The most money spent on a single car part?

Sure, we all like to save money on our project cars–often with frequent trips to the junkyard, bartering on social media or even jury-rigging components from other cars–but sometimes hard-to-find parts can carry a steep price tag, or the components you need can only be purchased through select (read: expensive) vendors.

In that regard, what’s the largest amount of money you …

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For a single component/assembly, it would have to be the MS3X EMS in the AE92 that cost something like $400 plus a used MS2 in a trade.

Edit: Or arguably the time I spent $750 on a rare Toyota C160 transaxle. Ended up not using it and selling it for less than that

$1500 for a Nissan close ratio gearbox.

Paid $1500 for a miata hardtop in a rare color about a decade ago

Also backed into my boxster with another car, fender replacement was not inexpensive

$3250 for a VW 02j trans with a 6 speed conversion and Quafe lsd. I sure hope I lose this contest.

Does buying a 'system' count? Like the Supercharger setup I bought for a miata back in the day? Or a set of wheels or tires? Or are we talking about a single part?

$2500 for the used transmission in the Avalanche back in 21. Or the half, $2000, towards the transmission in the Suburban the year prior.

Im sure I have more, I just have to think about it.... Someone bring the marshmallows.

ToManyProjects said:

Does buying a 'system' count? Like the Supercharger setup I bought for a miata back in the day? Or a set of wheels or tires? Or are we talking about a single part?

Single part, but I'll accept a "system" for the sake of the conversation.

Oooooh I got more...

$800 Bogart racing wheels in 01? They are easily 2500$ now for a complete set.

$1200 for a Vortech R-trim and sbf mounting bracket. Add in the other $400 for the other miscellaneous stuff back in 02? Eventually traded it all, plus a MSD digital 6 box,  for an 89? Fox body coupe with a crumpled pass rear quarter but completely drivable in 04-ish.

$4500 for a Jerico/Hightower transmission.  About $3500 more to get it working in my RX7.

Are we obligated to outdo the last post?

$4000 for a Jaguar F-Type headlight assembly.

To really escalate this, the battery pack on the top-of-the-line McLaren is supposedly around $120K...

Colin Wood said:

ToManyProjects said:

Does buying a 'system' count? Like the Supercharger setup I bought for a miata back in the day? Or a set of wheels or tires? Or are we talking about a single part?

Single part, but I'll accept a "system" for the sake of the conversation.

$3k for the Advan Wheels with center caps on the '23 BRZ. 

IIRC, the Dart's rear axle assembly that I still haven't swapped in was around $1000. A 8 3/4" Sure Grip with oversized brakes an Moser half shafts.

$4k Cayman exhaust.

Sounds amazing. Soul Performance out of Philly.

$7500 for the Jeep Supercharger, and it was a waste of money. Not counting that, $1700 for an Aston Martin tail light, after cracking it. 

The engine for the S60R.  Fairly cheap at something like $2000ish (I have deliberately forgotten).  Unfortunately it was the second one I bought and couldn't return the first one.  Prices have gone up quite a lot and my shop access has gone down quite a lot since then, so maybe its failure was a blessing?

Performance wise, the MS3Pro Evo half wired into the Mini holding down some jack stands in my garage

$2800 for a top of the line built 4L60e.

And....it currently sits on a moving dolly in my garage, having never been installed yet. 

$450 for an Oil Pressure relief valve for an 86 Porsche 944. 
 

Might not sound like much, but it's basically a bolt with a couple holes in it that come in a plastic bag with the word "Porsche" on it

$7k for an $2000 supercharger

$6.5k for a Mugen carbon top

Hoppps said:

$450 for an Oil Pressure relief valve for an 86 Porsche 944. 
 

Might not sound like much, but it's basically a bolt with a couple holes in it that come in a plastic bag with the word "Porsche" on it

I feel your pain. The P-car tax is real.

If a set of parts counts, I spent $3500ish for injectors on my 2005 Ram 3500.
Right now I'm trying to rationalize $1200 for a clutch kit for my Audi. 

Ranger50 said:

$2500 for the used transmission in the Avalanche back in 21. Or the half, $2000, towards the transmission in the Suburban the year prior.

Parts only? What's so special about Chevy transmissions? Or is that just current market prices :/

I was going to ask about the expensive head/taillights.. but I guess the answer is, "what are you going to do?" other than break out the packing tape.

I accidentally ended up with $1100 in coilovers. So yeah, that.

In reply to tremm :

6L80e's are not cheap. Rebuild kits are $300 plus, most of the sonnax kit parts start at $150/piece, front pumps are $400.... it adds up quick. Only differences between the two is labor and rebuilt vs used. I installed the used one myself as I documented in a thread here.

$14,500. + shipping.

A complete new body counts, right? It's all welded together...