Modern Day "Rat Rods!"

Back in the '50's and '60's a lot of guys that wanted to go fast but didn't have a lot of money bought old cars like '23 T-buckets, '32 Fords or 34 Pontiacs, or chryslers and took the fenders off, and swapped in hopped up flathead Ford V8's, Small-block Chevys, Cadillac V8s, and even 392 Chrysler Hemis. A lot of them were just primered, didn't even have paint jobs. They were loud, ugly and fast. People called them "Rat Rods."  I guess that was short for "Ratty Hot Rod."  Their kind of making a comeback now, but as you know buying and building a '32 Ford or whatever these days can be very expensive. You can still have a modern "Rat Rod". Just do what the guys did 50 years ago-get a 20 or 30+ year old car that no one cares about and make it real quick for very few bucks.  Here's a list of great potential "Rat Rods".  In the '32 tradition, I'll start with Fords.  # 1 1971-77 Ford Maverick / Mercury Comet. Forget the six-cylinder versions, the 302 V8 models are cheaper than dirt. They only weigh about 3,000 lbs, the C4 trannys and 8 inch rear ends are practically bulletproof and their are a million ways to build power into a small-block Ford. A buddy of mine with a 440 Road Runner got his doors blown off one night by a ratty-ass but wicked fast 302 Maverick.  #2 1975-79 Ford Granada / Mercury Monarch. These cars were supposed to replace the Maverick / Comet, and they make good hot rods too. Again, forget the six-cylinder versions; look for ones with a 302 or a 351W. These also have power front disc brakes, 9 inch rearends, and some even have rear disc brakes. They were dogs because of two-barrel carburation, and salt-flats gearing. Just a 4bbl carb and intake and an axle-ratio change would make one of these a hell of a "sleeper".  # 3 1975-78 Ford Mustang II. Go ahead laugh. But these cars are as light as a Pinto-about 2,700 lbs. Forget the 4 bangers and V6's, the 302 versions are plentiful enough. Again, 2V carburation, single exhaust and 2.80:1 gears made them slugs. Give one dual exhaust, a 4bbl, and some 3.55 gears, and you can make those smug "5.0" owners eat a lot of crow.  # 4. 1975-80 Chevy Monza. Often called "The Factory V8 Vega". The ones to look for are 75-76 "California" models-some of these had 350s!!  The 2nd best ones are the 77 and later 305 models. Again, a curb weight of  2800 lbs, and a small-block Chevy under the hood? If that's not a hot rod, I don't know what is. Like the Fords, two barrel induction and high gearing is the problem. Get a 4bbl carb and intake and some 3.42 or 3.73 gears and go hunting for 5.0 Mustangs and little boys in rice-rockets. The sister-cars- Buick Skyhawk, Pontiac Sunbirds, and Olds Starfire models were also built with Chevy V8s.  # 5 1975-79 GM "X" body.  This includes Novas, Venturas, Omegas, and Apollos. Weighing in about 3,200 lbs, with standard front disc brakes and sharing suspension components with Camaros and Firebirds, these cars have a lot of potential. A lot of these had 305 or 350 Chevy engines regardless of nameplate. Also viable are Venturas with 350 Pontiacs and Omegas with 350 Olds engines. Stay away from V6, or 301 Pontiac or 260 V8 Olds versions unless your planning an engine swap anyway. # 6 1970-76 Plymouth Duster / Dodge Dart. We can't forget these, can we?  Original 340 versions are rising in value, but 318 versions are still cheaper than dirt.  Or change the crossmember and swap in a 383 or 440!  None of these cars will win a beauty contest, but they can be kick-ass fast for very few bucks. The days of the "Cheap" hot rod are not gone!!  Mastermind