Not sure what direction to go ....

Hello - it's been a while since I have been on here..the only one I'm on.....hoping you guys could help me....bought an 07 Gt - new - this forum was awesome w/helping me with the info for springs/ mufflers etc....and the long tube headers ...which I'll get once the price goes down.....but I've always wanted to do a complete tear down....back in the day I had a - calypso/coupe - wht/gt - blk / lx and a triple blk gt vert all 92/93 5.0's ....back when you could get them off of a dealer w/low miles ....I've been cleaning out my garage and getting ready to find a coupe - now to be honest I'm more of a Body and Paint person....I worked at a body shop for years as a teenager....the boss would yell at me b/c I was always cleaning my own ride...but I have the space and want to do the folowing - which option do you guys think is best ?????

A. Buy a really low mileaged 4 cyl 92/93 coupe - really nice interior - drop a 351 in carberated pulled from used truck or something - new fuel p/ gtank / elect for the computer / switch out the rear end from a 5.0 - etc

B. Just buy a decent 90-93 5.0 coupe unmolested - the pieces are there - may take some extra $$ for the interior - stick w/EFI - do the mods I would like -

My starting budget is about $5K to 6K for the car - I hate dealing w/re-doing a complete interior...leaning towards the 4cyl.....but I'm not good at the mechanics beyond suspension and brakes....I do have a neighbor who was involved w/a nascar pit crew on the trucks ...he's got alot of connections for motor work - trans and he's willing to help me ....and I could always go to a good engine/trans place shop.....I live in the SW now - so before I buy something I just wanted to see what advice there was here .......
THANKS!!

NikwoaC said:

You could find a nice, clean V8 car for $6K. You aren't going to be able to get a 4-cylinder V8 conversion on the road the right way with only $6K. You could half-ass it, but nobody likes that. I say start with a V8 car.

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Thanks - I know - this project will be going for about 3 to 4 yrs ....I'm building a cradle / with jack's in the "posts" .....like a rotisserie - but it will be a square w/casters - ( I like to wash and detail the 07 GT ...even though it has no miles...plus the wifes Volvo?? ) ...underneath the car ....moving here to the SW ...rust issues are not ...well an issue ....if it's off the ground only 3 ft ....I can get under it...not like the old days of crawling under jack stands....my brain says stay with a 5.0 b/c everything is there ....but I want the BUMPY cam ....the sound of a B/Block ...low end torq.....some thing w/the Balls dragging down the road ....anyway I appreicate your input....thanks again....

LaserSVT said:

Yeah, 6 grand will get you a nice coupe out here if you shop it for a couple months. Always some deal popping up and since the economy is in the crapper you will find people selling their toys off

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Your exactly right.....hate to rob some one of a 5.0 they love ....but cash talks....and remember ....I don't want some thing Too nice ...I plan on stripping it to the shell....

1990Coupe said:

I did my 4cyl - v8 swap the right way, and even did a 5 lug swap at the same time. My totall out of pocket cash was 4500 so far and its a running, driving awesome car. I wish i could do paint, but thats all it really needs.

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Thanks.....That sounds cool .....I wish I could re-build motors ....do rear end gears or that 5 lug conversion ....I'd rather paint a motor ......than have to "mic" out something on a crank .....I just don't have the tools or the experience.....but it's taken me years to just get all of the tools for paint.....if you read my other replys ....this is going to be a complete tear down.....down to the shell....except like the dash and maybe the front and rear glass (if I do a 4 banger the ass has to be rebuilt too) ....I'm planning on posting pictures of how it goes....I always wanted to do an older car ....but that's just not my thing....I always liked the 5.0's ....I owned so many of them my friends would call me Frankie 5.0 .....then they started F-n buying them.......even the same colors....which was cool ....anyway I..thanks ...you give me hope for the 4 cyl....

ryan218 said:

351W isnt a big block...

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if you bore it out 60 over and stick a wild cam in it.....stroke it....I think I'd be close ....but the 351 is a dud ...unless it's a cleveland....

ryan218 said:

find one with some body rot then. cheaper and if you can do that work then its a plus for you man.

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After years of dealing w/rust.....no way ....I'd rather replace a panel than patch it...anyway now living in the sun-belt ....I can find a rust free original ....may have high miles ....hence the motor work and the interior....