Can it be done?

[doc2336]

So i was just in a huge arguement with my father about the 240 i bought and he was telling me how (since im 17 turning 18) its a complete waste of money, and its only going to end in failure and debt, its not going to be safe and reliable because of course since im a kid i dont know anything right? and he told me im stupid for thinking i can make this a respectable vehicle. Im not here to complain, actually far from it. If anything this just lit a fire in my a** to prove his non supportive a** wrong. Im here to ask can it be made reliable safe and respectable for around 5k. and what i mean by safe and reliable i think of suspension upgrades, engine rebuild, steering, breaks, inspection and emissions. So...can it be done or should i just put the thing back on craigslist?

[nevertheless]

With inspection and emissions you probably be a little over 5k. I say prove his a** wrong.

[doc2336]

With inspection and emissions you probably be a little over 5k. I say prove his a** wrong.

Yeah i just looked, the stickers are good till next year so i dont have to worry about those.

[S13_RB25]

Well is it running now?? I got my 240 with a blown HG for $750 and got it running reliable for way under 5k, without all the suspension and other stuff though. All i have done is a rebuild, with arp hardware, MLS HG and other goodies and 5spd swap. I did the math and im actually still under 2k lol. So you can prove his a** wrong lol. Good luck and keep us posted!

[SX APPEAL]

In a word, NO.

I know that's not what you want to hear, but its what I've discovered over the past few years of working on these cars. I got my first 240 when I was 14, and within the first few months was thinking exactly what you are. Now nearly 10 years later I've been through a couple of 240's and I'm still only finally getting close to my original goals as a teenager, and I can't even begin to add up the amount of money I've spent between all my projects, safe to say WAY more than $5,000, and a hell of a lot more than the cars are actually worth lol.

Here's what happens: you say ok I have this car and this much money, so you poke around the internet and make a nice pretty shopping list of all the things you need to get to your goals, right? WRONG! You will never be able to anticipate EVERY little piece of the puzzle, and more than that, every little setback that will cause you to have to spend money in areas you didn't expect. Hell just last week I spent over $100 just on little fittings and hoses to finish up details like heater hoses, coolant lines, oil lines and other little stuff you don't even think to consider when you're making those little shopping lists... And that's just last week, it was the same story the week before, and two weeks before that etc etc...

Also take this into account: you're (pretty much) 18, what are you going to be doing this time next year, or the year after that? College? Tech school? Working full time? Where are you going to be living? At home? Dorms? Your own apartment? Will you have a place to work on that car wherever you go? Do you really want to devote a great deal of your time and (damn near) all of your money on a long term project during a time in your life when your priorities are gong to be changing at a million miles an hour?

So here's my advice to you, if you want to go fast, take the 5G's (btw do you already have that cash in hand, or is that another hypothetical?) and buy a car that already does everything you want it to do. If you really want a 240, you can make it very nice, clean and reliable for that amount, but don't be out trying to beat the rich kids in school with their Evo's, STI's and Corvette's. Instead set goals you can realistically achieve; a semi-quick, very clean, tasteful, nice handling 240 is very doable for under 5K. And spend the rest of your time and money (the majority) studying, booze and trying to get laid like everyone else in high school

But seriously, have fun while you're young, take on a big project when you have a more stable situation.

But then again... I wouldn't have taken this advise at 17, so I don't expect you to either...

[AAV240sx]

...Words...

Listen to this guy haha.

I've had my 240 since 2004 when I was 16/17 & it's my first car... it's definitely a money pit,and if you aren't careful it will for sure put you in debt lol. Depending on how beat up your car is, for 5000 dollars, you can make it reliable, but know that it will never be as safe or nice as a new/newer car.

Best advice I can think of, grab a reliable car like a honda or something & focus on school and prepare to dump the 5k into tuition/books.

[S13Lovell]

In my opinion, yes. BUT! I think the moral of the story is for 5k.... or 10k you'll never be finished. Even at 25 i'd be stubborn enough to do w/e it takes to show my dad i was right.

[DaniMike]

To begin, What are you working with? Year, issues it has now, what actually works...

If you keep a tight budget and just want a DD that isn't super fast and s*** it could be easily done with $5K.

Suspension: <$200 for Energy Suspension kit to fix slop; $650 for coilovers or Spring/strut.

Brakes: Make sure calipers all work, if not replace; New pads&rotors; fully bleed brakes ($150). If front calipers are shot, upgrade to Q45 brakes ($200)

If engine is blown, just buy a good used one for cheap and throw it in there. Keep all emission parts and it should pass fine. ($1k);
Or rebuild what you have in there, depending on what's wrong with it($1.5K)

About $2k worth of stuff done if you do it all yourself.

GL!!

Don't forget to tell us what you are working with!

[doc2336]

Thanks for all the input guys i really appreciate it, Its already running and in pretty good shape I was just putting those examples out as worse case scenarios in all honesty after driving it around these last couple of days all i think i really need is an engine rebuild at this point

[DaniMike]

About $500 for a full rebuild kit if you do it yourself. $1,200 for a remanufactured engine sent to your door.

[doc2336]

oh aswell as what im doing after high school, 2 years community college (who wants to pay 30,000 when you can pay 3 the 2 years state or bigger school then Be and officer in the Navy (pilot beyotch )

[krash]

Whats your goal for 5k? For a relaible car, or for a finished project?

5k is NOTHING in terms of finishing a project. You can spend 2-3k on suspension alone. But, if you're not looking to upgrade anything and you just want the car to be a solid, running car, you can definitely get that done for 5k.

[doc2336]

For now its my daily driver so all I need right now is it to be reliable, ill work on it as I get money but I'm not putting all my money into it only money I specifically save for it

[95zenki man]

For now its my daily driver so all I need right now is it to be reliable, ill work on it as I get money but I'm not putting all my money into it only money I specifically save for it

Thats how it starts...save up for a few weeks and buy some stuff then do it again... You end up blowing every other paycheck without even thinking about on stuff you dont need. Trust me i know.

[doc2336]

To begin, What are you working with? Year, issues it has now, what actually works...

If you keep a tight budget and just want a DD that isn't super fast and s*** it could be easily done with $5K.

Suspension: <$200 for Energy Suspension kit to fix slop; $650 for coilovers or Spring/strut.

Brakes: Make sure calipers all work, if not replace; New pads&rotors; fully bleed brakes ($150). If front calipers are shot, upgrade to Q45 brakes ($200)

If engine is blown, just buy a good used one for cheap and throw it in there. Keep all emission parts and it should pass fine. ($1k);
Or rebuild what you have in there, depending on what's wrong with it($1.5K)

About $2k worth of stuff done if you do it all yourself.

GL!!

Don't forget to tell us what you are working with!

Oh man im sorry i never even saw your post. Well everything seems to be working just fine im probably going to rebuild the engine a little later on because its kind of old but thats no biggy. as for everything else im going to have my buddy look at it that knows cars really well and see if he has anything to say about it.

[doc2336]

For now its my daily driver so all I need right now is it to be reliable, ill work on it as I get money but I'm not putting all my money into it only money I specifically save for it

Thats how it starts...save up for a few weeks and buy some stuff then do it again... You end up blowing every other paycheck without even thinking about on stuff you dont need. Trust me i know.

So are saying just be careful what i spend on it or...?