Need suggestions for cheap RWD car

[IainB]

Lo Peeps
Need some suggestions for a cheap, reasonably powerfull, RWD car
While im raising funds to finish the toy off - have decided to build a ratty rwd number so I can have some fun on the 1/4 (want to get some more experience on launches and reading the tree)
Needs to be RWD, ideally somewhere between a 1600 & 3500, prefer 2 door, and HAS to be cheap as chips i.e <500 (coming out of the engine budget).
Will be stripping anything thats not needed - but will need to retain whatever is required for road legal status
Have no hesitation in gutting the interior / cutting excess metal work and if it really needs it - spraying in matt black
Have been thinking along the lines of a 325 - but would like to hear your suggestions
Will be buying from auctions (as/when the chosen chariot appears) - unless someone comes up with something in the meantime
Cheers
Iain

[Moby-Dick]

http://www.sxoc.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=139723

out of your budget

[5lab]

easy peasy this one

get a volvo 360! you can pick them up for next to nothing, or nothing in fact - strip the interior out and you have a car that is pretty lightweight as well. all volvo redblocks of the same age drop straight into it, so pick up a 760 turbo for £100 and you've got 180 bhp in a rwd car that weighs nowt.. drop a 16v head onto it (£50 maybe), and a bigger turbo - i've seen plenty of redblocks hit 500bhp..

www.300power.cjb.net/

[Zak33]

Sierra? Granada? Anything V6 really.

ORR>>>>>>.if youre brave and get lucky finding one....

Starion

[5lab]

incidentally, the 760 turbo redblock is 2.3l, so just about right for your needs (could probably be boared if needed - seen it go up to 2.8), and you can get the 360 in a 3 door chassis, which is close to 2 door. best thing of all, NO-one would suspect it was quick

[dkmech]

Make a fast 360 please!!! I second 5lab. You could then say things like "I've been to the strip in my 360, posted a decent time ". Is it definately rwd though?

[5lab]

yes, i've owned 2 of em, and 3 340s (same car, smaller renalt engine)..

440s werent thou..

[IainB]

incidentally, the 760 turbo redblock is 2.3l, so just about right for your needs (could probably be boared if needed - seen it go up to 2.8), and you can get the 360 in a 3 door chassis, which is close to 2 door. best thing of all, NO-one would suspect it was quick

Mmmm - I like this idea, didnt want to get into the whole transplant side of things, but this has serious sleeper potential
Now to get an idea on prices and availablity

As always - much appreciated (now to get back to ensuring 12 million customers dont get a bit aggrivated come the 1st April - im not enjoying these silly hours at the moment.... think of the money... think of the money )

[Rave]

24V Granada- they are stupidly cheap for a 200hp car.

[5lab]

come over to volvo300mania.com/forum-uk if you want more info on 360 tuning ideas (and a good source of 360s). theres about 300 volvo 300 owners on there at the mo, and most know a LOT more than i do about tuning etc..

[Vimeous]

Capri
Likely to be something about that's been breathed on with tatty exterior for peanuts. (Maybe 3.0l bored to 4.2l)

Sierra
Cheap as chips.

E30 3-series
Early 323i or 325i in a tatty state again.

Senator
Ex-cop 24v?

Carlton 3000GSi
Usually a mess but plenty of weight saving potential.

Volvo 240
Or 245, 265, maybe the coupe to save weight?

Toyota Crown
There were quite a few imported with big motors.

Vauxhall Victor
The 3.3l version (it's damn rare though)

Manta
Maybe a cheap ex-rally monster?

Chevette, Imp or maybe Skoda Rapide? (you know you want too!)

[Butuz]

Well you certainly won't find a starion for £500. Well, one that actually runs anyway.

Only problem with all these cheap volvos is tunability. Without a nice turbo to play with, tuning is expensive and time consuming. Whack a blower on, up the boost and laugh untill your engine goes boom, then do it all again.

Butuz

[IainB]

come over to volvo300mania.com/forum-uk if you want more info on 360 tuning ideas (and a good source of 360s). theres about 300 volvo 300 owners on there at the mo, and most know a LOT more than i do about tuning etc..

Saves me asking you loads of questions here then.... and I have a list

[5lab]

Only problem with all these cheap volvos is tunability. Without a nice turbo to play with, tuning is expensive and time consuming. Whack a blower on, up the boost and laugh untill your engine goes boom, then do it all again.

t'aint true mate - this car has the very same engine i'm on about http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=39161 albeit with a different cam and things.. easily doable though - parts are ludicrusly cheap - with a bit of luck you can get things like a 16v head for <£40 because they are just knocking around in scrapyards all the time..

apparently the best power you can get in easily is a prv 24v v6 from a pug 607, but i woudlnt know much about taht kinda thing

the reson i didnt suggest a 240/260 is that they share most of the same bits as a 300 (same engines, gearbox etc) but are bigger/heavier.. seems like a silly way to start if you ask me

alternitively, why not get that mid-engined 205? its only £19,500 over budget

[5lab]

*drool*

[5lab]