$2000 doesnt get much but how would people spend it?

We have a pitty rough, not always starting EA wagon and have come to the conclusion (wife and I) that 2g into this will probably be better than buying a s**t box four cylinder which very well could have probs itself.

Its now a CFI three speed 6 seater and im wanting to go four speed auto and 4.0mpi.

One wrecker has an EF engine and trans for $750 no accessories, how much fitted would this come to, and what about the coil packs instead of dissy? I also need non smart lock EB auto computer, correct?

The rest of the money will be for new carpet and colour coded front and rear from an 's'.

Any suggestions?

Pete

best bet sell is for the 600 its worth and buy something els.

you can't polish a turd

ef motor has a coil pack, u will need to have an ef ecu or somethin aftermarket for it to run!

plus i dont think the bbm would run with an eb ecu, as ef/el onwards had eec5

for 3-4 grand you could pick up an EF GLI, try to flog the EA off for 1k and get something newer

1) fix all electrical faults so engine starts hopefully $300
2) dont do ef engine swap (correct me if im wrong) but that will be your
2K right there, i think you need BBM, ECU, thermo's and new radiator
to suit. do mpfi conversion it wil be about $400 and its just as relaible,
alot cheaper, less hasel. and if your engine is tired buy a good 2nd
hand one for $500.
3) a 4spd trans is about $400 and then about $300-$400 to fit
4) shop around for carpet, i bought the stuff for my old car through some
guys home business for $250 and fitted it myself (long, tiring and
anoying, but well worth the money you save)
5) call EVERY wrecker you can and try and get panels that are already
the colour of your car, this way you save on paint. cost here maybe
$400 or just paint you own $300-$400 (but alot less hassle)

NOW. with what ive just said it adds up (if all is good) to around $2150

so i would say try and raise the budget to 3K, then also get a good exhaust and a WADE cam. you will then notice a complete change in power and looks of your car. alls left then is some nice mags, tints, lowered, good paint and shees a budget streeter.

thats my $0.02c what are some others?

i can see the logic in fixing what u have, but as has been said 3-4k will buy u a half way decent EF or a well looked after ED which will already have the 4L motor and the 4 speed box in it..

A 4g ef falcon could have problems too. We have decided to definately replace the running gear instead of another car.

Maybe the ef engine was a bad example with all the extras needed, but that was a price example i found on the trading post.

The car is needed to be reliable and good on the highway for my wife who will be travelling long distance to finish her last year of nursing so i can stop working, hehe. Doesnt mean an altered cam wont find its way in there

$400 to fit a trans? I would have no probs dropping the engine and trans in it just the wiring for mpi and auto i dont have a clue about.

I will look into eb/ed engines.
Are all four speed autos the same from EAII upwards?

Pete

I think, with your 2 grand, look for another falc, ed perhaps with rough body and good mechanicals. Then you'll get motor, 4spd gearbox, mpfi,looms,computer and a heap of other bits that can find their way onto ebay to help recoup the money you spend. I done it for my wife's corolla, bought a wrecked one, got the ac,new shocks, all those little bits that are a bit shoddy you never think to replace and sold a heap of parts, I actually made $50.

I agree find a cheap donor car and do a transplant

Trade up to a clean ED or EF. They'll probably be fine if you choose well, and you can probably get rid of the EA for a grand or so. You'll only need a little bit more to get a decent later model car.

I would hunt around for an ED/EF/EL, just a little above the 2k you got and selling the EA.

i picked up my 5spd ef from the auctions for $2800

i wish we had those auctions in SA, and if we do i wish i new where

Agreed.
I'd go for an ED.
Not much more $$$, plus you get alot of improvements over the EA for your money.

Not many clean ED falcons in QLD for $2000, seem to be more in vic.

The 2000 is still going into the EA wagon.

EL wagons have the same tailgate and then there is EB and ED wagons in which everything is interchangable so i can update it as the funds increase.

Its 4.0MPI and 4 speed auto for now and i dont have to worry about rego, transfer fees and not knowing what im getting.

Just worked out with a 4 speed and 2.77 diff it would do 1500rpm at 100kmh.