How about Project "Cheap Shot": Grocery Getter into Dragstrip Terror...

Maybe we can get one of the buff mags to serialize the build and do some drag testing. I had an Idea the other day for a cool project. Take a '60's or '70's compact or mid-size sedan and turn it into a killer street / strip machine for very low bucks using mostly junkyard parts. Here's the candidates I thought of. They might not be sexy, but their cheap and could be wicked fast with not too much work. # 1. Fords. I thought of three cars here. If you can find one a 1962-69 Falcon / Comet is light, a lot of them had 289s under the hood, and their short wheelbase makes them good drag racers. And a lot of suspension and brake upgrades that fit early Mustangs fit these. # 2. 1970-77 Maverick / Comet. These are lightweight and a lot of them have 302s under the hood. A buddy of mines 440 Road Runner got it's doors blown off by a hotted-up Maverick. "Dyno" Don Nicholson had great success in Pro Stock in the early '70's with one. # 3. 1975-79 Granada / Monarch. They may be ugly, but a lot of them had 302s or 351Ws under the hood and some even had limited slip disc-braked 9" rear ends stock. Their rep as dogs came from 2bbl carburation and salt-flats gearing. With a warmed over 351W and some 4.11 gears one of these could really rock. # 4. GM Obviously the 1968-79 Nova is a choice as any suspension or brake upgrades that fit a Camaro / Firebird fit these cars, and the engine bay will accept any small or big-block. Other X-bodies include the '71-77 Pontiac Ventura and the '73-79 Olds Omega. One of these with a 400 Pontiac or 403 Olds would be cool. Since they weigh 600 lbs less than a late '70's Firebird they make a good hot rod. I had a '71 Ventura with the 400 out of my wrecked '77 T/A and it was a great sleeper. # 5. '69-76 Pontiac Gran Prix. While most '70-77 Monte Carlos of this vintage are small-block powered, GP's had 400 cubes standard all years, and a fair number of '70-76 "SJ" models had 455s. Any suspension or brake upgrades that fit a Chevelle fit these cars so there's tons of potential. # 6. Mopar. 1968-76 Dodge Dart / Plymouth Duster. These cars are cheap and light so even 318 versions can run. However a 360 is a bolt-in,and Mopar Performance sells the crossmember to install B / RB engines-i.e.-383 / 400 / 440s. What I'd really like to see with these cars is manual transmissions and multi-carb setups. How cool would a 360 Dart with a Six-Pack setup and a 3-speed manual be?  Or a Maverick with dual-quads on a thumpin' 302, or 3-2bbls on a Small-block Chevy in a Nova with a 3-speed stick, or two 4bbls on a 455 Pontiac. The bodies could be done in '60's "Gasser" style-removed front bumpers,radiused rear wheelwells, Old school charm, but wicked fast. Write to the buff mags and suggest they coordinate with me-maybe we can get it done. Mastermind