For starters it would help to know what the year/engine/trans etc. Also what are you planning to do with the car?
As for the $500 a month that was my goal when I started out last Jan setting my car up. Since then I've added much more than I though by simply shopping around. A list below of what is now on the car. I also tried to list them in the order of installation.
TriAx shifter (5 speed). Kenny Brown extreme sub frame connectors, strut tower brace and k member brace (since removed due to headers). MAC cold air intake w/ K&N filter Fin aluminum valve covers ( got cheap off of ebay)
3.73:1 rear gears with MAC girdle MAC long tube headers, pro chamber and cat back system. Goodyear Silicone hose kit. Kenny Brown upper and lower adjustable control arms. Aluminum Drive shaft Flaming River steering shaftThings coming before end of this year. Tremec (have already just not installed), KB Trackit Plus (pan hard bar), Tubular K member with coil over,
4 to 5 lug conversion with good brakes. This with a few other small things will round out this year.Next year will be an engine which has already been contracted for. I figured this as a 2 year project costing about $12K and will be close but more like $15K. Much of the stuff has been gotten from ebay saving a lot of money.