Future Project, Opinions Wanted

$5000 budget, considering a EFI Foxbody as a "fun project"

Just wanted some opinions on a possible setup.

Focus is drag racing and weekend use, no trailer will be driven to the track.

Goal is to beat a friend's 280Z build up with a SBC around 400hp on 87 octane pump... More than likely a 383.

I am thinking a cheap Fox Body EFI car with mild suspension work so it will hook on drag radials.

I wanted a stroker but it has to be affordable as budget is fairly small for such a combo.

I wanted to keep the factory EFI setup and upgrade just what I have too induction wise.

What I wanted was opinions and suggestions...

Thanks...

How fast is the 280Z?

Find a notch and a turbo-coupe. Take the engine/harness/etc. out of turbo-coupe and install in notch. Crank up the boost. Done.

Originally Posted by ScreaminC

How fast is the 280Z?

Find a notch and a turbo-coupe. Take the engine/harness/etc. out of turbo-coupe and install in notch. Crank up the boost. Done.

Originally Posted by djfourmoney

Goal is to beat a friend's 280Z build up with a SBC around 400hp on 87 octane pump... More than likely a 383.

I think its gonna take more than a turbo 2.3 to beat a stroked V8 in a 280z. JMO.

You're NOT going to be able to do it for $5K...

The FOx body will run you at least $2K if you want one driveable and teh motor rebuild will run you a couple grand easily... THen you gotta have a rear end, then you gotta have TRACTION... Etc...

You get the drift right?

Good luck!

You might be able to beat him, but you're going to have to count on him having traction issues or something. Focus on getting it to 60' hard making him have to play catch up.

Buy a T-5 5.0 notch...strip it as much as comfortably possible then add:

suspension: drag springs, remove front sway bar, rear LCA's, and sub-frame connectors

tires & wheels: skinnies up front, and the best tires you can run out back

Gears: 4.10

Exhaust: long-tubes, cat-less H/X-pipe, turn downs at mufflers

Driveline: safety loop, clutch and shifter

Power-Adder: nitrous and supporting fuel system/ignition mods.


The great thing about a FOX is that you can find good deals on most all of the parts used (suspension parts, exhaust parts, wheels, etc.).

How much would I have to increase it too, if $5K isn't enough?

I wanted to build a 1970 Boss 302 Clone (331cid, CHI heads and Intake - 8,500rpm!I)

But I feel that would cost well into the $10K range because I would do coilover suspension all around...

Anyway, I just wanted to build a cheap V8 project and beat his car!