How do you decide on a good base for a project car?

[Figit090]

Hi, I did a search but didn't get much...

I was wondering a few things about supras...first, what everyone thinks about buying engines as opposed to a full car...I've been thinking and the cost of a decent supra can be anywhere between 500 dollars to 7000 depending on how it's been kept up(commonly)...a decent turbo supra could be had for 1-3 thousand if you look around...

So then came the question...why would someone swap in a turbo engine when they could just buy a whole new turbo supra...you get the car, the engine, all the hookups already there... if you want to do a rebuild you have more work getting the thing apart but you still will have everything ready for when the engine is up to spec.

next question...is there a year within the mkIII's which is considered the best base for a project car? i heard a blurp that the 1986.5 was good but dont know anything about differences that would make one year better. I only heard that ONCE from who knows where. so yeah...since i couldnt see anything to really make one better than another in terms of design...i'm asking. wiring? mounts? bracing? i have no clue, maybe there isn't anything.

one last question; I think my car has been in a wreck and for the purpose of easing my mind about the car's structure i was wondering how a person would go about deciding if a supra is good to keep as a project car down the road or just keep it a daily driver... I'm NOT selling mine but it keeps bugging me that i MIGHT have a car that's been crunched up bad and isn't worth the $$ to do a swap down the line... title is clean...but it's from another state.. i dont know if that could have been wiped from the record.
i'm kinda looking for something to ease that thing in the back of my mind telling me i have a nice looking car with a chassis that could be bent past the point of being worth large investments. i'd rather get mine looking good and running good and wait for a non-wrecked supra for a project on the side than pour my $$$ into it customising it here and there to find out i should have found one with no previous damage and blown my wallet on it.
plus in finding another supra..chassis inspection would be part of what i look at... I'M NOT selling my car..but the thought still buggs me, and if i find myself a 2nd supra i want to know whats considered a stay-away.

 

[americanjebus]

what is the point of your project?

1/4 mile
looks
speed

or garage queen?

if you want 1/4 mile
pre 89 hardtops with cloth interiiors, lighter than the 89+, targas weight more, leather = extras which = more weight.
and for a project i'm assuming your going to tear down the engine anyway.

looks.
89+ in my book, just so much cleaner and nicer than earlier models and my choice for a project car unless your stripping it down.

as far as what to look for in general,
-under carpet by spare tire make sure theres no rust or different paint from exterior, if colors dont match look for parts that may have been weled back together or damage on other parts.
-under hood and door jambs look for stickers that may indicate the car was salvaged. or for non oem welds.

otherwise check oil condition, running condition (if applicable), romp on it only way to tell if the drivetrain is donig anything its not supposed to.

kind of vague on what kind of project your looking to do.

 

[supra90turbo]

Lightness per year only applies if you're leaving it stock everywhere but the engine.
My 90 will be as light as any other lighter weight supra.

As far as what makes a good project car? Zero rust and I mean ZERO!
That's really it.

 

[SupraDreamPDR]

NO rust and a clean title for me.

 

[Figit090]

In my idea of a project car i'd want a faster car with good 1/4 times but not to the point of HUGE hp or taking the interior out to save weight. Just a nice car that looks new and has an ample load of HP so it can perform well and maybe go to the track for fun and handle the stress... but a daily driver.

I also didn't know how much wrecks can hurt the chassis integrity... making it flex excessively. I guess it isnt really a problem...but i just didn't know if it is bad to start with a car that's already had damage.

I was kinda just looking for what kind of chassis damage to avoid... i.e. what kind of damage will make the car never be the same again...noticeably.

I asked partially because of my car... i think its been in a wreck but it was fixed so i guess either it was when it was newer and worth it or later and it wasnt that bad. it's been repaired professionally because i didnt notice it until later. It's also been stripped and painted. there are small spots without the black, revealing grey. but everywhere i've looked is black except the one spot.

I'm just a perfectionist and when i think about how my car may have been wrecked it makes the car seem funny. i guess i'm just weird like that. the car looks fine except the drivers side door doesn't line up with the rear quarterpanel and the hatch is a bit lower then the rear fender when it's shut and when i see that it bugs me. that part is mostly cosmetic, but i dunno.

I've never driven a perfect undamaged supra so i dont know how it compares...this is the first sportscar i've driven.




one of the main things i was wondering though are why people seem to choose swaps over new cars...is it just sentimental value or is it availibility?