Ok cool. 8) 2 important questions.
1) Do you want the car to remain very comfortable, comfortable or throw all luxuries out the window and have it raw.
2) how much do you have/want to spend? As much as it costs, a lot, a little or bui;d it on a shoe string.
The order I would do it in is:
a) get your engine first. Strip it down and make sure it is all ok. Whileyou are there replace your piston rings, all engine bearings and oil seals. It may be worth fitting a high pressure oil pump too as the engine will get alot of punishment. It will also bea good idea to fit any high performance parts while your here too.
b) Get the car of your choice, put bigger brakes on it and put the engine in. While doing the engine swap, get rid of the power steering and fit a manual rack. they weigh less and reduce drag on the engine. When you fit the exhaust put anextra flange jint just behind the engine so when you're at the strip you can remove it. Once the engine is in drive the car round gently for 500 miles not exceeding 3000rpm and NO harsh acceleration during this period. Once you have done 500 miles do an oiland filter change and thats your engine sorted (in theory). Fit a good roll cage too.
c) I wouldn't bother lowering your car but I would put harder shocks on it to hold the wheels more firmly on the ground so they don.t spin.
d) Get a spare pair of wide front wheels to use your strip tyres on. You won't be able to use on the road as they usually too wide for a UK car and are very expensive (and usually slick). For the rear I would use standard skinny fiesta steel rims, The thinner the better to reduce rolling resistance.
e) Go through the car and work out what you want/need and don't want/need. Backseat, carpet and underlay, doorcars, rooflining, sterio and speakers, Spare wheel (when your at the strip), passenger seat (also when your at the strip) can all come out. The less weight your carrying the better and the faster you will go. Anything else unimportant that you can think of can come out too. If you can replace the doors, wings, bonnet and boot lid with ether fiberglass or carbon fiber panels as they are lighter and replace what glass you can with plexiglass for the same reason. Don't bother fitting spoilers/bodykits as they will not reduce drag enough to worry about only make the car weigh more.
I think that pretty much covers it. Once you have done this it is a case of fiddling with the car at the strip to try and improve your times. The biggest problem you will have with a fwd car is holding the power down and not spinning off the line.
If I think of anything else I will let you know.
Thats the one.
