Building A Project Car, Part 1: Planning

Title Image, Dino Dalle Carbonare for Speedhunters. Nissan Silvia S13 with a Bensopra kit.

So I have gathered enough experience to be able to write a post like this. I am writing a series of five posts relating to building your first or your newest project car. This guide with help you throughout your next car build. I have worked on a few cars myself which would make me a rookie in the game of cars. I decided to make this guide because I feel like I have learned a lot during the days I have worked on cars, and I feel that many of you guys would benefit from my knowledge. I hope you guys enjoy this guide. And I am asking for 15 points on this post and some positive feedback to see if I should really post more of these. Thanks again.

Before setting out to start your master build, you need to set a clear goal. You should have a good understanding of what you want with your next car. If you have no idea what car you want you could look into a Honda S2000, a Mazda Miata, a Nissan 180SX, or any car you really want to work on. If you want to build a muscle car this isn’t the guide for you. This is best suited for imports since mostly all the parts mentioned are only compatible with JDM spec cars. I am giving away some pre-built specification and planning sheets for those who need a really clear start to building your car. They also include a list of compatible parts and their corresponding prices. I can also adjust it to a specific budget. You really need to set a budget for the perfect car build, as you can afford. I suggest that if you have financial issues you should stay away from any professional car build. You need good money for a good project. Here is an example build that I drew down a few months for the Subaru BRZ that I just finished working on: used Subaru BRZ $22,350 (rounded), $3,100 Rocket Bunny wide body kit, $750 for custom built spoiler (How To Guide coming soon), $4,495 GReddy turbo kit (rounded). The real cost was around 10% more when you factor in taxes, shipping, and handling fees. Plus some of the parts required some fitment work which costed more since I had to purchase some tools. And my friend still has to purchase some engine upgrades which is possibly the Cosworth Stage 2 kit and maybe a GReddy exhaust. The whole purpose of this build is to make the car drift in all conditions what so ever. I will also invest in a new drivetrain since the factory fitted one might be broken. And that is very important when you are building a RWD car. After budget planning you should start setting aside your well earned monies for your massive project. And also set out a schedule to work on your car, time is very important. This is all for my part 1 guide regarding your next car build. See you next time!