Project Junkyard Dog

[Joe Toller]

You are 200% correct Billy, I have to work on my focus. I am my own worst enemy. I need to fix that first before turning another wrench.

One odd thing though, 70s-8os Ford 302 parts are very easy to find in this area. At one time in my demo derby days (which fit my car ADD since I had to build a new one all the time), I had a huge 302 stash, which my local junkyard has now. Buick V6 is not bad either, except for Turbo parts; they are almost non-existent. The 79 heads and the 78 and 79 intakes are one-year only, that was my worst hold up, and frustrating parts. Nobody had them, and if they did they wanted a mint for them. If I am ever gonna do this I do need, and want, to keep it on a tight budget. I don't expect it to be any easier, I don't want to be a #1 qualifier, but I do want some challenge and to make something that shouldn't go quick do just that, I just need to remove my head from my butt!

I have some reflecting to do before I build, maybe I am not cut out for this...I hope I didn't waste too much of anyones time with advice...

[Joe Toller]

Mods, if you want to spare folks you could delete this thread.

I am clearing out the yard and garage and walking away for awhile.

Thanks for everyone's help, it has meant alot.

[Dwight Southerland]

IMHO, a late '70s 305 2-bbl would be an easy combination. Lots of bodies; heads and intakes will be the hardest parts to find, but the 450 heads were used on everything and for several years.

[Joe Toller]

305s are another engine that the wrecking yard here is overloaded with; however, bodies are an issue, between dirt track and demo derby there's not alot left, unless you want a 4dr Caprice.

The yards are full of small 2bbl V8's; 302s, 318s, 305s, even some 304s; 2dr bodies are iffy, but 4door Non GM bodies abound!

There is a puke yellow 4dr Comet 302 that runs in the yard I had been eyeing. I am going to take what else I have in my stash up there since nothing else is complete or a runner. Then I have no "distractions". That has been one problem now that you mention it, everything up to this point was not a runner to start with, and I need to stop trying to "save" cars. Too bad the race season is over up here though. I will think about bringing that Comet home, and start from square one come spring.

[Mark Yacavone]

Joe...My way of thinking says...easiest to run the index without a lot of on track STOCK Elim. experience..
1, FWD (plenty good ones left, hp and indexes not beat up too bad)

2, Turbo, Find a complete car with all matching numbers, preferably running, like Billy said.

3 , Four barrel or F.I. ,, low hp rated , middle to low class car..When you find it, let us know!

Distant 4th place, Low class 2 bbl car ..
I know, Billy made it seem easy, but you don't think he revealed 90 % of the tricks he used on that GP, do you?
Only good thing here is you get plenty of hands on experience, as opposed to writing checks.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

Joe...My way of thinking says...easiest to run the index without a lot of on track STOCK Elim. experience..
1, FWD (plenty good ones left, hp and indexes not beat up too bad)

2, Turbo, Find a complete car with all matching numbers, preferably running, like Billy said.

3 , Four barrel or F.I. ,, low hp rated , middle to low class car..When you find it, let us know!

Distant 4th place, Low class 2 bbl car ..
I know, Billy made it seem easy, but you don't think he revealed 90 % of the tricks he used on that GP, do you?
Only good thing here is you get plenty of hands on experience, as opposed to writing checks.

1, FWD, fine starter car, the right car will usually run the index by cutting off the exhaust and putting the shortest tire on it that you can find. Downside, later models with PFI and DIS can be a pain to get to work, early carb and distributor cars getting too old and hard to find.

2, Turbo, great cars(Joe lives in an altitude challenged area), really need a running car though. Downside, Joe is finding that out and he hasn't gotten to the track yet.

3, Four barrel or F.I., probably easiest to find but to stay "Dime-able" it would have to be really heavy. Downside, REALLY HEAVY.

4, Low classed 2V car, plentiful, cheap, V8s not a bad thing, easy to work on, won't hurt themselves. Downside, Mark, I'm not that smart.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by iraceitall

I have some reflecting to do before I build, maybe I am not cut out for this...I hope I didn't waste too much of anyones time with advice...

Round #2 of fatherly advice, you haven't wasted our time as we'd be talking about all of this stuff between ourselves anyway.
What you DO need to do is, while you're reflecting, pick ONE thing, ONE car that runs NOW. Get it to a racetrack and make it go up and down the track. Throw some Hot-Rod tricks at it and find out what it likes and dis-likes If that ONE car is your buddies Maverick then, fine. DON'T drag home a project that you know nothing about that doesn't run and try resurrecting it. Stock/SS racers are a very helpful bunch when it comes to others trying our combos but we're not going to come to your shop and put it together for you and we're not going to pay you to do it. You're still going to have a learning curve.
Dwight just gave you a very good,simple, easy to find combo if the Maverick isn't a runner. Realistically, ANY 2V 305 Chevy or 2V 302 Ford is a very simple combo to make run well BUT get one that already runs, take it to a track and drive it. Good things are worth waiting for.

[Robert Swartz]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

What you DO need to do is, while you're reflecting, pick ONE thing, ONE car that runs NOW. Get it to a racetrack and make it go up and down the track. Throw some Hot-Rod tricks at it and find out what it likes and dis-likes

You're still going to have a learning curve.

BUT get one that already runs, take it to a track and drive it. Good things are worth waiting for.

Right here, is the most sage advice one can get. Usually, I'm long winded in my posts. The above simply says it all.

If I may, the only thing I would like to add, don't be afraid to try things.

[Joe Toller]

Great advice all of you, thanks.

If that Buick had been a complete runner it would have probably been racing by now. Painful mistake.

The Inline and V8 carb/dist. cars fortunately are plentiful here; being a rural-ish area with no salt and lots of 4x4s for winter rust is rarely a big issue, and as long as you don't mind a 4 door the cars are easy to come by.

I hauled two hulks off this afternoon and the yard will be hauling off the rest tomorrow. Then I am back at zero. After work tomorrow I will drag a battery and some fuel up and see about that Comet. If it starts, stops, and steers, it comes home. If not, I will wait until I find a car that does. I will keep only one car, and only parts for said car to avoid distractions, and will have to work really hard to stay focused.

[Dave Noll]

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