[JustinID]

I'm not planning on switching cars in the immediate future, but I've been kind of day-dreaming/brainstorming over what might be a nice setup in the future. If anyone has experience, or even a good opinion, of which of these setups might be the most "enjoyable" (I know, very very subjective) then chime in.

Option 1 - 240z: I've heard these drive like they are on rails. I'd likely eventually set it up for BSP using a 2.8L engine out of a 280z. The biggest pro of this setup is cost... a chassis can be had for ~3k and I can hack at it all I like with out having to be upset about ruining the cars resale value. Smaller tires and less power mean less cost to race as well. If I ever got bored of it, I could always consider moving into EM (or wherever it might land) with something like an LS3 engine. 500+ HP in a 2400 pound car could be amusing (although maybe not as drivable as I'd like). I also really like the idea of this just being a project car.

Option 2 - RX7: These appear to have a nice mix of handling and power right out of the box. Probably not the most competitive for the stock and street prepared classes, but I'm not trying to win nationals, I'm just trying to have fun. If I wanted to get serious about racing, I could drop a 3 rotor engine into it and run SSM. I could also eventually go with an LS1, LS2, or LS3 and run in a prepared class (XP?). A lot of options here, but quite a bit more costly.

Option 3 - C5/C6 Z06: A lot of my thoughts on the other 2 cars started by thinking about what I could drop a Corvette engine into. It dawned on me that I could also just start with a Corvette. I've raced a C5 Z06 once but was still very inexperienced (not saying I'm all that experienced now either) so while I could tell it handled very very nicely, it's hard for me to draw comparisons. My TransAm was a hodge podge of mostly stock components or poorly chosen upgrades at the time, so of course the Vette was a huge jump up. But how does the handling of a Z06 compare to the RX7 and 240Z? This would be the most costly initial setup, but a lot less work to do to get it ready to race. The downside there is I wouldn't really see it as a project car, and that's part of what I'm looking for.

Are there any other well balanced, great handling cars I should think about? I'd prefer something a little bit older, at least a few years old, so that used setups are a good option.

This post has been edited by JustinID: Apr 17 2009, 07:10 PM

[Jeff94TA]

I have a 1974 260Z that I am building from the ground up and stuffing in an LT1/T-56 combo. I've never even driven the car but yes they are supposed to handle very well, I sure hope so. Rust is the big thing on those cars so if you decide to go that route then inspect the floors, battery tray area, frame rails and rockers very carefully. Mine was clean for a Florida car but I still had to replace the floor pans and got into a huge mess with the front end from previous collision damage. I ended up sectioning the unibody just in front of the strut towers and replacing the frame rails. Everything more beefy than stock of course and did subframe connectors while I was at it. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) The message forum that is the authority on hopped up Z cars is HybridZ

[JustinID]

The Solstice looks like it would have a lot of potential, but they haven't been out long enough. I'd like something older just so it's cheaper. Of course if you could squeeze an LS3 in it with out having to rework the firewall, you could run SSM with it. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I have a 1974 260Z that I am building from the ground up and stuffing in an LT1/T-56 combo. I've never even driven the car but yes they are supposed to handle very well, I sure hope so. Rust is the big thing on those cars so if you decide to go that route then inspect the floors, battery tray area, frame rails and rockers very carefully. Mine was clean for a Florida car but I still had to replace the floor pans and got into a huge mess with the front end from previous collision damage. I ended up sectioning the unibody just in front of the strut towers and replacing the frame rails. Everything more beefy than stock of course and did subframe connectors while I was at it. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) The message forum that is the authority on hopped up Z cars is HybridZ

Thanks, Jeff. I hope that project comes along well for you. I'm definitely going to have to test drive some of these cars before I nail down which way I want to go. Someone in my region has a 240z with a "Chevy Small Block" in it, but I don't know which one. I'm hoping he comes out to some more events so I can talk with him and maybe get a ride along. It definitely seemed like he had more power than he could handle (just from watching him drive it) but I don't know how much of that was the car versus his skill level.

I've definitely read about rust being an issue on the Z cars. I'm fully expecting to learn to weld real well if I go that route. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Thanks for the link as well. I've been to that site a few times and it's very informative.

I'm going to have to think about a Miata as well. I know you can pick up a decently setup one for <$4-5K out here. I just don't think they have the potential to do a big engine swap. Massive turbos and Skyline engines are possibilities, but I doubt an LSx would fit. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

So many choices... I'm glad I'm not in a rush.