Think about a "Little Brother!"

If your searching for the musclecar of your dreams, you may be experiencing quite a bit of frustration, especially if your on a tight budget and don't have an unlimited bakroll. I know the feeling. It seems like there's no "drivers" or running "fixer-uppers". Everything is either a complete restoration that someone wants 40 grand for, or a complete basket case that would take at least 25 grand to make it right. There are still cars out there for low or at least reasonable prices, you just have to know what to look for. I'll give you some good examples and tell you why their screaming bargains. # 1 1970-79 Pontiac Firebird. Even Disco-era Trans-Ams are commanding a king's ransom these days, and early ( 1970-73 ) Formula 400s are rising in value. However, if you can't find a deal on a '70's Firebird, you aren't looking past the end of your nose. There are hundreds of thousands of base-model, Esprit, and Formula Firebirds out there that everyone overlooks in "T/A Fever". Most have 350 Pontiacs under the hood until 1977. These engines respond well to simple modifications-i.e.-dual exhaust, 4bbl carb and intake, or mild cams. Or, since Pontiac engines are externally identical from a 326 to a 455,the vaunted 400 or 455 is a bolt-in swap. Some Esprit and Formula models will have 400s stock. If you want to convert one of these into a T/A clone, the body and suspension pieces are readily available in the aftermarket. Because of smog laws, GM played musical engines in the late '70's. Some 1977 and later models may have 305 or 350 Chevys in them. Then you basically have a Camaro. Others may have 350 or 403 Olds engines in them. These can be hopped up easily, but changing these cars back to "Real" Pontiac power can be expensive and a pain in the ass-all the tin and accessories are different. Stay away from 301 Pontiac versions ( There an "economy" motor and virtually nothing interchanges with "traditional" Pontiac engines ) unless it's just dirt-cheap, and you plan to swap in a 400 anyway. #2 1964-72 GM A body. While people fight with machetes for SS Chevelles, GTOs and 442s, there are still millions of base-model Malibus, Tempest/LeMans, Cutlass/F85, and Buick Century/Skylark 2 drs out there that can be bought reasonably. We all know about the small-block Chevys potential. While overshadowed by their big-block brothers, the 350 inch BOP engines can be made to run quite strong, and there is good aftermarket availability of cams, headers, Edelbrock intakes, etc. # 3 1971-74 "LA" engined Chrysler "B" and "E" bodies. Everybody and his brother wants a 383 or 440 Road Runner, Challenger, Charger or Barracuda, especially the 1970 models. If your willing to consider a 318,340 or 360 version, you can find some real bargains. If your really short on cash, 318s respond well to the typical "hot rod" stuff-4bbl carb and intake, mild cam, headers and dual exhaust, etc. However the real performers are the 340s and 360s, with a little work. Blueprint Engines even sells a 408 inch crate motor that's based on a 360. These engines have great potential. For example-the hot setup in NASCAR for small-block Chevys is 6 inch rods and angle-plug heads, with a rocker-arm stud girdle for valvetrain stability. Chrysler "LA" engines have 6.123 inch connecting rods and angle plug heads with shaft-mounted rockers from the factory. Or in any of these vehicles, you could "clone" the big-block car of your dreams. Mastermind