by ozone » Tue Dec 19, 2006 12:12 pm
Ok my $0.02.
I agree with your boss when he says it looks like the Solara SHOULD be rear wheel drive, but I always think if any car can't be all wheel drive it should be rear wheel drive.
My personal opinion is that the Solara is a great car and placing a Chevy engine in it will make it less of a great car not because Chevy sucks or anything. It just takes away from the Toyotaness of the car.
When I think about what I like in the Solara, I think, it's a quiet car, a comfortable car to drive on the interstate, a reliable car that rarely needs to be fixed, a car that gets great gas mileage on the interstate and is just a great all round car. It seems to me that none of those factors will be the same when the swap is done.
But if you don't have a problem with it, then I say, "Great, a screamin' rear wheel drive Solara." However, if I didn't have a problem owning a Chevy engine, then I'd much prefer just to have the Corvette. I think it is a much better looking car anyway. You can always make that different over time. I don't see is as a choice between a custom Solara and a stock Corvette.
Finally, why exactly is this costing so much? I have built my Corolla up quite a bit and I do know how costs can run away, but I still think this can be done for less. Also, I'd forget about flaring the fenders, unless you absolutely have to to fit the rear axle(s) in. Do that later, when you want to widen it. Just concentrate on getting it functional and comfortable.
Either way, good luck.