thinking about selling my sunfire for about 500 and buying a cheap beater to take out on trails and dunes for fun and just slowly working on it as like a project. does anyone in michigan know of any cheap chevys or dodges for 5-600$? i just searched craigslists and they're all fords or rolling chassis.

Did you try searching e-bay motors?

http://www.ebay.com/motors

not yet ill give that a shot

you should check out cherokee xj'*, they weigh half as much as any truck and are way better balanced. which is what you want for off road, dont know how many trucks i pulled out with mine back wheels just spinning. no weight in the back = no traction. plus they are dirt cheap to buy and the aftermarket lifts and junk are only limited by your wallet