Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Wicked
I guess I should have clarified that he built it in 95, and is still running it. When you look at the cost of building an 05 or newer Mustang vs an 05 or newer Civic, you spend really close to the same money in the end. If you go to older cars, the Mustangs get to be much cheaper to do the same thing is the point I was trying to make.
Don't get me wrong, I am not a fan of the 4 bangers. I tell him on a regular basis that it is still just a civic, and I would rather drive my slow Mustang than be seen in the passenger seat of the Civic just to talk smack  . Now he did remove the stock drivetrain and build something else as you stated, but the budget was right around 55K. He runs low to mid 9s regularly and has gotten a couple of passes in the 8s, but the stars need to be aligned just right for those runs. The best part about the car is that it looks completely stock, but has a roll cage. Most people assume he is the classic ricer with a stock civic, roll cage, and fart cannon. |
Ricer or not, if he's dipping into the 8's, he's hauling the mail. Much respect for any car running those kinda numbers.
You can pick up an 05+ V6 for $15k. (maybe less, but I tried to find one to build and couldn't find one in the right color for less than that).
You can buy an engine capable of handling 1200hp for $12k. (That's stroked and bored, aluminum block, billet everything, 324 cubic inches of modular sexiness, with ported/polished heads, valve train and stage III cams).
You can then pickup a PA performance supercomp with trans brake and reverse manual valve body, twin coolers,
oil lines, guage, shifter, cable, bellhousing, converter and drive shaft for $5k.
You can then dump a $2k fuel system into it (return style).
$5k for a decent 9" rear end with axles, detroit locker, center section, ring and pinion, etc.
Another $1500 for rear suspension. Add $1500 for front suspension.
Add $1500 for a good 10 or 12 point chrom-moly roll cage.
Add $8k for a GREAT twin turbo setup (with tuning) from a reputable shop (including intercooler, premium wastegates, blow off valves, piping, turbos, etc).
That leaves $4500 in the budget for stuff like exhaust, seats, harnesses, battery boxes, sub frame connectors, tac's, boost guages, drive shaft loops, wheels and tires, nomex suits.......and any wrench time that you wanna pay a shop to perform.
There's probably a decent amount of fat in some of those numbers....but $55k is an EASY budget to put together a modern muscle car screamer.
Build out for an older muscle car (like a notchback) is MUCH easier and cheaper on the engine side.
I've seen a couple of ricer build outs that involved V-8 power, and those were pretty badass, but were custom, one-off type stuff.
Getting a lil ol 1.8 liter V TEC to put out serious horsepower USUALLY involves copious amounts of boost and N2O. That's why it's usually more expensive because you're building an engine that has to rev incredibly high and be able to withstand 30+ psi of boost.
A V-8 engine can rev to 7k, with 20 psi and put out more power than you could ever hold under the wheels with a stock style suspension.
I dig some of the wild customization type stuff ricers do....I just don't understand why you start with a grocery getter as a platform.
To me, there's nothing sexy about a 10 second accord. I guess there's a sleeper appeal.....but beyond that....it's like putting lipstick on a pig.
I always wanted to build up one of those MINI mini-vans (the Dhatsu/Hundai type) and slap a mid engine into the cargo van part and slap some fatty meats on the back. Talk about the ultimate sleeper
