Where to spend your dough, car or motor?

[JasonQuartermile]

There are two schools of thought on goin fast on some sort of a budget, one find a cheap beater and throw a monster motor in it...kinda like the 'ol stock suspension Chevelle with a 540 and a 400 shot. Seems like the path less traveled is to find a super light tubbed drag car and put a weak motor in it, maybe a 450hp sbc with a 250 shot. Either way should be fast, but which is "better?" Whaddya think? ;D

[min301]

Re: Where to spend your dough, car or motor?

Put the power in, then figure out how to hook it. ;D

[Woodward_Dreams]

Re: Where to spend your dough, car or motor?

I'll go with option number one and put a good motor in a junk car. You can always improve your car over time, but the engine should always be first in my book.

And nastly looking cars are great sleepers too.

[Monster]

Re: Where to spend your dough, car or motor?

Reliability has little to do with looks, a tight drivetrain is the way I'd go.
Form over Function is the wrong way to go ...

[milner351]

Re: Where to spend your dough, car or motor?

Wouldn't that depend on your goals for the car and what you have around already?

If you plan on building a strip car that you want to be consistant - if you can find a good deal on a well built full chassis or "back halfed" car - where the suspension work is already done and it has room for big rear tires, etc...... you could put an inexpensive relatively mild engine in a car like that and be consistant, then step up the power at a later date to go faster.

[TC]

Re: Where to spend your dough, car or motor?

After tubbing my '71 Camaro, I can tell you that the next car I buy will already be tubbed. That way I can spend more money on the drivetrain and not go through all the headaches of tubbing a car.

[VTJUNK]

Re: Where to spend your dough, car or motor?

Motor, then car. The power the engine makes dictates what the chassis mods will be.

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Where to spend your dough, car or motor?

I spent mine on motivation and stopping. Finances required that thinking. A pretty paint job will not get me to work and back.

[JeffMcKC]

Re: Where to spend your dough, car or motor?

Car first!!!! Your motor will be on its second set of rings, if not killed by the junk car, that wont hook. Some kid with a car and no motor will drive right around you and laugh all the way to the bank.

[Monster]

Re: Where to spend your dough, car or motor?

I didn't realize this thread was directed only for the Drag Strip.
I was thinking all-round.
So are our answers supposed to be for a specific application or in general ?
???

[Brian Lohnes]

Re: Where to spend your dough, car or motor?

Hell, I'd say in general, but the fact is, a lot of guys build cars favoring one aspect of performance over another.

Personally, I'd start with the motor and/or mechanical systems because I have not one iota of skill with anything related to bodywork or paint. I like to play to my strengths. I'd be OK with having a ratty looking performer.

Brian

[joebogey]

Re: Where to spend your dough, car or motor?

Motor, that's all I gots to say about that.

[Fordplay0621]

Re: Where to spend your dough, car or motor?

Get a decent Tune up first and get all the Street be Legal stuff working. Safety type stuff like Brakes,Tires, and lights. Then start putting in all the GO stuff. Most people Put the Motor in and wind out F'n the car up before they think about it. At least this way you can always sell the car if you lose interest.

[Turbo Regal]

Re: Where to spend your dough, car or motor?

As someone who made the mistake of completely tearing apart my Chevy II because of body issues, get the drivetrain running, make sure it is street legal and DRIVE IT! The more you drive it, the more you will be interested in it.

I could have been enjoying my car years ago without trying to make it perfect.

Besides, the rattiest 50's Chevy trucks at the local car shows are getting more attention than the trailer queens!

[Schtauffer]

Re: Where to spend your dough, car or motor?

First, what are the goals? If the goal is to go fast, you need motor.

My goal was (and remains) to first enjoy my car, then go fast. I'm young, and have my whole life ahead of me; I decided to make make a house a priority over the car. My car was a rust bucket. I came to realize early on that I wanted to have the car and enjoy it, and that expensive drivetrains break quick. So, I did all the bodywork and replaced the interior, and just put in a stockish motor and an overdrive trans. I drive it several thousand miles a year, and is very reliable. I may be only going 14.0's, but its a lot better than having to say, "Yeah, it used to go 9's, but now it just sits cuz I can't afford to put a motor together for it."

I could have dumped the money I spent on paint on a nasty motor, but by now I'd have an even rustier bucket that is parked.

Eventually I want to build a decent big-block for it and run 10's on the motor and squeeze it into the 9's or something, but for now I'm content to simply drive it and enjoy. I can go fast once the mortgage is paid off. And you know what? That should roll around about the time I have teenagers who will need something to keep them occupied.

So for me, its "make the car driveable and dependable, then if you can afford it go fast."