Some "Clunkers" that could be great "Rat Rods".......

There are a lot of '70's and '80's beaters that would make great "Rat Rods"-i.e.-not pretty, and not expensive but wicked fast.  Here's a few that could go major fast for very low bucks. # 1. 1975-79 GM "X" body. This includes Chevy Novas, Pontiac Venturas,Olds Omegas, and Buick Apollos. They have front disc brakes standard and any suspension or brake upgrades that fit a Camaro / Firebird fit these cars-so you could build a drag racer or a corner carver. Their engine bays will swallow any GM engine-small or big-block Chevy,Pontiac V8, and Olds and Buick V8s. The '68-74 models have kind of a "cult" following-but these are snubbed, which means you can buy them cheap. # 2 1975-80 Chevy Monza / Pontiac Sunbird / Olds Starfire / Buick Skyhawk. Forget the 4-banger and V6 models-the ones to look for are the Chevy V8 models. They jad a reputation as dogs-but only because they were saddled with 2bbl carburation, single exhausts and salt-flats gearing like 2.29:1. Swapping the 305 for a snarling 350 or 383 is a bolt-in, and getting some 3.42:1 or 3.73:1 gears will put all that power to the pavement. With a curb weight of about 2,700 lbs-it wouldn't take much to turn one of these into a rocket. # 3. 1975-79 Ford Granada / Mercury Monarch. These have 302 or 351W V8s under the hood, and 9 inch rear ends. A little work-carb and intake, headers and dual exhausts, and an axle ratio change could make one of these really run for low bucks. # 4. 1975-78 Ford Mustang II. Forget the 4-cylinder or V6 models, get the 302 V8 models. They were dogs when new because they were saddled with 2 bbl carburation and salt-flats gearing. However-they don't weigh any more than a Pinto and there are a million ways to build power into a small-block Ford. # 5. 1975-78 Chrysler Cordoba / Plymouth Sport Fury / Dodge Magnum. The ones to look for are 400 and 440 versions; however a 360 version could be made to really run, or you could swap in a 360 based 408 stroker. # 6. 1975-79 Dodge Aspen / Plymouth Volare. These replaced the beloved Duster / Dart models and they had a reputation as slugs-like a lot of '70's sedans-the engines were choked with emission controls and they had salt-flats gearing. However-they can be bought dirt-cheap, their light enough that 318 versions could be quick, and could really rock with a 360 V8. Even if it was a 360 Magnum out of a wrecked Jeep Cherokee.....# 7. 1983-88 Ford Thunderbird. Forget the 4-cylinder and V6 models; get the 302 V8 models. Almost any speed parts or suspension parts that fit a Fox Mustang will fit these cars-so there's tons of potential. This is the one Bill Elliott won the NASCAR title in. # 8. 1987-92 Lincoln MKVII LSC. Often called a "5.0" Mustang in a Tuxedo-these cars have the 302 V8 from the Mustang GT, Recaro seats, 16" wheels and tires and sport suspension. Anything that fits a Fox Mustang will fit these cars so there's plenty of potential. They might not be sexy-but they could be wicked fast for very low bucks. Mastermind