Used 1948 Mercury Coupe. Put in new transmission, steering, Oriflow shocks (that dates me). Ported and relieved the block in my folks kitchen. Had started buying racing parts when I was 14 (worked on a farm in summers). Parts included Edelbrock dual manifold, Offenhouser (brand) high compression aluminum heads, Harmon Collins full race camshaft, dual exhaust headers with steel pack mufflers, bored out cylinders with oversize pistons.Ran it through highschool and college ('til I had to sell it to help pay for last year of college - Mechanical Engineering - what else?) Got out of it what the used car cost originally without all the added new equipment. Taught me a BIG lesson. No more personally souped up cars.