My 87 bird. What to do, lets brainstorm...

[bottledbird68]

Ok, here's the car:



Now, here's the backstory, this car has kind of become like the bastard child of our fleet. It really serves no purpose for us but I have a sentimental attachment to it since it's the car I brought our daughter home from the hospital in. That being said I intend to keep it forever but it is, and always has been the super budget, built out of spare/cheap/scrounged parts car.
Well, something in the motor let go 2 seasons ago, now it's got a nasty valvetrain noise and barely idles. No great loss as it's a carb'd 305/automatic car with about 170k on it lol.

Anyhow, the major car budget this year went into the jeep, her subie, and the z. I really don't want to let this car sit another year but I'm torn on what to do with it. Whatever I do I'm going to be stingy, if I were going to drop 5g's I'd just as soon order all the sheetmetal I need to get the 68 done

Here's where I'm at and what I have. I have three build ideas but am open to more if anyone knows of any killer deals.
Either way I plan to make it a stick. Already have an LT1 style t56 sitting here so that's out of the way.
Plan 1: I have a 6.0 LQ4 sitting here. Also have a pair of ebay turbo's sized right for it.
The issue here is by the time I buy f car intake/accessories/oil pan I can probably have a couple of my other ideas in and running for the same if not less, plus I'll still need other odds and ends. Unless anyone has the hookup on used parts I think this one is cost prohibitive.

Plan 2: I have a 97 camaro with a 3.8 6 cylinder in it. I also have a pair of dsm 14b turbo's that I think would work pretty good on it. Realistically one of my only hold ups here is how to mate the t56 to it. Adaptor kits are usually pricey.

Plan 3: Buy a complete 94-97 b body and pirate the LT1 and everything else out of it. I see them from time to time for 500ish and that same pair of turbo's for the 6,0 combo would most likely wind up on the LT1.

Plan 4: I dunno, that's why I'm posting. Basically I'd like to do as much horsetrading/bartering/finding the right deal stuff as possible.
Anyone know of anything? I'm wide open beyond wanting to clear 400 horse and make it a stick with overdrive.
So if anyone has any ideas, or knows of anything I'm all ears. Lets brainstorm.
This is the super budget car, as it sits I'm into the car for under 2g's and it's got a decent paint job (after I fix some minor tree/ice damage) with 91 aero nose/gfx conversion, zo6 wheels, zo6 brakes, 4th 3.42 posi rear, southside machine sfc's, spohn trailing arms/panhard bar and was a really nice driving car. I miss it and want it back this year. What's out there, lets toss some ideas around.
I'm going to post a for sale thread for some of my odds and ends up too, so, if anyone is interested in anything let me know, I'm open to trades

[TBerry95z28]

put those zo6's on z haha

[irockidz28]

voted!

[Navy01z]

I say you go with plan 1 and drop the 6.0 in there. BTW I love that color.

[bottledbird68]

Originally Posted by TBerry95z28

put those zo6's on z haha

Already have something else for the z. I love the zo6's but everyone has them now. I had them on the car 6 years ago before everybody and their brother had them lol.

[bottledbird68]

Originally Posted by Navy01z

I say you go with plan 1 and drop the 6.0 in there. BTW I love that color.

It's the one I'd love to do the most too but from what I'm finding I could buy a whole caprice that has everythng I need for an lt1 swap for what the f car accesories will cost me for the 6.0.
Cheaper is better. I want the car out asap

And thank you, 06 gto brazen orange. I loved the color so much I painted my car the same

[no1kicker]

Looks like I'm the only one who voted for plan #2. There are only a handful of guys with a 3800 powered thirdgen. I wanted to do that for a while but decided LS1 since all the conversion pieces have been made and it's easier for me.

[bottledbird68]

Originally Posted by no1kicker

Looks like I'm the only one who voted for plan #2. There are only a handful of guys with a 3800 powered thirdgen. I wanted to do that for a while but decided LS1 since all the conversion pieces have been made and it's easier for me.

Well, now I see two people lol.

In all honesty the only thing stopping me is I'm not sure what it would take to get the motor in the car. I have everything I'd need to get it in the car and running. And I could have it turbo'd after grabbing an ebay intercooler and bov.

So, all said and done I should be able to get it in and running with boost for under $500. Just need to figure out how to make it a stick. Really don't want to keep the car an auto.

And then after I get the 68 done in a couple years I'll plop the 6.0 in it lol. Right now I just want to enjoy the car rather than watch it rot...

[bottledbird68]

Hmm, checked out car-part.com, seems like v6 t5's are going for about $300.
Maybe I'll just do a t5 for now. At that price if I blow a few up who cares.

Hmm, a twin turbo series 2 3800 is sounding more and more tempting the more I look into it. Pretty sure I can have it all in and running for under a grand with what I have laying around.
Better handling too with all the weight off the nose...

Soo, anyone want to buy a nitrous kit? That should almost get me up and running lol.

[TBerry95z28]

Originally Posted by bottledbird68

Hmm, checked out car-part.com, seems like v6 t5's are going for about $300.
Maybe I'll just do a t5 for now. At that price if I blow a few up who cares.

Hmm, a twin turbo series 2 3800 is sounding more and more tempting the more I look into it. Pretty sure I can have it all in and running for under a grand with what I have laying around.
Better handling too with all the weight off the nose...

Soo, anyone want to buy a nitrous kit? That should almost get me up and running lol.

what were you runnin nitrous in? lol