Cheap car to tinker with

Zirax · 26-05-2007, 20:15

doh, if you don't mind me asking how did you get into cars?

I'm thinking about getting an old shed of some sort and buggering about with it to see what does what. Something around 3-400 quid max so I won't be bothered if I end up wrecking it. Thoughts?

Nutcase · 26-05-2007, 20:38

Blame my dad

Our main family car is older than me! 1971 morris minor traveller. The convertible is a 1963 job. We've had that since 1981 and the traveller since 1972.

Whatever you get, get something you like - getting any old car might mean you lose interest quickly. There WILL be frustrating times!

How old are you thinking? Older usually = simpler, less electronics etc. but sometimes harder to get bits.

Zirax · 26-05-2007, 20:49

My dad would love that, he really likes the old travellers. I'll be honest and say I'm open really. I am absolutely gutted now that I got rid of my polo. No rust anywhere on a 91 CL hatchback, that was begging for a 1.4 g40 supercharged dropped straight in. Its been scrapped by the silly girl that brought it off me.

Alas I had to get rid as I was living at home, sooo....

Vauxhall Chevette <- my dad had one and I always liked it
Vauxhall Viva
Ford Capri - the 3L v6's are rare now, and whats the point in a 1.6 laser??
polo gt
edit:- renault 5 turbo .... just getting one now

other than that I think I really should start having a think. This has only really come about now that I have a house with a good garage that will allow me to tinker, always wanted to have a go on my own motor

Nutcase · 26-05-2007, 21:23

VW's are good as they're reliable, and plenty of tuning available even for the non-golf/corrado etc.
Ford's are good as plenty of parts about and cheap too.
R5 turbo very nice, but a tad fragile engine iirc.

Shovettes are nice, but hard to find I think?

How about a 1.6 capri and drop a v6 in it?

Darrin · 26-05-2007, 22:10

Or get the Capri and ship the engine and transmission out of my truck over and stuff them in!!

Five liters of Chevy small block V-8 in a car that weighs less than its power plant!! Oh, I could have some evil times with something like that!!

kaiowas · 27-05-2007, 22:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zirax

doh, if you don't mind me asking how did you get into cars?

I'm thinking about getting an old shed of some sort and buggering about with it to see what does what. Something around 3-400 quid max so I won't be bothered if I end up wrecking it. Thoughts?

We've got a spare MR2 which we'd let go for very little money if you were interested. Needs a little work for an MOT most of which I can supply parts for. The only things you'd really need to spend money on are a windscreen and any bodywork tidying up you wanted to do.

Flibster · 27-05-2007, 23:01

^^ good idea.

Parts are reasonably abundant.
Not too bad to work on.
Insurance is cheap.
Is also a cool car.

You can get some bizzare bargains though. Lotus for £1800?

1989 Lotus Excel 2.2 SE. Full leather interior, aircon, recently rebuilt engine, quick and very cool. Needed a little body tidying bit that took a few weekends but it looks great now. I couldn't believe the price. Interior was in very good condition as well - posibly recovered in the last few years.

MR2 is a very good idea though.

Simon/~Flibster

Zirax · 28-05-2007, 14:21

If a passing mod can split this into a new thread, I don't want to derail this any more.

That MR2 sounds excellent. I was just thinking of the idea, I didn't expect anyone to have one knocking about

Are you in a hurry to get rid? I'll be honest and say I have loads on the house to do first before I can move in, are you ok for a couple of months?

kaiowas · 28-05-2007, 16:51

No desperate hurry to get rid of it. It was offered to us by a local club member and I took it as a project to get roadworthy then sell on for a bit of profit but I've not had time to do anything to it yet. There a small chance I might do the work myself or sell it to someone else but I'm not really trying so based on past experience it'll still be sitting there for some time yet

Zirax · 28-05-2007, 20:33

Ok thanks, but don't you dare sell it on without chatting to me first

I may have spent the afternoon working out that you can get to 150ish bhp with different cams, shims & gubbins for about £500. Then new head for another 5, manifold for 5-10 extra (although manifolds are pricey for some reason)

Of course there are the 3.0 V6 and other tubby units that drop straight in \o/ It gave me something to research though.

26-05-2007, 22:10	#5
Darrin Dirteh Kitteh Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hiding out in Mormon Country Posts: 1,629	Or get the Capri and ship the engine and transmission out of my truck over and stuff them in!! Five liters of Chevy small block V-8 in a car that weighs less than its power plant!! Oh, I could have some evil times with something like that!! __________________ A bullet may have your name on it, but shrapnel is addressed "to whom it may concern".

27-05-2007, 23:01	#7
Flibster Moonshine Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3,388	^^ good idea. Parts are reasonably abundant. Not too bad to work on. Insurance is cheap. Is also a cool car. You can get some bizzare bargains though. Lotus for £1800? 1989 Lotus Excel 2.2 SE. Full leather interior, aircon, recently rebuilt engine, quick and very cool. Needed a little body tidying bit that took a few weekends but it looks great now. I couldn't believe the price. Interior was in very good condition as well - posibly recovered in the last few years. MR2 is a very good idea though. Simon/~Flibster __________________

28-05-2007, 16:51	#9
kaiowas The Stig Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Fightertown USA Posts: 1,458	No desperate hurry to get rid of it. It was offered to us by a local club member and I took it as a project to get roadworthy then sell on for a bit of profit but I've not had time to do anything to it yet. There a small chance I might do the work myself or sell it to someone else but I'm not really trying so based on past experience it'll still be sitting there for some time yet __________________ Anal Fish Porn

26-05-2007, 20:15	#1
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	doh, if you don't mind me asking how did you get into cars? I'm thinking about getting an old shed of some sort and buggering about with it to see what does what. Something around 3-400 quid max so I won't be bothered if I end up wrecking it. Thoughts?

26-05-2007, 20:38	#2
Nutcase Moonshine Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chelmsford, innit! Posts: 3,979	Blame my dad Our main family car is older than me! 1971 morris minor traveller. The convertible is a 1963 job. We've had that since 1981 and the traveller since 1972. Whatever you get, get something you like - getting any old car might mean you lose interest quickly. There WILL be frustrating times! How old are you thinking? Older usually = simpler, less electronics etc. but sometimes harder to get bits.

26-05-2007, 20:49	#3
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	My dad would love that, he really likes the old travellers. I'll be honest and say I'm open really. I am absolutely gutted now that I got rid of my polo. No rust anywhere on a 91 CL hatchback, that was begging for a 1.4 g40 supercharged dropped straight in. Its been scrapped by the silly girl that brought it off me. Alas I had to get rid as I was living at home, sooo.... Vauxhall Chevette <- my dad had one and I always liked it Vauxhall Viva Ford Capri - the 3L v6's are rare now, and whats the point in a 1.6 laser?? polo gt edit:- renault 5 turbo .... just getting one now other than that I think I really should start having a think. This has only really come about now that I have a house with a good garage that will allow me to tinker, always wanted to have a go on my own motor

26-05-2007, 21:23	#4
Nutcase Moonshine Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chelmsford, innit! Posts: 3,979	VW's are good as they're reliable, and plenty of tuning available even for the non-golf/corrado etc. Ford's are good as plenty of parts about and cheap too. R5 turbo very nice, but a tad fragile engine iirc. Shovettes are nice, but hard to find I think? How about a 1.6 capri and drop a v6 in it?

28-05-2007, 14:21	#8
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	If a passing mod can split this into a new thread, I don't want to derail this any more. That MR2 sounds excellent. I was just thinking of the idea, I didn't expect anyone to have one knocking about Are you in a hurry to get rid? I'll be honest and say I have loads on the house to do first before I can move in, are you ok for a couple of months?

28-05-2007, 20:33	#10
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	Ok thanks, but don't you dare sell it on without chatting to me first I may have spent the afternoon working out that you can get to 150ish bhp with different cams, shims & gubbins for about £500. Then new head for another 5, manifold for 5-10 extra (although manifolds are pricey for some reason) Of course there are the 3.0 V6 and other tubby units that drop straight in \o/ It gave me something to research though.