"G" may be the way to go for low-budget muscle.....

In 1978 GM downsized all the "A" bodies-Chevelle,Monte Carlo, LeMans, Gran Prix, Cutlass and Regal-and for whatever reason called them "G" bodies. Although they were 600 lbs lighter than the models they replaced they were saddled with anemic powerplants and salt-flats gearing. A '77 Monte Carlo with a 350 is still capable of enough acceleration from a light to annoy a traffic cop. A '78-88 Cutlass or Regal with a 231 inch Buick V6 with a 2bbl backed by a slushbox and 2.29:1 gearing is going to annoy exactly two people-yourself and the driver behind you!!  However, all is not lost-there are some that make excellent hot rods-you just have to know what to look for. Here are my personal favorites-# 1. 1978-87 Malibu / Monte Carlo / El Camino. From 1978-80 you could still get a 350 / 4bbl in these cars. That gives you a great base for a hot rod, or you could swap in a snarling 383. The '81 and later models could only be had with a 305, but thats not a big deal because a 350 or 383 or 406 would be a bolt-in. # 2 1983-87 Pontiac Gran Prix. The ones to look for are the 305 Chevy powered models for the reasons listed above. And the Pontiacs had Radial Tuned Suspension-front and rear sway bars, and upgraded interiors. They make nicer drivers than their less-loaded Chevy cousins. # 3. 1978-87 Buick Regal. A lot of these had the anemic 231 V6 under the hood, but a fair number of '78-81 models had 301 Pontiacs under the hood. Pontiac engines are externally identical-so this means a 400 or 455 would be a bolt-in swap. Beef up the 200R4 and put some 3.73 or 4.11 gears in the rear end and you'd give those smug Grand National owners a surprise they'd never forget!!  The 1982-87 models had the 307 Olds V8 as an option. This means a 350 or a 403 would be a bolt-in swap. Same thing-Edelbrock claims 397 hp a 400 lbs of torque from their "Performer RPM" package-and that's on a 350 test mule. A 403 would easily have 425 hp or more-and that would be enough to torture GN owners mercilessly.  # 4. 1978-87 Olds Cutlass. Some 1978-80 models had 350 Olds engines, and some had 305 Chevys or 301 Pontiacs. For some reason-probably because the Cutlass was the #1 seller and GM was playing musical engines because of smog laws-there's more variables on these than the others. However-you can swap accordingly-It's easier and Cheaper to swap a snarling 350 or 383 small-block Chevy into a 305 model than it would be to turn it back to "real" Olds power and then hop it up. See what I'm saying?  The '81 and later models used the 307 V8-so like I said about the Regals the easiest HP infusion is to swap in a 350 / 403.  If you want to be really low-budget-there was a guy who was selling motor mount kits to swap 1968-76 472 / 500 inch Cadillac V8s into these cars. Check the Internet -he may still be in business. Anyhow these cars would make great "sleepers" for a relatively low price. Mastermind