banini

In my quest for a cheap, easy to maintain, American, rear wheel drive, 4 door sedan, I have decided a 5.0 equipped Fairmont may be a good choice. I don't race, but I would like something relatively quick. My plans are as follows:

5.0 with anywhere between 240 and 300 HP
Cobra IRS with stock 3.27 gears (I've seen these on ebay for about $500)
SN 95 front suspension combonents
Some good solid subframe connectors

For the transmission I was thinking, okay, I want the best highway gas mileage possible. Do you guys think it would be possible to get 30 mpg highway with like a T56 with a 0.5 overdrive? Can you put a higher overdrive in a 5 speed?

Thats basically it, apart from a nice set of FR500 wheels, early 80's mustang GT dash trim and gauges, and some good comfortable seats.

How much do you guys think the whole package would cost me if I do all the work besides building the engine, and welding the subframe connectors myself?

2 kwik

30 mpg...no way...why put an IRS in it?

put some 17's on it and some good koni....will handle nicely

ACE

I agree ditch the IRS setup thats a heck of a lot of fabbing to make it work and with your axle you have now if you just change your gears youll be fine! should have made it out of a farmount WAGON though.... haha kidding sounds like a good project!

7upedition

^ I agree with these guys about the IRS, thats why so many are on e bay, they aren't all they are made to be unless your running the mogols section at motocross! lol j/k, but yea that sounds like a solid build plan, but 20mpg is more realistic, either decid ebetween a mild ride DD, or a built for the track project beast! good luck either way!, o yea by the way welcome to the forums

banini

If an LS1 T56 Camaro can get 29 highway, why couldn't I get somewhere around there? I don't really care about city mileage, I know I'll probably only get like 15 - 18 there, but highway I don't see why I can't get high 20s if the Camaro can do it.

5speed GT

Lets face it, the LS1is more technicalogicly advanced the the 5.0L I could see it getting 23-25mpg

banini

Well, even an LT1 Camaro can get 26. No one has said how much they think it will cost me yet. I have to set some sort of budget. Maybe like $6k.

5speed GT

rebuild the engine and add better heads/cam/intake 1800(if you do the work yourself) the tranny will be around 2300, If you wanted IRS 500

so we'll say $4600 plus the price of the car would be a good guess

ofcoarse you could get better heads and raise that up another 5-600 dollars

banini

Well, I'm a very mechanically inclined person, and while I'm sure I could rebuild an engine just fine, having never done it before makes me kind of nervous about doing it. I know someone who could help me if I had any trouble though.