Building a sleeper

[killa]

After seeing a short story on Youtube about them, sleeper cars looks like something i could get into.
Right now I’m 28 with a 1.6 VW, been driving for 3 years now. So I’m not sure how this would affect insurance but i’m sure i could get a stock 2.0L or more for a slight increase.

If you’re not sure what a sleeper is, as far as I can tell you just get a bog standard saloon or hatch, anything really. Make sure it has the capacity to have some pretty heavy mods done under the bonnet. Shove the biggest supercharger or turbo in there as poss and have some fun showing up people with fifty grands worth of motor.

So looking to spend about a grand or more on a motor, what would be a decent lump to work with?
What kind of work could you do that wouldn’t break the bank but would make it a Scooby killer?

Example

https://www.supermotors.org/getfile/182062/fullsize/r32.jpg

https://www.supermotors.org/getfile/182063/fullsize/r32%201.jpg
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Silghtly off topic, I saw a Golf with a sticker stating "If it ain't rubbin, you ain't Dubbin". The passengers had to get out so they could go over the speedbumps at McDonalds.

Please build a proper sleeper.
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[Mushroom]

At that engine demolishing the entire car in the event of a crash.

[MarJay]

Don't fit an R32 or anything. If you are going to upgrade, go for an Audi 1.8t. Not only can it be made more powerful than a VR6 or R32, it is about as light as an original 1.8 from a Golf GTI so it will not destroy the handling.

If you can call 200bhp through the front wheels handling...
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[UnspeedySam]

[garth]

That golf isn't really a sleeper, it's got a rollcage and it's slammed.

The only reason you wouldn't think it'd be quick is because it's brown. Who spends money on a brown car?

[karoshi]

sleeper?

Even without the LS1 engine my choice for a sleeper would be an 850 t5r complete with Caravan club stickers in the back
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Well, I've wrestled with reality for 35 years, Doctor, and I'm happy to state I finally won out over it. - Elwood P. Dowd

[Mellow Matt]

A turbocharged or supercharged mx-5 would be a good bet. ~200bhp/tonne and you can buy them for about £3k.

I very almost bought one before deciding to buy a flat...
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[MarJay]

Mind you....

None of these cars can hold up to anything driven from the back end when in a corner.

Hence my 130i is the best factory sleeper around. It looks like an ordinary 1 series hatch, but has 265bhp and is RWD.

https://i915.photobucket.com/albums/ac352/MarJay01/DSC01789.jpg
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[chris-red]

The best sleeper I saw was this...

https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_q8kBt8ooNTE/S_J7CWSWntI/AAAAAAAADvM/pE_V6_xqYp4/s400/royalnail4.jpg



It looks like a Standard Escort van, but has a Costworth running gear, 4 wheel drive, and a Costworth turbo engine. and 3.4 second 0-60 times

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyJbFIY_moc&NR=1
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[karoshi]

A few years back when I was in the Autobahnstormers club (owners club for 6cyl Vauxhalls) there was a guy that was busy shovelling a full set of Lotus Carlton running gear into a base model (badged up as 2.0L Select) Vauxhall Omega.. 477bhp from a twin turbo straight6 and the only visual clue was the single central window wiper conversion that he had to do because the standard wiper motors wouldn't clear the charge-cooler pipework
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Well, I've wrestled with reality for 35 years, Doctor, and I'm happy to state I finally won out over it. - Elwood P. Dowd

[Rogerborg]

[Andy_Pagin]

[sidewinder]

Ive got a volvo c70 t5 turbo with a single exhaust conversion debaged with a remap left a few people looking in awe as they hace been left for dust
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[tbourner]

Biggest rule is sleepers have to look old and beaten and look like the bog spec stock version.

When I used to do events with rod builders there was an awesome old Ford Cortina that looked like a piece of crap, except if you looked underneath the rear tyres almost met in the middle!! Someone said it had 1400BHP but I never heard it or saw it running.

Old metros will take a Rover 1.8VVC, and a metro with 180BHP should be funny.

Porsche engine in a Beetle should be easy, just a bit expensive if you want a turbo.


Not sure what fits in a Golf though, unless you fancy lots of work on the bulkhead etc. to get it RWD with a V8!
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[Villers]

I understand the idea of having a car that is fast for very little money, good fun and all but I do struggle with the 'to see the faces on people with 50k cars' bit.

Same with the above, why go to the bother of debadging your car, changing the exhaust etc so it looks like the less powerful variant?

This isnt a dig, Im honestly seeking some understanding on it! Is it some sort of sneaky thing? I have the C30 T5, also remapped, it has the double exhaust that you removed and a T5 badge, its never once crossed my mind to change any of that so I can try and suprise someone
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[neatbik]

[tbourner]

[c_dug]

Ignoring all of the sleeper stuff the V8 Metro was an actual Rover produced car, built to do rally iirc, it was rear engined with no back seats. There are road going versions too.
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[weasley]

[Andy_Pagin]

When I worked for the Police in the 1980s we had a fleet of sleepers (or Q cars as we called them) such as 3.5 V8 Transits with crap piled up on the dash to make them look like builders vans, had a few Jag XJ6 4.2s with V12s under the bonnet as well.
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[arry]

[stonesie]

[neatbik]

I always fancied an old 3 series BMW (pre e30 - shark nose?) with a honking big V8.

Wonder if its ever been done..? It must have...

Edit - Just googled it and its the E21, and yes, V8 versions have been done...