Project D-$150
I started a thread in the restorations thread, then realized I am not actually restoring anything, and being a truck, I should put it here and focus on the motor being a turbocharged 318.
My goal is a random self imposed Parameter of building a 12 second truck for the absolute lowest cost possible.
My original goal was 12 sec. for $1,000, including the cost of the truck.
Well......I am at $1,040 and I still need rear tires and a Posi of some sort, so with the almost guaranteed oversights, and even tossing in a welded rear end, it seems pretty clear this will be a minimum of $1,500, and if I am honest, closer to $2k, but even at that, this is pretty damn cheap.
the truck is an 88 D-150 I grabbed, that is quite clean, rust free and low miles for $150 (hence Project D-$150)
She has a 318 TBI motor that runs like a top, but has little performance potential.
I grabbed a used Edelbrock Performer and a Holley carb (now a 600) and an eBay GT45 turbo.
The carb is vacuum secondary, but I will be putting it inside a box, so it should work quite well.
I am cutting a lot of corners and forgoing trick parts in the name of saving money.
More could be saved and achieve the goal, but this is my daily driver and I want to both go quick and not hurt the truck.
The first penny pincher is: no intercooler! I never thought I would consider this, but running low boost and through a carb drops the inlet temperature as much or even more than an intercooler. $200 saved!
the next big saver, and my favorite so far is:
Running a 5pin HEI module instead of a $450 MSD or Progression distributor.
I grabbed this little sucker for $10 New on eBay, and with an adjustable Hobbs pressure switch ($25) I can retard the ignition 5 degrees whenever boost is from 2-7psi
I will start fabbing parts this week. Just have to finish my silly airbagged camper trailer
My goal is a random self imposed Parameter of building a 12 second truck for the absolute lowest cost possible.
My original goal was 12 sec. for $1,000, including the cost of the truck.
Well......I am at $1,040 and I still need rear tires and a Posi of some sort, so with the almost guaranteed oversights, and even tossing in a welded rear end, it seems pretty clear this will be a minimum of $1,500, and if I am honest, closer to $2k, but even at that, this is pretty damn cheap.
the truck is an 88 D-150 I grabbed, that is quite clean, rust free and low miles for $150 (hence Project D-$150)
She has a 318 TBI motor that runs like a top, but has little performance potential.
I grabbed a used Edelbrock Performer and a Holley carb (now a 600) and an eBay GT45 turbo.
The carb is vacuum secondary, but I will be putting it inside a box, so it should work quite well.
I am cutting a lot of corners and forgoing trick parts in the name of saving money.
More could be saved and achieve the goal, but this is my daily driver and I want to both go quick and not hurt the truck.
The first penny pincher is: no intercooler! I never thought I would consider this, but running low boost and through a carb drops the inlet temperature as much or even more than an intercooler. $200 saved!
the next big saver, and my favorite so far is:
Running a 5pin HEI module instead of a $450 MSD or Progression distributor.
I grabbed this little sucker for $10 New on eBay, and with an adjustable Hobbs pressure switch ($25) I can retard the ignition 5 degrees whenever boost is from 2-7psi
I will start fabbing parts this week. Just have to finish my silly airbagged camper trailer
