I recently got an idea for what to do for my first car this summer (a 3rd-gen Camaro). Im thinking about buying a car that is in fair condition with a 350, but since I have a tight budget, get one with many miles, say, 100k-180k. Then my dad and I will buy a short block kit (or something of that nature) and rebuild the engine. We have most of the tools, but very little experience. After that's done, I'll clean it up, get a nice paint job, and away I go in my first car. Im not sure if this is a good idea however. Like I said before, we have little experience with engines, and also, I feel that a car that needs an engine resto also needs more (suspension, trans, etc.), and I'm on a tight budget. Any opinions?

 

It's the best way to learn. Pick up a book or 2 on building smallblock Chevy's and read them before you start so you'll have a basic understanding of how it all works, then go to town. You can find a high-mileage 3rd gen dirt cheap if you look around a little, and if necessary have the tranny rebuilt for a couple hundred bucks.