221k+ : Time to swap ETA?

[Jkersh]

So I recently picked up an 86 ETA for $500. The body is in great shape, interior is par for 25 years of driving and rust is very minimal.

From what I can tell the car was ONCE taken car of... but recently (past few years or so the previous owners have not been so kind (cheap half ass "fixes" to get by). As she sits now she will not idle or properly run due to a large vacuum leak that I have been working on diagnosing. Eventually I will also need all the routine replacements such as the timing belt since there is no telling when the last time any of this stuff was done.

Along with the engine there are many other issues needing to be address with the ETA (clutch, tranny, suspension, brakes, rear end...etc) but with at least "221k" miles on the engine I am having a hard time justifying fixing her up as is or doing an " i " swap for roughly close to the same amount of money invested (granted I can find a local "i" )

The funding for the E30 build will be supplied through freelance work... The goal is to see "How many websites it takes to build an E30?"


Any insight or suggestions would be great.

[BoxDriver86]

I picked my ETA up for $400 bucks in horrifying condition with about 225K on the clock. With very little investment it's at just about 300K and only recently developed any issues. However, looking back if I had the place to do it I would have built a 327i "stroker" out of the gate.

Do a search on 327i stroker here and you'll find a wealth of info. Junkyards, craigslist and r3v will be your best friends.