Modern day "Rat Rods" you can build cheap.....

Street Rodder and other magazines often feature "Rat Rods"-beater '30s, 40's and '50s cars with monster motors. The cars may be rusty or ugly-but their wicked fast. Here's some modern-day equivalents that could be wicked fast and cheap to buy and build. # 1. 1975-78 Ford Mustang II ( V8 model ). These cars got a bad rap as "dogs" because the 302 was saddled with 2bbl carburation, single exhaust,and 2.80:1 gears. However-they don't weigh any more than a Pinto-about 2,700 lbs. And give him a 4bbl carb, a decent cam and dual exhausts and some 3.55:1 gears and you'll give those smug '80s and 90's "5.0" owners a physics lesson they'll never forget. Swap in an SVT 347 crate engine-and you can show your taillights to the new ones as well. # 2. 1975-81 Chevy Monza ( and Olds Starfire / Buick Skyhawk / Pontiac Sunbird ) V8 models. Forget the V6 models the ones to get have 305 Chevys in them-which means-duh-a stompin' 350 or 383 is a bolt in swap. Special note-some 1975-76 "California" models-had 350s from the factory. Dynamite if you can find one. Like the Mustang II they were considered "dogs" for the same reason-2bbl carburation,single exhaust and salt-flats gearing. A 4bbl and some 3.73 gears would make even a 305 model a rocket-they only weigh about 2,700 lbs. A pumped up 350 or 383 or 406 would make you King Kong.     # 3. 1975-79 GM "X" body. ( Nova, Ventura / Phoenix / Apollo / Omega ). Everyone and his brother wants a '68-74 Nova. However the '75 and later models are snubbed-and their actually a better base for a hot rod. Here's why-They have standard front disc brakes, their engine bays will swallow any GM engine,and any suspension or brake upgrades that fit a Camaro / Firebird will fit these cars-so you can build a drag racer or a corner-carving "G" machine if you want. The ones to look for are obviously the 305 / 350 Chevy models-they offer the most bang for the buck. The next best ones are 350 Pontiac models-they respond well to traditional hot rod tricks-carb and intake, cams etc-and the bonus is Pontiac engines are externally identical from a 326 to a 455. That means a 400 or 455 is a bolt-in swap. I had a 400 Ventura and it was a great sleeper. 350 Olds models have a lot of potential as well-and a 403 is a bolt-in swap. Or you could swap in a Chevy Rat Motor-these cars have almost unlimited potential. # 4. 1971-77 AMC Gremlin / 1971-80 AMC Hornet / Spirit V8 models. The ones to look for have 304 V8s. They can be made to run-but heres the great thing-like Pontiacs-AMC engines are externally identical. Which means a 360 or 401 is a bolt-in swap. And there are millions of 360s in junkyards in Jeep Grand Waggoneers. Edelbrock offers aluminum heads and cams and intakes, and with a curb weight of 2,600 lbs and a short wheelbase-these cars actually make great drag racers. # 5. 1976-80 Dodge Aspen / Plymouth Volare. These cars replaced the Duster / Dart-and Ironically-obviously because the E-bodies ( Challenger / 'Cuda ) and B-bodies ( Road Runner / Charger / Super Bee ) are so expensive- Duster and Dart prices are rising. However- you can buy an Aspen / Volare for practically nothing. Forget the six-cylinder models-the ones to get are the 318 / 360 models. With a curb weight around 3,000 lbs and tons of speed equipment for the small-block Mopar-these can be made to really run relatively cheap. And there are millions of 360 "Magnum" V8s in Dodge Trucks and Vans and Jeep Grand Cherokees in junkyards-that would give you an instant power infusion. None of these cars are sexy-but they can be major quick for minor bucks. And that's what a "Rat Rod" is all about. Mastermind