"Project Clunker?" Might be fun......

A few years ago Popular Hot Rodding did a 1972 Nova that they called "Project Cheap Shot." They tried to get the most bang for the buck when making modifications. I'd like to take it one step further-and say no new parts. Everything has to come out of a junkyard or be bought used off the internet or at a swap meet. Here's a few ideas I thought that might be fun. # 1. 1975-77 Chevy Monza "California" model. These cars offered a 262 or 305 V8 in the other 49 states; however since the 262 / 305 wasn't EPA certified for California emissions, if you ordered a V8 and lived in California-GM substituted the 350 that was Calif certified!! Granted, they had 2bbl carburation, single exhaust, and salt-flats gearing-but like the magazines of the day said-you had a "Factory V8 Vega". A 4bbl carb and intake, some dual exhaust, a shift kit for the TH350, and swapping the 2.41:1 gears for some 3.23:1 or 3.42:1s would turn this "smog dog" into a "pocket rocket". You could give those smug 5.0 Mustang owners a run for the money they'd not soon forget, for very low bucks. # 2. 1972-77 AMC Gremlin. I'm not kidding. A buddy had a 304 Gremlin in high school, and he and his dad swapped in a 401 out of a Matador police car. ( A bolt-in; AMC engines are like Pontiacs-they are all externally identical from a 290-401.) He showed his taillights to quite a few flabbergasted Camaro and Mustang drivers. He even beat another kid in a sleeper-a 454 Monte Carlo. 401s are a little hard to find now, but 360s were used in Jeep Grand Wagoneer's until the early '90's-plenty of those in junkyards. And the Gremlin's short wheelbase and good weight distribution actually make them good drag racers. You could also use a 1972-78 Hornet. Short-wheelbase, light weight, and some had 360s stock. # 3. 1971-77 Ford Maverick / Mercury Comet. While a lot of these cars had six-cylinder motivation, the ones to look for are the 302 versions. They only weigh about 2,900 lbs 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 hot 302 Maverick. # 4. 1983-88 Buick, Olds, or Pontiac "G" body. An '80's Monte Carlo SS or Grand National will bring a king's ransom, but a garden-variety Gran Prix, Regal or Cutlass can be a great sleeper. The G/P to look for is a 305 Chevy model-a 350 or 383 would be a bolt-in. As for the Buick and Olds models-look for ones with a 307 Olds V8. A 350 or 403 OldsV8 would be a bolt-in swap. All of these cars had 200R4 trannys-that have closer gear ratios than a 700R4-their's less rpm drop between gears. # 5. 1975-79 Dodge Aspen / Plynouth Volare. These replaced the Dart and Duster, and Mopar fans were not amused. But you can buy them dirt cheap, and their light. Look for 318 versions. These can be hopped up cheaply, or if you need a replacement engine-their are millions of 318 and 360 "Magnum" engines in junkyards in '92 and later Jeep Cherokees and Dodge trucks and vans. A 360 "Magnum" powered Aspen would be a great, fast sleeper. Any of these could be a low-buck hot rod. Mastermind