to buy high mileage car?

[crysmatic]

hey. i'm new here. i'm close to buying a 1999 regal gs.

i plan to get into the 11s. i'm wondering whether i should pay $7500 for a 100,000 km car, or $4500 for a 240,000 km car. i intend to have the engine rebuilt/blueprinted, and upgrade the tranny to meet my goal. am i right in thinking that i'd be better off buying the cheaper car? would i be $3000 ahead if i need to make the same mods to either car?

thanks all.

[97rs4life]

Re: to buy high mileage car?

if you are rebuilding the engine and trans anyways then as long as the body is good on the cheaper one, get the cheaper one

[Schmitty]

Re: to buy high mileage car?

i might be selln my car for around 10..its 99 firbird w68 package..

bodykit/decal baack iwndow...has sony stero in it..neons...and has 80's seires exhasut

only has 55k miles


let me know nif ur intrested

[crysmatic]

Re: to buy high mileage car?

thanks for the advice. i was stressing about rebuilding the engine, because i've seen a couple of posts where someone said it would cost $5000. i only need the engine to live at ~350 hp, and survive occasional bursts to 500.

i'd love a firebird, but the insurance alone would kill me. my first car was a 1985 firebird. i joined this site expecting to buy a firebird. it's been a real disappointment because i can't find an f body up here that i can afford (i haven't found a v6 at all). i'm even looking at the olds intrigue because it's $130/yr cheaper than other w bodies (go figure). anyway, i like sitting higher up, having a low cowl, 4 doors, and i love a sleeper.

[97rs4life]

Re: to buy high mileage car?

well you could get the intense-racing.com race shortblock for 3k, then the abbotts racing cam/heads/intakes for 2k for a total of $5k but your motor would be a brute and could take anything

[CDNFB]

Re: to buy high mileage car?

.....can't find an f body up here.....

Where is "up here"?

[teal99camaro]

Re: to buy high mileage car?

get an oldsmobile aurora with the v8 :)

[UDLOSE98]

Re: to buy high mileage car?

well you could get the intense-racing.com race shortblock for 3k, then the abbotts racing cam/heads/intakes for 2k for a total of $5k but your motor would be a brute and could take anything

yea but that wont get him past 13's alone

still need cam, IC, etc.

try posting a few questions at clubgp.com, they'll be able to take you further.

[CDNFB]

Re: to buy high mileage car?

get an oldsmobile aurora with the v8

Only if newer than 2000. Stay away from anything equipped with the older Nothstar V8s because they are crap! I've had to deal with oil leaks, a blown motor, and bad head gaskets. Same problems reported on both 4.0L and 4.6 L engines.

[teal99camaro]

Re: to buy high mileage car?

i'd stear clear of ZZP though they have lots of problems. The engine mentioned above and some nitrous should do well. You gunna go with an auto or a manual? also try and get something you can tune-- usually 97 and up.

[97rs4life]

Re: to buy high mileage car?

yea but that wont get him past 13's alone

still need cam, IC, etc.

try posting a few questions at clubgp.com, they'll be able to take you further.

right, it would put him in the 13s no problem and then it would be good to go for boost or nitrous. I was just showing him a solid engine can be had for 5k and then from there he would have to add a power adder

[Oi Bird V8]

Re: to buy high mileage car?

i got my winter beater with 296,000 miles original engine and tranny for 500 bucks haha paper shop ftw!

[UDLOSE98]

Re: to buy high mileage car?

correct, tho i believe the regal coems boosted.

[UDLOSE98]

Re: to buy high mileage car?

right, it would put him in the 13s no problem and then it would be good to go for boost or nitrous. I was just showing him a solid engine can be had for 5k and then from there he would have to add a power adder

correct, i believe the regal gs comes boosted.

[crysmatic]

Re: to buy high mileage car?

i'm from newmarket, ontario. regal ls is na, gs is sc.

my goal is ~12 s e.t. and 40+mpg (33+ usmpg). this means stock cam, really good injectors, and healthy turbo (60-1ish), and some tuning wizardry. from what i've read, i can use stock crank and series 3 pm rods.

if the block is good, it's better to rebuild it. cast iron blocks move around a little after a few heat cycles. blueprinting the engine will mean it won't move again. i have a really good machine shop locally that deals with the 3800. i need a thorough tranny rebuild.

i want to do some development work. i'll try to use some connections in gm. i'm working on some port shapes, and already have a design i could send to cnc. i'll keep you posted if you're interested.