So i have been asked to be a driver / mechanic in the 24 hour of lemons race next year. Now also i am one of a couple given the duty of finding a car. The rules state that you cant spend no more then 500 bucks on this lemon to race it. So here is what im looking for.

 

It needs to be fast so all loyale and there brothers are out. It needs to be light so all station wagons are out. I want it to be awd. I need it to last a constant 24 hours.

 

So im thinking 90-94 subaru legacy awd 5 speed. It doesnt need to look good it just needs to run and drive. It will be gutted and all glass removed most likely. If you can think up of any other car i would be interested in hearing what you had to say.

 

Ben

Gen 1 Legacies would be nice but they're heavy as hell - you'd really need to gut them good.

 

Other than that I'd put an EJ swapped DL in.

you're gonna be hard pressed to get an AWD around here for $500 or less....

 

this going to be a set road course then?

Yea its not a oval track its a roac course. Legacys are heavy as hell huh. I thought about a DL or a GL with a legacy motor and tranny but the suspension is key also. I need something i can either up grade or modify. And wheels are key also because its easier to bomb around a course with 16inch steelies vs 13inch or hard to find 15 inch.

ben, check your pm, and do it.

i found your turbo leg and its nearby. and cheap and perfect......

Desmond Jones knows all about the 24 Hours Of Lemons. He's attended a few times.

 

Sounds fun as hell, its in Joliet right? you could pick up a Legacy here in WI for like $300 that might just need a clutch or a HG.

Too bad I sold my old lemons Festiva to someone else. I've done 4 races so far. I've been fixing up my old GTI I bought back from a friend for $100. I'm hoping to do buttonwillow in december if I can get enough drivers and the cage done.

 

With that said I would just go for a legacy since you said you want the awd and an EJ. It won't be as light as an EA car but it will be much easier for you. Just gut it as much as you can. A lot of weight can be saved from removing everything from the doors and just welding them shut. you will also have much better suspension and braking options for a legacy too. An Impreza would be the best but it's very hard to find one for under $500.

I was thinking possibly a rx or an xt for weight but again rx only has an ea engine and the xts parts are rare to find. But if i found one beat to crud already might not be to bad of an investment.

http://desmoines.craigslist.org/cto/1928330585.html

http://cedarrapids.craigslist.org/pts/1910646344.html

xt- 250 bucks needs hg

Thanks boys, placing calls to both people.

here's an ea81 wagon....

 

http://desmoines.craigslist.org/cto/1929135185.html

I would advise against anything with an EA motor. They can't handle racing conditions, you'll be blowing headgaskets and have no power. Also, what race are you aiming for?

Probally not till next year but the iowa omaha one.

well if it's in august again I would go with something that can take running in the heat. With our festiva we put in a radiator that was twice as big and had the fan on constantly so it wouldn't overheat. We were running altamont and thunderhill though, I'm not familiar with the omaha track.

Just get any old POS that will run and drive. If it blows up, who cares, that's part of the fun. I've always wanted to go to one of those and definitely would like to race in one some day as well. I understand that if your car looks like it might be worth more than $500 the crowd can vote to have it destroyed. Awesome.

I understand that if your car looks like it might be worth more than $500 the crowd can vote to have it destroyed. Awesome.

 

This is true, but the last few races I was in no one got enough votes to get crushed. It's mostly you being a idiot and pissing people off that gets you voted for the crusher.

Audi 4000. Mine has a 20v straight 5, they are awd and fun as hell

Festiva, escort 1.9, civic hatch. Those are smart cars to buy for lemons. If you're lucky, you can find a decent bmw 3 series.

My daily driver is a '95 Honda Civic with 5 speed manual. All I ever have to do is change oil on that thing, super dependable. Should be able to buy one with 200k + miles pretty cheap and it will still run forever. Good driving/handling car too for 24 hours of lemons.