Sup guys , have a nice project for the next upcoming year 2018 to build a race car for under $2018 for a challenge
sounds crazy but 100% doable
out of the $2018 dollars you can recuperate $1009 back from selling stock parts you dont need
i'm buiding an ls1 miata
already picked up a running 2002 chevy z28 camaro for $1408 " flood damage " and a
2002 miata rolling shell , thats beat up and has rust for $100 it was being sent off to the scrap yard for recycle metal
already have the z28 camaro rolling shell sold for $1500 but can only credit $1009 back to the challenge
so i have $499 into a complete LS1 swap and the miata
what do you guys think ?

 

Depends on how bad the rust is. If the frame is rusted out, you'll spend a huge amount of time and money repairing that.

 

Sure hope you can make it as that would really set the bar for a low end build.
For the driveshaft you should be able to cut down the Camaro driveshaft.
Don't know how you are going to do a strong enough low budget rear end because of the need for custom axles.
A couple of other things that come to mind that could blow your budget would be the radiator and some race ready tires & wheels and an exhaust system.
Hope you document your build.

For my own curiosity, why did you not simply build the Z28?

 

Grassroots Motorsports Challenge, several V8 Miatas have competed in the past.

 

no fun , heavy car , you won't score any points with the judges just stripping a camaro and racing it ,
rear end would be an 8.8 out of an explorer , $100
exhaust , custom made in house out of old piping from the camaro ,
mounting the LS1 with out buying the subframe kit is my only worry

 

I know there was a few for 2017 I didnt go , but checked online ,
I'm thinking on switching the project car ,
have to make up my mind
also have another cool donor car I can put together
I want something unique to score big points in originality, so I was thinking an
SRT MINI
2005 SRT-4.NEON drive train making close to 600hp
into a
2005 mini cooper S
both engines are made by chrysler

 

Please document this well, I would love to see it turn out as you hope

 

you have to thats the cool thing about the challenge , everything has to be documented and legit they dont want cheating
you can ask to see other competitors log book or folder to see how they did it ...
here is my free LS1 swap , car $1100 with auction fees $1408 , sold rolling shell for $1250 and wheels & tires for $250
but can only claim half of the $2018 budget back , so i have an LS1 SWAP for $399 bucks

 

another challenge builder!
I'm doin a 99 with turbo 3400 for this year, built the IMSA AMC last year.
you on the grm forum? if not, you should be. great corner of the internet....

 

Nice glad to see another miata build , i saw a couple of miatas on the list for the 2017 challange , couldn't make it to the challange this year , wanted to go and watch but even that was impossible to much going on with the pass of huricane IRMA ,
i think ill put my miata LS build on hold for the 2018 challenge , it will take to long to finish and this year i really dont have the time , so instead i started building something else for the challenge that will be easier to complete , never done the challenge before so dont know what to expect ...