go ahead and enable me

so, ive never owned a sportscar. ever. i know, sad, right?

so, ive been running things through my dome, and think ive come up with me a plan.

the plan is an mg midget. with a turbo'd gm 60*v6. 5 speed. flares. fat rubber. stitch welded and reinforced tub. reliable a gravity. under2k lbs. and white.

so, how do i get here for under challenge budget? can i get here for challenge budget?

will my 5'7" 220lb self even fit in here? am i just asking for something that wont be any fun to own after the challenge? any reason i shouldnt do it? anyone have a fairly rust free roller they want to let go of for stupid cheap? how do i make it handle? can i?

I love the plan. Might not be able to make the turbo and reliable as gravity part work for challenge budget, but 200 hp from the NA v6 would still be a heck of a kick in the pants. I imagine you will need a rear end solution that is not the stock midget...

Plenty of midgets out there for the right price, but you might have to watch and wait a while.

What you do is skip the turbo. The V6 will have more than enough oomph to get the job done. Then, a couple years from now, once the car is sorted and you're starting to get bored, think about booooooost.

Git going - it ain't gonna craigslist itself!

This with a starlet, which would be a bit more weight, could interest me.

Well, finish the elcamino first, and then remember to keep this next project a beater.

Also, a four speed is going to be cheaper and stronger than an equivalent 5 speed if you end up making big power.

Ben has some lovin' on that really light V6 that Mazda makes which might also be a good fit.

Anyway, keep us posted - sounds fun.

heck, tuna, if i go through with this ill be inviting you to be part of my challenge team. youve got a welder and rust repair skills..... and youre an engineer. im just a redneck with a rabbits foot. and no fear of failure.

i just sent out a craigslist email to a guy in greenville about what appears to be a solid parts car. with no title. i can get the title resolved.....

im gonna get a divorce!!!

^ This:

"im just a redneck with a rabbits foot. and no fear of failure."

Nominated for inclusion in the next print issue!!!

Dang that's a good quote. Although I recently learned that others opinions of what makes a redneck don't line up with my own.

Duke wrote: Git going - it ain't gonna craigslist itself!

I may need to steal that line someday.

Woody wrote:

Duke wrote: Git going - it ain't gonna craigslist itself!

I may need to steal that line someday.

Consider it in the public domain...

moparman76_69 wrote: Dang that's a good quote. Although I recently learned that others opinions of what makes a redneck don't line up with my own.

if you pronounce diabetes "Dye-a-BEET-us", you might be a redneck.

tuna55 wrote: Well, finish the elcamino first, and then remember to keep this next project a beater. Also, a four speed is going to be cheaper and stronger than an equivalent 5 speed if you end up making big power. Ben has some lovin' on that really light V6 that Mazda makes which might also be a good fit. Anyway, keep us posted - sounds fun.

The Mazda V6 isn't going to be the trick on a challenge budget unless you can make your own bellhousing adapter for cheap.

The Isuzu V6, though... yes. That's the ticket. Lighter than the GM deal, but shares the GM 60 degree bolt pattern, so it bolts to everything on the planet.

Let's say the turbo 3.x V6 works out budget wise. And you're backing it with a manual trans. What rear axle are you going to go with? 300lb/ft of torque seems like an easy target to hit with this thing and the Midget rear never dealt with, what, more than 100lb/ft of torque at the crank?

I see you having to narrow an axle to go under the car. Not that it can't be done but the budget takes a hit unless you can do all of this yourself at home. Maybe you can but it's an issue I see. Also brakes from factory are probably not that hot on a Midget. Do these still run lever shocks?

Just spit balling ideas on things that could be a challenge.

Buy a Miata for $2014?

If you just want to play, Midgets can be had cheap is you are in the right place at the right time. No need to start with a rotted shell if you are patient and can tow some distance when you find one.

Downside is new Midget front suspension runs about $1000 to do a full overhaul with new parts. Kingpin and shocks add up fast and they ALL need new a-arms.

Get engine and gearbox from S10 pickup. Cut out where it needs to go and weld in around the results.

Use axle from same truck after narrowing.

Assuming you started with a running truck, you should now have a running challenge car for whatever you paid for the two donors less what you got for selling parts.

Challenge.

rcutclif wrote:

moparman76_69 wrote: Dang that's a good quote. Although I recently learned that others opinions of what makes a redneck don't line up with my own.

if you pronounce diabetes "Dye-a-BEET-us", you might be a redneck.

No I say it Di-uh-bee-tees

I am thinking slightly differently.

Get an Explorer. V8 with the good 8.8 rear end. Sell the engine for the price of the hulk you bought. Buy your choice of GM donor for the engine you like and scrap the rest for nearly the same cost as -that- hulk. Then buy the Midget and either drop it on the Explorer frame rails, or throw them together.

I think a T5 might blow the budget, but you could figure out a reasonable alternative.

This was a one day bad idea. 76 midget for sale on the way from one facility to another. Stopped and tried to drive it. I dont fit. Feet hit one another, shoulder hits the window, head ticks above windshield, and legs hit steering wheel.

Guess ill need to try an mgb next. Maybe ill fit in that. Weight will be an issue though.

Do you want to 'own' the parts of a sports car project or do you want to own and drive a sports car?

If you want to drive it sooner rather than sometime in the future, Miata is the answer.

As bad as this sounds, most miatas don't do a thing for me. Only ever driven one, and it was a totally clapped out early example from eastern Tennessee.

The fixed headlight cars do a little more for me, but those ain't challenge priced.

I guess my other options would be mr2, fiero, corvette, or something else British. The masochist in me is attracted to British. And 914s. So maybe a rusty 914 with solex carbs and lucas electronics for the ultimate in self hatred?

Swank Force One wrote: The Isuzu V6, though... yes. That's the ticket. Lighter than the GM deal, but shares the GM 60 degree bolt pattern, so it bolts to everything on the planet.

I just picked up a Chevette with no compression and a factory T5...

Dusterbd13 wrote: I guess my other options would be mr2, fiero, corvette, or something else British.

There is an 85 Fiero GT with a misfire on the For Sale wall of my tool truck for $1000. This is ridiculously expensive. I bet you could have it for $500. Maybe less. Bring a trailer...or don't, as I have a nicely equipped garage, good local junkyards, and a spare room.

Dusterbd13 wrote: This was a one day bad idea. 76 midget for sale on the way from one facility to another. Stopped and tried to drive it. I dont fit. Feet hit one another, shoulder hits the window, head ticks above windshield, and legs hit steering wheel. Guess ill need to try an mgb next. Maybe ill fit in that. Weight will be an issue though.

MGBs are surprisingly roomy. A lot more legroom than a Miata.