I'm looking to build a daily driver plus something I can take to the track. I've been looking into the 4th, 2nd and 1st Gen F-body'*, 3rd Gen X-Body'*, 1'st and 2nd Gen A-Body'* and the Turbo V-6'* like the Grand National and Syclone ect...

What do you guys recommend? I'm looking to make about 500rwhp. What car do you recommend and what engine/trans (I prefer manual but auto is ok) combination should I use? I'm looking for a daily driver so a car that gets 10mpg wouldn't really work.

I'm looking for ideas so I can go buy the car and then little by little start working on it. My budget for the car itself is about $5k and then about $400 a month for parts to build it up. I'm not looking to build it over night but what should I start with so I end up with something I'm happy with. I'm willing to hear everyone opinion.

Regardless of the vehicle, an LS1 engine coupled with a T56 transmission are both easy to mod to whatever HP you can afford. There are countless upgrades for the LS1, and an upgrade kit for the T56 that is relatively easy to install. GTO, Camaro, Firebird ...

From what I've heard it'* better to use an LQ-9 rather than an LS-1 since the block of the LQ-9 is iron rather than aluminum.

That'* why I like the LS1. Low weight.

i agree ls1/t56 would be the best for what you are trying to accomplish but whats wrong with 3rd gen fbodies? the cars are cheaper, lighter and in states with emissions the tests for them are alot looser than the 4rth gen.

There'* nothing at all wrong with the 3rd Gen F-bodies, I think they're great cars. But I just like the 4th (well the 98-02 4th Gens), 2nd and 1st Gen F-bodies so much more. To me I think they look a lot better. I'd really like to get an A-Body (preferably the 68-72 A-body) since it'* to work on and I really love the size of the eingine bay. Plus the car isn't to small or too big and it'* really comfortable and if I need to I can throw some friends in the back and they wont be all squished lol

To each his own I guess. I would rather have a third gen then any other. Were are you from? Normally its not realistic to use your hobby car as your dd, unless you have a backup. And the older it is the less realistic it will be. You are always breaking stuff and you can't go into town and get what you need to fix it.

I'm from Los Angeles. The reason I want to use it is because my dad drove his 1970 Chevelle 396 everyday for about 20 years and it never left him on the side of rode and it never came home on a two truck. He just gave it regular maintenance. Then I remember my first car which was 98 Eclipse GS-T Auto. I had it for about a year and that was one hard year. The transmission went out, the brake rotor just shattered and it'* not form hard braking, it just shattered, then there was some engine problem with the engine that no could seem to find the problem to. In the one year I had that car I was towed about 7 times.

I am qutie aware that the 4th gens are harder to work on and the 3rd gens are so much easier but I just love the look of the LS-1 gen so much more. Not that the 3rd gen is a bad looking car.

BTW I would start driving my dads Chevelle but I've have other plans for that car so I'll wait to start working on that car.

driving an old car by itself is not too bad especially were you are, i wish i had the parts availability and weather you have, but once you start adding power and racing it the parts really start breaking, its always a learning experience. when i went to the 355 i have i traded 700 to a guy with a 70'* 454 monte.the th400 was a slightly better than stock rebuild and appently not enough cause it broke so i had to take it to a race shop and have it built for real(car down for at least a week). then i figured i would be smart and preemptively change the driveshaft to what the shop called his "stock car" drive shaft which was double thick metal, that didnt last last either, down another week while i have a custom double width shaft built. it goes on and on you add better heads then you figure out something in the rear isnt strong enough any more. etc..

One thing I forgot to ask is which rear end and gears do you recommend? Should I go with a 12 Bolt or a Ford 9 Inch or maybe something else?? Also what'* a good set of street gears for the rear end. Gears are my weak point and I don't know a lot about them. I want some gears for good MPG not really racing since my cars is gonna be about 95% Street 5% Track.