"You still have to dump a lot of $$$ into it to get anywheres near what the original Muscle Cars offered, dang, I'm starting to repeat myself, but I guess it still applies to your above statement. Repeating again, Nothing from then until now could be made to run like them without
major mods done to it!"
You can build a 383 stroker for pocket change, stuff it in a 1981 malibu and run 12's. Or you could build a 347 for pocket change, stuff it in a 82 Mustang for a similar result. You could build a mild 340 0r 360 and stuff it in a Duster also. If you think out side of the domestic box you could buy a low milage
J-spec KLZE for $1500 (*** spec 2.5l MX6 engine) put it into a MX3 and run mid 13's. Stick a Honda prelude engine in a Civic = mid 13's on the cheap. Buy a Talon or Eclipse and turn up the boost for a cheap mid 13 second ride. Stick a 350 into a S10 or a 302 into a Ranger. Heck you could run a small 75hp nitrous kit on $1450 Sunfire GT and run mid 13's. You really could not buy, build and restore a muscle car for the price of any of the off the wall sugjestions above. To each their own, but Muscle car performance can be found in the back row of used car lots in the "AS-IS" section
I don't and never have driven a Mini Van but you must have one to be able to speak so highly of them . . .
No Minivan for this guy, but I have driven them. I like wagons. My friend built a wagon I lusted after a few years back. It was a 1985 LTD (mid-size) wagon with a Mustang 5.0l H.O 5spd. It cost $2500 to build with used parts. At the time, It spanked a New Trans-Am Ram air car at the drags. (Trans-Am dude was very, very un-happy)
Mental image: The LTD was very rusty and very dirty with 14" wheels sporting dog dish hub caps.
LTD ran 13.5
Trans-Am 13.6
The parts list:
-85 LTD wagon
-88 Mustang 5.0l High output and T5 5 speed from the wrecking yard
-swap meet Holley 600.
-swap meet Edelbrock performer manifold
-swap meet Carter HP electic fuel pump.
-swap meet Sun tach.
-3.73 gears and posi from a ranger fitted into the 7.5" rear end.
Heck, bone stock mid 80's cars were barley making it to the low 16's without spending a fortune.
A reminder of just a few common sub 15 second 80's cars
Do you remember the 85-93 Mustang 5.0l??
Do you remember the Iroc-Z 350 TPI?
Do you remeber the Firebird Formula or Trans Am GTA?
Do you remember the Omni GLH and GLH-S? (The "S" stands for Shelby)
Do you remember the Mustang SVO?
Do you remember the Thunderbird Turbo or Super Coupe?
Do You remember the Buick T-Type, Grand National and GNX?
Do you remember the Fiero GT?
The late 80's Mustang and the Camaro's ran similar times to the 60's cars. Exclude the Boss' , Shelby's and ultra rare stuff. Or I will trump you with Saleen's Calaway's, and Roush's
What a great day! I washed the II, put a new 5.0l H.O engine into my old Mark 7 (My best Friend bought it) and came home to some great bench racing.