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.
calteg
SuperDork
5/16/23 4:27 p.m.
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
V2U_03
New Reader
5/16/23 4:35 p.m.
$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.
kb58
UltraDork
5/16/23 6:46 p.m.
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.
Hoppps
New Reader
5/16/23 8:14 p.m.
$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.
tremm
Reader
5/16/23 9:10 p.m.
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...