Hi guys. I'm 16 and i'm looking to buy my first car pretty soon. I've decided on a g3 teg. I've found a few nice shells (with complete interior and everything) and i was thinking it would be a good idea to buy a nice shell and put an LS engine in it.
I tried telling my parents about this but they really don't want me to do it, but they will probably let me do it if thats what i really want to do. Some other people have also been telling me to just get a car that runs and to not buy a shell.
What are your opinions on this? The shells have clean titles, and have alot of appearance mods which i plan on putting on later on down the road. They are even the color i want...white

 

If you think you can handle buying all the parts and fixing the problems than yea do it. I wouldnt do that for my first car

 

do you know how to work on cars ? i think it would be easier for you to start off w/ a running car . my latest project i bought as a shell , but i knew what i was getting into .

 

For your first car you're gonna want something really damn reliable...cause you're probably going to beat on it, and chance are wreck it. Props to you if you've got the skill to build a car at 16, but I'd be really pissed if I wrecked said car. There should be plenty of good condition, good priced white LS integras out there, there's no real reason to go with a shell unless you want some fun/challenge. I'd really recommend a beater though.

 

I think you should buy a running car first. put some bolt ons on it learn as much as you can about the car you like the most,and then buy a shell. but its realy up to you.

 

Yea, I knew my car was a project from the day I bought it. . . . and mine was a mint 97gsr. It doesn't matter how old you are, I'm 17 and I already swapped out a motor, built a new motor, installed a turbo kit (removed after I blew the motor too, haha), suspension, interior swap. . .etc... Buy a good repair manual and trust me, invest in some quality tools and read HT a lot, then your set.

 

Why not? If you think you're able to take responsibility in putting together your first car, go for it. It would certainly teach you things you can never learn by just reading.

Although, imo, for a first car, I wouldn't take that step. You speak of appearance mods, and that tells me you don't really have the right mindset to head down this direction right now. Buy a complete car and learn.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by reverie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> You speak of appearance mods, and that tells me you don't really have the right mindset to head down this direction right now. Buy a complete car and learn. </TD></TR></TABLE>

, welcome to h-t
READ, READ, READ

 

if your parents are willing to fork over the beans to pay for the swap labor and parts, go for it... but it iwere only up to you? buy a complete car and forget asking mommy and dadda...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by m R g S r &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yea, I knew my car was a project from the day I bought it. . . . and mine was a mint 97gsr. It doesn't matter how old you are, I'm 17 and I already swapped out a motor, built a new motor, installed a turbo kit (removed after I blew the motor too, haha), suspension, interior swap. . .etc... Buy a good repair manual and trust me, invest in some quality tools and read HT a lot, then your set. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Now thats the kind of reply i was hoping for! But yea guys... I'm not really building a whole car... just putting an engine in and its done. I think i can do it, I've been reading up on this for about a year and i feel i'm a pretty responsible kid.

 

If all you have to do is install a new engine, then you are NOT buying a shell. A shell is just the main body and nothing else. It sounds like you want to buy a theft recovery car, ie... no engine. This is completely different then building a car from just a shell. Starting with just a shell involves a lot of planning and carefully consideration. I do not know you or what skills you have but I get the vibe this is a little to in depth for your first car. I would highly suggest you start with a complete car and go from there. You can always buy a shell later when are ready to build a car from scratch. I sorta feel if you have to ask this question, should I do this then you already know the answer. Good luck with whatever you do.

 

I did it for my first car. It's a **** load of work, and if you end up paying someone else to do the swap, it's gunna cost more than if you just bought a whole car. Just remeber, it's RARELY just the motor. Salvage cars always have extra parts missing. That's just how it is. I learned a TON from doing it, but I would be hesitant to reccomned it. Also rethink going LS. My .o2.

 

If you can do it yourself and spend no $$ on labor then it's worth it. It would be a good idea to know for sure that you, or your friends can help and it will go as planned.

I agree with the other guys G3's are starting to get pretty cheap so you can prolly find something reliable for cheap. Most people just buy shells because they have a motor to swap in already, or they have specific plans and instead of buying a working car, they can just build how the want from the ground up.

I would just get something working, running, and add some bolt ons and drive. Trust me you will have all the time in the world to do motorswaps, and build.

 

Unless you have experiance or a friend with a lot of experiance working on cars I would get at least something that runs first. I thought i knew what i was doing just be readin SHITLOADS but its alot harder than it looks.

Luckily I've had a really good friend to gain experiance, I got to learn on his DX/LS hybrid. I helped him install his 2nd tranny, gone thru 3 differant suspension setups along with helping another friend with cv's and another friend with just some suspension.

If nothing else I hope you realize this: no reading and research can EVER compare to good old hands on experiance and gettin dirty. I've had 2 SHITTY beaters and I'm glad i did. but now i think im finally ready for my first project.

gl

 

I bought a very good condition 94 integra RS with some mods in nowvember of 2003, and I knew the car when it was running, and knew that only the motor blew (bottom end). I purchased the car with the bad motor and some mods including a fresh set of falken azenis mounted on Si rims for $1400. I sold the rims with new azenis for $350, which knocked my purchase price down to $1050. I bought a longblock from a 98 integra Ls with 38,000 miles and a 6 month warranty from LKQ for $600. I then hired a shop to take the old motor out and install the new motor, ( I don't have the tools to do this yet.......but I'm working on it for the future), for $500. Then I sold off parts that were still good from the old motor and new motor that I had no use for right now....that brought me back $250. So now it's may 2004 and all together I spent $1900 for a very nice DC4 RS with clean title and low miles.....( I specifically wanted an RS for the lighter weight).


Modified by DCcliffjumper2 at 7:51 PM 5/18/2004

 

IMO, if you have to ask us if you should, you shouldn't do it.

My first car was an '86 Maxima Wagon. I had enough money to buy a GSR (which I did a year later), but i gave myself some cusion and had some patience before that. Because statistics are pretty high for 16 year olds and accidents, no matter how good of a driver you think you are.

I wouldn't do it. ESPECIALLY for LS engine. How much are you paying for this "shell"? Engine? Labor?

 

Unless you have the advantages that people such as myself had growing up in a garage it's a pretty bad idea. I built my first engine by myself at age 14. Started as a shop boy at the ripe age of about 5 . If your dad or someone has a lot of shop experience and is more than willing to help, then go for it. It's fun when you learn stuff like that. But if no one knows exactly whats going on then you will have a ton of problems. I know a kid that completely built a VW bug at 13 years old. Of course I don't know if there is anything easier to build then that. Good luck.

 

i did and it still isnt running. its an 89 s-10 pickup extended cab w/ custom paint. its a matter of having time to put it all together. the engine and tranny will be finally all together and running in a couple weeks. i think we might start it this weekend. but still alot more to go. also this is like 2 years later.

 

lol, my first se-r was a shell, i dropped the motor in but had to move b4 i could wire it, so i sold it, i was missing a few peices,

my freind bought a eg hatch shell when he was 16 and he finished with it when he was nearly 18, dropped a b18c suspension and all b4 he put it on the street...

if u kno how to work on cars, and have a few freinds that kno their stuff too, or a few strong freinds and the proper funds on hand then u can do it

 

Yea, too bad your not on this coast, I'd gladly help you put in a new motor, for A LOT less than any shop would charge.

 

Alright thanks alot guys... I'm probably not gonna get this shell any more. I'm just gonna find a nice LS that runs... thanks for all your input

 

Good choice.

 

I'm 23, I'm on my 4th honda, and my 3rd DSM and when my teg got stolen I paid someone to put the motor back in it because it was missing a lot of pieces... It's really hard work and the ONLY reason I would do it myself is if I was cool with the project taking a year or so and build it right from the ground up... There are several things you should know if you do want to do it yourself, for instance, you should plan on doing a timing belt and water pump on the LS before you put it in the car, that's just good preventative maintence, the next thing is, if you buy the LS will it come with an engine harness? because these can be shitty to find, and if the chassis wiring was cut, now you have to find all the missing plugs and re-attach... either way, it's true what they say, Honda engines DO just bolt in, sometimes..... other times... there's a lot of little stuff that will nickle and dime you and you will find that $$$ that you save in labor costs will get spent on the little missing parts! I'm going to have to aggree with the majority and say "buy a runner" and if you still want to do one yourself, you can buy a "shell" later, this way you have transportation in the mean time which will allow you to save your money, and take your time building your shell the right way... Good luck..

Dominic.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by m R g S r &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yea, I knew my car was a project from the day I bought it. . . . and mine was a mint 97gsr. It doesn't matter how old you are, I'm 17 and I already swapped out a motor, built a new motor, installed a turbo kit (removed after I blew the motor too, haha), suspension, interior swap. . .etc... Buy a good repair manual and trust me, invest in some quality tools and read HT a lot, then your set. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I just want to emphasize on quality tools comment and a helms manual.

Get life time warrantied tools such as craftsman, relatively inexpensive but all the hand tools can be exchanged if broken for equal or better quality at any sears store. If you have any flea markets in your area, try to find some beat up broken craftsmen or any other life time guaranteed tools and go to the store and exchange them.

You need a Helms manual. I currently cant find mine, and Im worried about everything I do because I might **** something up. This manual will end up being your best friend, and sometimes, because of the way its organized and lacking an index, your worst enemy.

good luck

 

I just wanted to emphasize the quality of the president... Dude, your avitar is stupid.. and I'm asuming that anyone that will choose "anyone" over george bush is stupid too..