Project car recommendations

[Suprareal]

Im looking to buy a second CAR pretty soon, something that i can get dirty with haha, fix up and learn alot by doing it. I really enjoy being outside working on a car that i don't have to worry about needing to drive the next morning to work.

I want to learn about turbos and work with them
defiantly has to be manual.
I want the car to be "running" not to be towed.
My spending range is about $2200
I Prefer a 90's import car.
I guess it can be salvaged but i prefer not.
My 2 Favorites (because a supra is out of my range) are around 95' Nissan 300zx and 2ND gen Mitsubishi eclipse.
My local junk yard always has tons of eclipses.

Anyone have any recommendations for a different car, something that would be a good learning experience?

 

[Stick Figure]

They made many generations of Supras.

You can find both the MKII and MKIII Supras for much cheaper than the MKIV. The MKIII has a factory turbo option, the MKII had a dohc inline 6 that was decent for its day. Either of them can fit the 2JZ or 1JZ engine in their bay.

Of course if you want simple and easy I would suggest a Honda Civic or Integra. Simple, reliable, really the only two things wrong w/ them are the FWD and the people you are often associated with.

Of the two cars you suggested I would say the Nissan would be by far the better choice, but parts will be a bit pricey. The Mitsubishi is absolute junk and while they are fun to drive when they run, they don't stay running for long. I had a 95 Talon TSI AWD (basically the Eclipse GSX) back in 97. It was basically new 36k miles on it. threw the CEL every 50 miles like clockwork. had the idle motor replaced 3 times under warranty the MAF replaced once for $600. leak gear lube from the transfer case every night w/ brand new seals in it ... they eventually fixed that problem with a recall.

Other fun cars might be a Miata, 240sx, MR2 (one of my personal favorites) Older Celicas (either pre 86 RWD models or maybe an allrrac or 3SGTE swapped FWD), older Corollas think GTS (even AE92 was fun for FWD).

There really are a ton of good fun cheap cars out there.

 

[SJC]

240's are always fun.

 

[redz4runner]

Get a miata had one for a while to do the same thing. Just to build it and learned more about turbos and build engines. Here's the one I built for over a year.

 

[ndcent]

Neat park bench!^

I second that Nissan 240.

 

[Suprareal]

Thanks for all the responses guys, one thing i have to look at is im 6' 2'' im not sure if i fit in a miata ive never tried haha.
I do like the miata and 240's though.
I really like the concept of the 300zx im kind of stuck on those right now haha
Ive been scanning craigslist for mk3, miata, 300zx, and 240's .
I dont have the money just yet but do you guys think this is a fair deal ? 300zx
i know its in pieces. Or should i even bother buying something already tooken apart?

 

[SJC]

If you want something to drift and have fun in. I would not get a 300. They are tanks



91 Nissan 240sx coupe clean title 5 speed manaul (Los Angeles)

Theres a good, stock base to start with^

parts for 240s are everywhere and easy to work on.

 

[Suprareal]

true about being a tank, I met a random guy at the skatepark a few weeks ago with a 300zx he let me check out.
I like the 240's
im killing myself looking for cars before i have the money haha i cant help it.

 

[shadow247]

I'm thinking a 240 with an SR20DET engine swap is right in your ball-park. You can still find JDM engines for decent prices for them and parts are not too bad to find for them.

 

[SV_Dude]

I cannot believe that no one has recommended a RX-7. You can find them running for under $2500 that are in some what decent shape but still a fun project. The rotary engine will be a cool project because they're unique.

I would also look for at a 3000 GT VR-4. They're cool because they're a twin turbo V-6.

 

[puppetz007]

Thought about a Subaru?

 

[Suprareal]

Thought about a Subaru?

Thought about it? I dream about it haha well about a WRX STI at least.
What were type were you going to recommend?

 

[puppetz007]

My DD is a '05 Impreza which I can't wait to build a little, but if I were you I'd look for a '99-01 2.5rs. Lots of guys have done builds of these on rs25.com and nasioc.com. A lot of idiots (for lack of a better word) wreck their WRXs so chances are you could pick up performance parts or an entire engine for a good price.

 

[IanB]

300ZX TT is not a car I would recommend for learning how to wrench on, the engine bay is beyond jam packed, and even small jobs require huge amounts of work to get at the engine. Pretty well count on spending as much time removing and replacing charge pipes, etc as you do to do whatever job you are performing. That, and they are huge, heavy tanks for a sports car.

Civic/Integra can't be beat for simplicity, pretty well the best cars out there to learn on IMO. Like a lego set for adults. Hampered by FWD and negative stigma, and rust.

240sx is a good platform, and the JDM engines are turbo.

Talon/Eclipse is another great turbo platform, lots of cheap mods to bring up the power.

 

[PhillyO]

90-93 Celica gts turbo alltrac widebody, if you can find one.

 

[034RUNNER]

I really like the concept of the 300zx im kind of stuck on those right now haha

i know its in pieces. Or should i even bother buying something already tooken apart?

A 300ZX is going to be a problem when it comes to parts. A friend of mind has serious problems finding stuff for his.

I'm guessing you are a young kid. It might be best to save up for a while and give it some thought for a little while longer. Your mind is going to chance a bunch of times, and the right deal will come along. Make the most of it, but don't drive yourself broke!

 

[Suprareal]

A 300ZX is going to be a problem when it comes to parts. A friend of mind has serious problems finding stuff for his.

I'm guessing you are a young kid. It might be best to save up for a while and give it some thought for a little while longer. Your mind is going to chance a bunch of times, and the right deal will come along. Make the most of it, but don't drive yourself broke!

Funny, i just went to the junk yard this morning to get a look at all the different cars ive been looking at all tore apart (not to buy a car from there ) and there were about 5 300zx there... the engine is hugggge no working room under the hood almost at all ahah. that's defiantly out for a choice.
Im 20 next month, but im very good with managing my money so dont worry about that! haha thanks for the advice though! I wont be buying the first car that comes around, i will forsure give it some thought.

 

[gigger]

Thought about a Thunderbird turbo coupe? Should be in your price range, rwd, turbo(obviously), room undre the hood etc.

 

[SJC]

So you get a 240?

 

[Suprareal]

So you get a 240?

ive been looking into them alot and the 240 bumped up to my first choice as of right now, but i cant start actually looking to buy one until september when my budgets ready haha