What is your budget? There are totally other vehicles that are way better. Already underpowered vehicles + auto trans = fail. TOTALLY underpowered metro + auto trans = epic fail.

 

Take out all the sound deadener, spare tire, a/c components, p/s, washer fluid tank, carpet...

I have heard of metros with the curb weight dropped down into the sub 1500lb area. I know there is a completely gutted one with a cbr600 crotch rocket motor that ended up being so light that they had to cut the springs in half to get it back down to stock height...

Festiva's can also be wicked little sleepers. there are bolt in turbo engine swaps for them as well.

 

I suppose it comes down to personal preference, but if I wanted a true sleeper it would be one of these:


(Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser)


With this under the hood:

(Supercharged 572 big-block)
Those dyno in at over 1000hp.

And for the power to weight ratio on this.
1970 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser curb weight = 4289lb (this is for the 455 which is similar in weight to the 572)
@1028hp = 4.17 lb/hp, That will have no problem blowing a Corvette (even a ZL-1) off the road in a drag race.

 

Under $2,000. An automatic Metro should be able to get 30+ MPG. Which is what were are gonna shoot for. But $2,000 doesn't buy much around here.

 

For around $2000 you could probably get a Chevy Cavalier, Ford Focus (early model), Ford Escort, Ford Contour, Pontiac Sunfire, Saturn SL/SC, Mazda Protégé, or Geo/Chevy Prism (a re-branded stripped-down Corolla).

All of these get 30 mpg+ and are better and safer vehicles than a Geo Metro. Unless you really want a Metro there are better options out there.

 

Wife has always wanted a Metro, not 100% sure why. Maybe because she really likes small cars that are easy to park. Anyway, its kinda hard to buy a car without selling the current one first. Hoping someone buys my Comanche soon.

 

Show her test crash videos of a Metro she will change her mind fast.They are death traps get her a car with more metal in it she will be safer.

 

you take your $10000+ engine combo and back it with the $3000 transmission, $2000 rearend, $1000 suspension, and $1000 wheels and tires that you will need to hold that much power into your $2000 wagon (if you bought a fairly clean one) and I will build something for
$5000 that will tear it a new rectal cavity...

 

and by the way, that wouldn't be much of a sleeper with the blower sticking through the hood...

 

youre a little low with that number on the engine...
http://store.chevroletperformance.co...-12498827--%3E


ouch.

 

Yah, that was a generic pic I found, They make superchargers for that engine that sit off to the side and pipe the air into the manifold (kind-of like a turbo but belt driven) that would be better to hide it under a stock hood.

 

I'm curious as to what you could build for $5,000 that will run sub-3sec. 0-60 times and sub-9 sec. 1/4 miles.

You can certainly build a faster car, but I have difficulty seeing how it could be done on a $5,000 budget.

Also you could get the Vista Cruiser with a 455 stock, if you throw on Olds 442 heads, cam, and a dual-quad intake (and carbs of course), you have a car capable of ~5 sec. 0-60s and ~13 sec 1/4 miles (not bad for a 4,200lb wagon) for $5,000-$7,500, not as fast as the supercharged 572 but not nearly as expensive.

 

fox body mustang rolling chassis-$500
460/c6-$$500
Kasse heads-$2500
cam-$150
Intake and carb-$600
shift kit and converter-$500
31 spline spool and axles for the 8.8-$500
15x10 steelies with 275/60 DR's- $600
rear control arms-$300
4.10 gears- $150

OK so maybe I'm a wee bit over budget ($1300), BUT, i'm still into mine for less than 1/3 of what your into yours for...

Not to mention I quoted all new part prices except the engine and trans. with some wheeling and dealing and serious searching, you could cut most of those prices in half.

or how about this...

Fox body mustang roller-$500
351w/c4 combo- $500
AFR 205 heads- $1500
intake and carb- $500
N2O kit with 200 shot- $350
cam-$150
shift kit and converter- $500
31spl spool/axles-$500
15x10 steelies with 275/60 DR's- $600
rear control arms- $300
4.10 gears-$150

$5550 before any wheeling and dealing for used parts.

 

You're not running sub 9 on that setup


And talk of being able to run that fast is much easier than actually doing it.

 

700HP in a 2750 pound car w/ driver?