicle to increase performance. It sounded like that is what you want to do so in my mind it does have to be "hot-rodded".
Exhaust is a great start but then you may have to learn to turn a wrench because $5K doesn't go that far with paying someone labor. The WRX from what I understand is quite a performer and with some bolt-ons may be even more formidable. I will defer to the experts for comparison
Exhaust is a great start but then you may have to learn to turn a wrench because $5K doesn't go that far with paying someone labor. The WRX from what I understand is quite a performer and with some bolt-ons may be even more formidable. I will defer to the experts for comparison
I had read the tpi motors cant breathe in the high rpms, is it intake runners I need to clear that up?
http://www.mamotorworks.com/corvette-3-135-8395.html
Is something like that what I need? How hard would that be to install for a rookie?
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Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,934
Likes: 704
From: WI
Labor is going to eat a lot of that fund. You exhaust plan is a good idea. You may want to look at putting sticky tires on with suspension mods to compete against that WRX in autox. Lose all the weight that you can and sell the parts for more mods. I found race seats and a harness to be extremely beneficial to my driving as I wasn't get flung around in the seat any more. The best mod is increasing your driving skill, spend funds on more events, your increased skill will help more then many mods.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Texas
Labor is going to eat a lot of that fund. You exhaust plan is a good idea. You may want to look at putting sticky tires on with suspension mods to compete against that WRX in autox. Lose all the weight that you can and sell the parts for more mods. I found race seats and a harness to be extremely beneficial to my driving as I wasn't get flung around in the seat any more. The best mod is increasing your driving skill, spend funds on more events, your increased skill will help more then many mods.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Texas
Would something like this be the way to go?
http://phoenixmusclecar.com/Chevy-05.html
http://phoenixmusclecar.com/components.html#power2
http://phoenixmusclecar.com/Chevy-05.html
http://phoenixmusclecar.com/components.html#power2
Last edited by mrdahk; Jan 18, 2009 at 03:01 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 13,934
Likes: 704
From: WI
If your going carb you could save a lot of that money and just buy a carb setup and use your stock short block. Not sure why you'd want to waste your stock short block since it's still running fine. It won't sell for much.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
You won't get these HP # if you bolt your stock TPI on there.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 1
From: Warwick RI
Ok I guess i'm hotrodding it a little, but I don't need a 10 second car, I just want a quick daily. I can kinda turn a wrench, but whatever it is needs to be bolt on with full color photos and a grownup to hold my hand.
I had read the tpi motors cant breathe in the high rpms, is it intake runners I need to clear that up?
http://www.mamotorworks.com/corvette-3-135-8395.html
Is something like that what I need? How hard would that be to install for a rookie?
I had read the tpi motors cant breathe in the high rpms, is it intake runners I need to clear that up?
http://www.mamotorworks.com/corvette-3-135-8395.html
Is something like that what I need? How hard would that be to install for a rookie?
You read correctly regarding the high rpm performance of the TPI but what it makes is good low end torque. Everyone thinks that they have to spin up to 6500 to go fast which is just not true. If your engine pulls low then shift low.
You already have the exhaust planned now ask around for a good cam and intake combo for your stock heads. I'm sure that there are many on here that have their stock head motor set up to pull like a tractor
Find a shop that will give you a fair labor rate to do this cam, intake, and tune. You will be in good shape and you might have enough leftover for nitrous to take car of that pesky WRX
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Texas
I was looking at cams but didn't know if it was ok to put one in an engine with so many miles. the big reason I was looking at swapping was because I dont know how long these motors last. What's the labor like on getting a cam installed? And I was looking for intakes and couldn't find much of anything for an 86.
So should I just leave the motor as is or get it rebuilt and add the cam during the rebuild?
And I was trying to avoid carburated because I still need mpg as this is my daily.
So should I just leave the motor as is or get it rebuilt and add the cam during the rebuild?
And I was trying to avoid carburated because I still need mpg as this is my daily.
Last edited by mrdahk; Jan 18, 2009 at 06:43 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 1
From: Warwick RI
I was looking at cams but didn't know if it was ok to put one in an engine with so many miles. the big reason I was looking at swapping was because I dont know how long these motors last. What's the labor like on getting a cam installed? And I was looking for intakes and couldn't find much of anything for an 86.
So should I just leave the motor as is or get it rebuilt and add the cam during the rebuild?
And I was trying to avoid carburated because I still need mpg as this is my daily.
So should I just leave the motor as is or get it rebuilt and add the cam during the rebuild?
And I was trying to avoid carburated because I still need mpg as this is my daily.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Texas
Find a shop that will give you a fair labor rate to do this cam, intake, and tune. You will be in good shape and you might have enough leftover for nitrous to take car of that pesky WRX
Anyone else have any thoughts?
seats wheels and suspension are already good to go.
Would headers be something to look into? Or does cam come first?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 1
From: Warwick RI
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 20,974
Likes: 261
that year that mileage that car, drive it to death, then get some thing better later. Seriously in this market don't waste 5 k on that thing, not that it is a bad car, just investment wise not smart. for 10k you could have an awesome car, and way better all around
just my opinion, I know you have a goal with this car already
race seat, hard bar, all safety stuff for events, headers, 2.5 duals, I hear that suspension rebuilds are very key to the performance, tires, shift kit. The rest is up to you.
just my opinion, I know you have a goal with this car already
race seat, hard bar, all safety stuff for events, headers, 2.5 duals, I hear that suspension rebuilds are very key to the performance, tires, shift kit. The rest is up to you.
Last edited by pologreen1; Jan 23, 2009 at 01:24 AM.