What did it cost? Cheap RWD Beretta

I set a budget goal of $5,000 to build this daily beater LS swap. Nothing crazy, just a great daily/highway/burnout car...and some racing. It's done (mostly) and I love it. But those dollars add up quick, even when you're being cheap. I could have pinched more pennies, but I'm still real happy for how it turned out. Bang for the buck is still excellent.
gearheaddezign.com/
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[@NotAGarage]

Just saw this on Facebook. Incredible!!!

[@GEARHEADdezign]

Took two years instead of 6 months but it was worth it in the end

[@zx6r79]

Awesome stuff. The z26 was my high-school car that I loved. Me and a friend used to go everywhere in that car and we're going to buy one and restore it. Thanks for sharing all this info!

[@GEARHEADdezign]

It was a cool project. I could do another one a lot faster than the first one🤣

[@LOLworldZZ_doesdragonpuppets]

My friend and I were talking about our old high school cars, and a few of us had Barretta and always thought the proportions would make a good rear wheel drive vehicle… I go on KZbin and find your build. Nice freaking job man. This is awesome.

[@GEARHEADdezign]

Thanks man. It's fun. My first car in high school was a white Beretta so I've got that nostalgia too

[@JusttheEdge]

Had an 88gt that I took the 2.8 out of and replaced it with a newer 3.1. Also had a 95 z26 that I regrettably scrapped after the trans went out. Loved those cars.

[@GEARHEADdezign]

I 3400 swapped my last two. Check out my 91 "SS" videos, that car was great

[@romper4444]

Lol, I remember back in the day lots of guys swapped in a 3.1(cause that's all we could do in Canada)....and then they drove it and realized...dammit!! what a waste of time! Haha😂 When the 3.4 and 3.8's came along that became worth it, a blown 3800 j- body was a lot of fun!

[@GEARHEADdezign]

Ton of work for a 3800 but the 3400 almost falls in

[@hayro1088]

I love Berettas. Sick you made a rwd!!!!

[@GEARHEADdezign]

This is #4 for me and my favorite one yet

[@snowblindburd]

Budget aside, I love that you got this thing put together and driving (even roadtripping it to events!). It was fun following the progress and looking forward to seeing more!

[@GEARHEADdezign]

I'm glad it came together successfully. My first test drive has me wiped that it was too sketchy. But fixing the steering was key. It's a proper daily now

[@GEARHEADdezign]

I talked to Kurt a little while ago and he didn't realize it was road legal/daily driver. But that was the plan all along

[@sellickusa]

Awesome build

[@johnnyboydianno]

Great build

[@chrishotrod6603]

Awesome job 👏 👍. That something I thought about doin for long time

[@johnbarker5009]

This has been such a fun project. Love it.

[@GEARHEADdezign]

It dragged a little on the middle but it's so much fun now that it's ripping

[@chuckdock4436]

You are obviously very good at fab work. That was some extensive work! It would seem easier to start with a rear wheel drive truck or car though, no? Though if you love the Beretta then I get it. I did an ls swap to a c10. I did the same as you as far as using the odbx pro and pcmhammer/tunerpro etc to hack the pcm and tune. Gotta love that! My c10 was 6k, but the ls swap was cheap. I got a silverado for 700 bucks and used the motor/trans, pcm,dbw pedal and module setup. I re-used all I could and I mean all I could lol. From the sparkplugs to air filter, all the engine sensors that looked good, on and on. I just did a gasket refresh on the motor but never took the heads off or valve train. I added headers for clearance issues and made my own dual exhaust. Added in a trans mount to make the exhaust easier to do. Then gas tank/pump and lines. Under 2k in the full swap. Thing is awesome and runs like a new car.

[@GEARHEADdezign]

Yeah fun doesn't have to be expensive! I wanted the challenge of a RWD conversion. Andy my first car in high school was a white Beretta.

[@jesscneal]

Huge win Eric. Even out of pocket that's not a bad price for a one of a kind vehicle. I think I'll be into my Fairmont about $15k all said and done.

[@GEARHEADdezign]

It's a lot better than the $30k in my Camaro that hasn't run in 12 years🤣

[@GEARHEADdezign]

"perfect" is over rated😂

[@Jeezey]

I did this with a ‘98 Beetle & a Ford 5.0, the problem I ran into with NYS is no OBDII connection for inspections. I abandoned the project 75% done and a couple years invested

[@GEARHEADdezign]

Well, now you're good. I'm NY too and it the 25yr exemption. My 96 doesn't need to get hooked up any more.

[@Jeezey]

I remember reading that back then, but at the time it was just in the way. I’ve since moved onto another project that I’m knee deep in. haha

[@Redrider2k2]

Very nice.. Also, I just want to live somewhere that a Beretta can still be found in a junkyard

[@GEARHEADdezign]

Haha, right? This one was 5hrs away. A girl at a car show offered it for sale when I wrecked my last Beretta. She was saving it in her grandfather's junkyard for a 3800 project that never happened.

[@romper4444]

In canada you can't even find one for sale PERIOD..... nevermind a bloody junkyard. Breaks my heart

[@LynnTwinCustoms513]

I really like it as well so I’m glad you did the swap hahaha

[@GEARHEADdezign]

I'll like it a lot better if I can squeak 12.99 and 30mpg out of this 4.8 before I swap it🤣

[@LynnTwinCustoms513]

@@GEARHEADdezign I just picked up a 4.8 out of a 2010 Silverado. Need to figure out what I’m gonna do with it. Was trying to find a 4.3 5 speed s10 or something along those lines to do a little peppy gas saver truck. If you get 30mpg let me know hahaha

[@GEARHEADdezign]

@@LynnTwinCustoms513 sweet. That gen 4 will have a little more power and an s10 should be about the same as Beretta weight. With 3.42 gears and a 29" tire like my blazer you might be able to squeak 30

[@DavidSmith-ff7ce]

I can’t wait til you’ll be able to do some work to my Gtz beretta for me one day

[@k.c.williams3385]

That's cool. 👍

[@nathanielgray4235]

Bad ass I'm planning to do this to a Mazda 6 or a camery

[@GEARHEADdezign]

Lot of work, but you end up with something unique

[@fartking8124]

Nice, your skill at fab work isn't included but hey that's just how it goes.

[@GEARHEADdezign]

Fart king🤣 Yeah I didn't count labor and there's a lot of hours. But fab work is fun. Some of it got old and tiring, but you gotta push though to enjoy the success later

[@user-tr2cx7kb1l]

Hell yeah❤,a igot a ford,probe with the5.4,i did pretty good,not dun ,

[@GEARHEADdezign]

That's gotta be a ton of work too

[@das11270110]

Why the explorer rear end, width? Also couldn't really tell what did you do about front subframe? Was it custom or something modified?. One of the baddest builds on KZbin in my opinion. So many 90s 2000s gm car would be so cool rwd.

[@GEARHEADdezign]

Those 8.8s are strong and cheap with a good LSD. And explorer is narrow enough there was room for wheel adapters

[@GEARHEADdezign]

Front subframe is factory, cut up and modified. I have info in one of my earlier videos

[@das11270110]

Cool, thanks for the info

[@firstnamelastname9188]

👏🏾👏🏾💪🏾💪🏾💯💯💯

[@NewEdgeDesigns]

How does it handle turns, bumps, hard launches etc?? And who paid $12k for a Baretta?? Was that a GTU or Z26 with SS stickers on it??

[@GEARHEADdezign]

I've got over 3000 miles on it now. Handles straight and tight, rides comfortable, and the adjustable shocks are to fix the wheel hop I get when dumping the clutch on slicks and get better 60's. No wheel hop on street tires doing burnouts

[@GEARHEADdezign]

The last Beretta"SS" I built was a GT that was totally redone from the ground up. Z body kit, 3400 swap, built 5spd with LSD. It was a beast. I have videos on that car too

[@user-tr2cx7kb1l]

Wut fuck does it matter,he didn't pay,,,2,000,000😮😊

[@RedEyedPatriot]

Wanna sell that nv3500 5speed. My 82 c10 Squarebody was 355sbc and nv3500 before the LS swap. My trucks already set up for it. Like to go back to 5speed.

[@GEARHEADdezign]

It's already gone. But your sbc 5spd will work with the LS. I have a video that shows how

[@RedEyedPatriot]

@@GEARHEADdezign yeah I know how was just wondering if you still had it. Build came out nice Man. Enjoy 😎

[@nickle549]

Did the stock gauges all work?

[@GEARHEADdezign]

@@nickle549 yup, I got every single one working. The low oil light is backwards right now so I've gotta wire in a relay to reverse the function, but it all works nice

[@jimmycline4778]

Is this a Chevy truck motor or a real LS from a Vette, GTO or Camaro

[@GEARHEADdezign]

Oh you're one of those? 🤣 It's an LS family engine. LR4 from a Silverado. With ls1 oil pan and water pump from Camaro and ls2 intake from Corvette

[@romper4444]

Oh stop, they're all LS motors.

[@user-tr2cx7kb1l]

Because,its a,,,z27

[@GEARHEADdezign]

Z26/Z28?🤣

[@Coronet_shop]

I should of gave you my 94 Sunbird 🥲

[@GEARHEADdezign]

I could do a second one a lot faster than the first🤣

[@Coronet_shop]

@@GEARHEADdezign I agree especially an carb setup less work and more “hopefully” 😂

[@GEARHEADdezign]

@@Coronet_shop no way. Carb would be more money, more work, and less power and hood clearance...