Prospective College FE Project

[SVOboy]

Well, thinking about what I should work on, and I'll give you lots of options and I want to hear your picks and why, based on the vending machine method.

Cars:

A - Honda 1st Gen CRX
B - [Another] Honda 2nd Gen CRX
C - Honda EF Hatchcrap
D - Honda EG Hatchcrap
E - Some other pug fugly EG
F - Metro Hatch of the newer body style (I'm not sure of the years)
G - VW Rabbit
H - VW Scirocco
I - VW Corrado
J - Something Old (triumph gt6, n600, mg midgit)
K - Make suggestion

Now, a few notes. I've found someone near dartmouth selling a 94 metro in non-running condition for 200 bucks. I said screw it to my b8 swap and if I'm careful I could easily pay the full 200 (though I won't since it's been sitting for years unsold, I'll offer 50, :p). I won't be spending more than 500 on any shell, and I don't care how badly it's beaten as long as it's not missing things I'll need later and wouldn't have replaced (lights and such). I've also found a 95 civic (haven't gotten reply yet) for sale for 550, so that's in consideration also, not to mention a lot of beat hatchcraps I could prolly get for 400-500.

Projects:

1 - Build using FE stock components
2 - Stick a d15z1 in it (regardless of the base I begin with)
3 - Stick a Tdi engine in it
4 - EV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5 - Hybrid (EV with a generator)
6 - Something sick (RWD B18T metro, :p)
7 - Make suggestion


I'm leaning toward the metro right now, cuz it's cheap and stock is promising for FE, but I'm open to suggestions as I wanna try to do something that'll add to the site. Whatever it is it'll prolly take > 1-2 years to finish, so consider that, unless it's stock resto, but even then I still want to do a full teardown.

[Matt Timion]

Questions first.

Will you have room to do this?

Why not just take your car up to college and throw a d15z1 in it?

[SVOboy]

No, I won't, but I'll figure something out.

Because I'm not allowed to, I'm not planning on discussing this with my family.

[krousdb]

I prefer the hatchcraps. Where you gonna get the cash?

[SVOboy]

Why do you think it'll take so long, :p

I'll have a job or something, you know how it is. Think of all the money I could make selling drugs, the possibilities are endless.

[krousdb]

As long as the drugs are vegan, right?

I don't think that vegan drugs are any good. Prolly no better than hooka, whatever that is.:P

[SVOboy]

Hell, I don't know about any of that crap, thank goodness. Man, I need to do my vegan homework before I can go official. Thank goodness all my clothing is, but damn shampoo I need to research, :p

[rh77]

As you know from my discussions, research that benefits the most of the public and that can have the greatest impact is on the highest order. Of your choices, I recommend that you look-up the highest number sold for your choices, or expand into others with high numbers. Being able to have the avg. Joe buy a used one (or similar one) to replicate the experiment and/or use the experimentology on a daily basis is paramount.

RH77

[SVOboy]

Thoughtful as always, Rick!

[The Toecutter]

I don't know exactly what goal you wish to accomplish.

What are you looking to do in regards to:
a) Price
b) Redundancy(eg. can it be repeated easily by others?)
c) Performance
d) Efficiency
e) Simplicity

[SVOboy]

Ah, this is becoming too complicated. Anyway, it should be cheap and difficult, :p

[The Toecutter]

How difficult? You don't want to make it so difficult that it requires a team of 300 people, do you?

[SVOboy]

Nah, just something I can do all myself. I'm seriously leaning towards the d15z1 metro. I mean, 300 for the full swap, lots of welding, and I'll have a beast! (~100 for the metro)

[The Toecutter]

Get an old VW Bug chassis, and build a custom custom body to it. You could make it as aero as you want then, and provided you learn how to make the body yourself and do your own work, it would be rather inexpensive.

[SVOboy]

I'm planning on using this thing to learn body work, but I'm really more interested in resto, because I'm not the type to drive something ridic odd, I'd rather just have a cut little metro with full skirts and mehbe a smoothed out shape.

[The Toecutter]

In that case, either a CRX HF or a Metro would be the best choice. I'd go with the CRX.

[rh77]

Thoughtful as always, Rick!

Thank ya veddymuch. And remember, don't forget to make time to study :p

RH77

[SVOboy]

It might not seem like it as much time as I kill on the site but I study first, and very hard. ;)

[Jack]

I would just see what comes around. If you come across a nice CRX HF go with that, If you find a good Hatchie go that way. I would just wait and see to see what you find.

Best of luck.

[omgwtfbyobbq]

I need more info. It's a couple year project, but what about budget, tools, etc...
Can you get your hands on a tig welder, cherry picker, etc?

[SVOboy]

Budget is basically what comes along comes along. I figure I can throw 2k at it in total. Yes, and yes, tools should've be a problem.

[omgwtfbyobbq]

Wee.. that was quick. I'd recommend looking for a non-running whatever shell. I found a nice one with ~100k miles for $75, but ymmv. If you have the time, wait for the deals. A TDI will run your finances into the ground in -2s because it's a popular, and pricey, swap. Your best bet might be one of Honda's lean burn engines with megasquirt to keep it in lean burn longer and the EV 5th wheel. I was thinking about rec'ing a vw diesel, but I'm going to hold off until I figure out how much aero mods and low RR tires increase my FE.

[Gary Palmer]

SVOboy: I'd go with a 1st gen CRX-HF. You'd have to wire it up for the ecu, but when you got done ytou'd have great economy and something fun to drive. You will probably be able to find a club or clubs to join that will allow you to use the tools in a shop environment for some of the things you'd want to do.

[Gary Palmer]

What you could do is make converting the CRX into a quasi-business?

[SVOboy]

Hehe, Iono how much money I could making converting first gens to run the newer d series, :p

But I def want like an 84 ballade or something like that. It'll really depend on availability of cars, cuz I won't be shipping anything, *shrug*

[Gary Palmer]

You should also consider the cost and availability of parts, as well as reliability. Not haveing to work on something, outside, in winter, is very good. Working on it ouitside, in winter is the pit's.

[SVOboy]

Well, I did pick the school for that reason, :)
<----- Gets warm in 65 degree weather.

[Gary Palmer]

65 is Ok! I went to BYU, in Provo, Utah and working on a valve job in December leaves the body pretty darn cold. Not nearly as cold as Nebraska, but still very unenjoyable.

[SVOboy]

<--- loves getting cold

[rh77]

<--- loves getting cold

As do I. Too many 100F+ days for me this year. When it gets down to 85, get the blanket!

I'm looking forward to cooler weather for better FE -- No A/C (to those confused by that statement: since the gas blend is the same year-round, then that variable is out. EBH, grille block, HAI, harder tires (when inflated) will hopefully get the numbers back up).

RH77

[argylesocks]

<--- loves getting cold

you need to start racing 'cross!

[SVOboy]

I'll stick with the 20 mile freezing cold run. Nothing like having every inch of your body layered so heavily to the point that you're dripping in sweat all over yet you still have a touch of frost nip when you finally get home, :)

[argylesocks]

I'll stick with the 20 mile freezing cold run. Nothing like having every inch of your body layered so heavily to the point that you're dripping in sweat all over yet you still have a touch of frost nip when you finally get home, :)

THATS cyclocross :)
you'd be a natural haha
http://www.paulweiss.bz/gloucester_em_10_29/images/DSCN3183.jpg
(thats my coach...not me)

[SVOboy]

Haha, I wonder if my old XC coach ever did any of that. She was a pro-triathlete, but I think she was more focused on the running than anything else.