Build question for FFR - Donor vs New

[csbuceo]

I have a couple question regarding parts.....
Engine - rebuilt or Crate?
If rebuilt who do you recommend in AZ/

Transmission - rebuild T5 or Use a Levy transmission?

Rear End - rebuild 3.55 or new?

What upgrades to Engine, Suspension, brakes, etc are recommended?

Any other advice would be helpful....
I plan to order kit within the next three months....

Chris

[bwana50]

Chris:

- I rebuilt my engine myself, after a local machine shop checked out the block.

- I had my T-5 rebuilt, as my engine is relatively "low yield", so I wasn't worried about torque killing the trans.

- My donor had 3.73 gears already; I just changed the oil & seals and painted it. Diff gears should last a long time if properly taken care of, so you can probably just rebuild yours.

- I upgraded to coilovers after a few months with the stock shocks/springs, and I highly recommend that upgrade. I hear the 3-link handles even better, and IRS better still. But for the kind of driving I do, I have no complaints with my setup.

- I switched to disc rear brakes on my donor when I was driving it, and kept the power brake booster when I put the parts into THRAMP. Stops very well with little effort.

For engine mods, it's dependent on thickness of your wallet; also consider, realistically, what you're going to be using it for. If it's to be a daily driver, I'd keep it fairly stock; at the other end of the spectrum, if it's going to live at the track, build the engine to the hilt.

[Nuke427]

My buddy built two cars, one with used parts semi donor situation and the second with all crate new. The second car was much easier to complete and all the parts were new and required much less labor on his part. Didn't cost that much more either, my recommendation is buy new crate everything, unless you already own a donor of good quality.

[Maricopa]

I'm just starting on my FFR build. I bought a 'pallet donor' from AMP here in Phx. It had already gotten some mods such as Trick Flow heads, an Edelbrock Performer intake, cam and 3:55s.
The pallet was more pricey than going out and finding my own donor, but there was no stripping down, the parts were steamed cleaned for me and the rest of the cleaning and painting took probably no more than 10-12 hours of actual work.
There is something to be said for going all new, if you have the $$s and want the extra piece of mind and less hassle then go for it.