engine and drivetrain Help spend $5000

[Guest Anonymous]

I currently have 72 2002 round taillight with a metric mechanics engine in it. The engine has twin side drafted mikuni carbs and the usual metric mechanic engine modifications. Other then my recaros the car is pretty much stock. I have been able to dig up five grand to start a project with and would like to hear some feedback on what I should add to my car.

[Guest Anonymous]

(nt)

[Guest Anonymous]

first thing id do is take care of all the basics... sounds like youve got a potent mill and all that, but how about all the brakes and suspension and whatnot? hows it tuned? runs good? there was a long thread recently about what kind of stuff we'd do to a car in terms of bang-for-the-buck type of thing... check the archives. drivers' school was a very popular choice. just about the best $400-500 you can spend. basics first, tho!! good luck and have fun!!!!

-Rob

[Guest Anonymous]

I remember that last thread and was unsatisfied with it. Not really interested in driving school and am looking for the best five grand package out there.

[Guest Anonymous]

+ stainless steel muffler. And plenty of money left for driver schools.

[Guest Anonymous]

(nt)

[Guest Anonymous]

you want awesome street machine, no track school... do you care about appearence stuff? I forget whether that car has a finished interior . If not, 500 bucks should get you presentable. 4500 to go. 5 speed tranny: tranny will cost around 500, and labor to put in will be around 1k with drive shaft cut and short shift kit. down to 3k. 3.90 LSD, 40% ideally= around 300-500, depending on vendor. allow for another 200 for correct ends from 1979 320 only. (I think 4.10 not realsitic for street only use.) Springs all around and shocks too. I think 4 corners will cost about 1k. Bilstein sports, ST or Eibachs. Bigger and adjustable sways, urethane bushings everywhere, and upgrade brakes to tii front struts w/ 528 calipers, and 3 series drums in back. SS lines, Ate flush, Curtis' 3 row radiator upgrade and complete hose replacement under hood. That all equals close to 5 k, if you are careful about purchase and if you have one very good 2002 wrench do the whole shebang for you- he might cut you a break on the rate because of the size of the job. That is it: oh ya: full tune on your engine...will be a few hunred( includes all new ignition stuff, fixing any weird stuff, full /complete fluid replacment everywhere.Any left over?- go for a hotter ignition system ala petronix, MSD6A, hotter plugs, and spend the 20 bucks for a rev limiting rotor( 6600rpms): will save you an engine some day. Congrats: just remember the golden rule- more power requires more suspension and more brakes.With that MM block and dual side drafts ,in proper tune , you will have a very quick street machine and you already have the go-fast stripe!

[Guest Anonymous]

To start with soup up the drivetrain, i.e 5spd + 4.10 LSD. If most people here had that much money, my guess would be improving your quick starting ability from the line with a 4.11 LSD and cruising ability with the 5 spd. Once you get it going, you need a very good brake system. Go for a complete around disk brake, you can afford it. You need the brakes to stop your mean machine.Then a very good suspension system including big 22/19 adjustable sway bars, strut tower brace if you dont have it yet, Sport/HD suspension with springs of your choice, lowering the car just about 3/4 in to 1 in. nothing more. Finally, you will have to go with a 325is Basketweave set of wheels (14") and tire with 185/65/14 or so to make sure you would not get any bad reading on your speedo. That should make an absolute driver/racer anytime anywhere. If you still have some money left over, reward the person that closely matched your dream car by buying them a little 02 related gift :-)...