Affordable Project Cars - GM A- And G-Bodies And Blazers

Nos. 8-5: The Department of Cousins: '78 to '84 Fairmont and Zephyr/'81 to '86 Ford Granada and LTD II/'83 to '85 Mercury Marquis/'83 to '88 Thunderbird
These cars share the same huge aftermarket parts mother lode that is offered for the Fox Mustang. If you can't find a factory V-8 car, you can use a swap K-member from any one of a million aftermarket suppliers and drop in a 5.0L from a Mustang. The 8.8 rearend housing is identical, so it will also swap right in--and you can even add disc brakes from other factory Fords. These cars are light, plentiful, and cheap.

Buy!
All '70s and '80s Fairmont, Zephyr, Fox Granada, LTD II, and Marquis

Avoid!
Non-Fox-chassis LTD II, pre-Panther-chassis Marquis

This is Jesse Kershaw's '85 Ford LTD II. It will get a T56 six-speed, a 4.6L three-valve engine with a Ford Racing install kit, hot rod cams, an 8.8 rearend, and a 4.30 gear. It also features the ultimate poor man's five-lug brake conversion using Ranger rotors and Ford motorsports axles with flipped Lincoln Mark VIII brackets, rotors, and calipers.
This is Jesse Kershaw's '85 Ford LTD II. It will get a T56 six-speed, a 4.6L three-valve e
The LTD II will also get a K-member, front and rear control arms, adjustable coilovers, and through-the-floor subframe connectors through Team Z in Flat Rock, Michigan. When it is done, the car should run streetable 11s for about $6,000 total.
The LTD II will also get a K-member, front and rear control arms, adjustable coilovers, an

No. 4: Fast '78 to '88 GM A- and G-Bodies
We've been beating this drum since the mid-'90s, and mostly drag racers have listened. The A- and G-body platform uses the classic rear-drive configuration and usually has a small-block with a TH350 and a 10-bolt from GM. The most sought after is the '78 to '81 A-body Malibu with the single headlight, but the G-body '82 to '88 Monte Carlo and Cutlass and '82 to '87 El Camino and Pontiac Grand Prix are also desirable.

If you want to go fast, the A- and G-bodies swallow big-blocks with plenty of room to spare. They are usually factory equipped with a 305 or 350, so you can add the bolt-ons right away.
If you want to go fast, the A- and G-bodies swallow big-blocks with plenty of room to spar
Go ahead, hack away. Since you can't drive a race-gas, 10-second street car too far anyway, why not make it your own? Door panels and carpet are for quitters.
Go ahead, hack away. Since you can't drive a race-gas, 10-second street car too far anyway

No. 3: '82 to '04 S-10s and Blazers
We spoke to the guys at Jaguars That Run (JTR) to get the deal on this way-cheap swap. The 2WD trucks are light enough that even a stock V-8 will make them fly, so really the focus is on performing V-8 swaps cleanly and getting the cooling system right. JTR says the best bet for low-buck fun is finding a truck that has a 4.3L six with a five-speed. The transmission will bolt to a Gen I small-block, and if you find an '83-and-later, you can reuse the hydraulic clutch. In 1995, the S-10 came with an 8.5-inch 10-bolt, so you can either start there or find a wrecked one and swap in the housing. To cool it all down, JTR recommends a radiator from an '84 to '89 Corvette and an electric fan from an '88 to '95 Ford Taurus.

Buy!
'95 H.O. V-6 five-speed S-10

Avoid!
'82 to '83 S-10 with the cable-clutch BorgWarner five-speed--unless you want to run an auto

For dirt-cheap brakes, find a Blazer. The '98 2WD Blazer has big front and rear brakes that you can swap directly on to the lighter S-10.
For dirt-cheap brakes, find a Blazer. The '98 2WD Blazer has big front and rear brakes tha
We've also seen the LS-series engine going into the S-10. This Blazer belongs to CC reader Phil Chivers. It has a 6.0L Gen III swap with an MP 112 blower.
We've also seen the LS-series engine going into the S-10. This Blazer belongs to CC reader