Blue91lx's Budget 97' SC2 Lemons/AutoX Project

[blue91lx]

Hey all,

I've had quite a few fast cars, but have never actually got any seat time, which was the only reason why I built any of them. I bought a 97' Saturn SC2 for $500 in pretty decent condition so I didn't have to drive my built Evo as a daily, and I've decided to turn the SC2 into a mildly functional AutoX car on an extremely minimalistic budget, while still keeping it as my daily. This is also because I can't take the Evo out with me to school, so I want to give the DD a little more of a fun factor.

I have a $500 budget for modifications.

Important Lemons rule:

4.2: Safety Equipment DOES NOT Count Toward $500 Total: Safety equipment described in Section 3 (cage and everything in that realm) DOES NOT count toward the $500 total. "Safety" refers to things that can save the driver--not things that can save the car.
4.2.1: Beside the items and processes listed in Section 3, the following are considered safety-related and therefore exempt:
-Wheels, tires, wheel bearings, balljoints, and brake components
-Exhaust systems downstream of the header/exhaust manifold (NOTE: Turbos and related components are NOT exempt from the $500 limit. Nice try.)
-Windshields and wipers. (Stock windshields, true Lexan, or circle-track mesh are acceptable; non-Lexan plastic is not acceptable.)
-Driver comfort & information (steering wheel, shifter, gauges, pedals, cool suits, vents, heaters, radio)
-All fuel hoses, fuel fittings, fuel filters, and related mounts
-All fuel-system components upstream of the fuel pump, including tanks/cells, mounts, fillers, vents, etc. (NOTE: Fuel pumps, carburetors, injection pumps, computers, and individual injectors are NOT exempt from the $500 limit.)

Any suggestions are welcome, but this is what I have in mind (in no particular order):

-Weight loss wherever I can while still keeping the car mildly comfortable for use as a daily. (How much will a diet help?)
-Fresh stock clutch because said current one is dead
-Suspension: Cut springs. Lower car about 1.5", but level. Weld a piece of angle iron to rear sway bar. Stock front bar. Drain struts, refill with 10wt for oil or ATF, weld in bilstein schrader valves, pressurize. -2 deg camber front, -1 rear, zero toe all the way around.
-Cheap but decent set of wheels. Was thinking XXR 513 16x7 +15 with a 205/50 tire.
-Decent pads/rotors. Hawk HPS or EBC GreenStuff are my top two choices. I've been reading about a rear disc conversion, but if it's anything like the Foxbody Mustangs, you really need a bigger master cylinder and an adjustable proportioning valve to make the rear discs even remotely worth it, so I'll probably leave the drums.
-A/C Delete
-Possibly P/S Delete
-DIY Short Throw Shifter
-DIY Front splitter
-DIY functional wing (not big and hideous). Saleen Mustang style.
-Exhaust: 92 Header to a 2" straight pipe. Cost willing I'd like to utilize aluminum to keep the weight down.
-Whatever else I decide along the way

Cosmetic crap:
-Emblem delete
-Tinted fogs


Desired look with said wheels and drop:





Pictures of said POS $500 platform: