[KJeezy]

Okay, new owner of a project 89 LX. Has a 2.3l now, but I'm getting a 351W long block soon. I have very tight limits on budget, and want to eventually use the car/motor for weekend warrior mode with streetability. I know, it's a tough thing to ask, but I'd rather have a high 10's car that I can drive whenever I want without killing my motor than I would have a 10 flat capable car I'd have to limit street time with. First off I want to (will need to, it's from a junkyard) replace the distributor and intake. It's gonna be carbed, too. Will eventually be blown, so perhaps forged pistons and descent rings. I'd like to cam it too, but I don't know if I'll have the cash left over. I can get a set of heads that are lightly ported and generally cleaned up for ~150. Ideas?

[1slo5.0]

What is your budget amount? That needs to be known first.

[KJeezy]

Oh hell, sorry folks. I was multi-tasking (breathing and typing) and it kinda slipped my mind. We'll say as low as possible, but at the moment I have 900 to spend on everything included. I will be working in December for Winter break, but only for a few weeks and it'll be about 300 per week. Plus I'm in school, so I don't want to tap into the money very much. So I'm pretty much at under a grand. I'm sorry that this is totally confusing for someone, but bottom line: 1000. Kyle

[1slo5.0]

For $1000 you aren't going to run anywhere near 10s. At minimum you will have $2500 in the motor, $500 in the rear end, $1000 in the trans and torque converter, $1000 in various chassis components (not including a roll cage) and another $1000 in misc. parts that pop up along the way. These prices are assuming you can find alot of deals on used parts. $1000 doesn't go very far for performance.

[KJeezy]

Oh yeah I didnt' figure on 10's with the grand I have now. But I mean in time. Like a few years later, after I put some summer jobs and whatnot into it. But for now, just for the basics of the motor. You know, the easy stuff to do. Pretty much excluding stroking it and the such.

[cooktheworld]

it will take alot more tahn a $1000 and alot of time. i stopped counting after $5000 and im still not done and it has been almost a year now

[KJeezy]

But on a first-part basis, what would you do? I realize I will be spending innumeral amounts on this car. That's why I'm going into a well-paying field. But I need to start somewhere, and my money at this point anyway needs to be well spent.

[1slo5.0]

Do you have the drive train and chassis handled yet? If not I'd start there. $1000 won't go far enough to be useful in the engine.

[KJeezy]

Alright. So get the rearend replaced- 4 cylinder right now-and transmission. I can get a rearend for little, so long as one from an LTD will fit. Years are close from my car to it. Mine's an 89.Thanks.