Some "Rodney Dangerfields" that might be a bargain.....

Comedian Rodney Dangerfield always joked that he got "No Respect". Here's some cars that could claim the same thing but can be bought dirt-cheap and would make a dynamite sleeper / hot rod with very little work. # 1. 1980-81 Pontiac Trans-Am. When Pontiac discontinued the 400 cube engines after '79 enthusiasts howled to the heavens, with good reason. Now the 3,800 lb Firebirds had 3 choices a 301 Pontiac that wheezed out 150 hp, a 305 Chevy that wheezed out 145, or the 301 Turbo that was rated at 210 hp-supposedly only 10 hp down from the W72 400. Except Hot Rod's 1979 400, 4-speed test car ran a 14.61 in the 1/4 and their 1980 Turbo T/A test car ran a 16.30. With only a 10 hp loss? Riigght. The upside for buyers now is Pontiac collectors snub these cars like the plague, so prices are fairly low, and if you buy a 301 model-a 400 or 455 is a bolt-in swap-the motor mounts and external accessories will bolt right up. If you have a 305 Chevy model-a 350 or 383 is a bolt-in swap. I wouldn't mess with the 301 Turbos. They were dogs then, their dogs now,and there's no parts availability,and the bottom end of the lightweight, "economy" 301 can't take massive amounts of boost. If you must have forced induction-I'd look for a wrecked Buick Grand National and salvage the motor and 200R4 trans, or put a Weiand or B&M under hood blower on a small-block Chevy.  # 2. 1982 "5.0" Mustang. These had a 302 V8 ( with a 2bbl carb oddly enough ) and 4-speed manual or a 3-speed automatic. Mustang enthusiasts snub these cars in favor of the '83 and later models which had a Holley 4bbl, a 5-speed stick or 4-speed auto and after '86-fuel injection. However, they can be bought cheap, and a 4bbl carb and intake,headers,cam etc are easy bolt-ons to make them really run. # 3. 1982-83 Z/28 Camaro / Firebird Trans-Am with "Cross-Fire Injection". These 305 V8's were only rated at 165 hp and were only available with a 3-speed automatic in '82 and a 4-speed automatic in '83. However-the upside is a 350 or 383 is a bolt-in swap, and if you use 454 truck throttle bodies and an '84 Corvette PROM chip ( Hypertech and others still sell them ) this fuel system can feed up to a 450 hp engine easily. And if you have an '82 model-a 200R4 is an easy swap-they use the same rear trans mount and driveshaft yoke as the TH250 / 350. You might have to shorten the drive shaft. Or with 400+ hp just live with the TH350. # 4. 1983-87 Olds Cutlass "442". These had cool graphics,a great handling suspension,a luxurious interior, and a 307 inch Olds V8 that wheezed out 140 hp. Fortunately-a 350 or 403 Olds V8 is a bolt-in swap. Edelbrock claims 397 hp and 400 lbs of torque from their "Performer RPM" package-and that's on a 350-a 403 would put you well over 400 ponies. 400+hp in a 3,400 lb "G" body would be an absolute rocket. # 5. 1983-87 Buick Regal 2 dr Coupe. While some of these had anemic 2bbl 231 V6's, quite a few were built with the 307 Olds V8 under the hood. See # 4 to give those smug Grand National owners a run they won't forget.  # 6. 1987-92 Lincoln MKVII LSC. Often called a "5.0" Mustang in a Tuxedo"-these cars had Recaro seats, a trick suspension,16" wheels and performance tires, a cool monochromatic paint job, and the 225 hp "5.0" V8 out of the Mustang GT backed by a 4-speed automatic. Any speed equipment that fits a Fox Mustang will fit these cars, so they have a ton of potential. Any of these would make a great sleeper with the right combination of parts, and for relatively low bucks. Mastermind