Project NASCAR? Hell, yeah!

Popular Hot Rodding has a car called "Project Talladega". It's a 1975 Chevelle Laguna S3 with a 408 inch solid-roller small-block, a beefed up 700R4, and the bodywork, paint, graphics, and wheels are all done to make it look like Neil Bonnet's Laguna that he campaigned in The Winston Cup series in the late '70's. It runs as fast as it looks. I think this type of build would be a great project for someone who can't afford a mainstream musclecar, or just wants something unique. Here's a list of candidates that would be great starting points. # 1. This is a no-brainer. 1973-87 Chevy Monte Carlo. These cars were the scourge of NASCAR in the '70's and '80's. Most of these had small-block Chevys under the hood to begin with, so you've got a great base. Hotchkiss, Edelbrock and other companies offer suspension and brake upgrades if you so desire. # 2. 1969-77 Pontiac Gran Prix. 400 power standard all years, and a fair number of 70-76 models have 455s! Any aftermarket suspension or brake upgrades that fit a Chevelle or Monte Carlo fit these cars. # 3. 1978-87 GM "G" body. This includes The downsized Olds Cutlass, Pontiac Gran Prix,and Buick Regal models that were also raced in Nascar in the '80's. Some may have 305 Chevys, which is a good thing, as a 350 or 383 would be a bolt-in. Others may have 307 inch Olds V8s. These are an anemic "economy" motor and have virtually nothing in common with traditional Olds engines. On the upside, the motor mounts are the same, so a 350 or 403 Olds would be practically a bolt-in swap. If you wanted to go with Chevy power you may have to change transmissions. ( BOP engines have a different bellhousing bolt-pattern than Chevys.) However, some 200R4 and 700R4s may have the dual-bolt pattern (Chevy and BOP) bellhousing. Forget V6 models unless their just dirt-cheap, as the V8 models are plentiful. # 4. 1975-79 Chrysler Cordoba, 1978-79 Dodge Magnum. These cars are dirt-cheap, and most have 318 or 360 power. Or you could swap in a 440 pretty easy. # 5 1983-88 Ford Thunderbird/Mercury Cougar. Bill Elliot won the championship in one of these cars in the mid-80's. Forget the 4-banger and V6 models, the 302 versions are cheap enough, and just about anything that fits a Fox-bodied Mustang will fit these cars.  Let's get some Nascar-themed cars rumbling around! Mastermind