Its design was junk, nothing more then a mass produced people carrier. With its front wheel drive, under powered, cheaply made, horribly suspended unibody. It rolls around town being sneered at by the other cars. I cant seem to shake the mental image of my car showing up to a car show, only to have the other Evo's srt-4's and WRX's snickering and whispering to each other, all the while my car sits by it self waiting calmly and collect for someone to make the mistake and run there mouth. For it is we who take these 1000 dollar pieces of junk and transform them into a car that has fear me written all over it in invisible ink.
It is a widely misconstrued idea that you need to buy a popular car to go fast. For whatever reason the cattle like "genre" of tuners out there refuse to open there eyes and under stand that speed is easily achievable by any platform be it Evo or cavalier. The road to bliss is unfortunately much more daunting for the latter. Jbody owners have to put up with the not only the pain of working with such a small platform, but have to endure the constant jeering from other “tuners”. There are those out there that will succumb to the weight of dealing with the naysayer’s, and simply stop and switch to a less bag aged car.
But there are those of us that stick it out, and push them selves to finish that which they have started. Be it there own personal motivation or that of an outside source. They keep going until they have reached there goals. The process is daunting, be it a week or one year one month and thirteen days, we all go threw the same ordeals one way or another. However there other forms of temptation that can (and have) led a skilled J-builder down the dark path of switching whips. The most evil is that of new found ability.
I would have very little second thought's in saying that 90% of jbody owners and builders, have had there canvas find them. Very few owners decide to buy and construct a J all in the same group of thoughts. The average owner tends to fall into it blindly starting off small, and slowly descending into a world of angry girlfriends pissed off parents, and down right empty pockets. The positive side to this is that all the while we are getting better more skilled at our craft. Soon intakes and exhausts are nothing. Then tuning becomes a breeze and before you know it the head of you car is off, and you are prepared to swap, time, and crank over your first mill.
Yet surprisingly enough this is the average demise of the basic owner. As our ability's increase we start to cheat on our loyal companions. We tell them we are going out to by oil, when really we are headed out to the local car show to stare at the beauty of the other foreign platforms. Greed starts to seep in threw the pores as the Idea of working less for more floods the brain. The thought of not having to strip a bottom end to visit twelve’s excites the mind and glazes the thoughts. And just like that the story book tale comes to its Shakespearian end. For that which generated the original ability to create, is cast out to an underappreciated owner, who has no intention other then expressing their artistic ability all over the road, with piston and rod colored paint. And just like that, that which had started it, is all is gone. Yet the memory and mark of the teacher remains, and unbenounced to the unworthy original owner the torch is secretly passed to another young soul, who unknowingly stumbles upon a dusty set of four wheels that will inevitably change his life for ever.
"
boobs now with Riboflabin"
Im a level 32 joedm newb flamer.
Yep, easy to make fun of J drivers indeed...
But in the end it is the car you enjoy-screw the people.
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jbody owners and builders, have had there canvas find them
w3rd
I baught mine becouse I needed a car to get the wife and kid around when my other v8 projects ran me dry.
the first race I won in my little LN2, both the other guy nor me saw it coming
from there....it was mutha' f@!kin ON
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when you beat someone in a civic people wine and make excuses
when you beat someone in a cavalier they pull over and check under thier hoods
There are actually some other people around here who like the cars.......... surprise I know.
I can afford to own any car under 40G's but I don't, why? Because I actually like J-bods.
Im older and established, and buying my next "mod" doesn't mean I don't eat for a week.
As well its easier to afford modding a car when you don't have a car payment
.
"Go Before Show Yo."
CARCUSTOMS.NET, THE BEST SERVICE ON THE ORG!!!
j's are very average cars that is why most of people don't like them and do not expect much from them.
Its nice car to go from noting to something and show them what you can do when you don't have 2 left hands.
These cars are cheap -no resale- good to learn on- good for the do-it yourselfer.......
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j's are very average cars that is why most of people don't like them and do not expect much from them.
yeah, kind of how the civic started
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when you beat someone in a civic people wine and make excuses
when you beat someone in a cavalier they pull over and check under thier hoods
to me the car represents how beautyful mediocracy can be. You take some thing that is considered by most to be nothing, and develope it in to some thing that snaps necks, be it from a second look or break neck power
"
boobs now with Riboflabin"
Im a level 32 joedm newb flamer.
I liked my wifes Cavy so much, i went out and got a second one for me, may not be the smoothest ride but they do look good once the work begins, and fixing them is relatively easy.
Jcavi wrote:to me the car represents how beautyful mediocracy can be. You take some thing that is considered by most to be nothing, and develope it in to some thing that snaps necks, be it from a second look or break neck power
basically the ENTIRE reason I took my car as far as i did. it obviously isnt the best investment for myself, but regardless, i can pull up to any car show and get shown respect.
If you have CF engine bay pieces, SELL THEM TO ME!
Built Not Bought
well written
I too am one of the few people who actually like Jbodies here.
I fell into it because I needed another car, but ever since I've fallen in love with the platform
it's simple to understand and maintain
parts are readily available, and cheap
fresh cars (if I should ever need one) are readily available
aftermarket is decent enough to justify modifying one
my attraction to the design and the stereotype of the platform is what keeps me involved.
the 3rd gen was released 13 years ago and still to this day looks fairly modern and attractive.
honestly i love the j-body platform. they may be cheap econo cars with little to no respect, but when you start to build them and find what power the LN2 has or a quad 4 or my fav, the L61ECO, people have a change of attitude for the most part. theyre fun and easy to work with. im on my third one. no one really expects a J to even compete with a civic. or something in comparison. but when you race and when in a j or just have a hot lookin street cruiser, people take another look at your cav or fire and think holy s#!t!!!! did i just get worked by a cav!!!???? i for one respect our j platform.
Silly ricer, useless wings are for penguins.
that brought a tear to my eye
very well written
brb, I need to go out and hug my car.
SPD RCR Z -
'02 Z24 420whp
SLO GOAT -
'04 GTO 305whp
W41 BOI -
'78 Buick Opel Isuzu W41 Swap
^^ ha ha..
Man, how many rough drafts on paper did you write before you posted that
I understand what you are saying.... I love my car.. I eat sleep and dream cars. I actually joined the military because they where willing to make me a mechanic (besides wanting to serve my country), now that I'm a civilian again, I can use all that knowledge on my Sunfire. I even make my money as a profesional driver now, and just have to be behind the wheel or under the hood of something.
I got into J's tinkering with my 2nd gen, and found this site, and when that car saw it's demise... I purposely went out and found a J-body with a 2.4 knowing that I was going to modify it. I didn't just happen to buy my car.. it was planned. I was looking for a Cavy, but ended up with a Sunfire. I already had a list of mods planned before I even bought the thing. I even have parts for my car laying around I can't afford to install right now.
A friend of mine just went out and bought a 5.7 Liter GTO becuase my sunfire was faster than his old car, and know he's giving me crap saying I should get a real car. Screw that.. just wait and see how he feels when my Sunfire is faster than his GTO. Even if I won the lottory, I would finish my Sunfire and still drive it to meets and everything.
Running with the pack just isn't any fun......
Outrunning the pack without them seeing it coming in a car they think has no potential on the other hand............
Is why I own and modify my J-body.
Well written man, even if it's a little corny
forever.
I had just got back from an 5 hour spree on my car it and was just in the mood, I sat down and didnt even think just opend up word and....wrote. This car (and this site no less) has changed my life. as I type this im am sitting in keystone volvo about to lock up for the night im nothing more then a shop bitch at the moment, but Ive got dreams to keep me going. I am litteraly here because of how much the car engulphed my life. I tried the community collage thing, but I would come home to find that every page I had was scrbilled with drawings of jbody's, dream build lists, and of course pictures of turbo ecotecs.( I should post them, I had hours of lecturing teachers to draw them) it was pointless for me to contiune on with an other wise futile attempt at traditional school. Im assumeing however that Im not the only one, and that seemed to help eek out an otherwise embarssing confessional.
anyone eles as cheezy as me
"
boobs now with Riboflabin"
Im a level 32 joedm newb flamer.
^^^^ LIKE CHEDDAHH
Naw, dont feel bad man, I'm a trained Network technition, computer administrator, cabling specialist, and automotive mechanic. (Think of all the college credits I must have). And I have a job driving trucks for a factory in town. I'm smarter than hell, with a white coller education, but I have a blue coller personality.
Your not the only one man.
I to now feel the need to go hug my cav.
PRND321 Till I DIE
Old Motor: 160whp & 152ft/lbs, 1/4 Mile 15.4 @88.2
M45 + LD9 + 4T40-E, GO GO GO
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I would have very little second thought's in saying that 90% of jbody owners and builders, have had there canvas find them. Very few owners decide to buy and construct a J all in the same group of thoughts.
So true. At the time, I had no idea that a Sunfire was a J-body. I needed some reliable transportation to get back and forth to work and have the price be right. My 2nd gen cav was failing fast. It was only shortly thereafter where I got the "itch"
lol ya know, i feel like i should go out and hug my cavy as well, i think im gonna go for a nice drive
Very well written, I spent all last summer in a class to get my Pharm-Tech certification and instead of paying attention, every class i'd write out a dream build and how the car will look when i'm done w/ it. The whole reason I got on this thread is because a fbody friend of mine had his forum and after he signed up for 3rdgen.com or org (idk which it is) we looked for one on my car....found the org and its been a great 5 or 6 years thats for sure. I love the underdog feeling, I laugh inside at the ignorant people, and I take the negative comments they make about my car with a grain of salt and in my mind i think...just wait...you'll be looking at my tail lights soon enough.
Funny, I actually went and bought my cavalier to modify it. I had an intake, tail lights, and soem other misc. odds and ends even before my cav was delivered.
LE61T PTE6262 Powered
Interesting for sure.I bought my 1st gen from my sister in 98 and to this day do not regret it! It is a stock car the usual stuff AC,sunroof ,alloy whls.It's simple easy to work on and just love to drive it.I have spent hrs slowly restoring things on mine and even with low hp its a fun car to drive (mines a 4spd manual) and for a 22 yr old car it still kicks azz to me. That's really what means the most to me.It's sits in my garage awaiting another fun drive.End of story.Love my J
i bought my first cavalier at the age of 15 just because it was cheap, it was a 96 with a 2.2 i had fun and liked the car after it died i bought a 98 Z24 and started modding but that one was totaled by a old lady who fell asleep at the wheel
after losing cav #2 i almost gave up on J's until i saw a 2002 indigo blue LS Sport sedan and fell in love again. i bought the car with plans to make it a show car but then after 2 months of treating the car like a baby i decided to see just what was so special about this ecotec engine, then my plans changed
JBO has helped out alot with many thing and has shown what we can do with our cars, even though there will always be trash talkers about our cars we can still think to ourselves that j-body cars can be just as if not faster than mainstream tuners
great write up
02 Cavalier sedan ECOTEC N/A being built
04 Malibu ECOTEC S/C planned
