Which way is cheaper and/or better

[laxking012]

So I'm looking to finally get a drag car, and was wondering, is it better to build a car or get one that's already been done. I don't really have much money and I found a 94 camaro for $600, but needs a new engine or may just rebuilt, I don't know what's wrong with this one yet. I was thinking I could start with this, just get it running, and start with that. Then build it up as I go and get some money. Or am I better off to dish out the money now and start with something that's already built?

[482]

Not trying to be a smart azz, but if you can buy that car for 600 it will be one of the cheapest items you will buy in drag racing :shock:

To answer your question, it is most always cheaper to buy a car already built than to build one. :D

[TheYellaBrick]

Just realize that in ANY kind of motorsports racing, you are gonna BREAK stuff;
- Engine $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
- Trans $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
- Axles/U joints/CV joints $$$$

If ya think $600 is a LOT of money, do not, I repeat DO NOT get into racing until you can budget $10,000 for a BASIC STOCK bracket car and a season of expensive expenses.

[laxking012]

I never said $600 was a lot.. I was thinking that it seems like a good deal. I know how much racing takes financially, I go to the track every weekend and help a few people in the pits, I see how much goes into their cars. That's why I've waited a year longer to actually look for getting a car.

[482]

Well, what did the guys you help have to say about your question ?

No disrespect but,You said you don't really have much money, that's why we were saying it's going to be fairly expensive for you to get a Drag Car and get it on the track

[laxking012]

Well relative to the like 20 grand or so that most people have invested, i don't have much. I'm looking at about $5000 at the end of August. Also i'm not looking for anything real fast or anything, I just want something that's gonna run somewhere in the 12s maybe, just to get started with.. I'm open to any help and opinions, do you think I'm jumping into this too soon maybe? should I wait a little longer?

[482]

Sorry, not trying to discourage you!
There are cars on the tracks that cost less than 5 grand that's for sure.

No one can tell you if you are jumping in too soon but YOU !
If you feel good about the car, go for it.
Like you said, start with that and do as you can when you can 8)

Just have fun doing it ! :D

[Incognegro]

You can get a decent 12 second car for $5000 just know what your looking for. Consider full frame cars that are fairly common.

[MEMRACING62]

You can get a decent 12 second car for $5000 just know what your looking for. Consider full frame cars that are fairly common. x2......gm g- body cars are relatively cheap & make great drag cars

[markdunlap]

I second the G body GM idea. The Malibu is most popular and resale value is higher.

You could save a little longer and get a back half Malibu set up for a BBC for less than $10K. I did. It should have everything already on it you will need except an engine and trans. This way you can start out with a sbc engine if limited on budget and move to a BBC later if wanted without having to get a better car.

[itsabird]

I would say, it depend on your skill and ability as a gearhead, (how much work you can do your self) spend the 5 grand wisely, and have a nice starter car.

[curtisreed]

Just doing a short search on RJ I was seeing nice Mustangs in the $5000 range running. Watch Craigslist also. I am not a Ford guy but I would race one of them in a heartbeat. Plentiful cheap parts to make a nice footbrake car to get started in. The G-body chevy cars are the same way. I have about $13,000 total in my roadster but I was really patient and bought parts for a long time so you can go fast on a budget. Good luck with whatever you choose and I hope you get on the track soon. We can never have enough new racers.

Curtis

[TheYellaBrick]

Ideally you'd obtain a low maintenance, almost stock 'starter' car. Concentrate on learning the 'racing' part of racing and fine tuning what you're running before getting in over your head with a high maintenance, multi adjustable chassis. A lot of beginners spend waaaay too much time trying to 'sort out' a car that's over their skill level and also LEARN racing, just to get discouraged and quit when they don't do well and really don't know much about tuning, chassis adjusting, and actually racing.
CONSISTENCY and smoothness are easy to learn if you don't have to add in a high maintenance car to the mix. THAT can come later.
WATCH, ask questions, get LOTS of seat time, and HAVE A BLAST ! :D :D

[Incognegro]

Generally buying something already built can be cheaper than putting one together yourself, unless the car has major issues.

[JEFF69Z28]

i have alow 10 second car and trailer for sale, 86 ss monte carlo(sbc) and enclosed trailer or just the car and i live in md.

[Scooterz]

Generally buying something already built can be cheaper than putting one together yourself, unless the car has major issues.

I am with J3Rd. You have the opportunity to make a great purchase instead building it in a questionable economy. If you buy the Camaro for 600.00, you will be spending money & fixing, replacing, working out all the bugs so to speak... when you could buy a roller or complete race car... it could be the difference between being a garage racer missing seasons or really going out there & doing it. You can get a roller pretty cheap these days... just a thought.

[qtrmile2]

Not sure if it's alot different today than it was over 40 years ago but my first race car was my daily driver. I worked alot and saved any extra money to put it in my daily driver until it was no longer a daily driver. I bought an old junker and made that my daily driver. So my daily driver became my race car as I earned extra money working two jobs and putting it in the race car to go faster. So if you have a daily driver then buy that $600.00 Camaro and start making it your race car.

Alot of people don't have $20,000.00 to put in a race car. I sure didn't, so I did as much as I could afford with any extra cash. Mind you it took probably 20 years to finally have a legit race car. Nothing wrong with running slow until you can afford to run quicker. Plus sounds like you need the experience behind the wheel. In any case. Good Luck you picked one of the most rewarding things to do. OH YEAH! Most expensive too. :lol:
Just my advise, Right or Wrong.

[TheYellaBrick]

Not sure if it's alot different today than it was over 40 years ago but my first race car was my daily driver. I worked alot and saved any extra money to put it in my daily driver until it was no longer a daily driver. I bought an old junker and made that my daily driver. So my daily driver became my race car as I earned extra money working two jobs and putting it in the race car to go faster. So if you have a daily driver then buy that $600.00 Camaro and start making it your race car.

Alot of people don't have $20,000.00 to put in a race car. I sure didn't, so I did as much as I could afford with any extra cash. Mind you it took probably 20 years to finally have a legit race car. Nothing wrong with running slow until you can afford to run quicker. Plus sounds like you need the experience behind the wheel. In any case. Good Luck you picked one of the most rewarding things to do. OH YEAH! Most expensive too. :lol:
Just my advise, Right or Wrong.

This is where I'm comin' from also !

[hotrod1994]

cheaper to buy one already done but then where the pride and joy in that you get to say "yeah i bought it from so and so pretty bad ass hey" and who's to say the guy built it right or knew what he was doing ive ran into a situation where a guy told me he had it in his vette it was a 3970010 4 bolt 350 i was gonna rebuilt it any way come to find out he had a push rod chilling in the lifter valley and enough gasket sealer to fill up a 5 gallon bucket

i prefer to build um myself then when some on compliments you can say "I built that" sure it cost more and take more time but thats the way i would go not let some other joe schmo build it for me
-J.M.O

[zipper06]

cheaper to buy one already done but then where the pride and joy in that you get to say "yeah i bought it from so and so pretty bad ass hey" and who's to say the guy built it right or knew what he was doing ive ran into a situation where a guy told me he had it in his vette it was a 3970010 4 bolt 350 i was gonna rebuilt it any way come to find out he had a push rod chilling in the lifter valley and enough gasket sealer to fill up a 5 gallon bucket

i prefer to build um myself then when some on compliments you can say "I built that" sure it cost more and take more time but thats the way i would go not let some other joe schmo build it for me
-J.M.O

X2, i've been dragracing for over 55 yrs. and have built every car i've ever ran. I've won some and lost a lot, but when you win there's a lot more pride when you win. I've never been the fastest (brackets), but have run the tree, so it's up to me to win not the fastest or best car. Build it yourself and you know what you have.

JMO

Zip.

[mikeaton]

depending on what you want to do in a couple of years. if you want to stay in the slow range buy something to do that.but if you want to go faster as you learn[which you will want to do]by a "roller" and install what engine/trans you can afford and build on that. my first dragster was a front engine car that we put a stock 355 sbc in it and ran 10s with it no problems at all! added thru the year roller rocker arms,bigger camshaft,better intake and carb,etc... you get the pitcure buy something that you can go faster in later on and your ahead of the game.right now i have our altered for sale on here for 5500.stick a stock 454 with a 3500 stall convertor in a stock powerglide and go racing!heck a friend of mine bought a crate motor from them gm guys a 520 i believe stuck it just like he got it out of the crate into his altered and he has a 5 year 50,000 mile warranty on it! get a engine builder to do that for ya!