[Mrp613]

I really wish this had it's own section but hopefully it sticks here.

Don’t get me wrong I appreciate all the big dollar race cars, the correct restos, the pro touring types, and the car show crowd. But there doesn’t seem to be a forum for guys like me trying to get their beater going on a microscopic budget. Ask a question in the race forum and it turns to throwing money at it. Nothing against those guys but I’m looking for a cheap slow bracket car. Ask a question about modifying a part or fabbing something up in the 61-66 section and it’s crickets. The street section is ok but it’s still guys with a bunch more budget than I have building on stuff.

I know a user tried to get a bracket forum for his budget build but was told there were enough sections already so I’m hoping this thread can be the place where the low budget doing it at home in the driveway guys can share ideas and see what works and maybe get some real world input. My Catalina is a trashed, bashed, and zip tied mismatch of parts I had laying around, and unfortunately it’s the best I can do on my budget. I learned a few things like second gen F body headers will fit, 10.5 slicks can be stuffed under it, and soon I’ll have a better idea if a ‘66 Impala rear can be modified to fit so I’m not stuck waiting for over priced 3.55’s to be made available again.

[F ROCK]

I've tried a few times ask about budget builds but many (most) of these folks have tens of thousands into their cars and don't remember what a budget was.

I loved when some of these guys told about the builds they slapped together in the garage but it doesn't happen anymore.
I'm presently thinking of a budget build but...

[Scott Roberts]

Originally Posted by Mrp613

I really wish this had it's own section but hopefully it sticks here.

Don’t get me wrong I appreciate all the big dollar race cars, the correct restos, the pro touring types, and the car show crowd. But there doesn’t seem to be a forum for guys like me trying to get their beater going on a microscopic budget. Ask a question in the race forum and it turns to throwing money at it. Nothing against those guys but I’m looking for a cheap slow bracket car. Ask a question about modifying a part or fabbing something up in the 61-66 section and it’s crickets. The street section is ok but it’s still guys with a bunch more budget than I have building on stuff.

I know a user tried to get a bracket forum for his budget build but was told there were enough sections already so I’m hoping this thread can be the place where the low budget doing it at home in the driveway guys can share ideas and see what works and maybe get some real world input. My Catalina is a trashed, bashed, and zip tied mismatch of parts I had laying around, and unfortunately it’s the best I can do on my budget. I learned a few things like second gen F body headers will fit, 10.5 slicks can be stuffed under it, and soon I’ll have a better idea if a ‘66 Impala rear can be modified to fit so I’m not stuck waiting for over priced 3.55’s to be made available again.

Are you personally able to do most all of the work other than maybe machining processes?
What are your goals? That's where you need to start and then prioritize all the steps to get there as well as budget for said steps...
No sense in making more power if the chassis cant handle it for example...
I'm willing to offer advice where I can..

[glhs#116]

I don't know. Often I feel like I am part of the "budget" crowd since mine's a daily driver and I never have much time of funds for the car. That said, this isn't the 1980s any more and running one of these cars is more than a little commitment. Time was that you could cut a lot of corners but I've noticed that people just don't tolerate cars behaving badly like they used to. I was at the mall and had a very small carb fire from some combination of ignition timing and latent heat. The security guard had ZERO patience or humour about it. Wouldn't let me touch the car in his parking garage. Forced me to have it towed out before I could touch it. Modern cars are so reliable that people see you pop the hood and the immediately assume that something awful has happened and you need help. So I guess I understand why there's a bunch of collectors and high dollar restorers on the forum. God bless them, there's still plenty of friendly and knowledgeable old timers. But it's true that often the band aid is not the fix you want.

Good luck with the thread.

Sam

[AG]

the first rendition of my race car it had a used 455 with stock rods/TRW forged pistons, used Ultradyne 255/263 at 0.050" solid flat tappet cam/lifters, Torker II, Holley 750 DP used,used headers, home built TH400, stock leafs with slapper bars etc. Had $3500 total in the car and went 11.4 reliably. I would consider that as budget as you could get for the 1/4 times. I appreciate what you are talking about and if you are on a budget, you need to be satisfied what you can do regardless of what times you are pulling. It's all about the fun and thrill of racing.

[1968GTO421]

Originally Posted by F ROCK

I've tried a few times ask about budget builds but many (most) of these folks have tens of thousands into their cars and don't remember what a budget was.

I loved when some of these guys told about the builds they slapped together in the garage but it doesn't happen anymore.
I'm presently thinking of a budget build but...

Originally Posted by Scott Roberts

Are you personally able to do most all of the work other than maybe machining processes?
What are your goals? That's where you need to start and then prioritize all the steps to get there as well as budget for said steps...
No sense in making more power if the chassis cant handle it for example...
I'm willing to offer advice where I can..

Originally Posted by glhs#116

I don't know. Often I feel like I am part of the "budget" crowd since mine's a daily driver and I never have much time of funds for the car. That said, this isn't the 1980s any more and running one of these cars is more than a little commitment. Time was that you could cut a lot of corners but I've noticed that people just don't tolerate cars behaving badly like they used to. I was at the mall and had a very small carb fire from some combination of ignition timing and latent heat. The security guard had ZERO patience or humour about it. Wouldn't let me touch the car in his parking garage. Forced me to have it towed out before I could touch it. Modern cars are so reliable that people see you pop the hood and the immediately assume that something awful has happened and you need help. So I guess I understand why there's a bunch of collectors and high dollar restorers on the forum. God bless them, there's still plenty of friendly and knowledgeable old timers. But it's true that often the band aid is not the fix you want.

Good luck with the thread.

Sam

Being over 65 and on a retirement income, I can certainly empathize with these sentiments. Building a car today like we did in the '60's nets a person with scorn for "cutting corners" or doing other heinous things. Modern cars have raised expectations and created almost impossibly expensive standards for building a car today. I read all the pertinent threads I can and think hard about what I have learned and whether I can do it acceptably safe while keeping on budget. Enough rant

[ponyakr]

"...I’m looking for a cheap slow bracket car..."


Every bracket car I ever built was low budget.

Back in '08 I bought a '74 Ventura bracket car. It was similar to those that I'd built, and was also low budget. Even had a Chevy 8.2 rear end. Ran 7.30's on our 1/8 mile track.

I'm an old retired guy, with very little to spend on racing. I'm in the process of building a super low budget bracket car, out of an '80 Bird I bought, & a 455/TH400 that I already had.

I started a thread about my build. Thought it was going OK, for awhile. Then the race guys began badmouthing it & telling me how dangerous everything was & how it would never pass tech, & makin jokes among themselves about it. And if you say anything about it, they'll say you're thin skinned & get "butt-hurt" too easily.

So, from experience, I don't recommend that you start a thread about it here. Some of these guys badmouth & argue with each other, in threads, much less anybody who knows less than them. And they'll recommend that you not use any low buck shortcuts, at all. I assume that their attitude is "If you can't afford the higher priced parts, don't build it", or "If it won't go quick, why build it ?", etc, etc.

There are also some good guys here who will try to help you. But, I think some of 'em try to stay out of the discussion, once the bad boys take over the thread.

I personally will be happy to share everything I've learned about bracket racing, in the slower no-electronics brackets. I'm not the best racer ever. But, my wife & I won LOTS of races in low buck Pontiacs. And I'd be happy to share my experiences with you, by Email. If interested in my opinions, you can PM me & I'll give you my Email address.

Anyhow, GOOD LUCK with your build !

[shoebox1.1]

I’m back into cars after a 7-8 year hiatus. Single income family with a 9 year old. Literally no budget for car habit but I did buy a clean rust free 76 ventura cheap, we’re doing a super budget 350, hyd cam 092 heads .free TH350, free 12 inch stall , hand me down 342s,, etc. it will be fun just to be back behind the wheel. Is it gonna run my high 10s I’ve dreamed of since high school? NO. Fun with my car buddies that I’ve been missing for years? YES!

[TCSGTO]

This is something that has, unfortunately, disappeared from the hobby. Everyone expects perfection these days and I blame the internet for that. But the real fun in this hobby is building something yourself with what YOU can afford and be comfortable with and actually drive and enjoy it without worrying about every little detail being perfect.

[JSPONT]

Mine started as a budget beater, 12.20's with a stock 455 bottom end with a cam and intake, after 19 years it looks like a beater paint wise, ( body is real clean it was a texas car) but the drive line keeps getting updates. I welded, and turned every nut and bolt myself. Had to build headers to fit had a good starting point but had to modify them. It is now a turbo charged car making good power so that's why the drive line was updated. You can find weak links in the budgets cars fast when the power level goes up. That is what I love though. I bought, traded. learned from friends, trial and error on parts and have a lot of good memories with the car. Some not so good but were learning experiences.
I love sleepers and beaters, it's reality for us poor guys!!

[64speed]

Mine started as a budget till the body came off the frame

[GTOLou]

Originally Posted by shoebox1.1

I’m back into cars after a 7-8 year hiatus. Single income family with a 9 year old. Literally no budget for car habit but I did buy a clean rust free 76 ventura cheap, we’re doing a super budget 350, hyd cam 092 heads .free TH350, free 12 inch stall , hand me down 342s,, etc. it will be fun just to be back behind the wheel. Is it gonna run my high 10s I’ve dreamed of since high school? NO. Fun with my car buddies that I’ve been missing for years? YES!

I bought a 76 ventura years ago that had a TA 403 in it. Had a rod-knock and I got it super cheap. The car originally came w/ a small cube olds engine. The TA 403 was a drop in. I sold if for nothing. Would have made a great low buck drag car. Those ventura's are great looking cars, IMHO.

[shoebox1.1]

Originally Posted by shoebox1.1

I’m back into cars after a 7-8 year hiatus. Single income family with a 9 year old. Literally no budget for car habit but I did buy a clean rust free 76 ventura cheap, we’re doing a super budget 350, hyd cam 092 heads .free TH350, free 12 inch stall , hand me down 342s,, etc. it will be fun just to be back behind the wheel. Is it gonna run my high 10s I’ve dreamed of since high school? NO. Fun with my car buddies that I’ve been missing for years? YES!

It’s got the olds 260 but I can’t do the olds.. nothing wrong with that but it’s a Pontiac car— gonna get Pontiac power! I’m calling it the “ disco poncho” lol

[77 TRASHCAN]

Originally Posted by shoebox1.1

It’s got the olds 260 but I can’t do the olds.. nothing wrong with that but it’s a Pontiac car— gonna get Pontiac power! I’m calling it the “ disco poncho” lol

Oh my an Olds 260! Holy boat anchor, Batman!!! LOL

Nice car. A good one to start with, even on a literal "zero" budget. Been there, done that. You look for parts and such at swap meets. Keep your ear to the ground about folks with Pontiac parts. You will need a transmission likely also...

A low compression 400 out of the last couple years of Trans Am's would be something to look for. There's tons of them still around, and not all that expensive.

[JLMounce]

When it comes to budget builds there’s a few different directions you can go, depending on what you need the car to do. Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t purchase higher end parts or even that you have to cut corners. Often though, the trade off is time.

There’s nothing wrong with almost any approach but as long as you understand limitations you can generally get the car going on a budget and have fun with it.

In my situation I wasn’t really willing to cut corners after I had to fix a lot of the previous owners garbage. As a result of that it took a literal 16 years to get my bird on the road and I’ve been adding to that build where I can since then. Most people don’t believe me when I tell them I only have about 23k into my car, including it’s purchase price. But if you’re methodical, shop around and have patience, the car doesn’t have to look and feel like you built it on a budget.

At the end of the day though, it’s all about having fun. If you’re not having fun doing this, then do t waste the time or money!

[Jay S]

I do not want to discount the efforts that go into high end builds. I enjoy high end builds, but have had a blast over the years putting together “econo” builds. A couple had turbo chargers scavenged from another engine, some had good sized solid and hydrualic cams, second hand roller cams or DIY ported heads. Have done our share of engine’s with oem cast pistons and cylinder taper that any competent machinist would call shot. Sometimes if you build it right with well chosen parts you can embarrass higher end cars. I am always game too re live the good old days and help someone do a budget build.

Safety equipment is a totally different deal. When the car becomes to fast to meet a certain safety spec, time to step up and put money in it or slow it down. Got to get there first though.

[Squidward]

This is the end of the hobby spectrum I play in. Sometimes it comes from too many expensive hobbies, or comes from a sense of responsibility to family and not blowing through tons of $$$.

I have spent a few thousand on each engine in my 2 cars, and a few thousand more on other driveline parts (trans, rear end, etc). I have done all my own work, and my cars look like primered up beaters. But they run nice.

A good running ride gives me more satisfaction than a finely polished show car. And I don't have to panic about scratches, etc. It makes for a much less stressful hobby experience.

Do what you gotta do to get your kicks!

[shoebox1.1]

Another issue is I have champagne tastes on a cold beer budget! I like good scotch , fine cigars ,motorcycles, guns and a model airplane here or there

I don’t get to dabble in these items often but they’re fun

[shaker455]

Here's mine....it's gets all the leftover parts:
Also here's the next leftover looking for it's match to go on in the front next.
And this P4B I'm currently cutting up to replace the AFB & stock intake.
Johnny Cash song is going thru my mind..."One piece at a time"

[redhawk44]

Originally Posted by shaker455

Here's mine....it's gets all the leftover parts:
Also here's the next leftover looking for it's match to go on in the front next.
And this P4B I'm currently cutting up to replace the AFB & stock intake.
Johnny Cash song is going thru my mind..."One piece at a time"

I'm with ya Mrp. I have been wanting to start on the drive line or suspension for some time. But all of my money goes to other things before I can justify putting it down on the car. And like Shaker said, "One Piece at a Time". My wife is always putting down my baby "Lola" and what money I have put into her.

But it is nice to see all of the high end projects