Vega Performance Package

409Safari · Addicted!

Vega Performance Package

Pontiacanada · A Poncho Legend!

I don't think I'd ever go this route.

I had all the info. (a thick printout) in the glove box of my '71 Vega on how to drop in a 305 V-8. I remember one thing you had to do is spin around the heater core 180 degrees to shoehorn the engine in.

-- Edited by Pontiacanada on Friday 8th of January 2016 01:09:45 PM

57 Pathfinder · Guru

I'm guessing exactly one person went through all that time and money to do that to a Vega 4 cyl. The rest of us dropped in a 327 and a 4 speed and ate their lunch. lol.

I had a '71, waaaayyy too much fun.

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

I've always wanted a V8 Vega. There's a shell for sale in New Brunswick.

1973 Chevy vega GT City of Halifax Halifax image 1

57 Pathfinder · Guru

I still have a major soft spot for Vega's. I was always most partial to the 71-73 styling...really similar to the 70 1/2 Camaro. I paid $42 for my '71 which was the outstanding towing bill on the car. The motor was seized, and the car had 31,000 miles on it. I put in a Chevy 3.8 V6 (229) with a Vega 4 speed, and eventually a posi rear from a Vega GT. It was ultra low budget, but it was a hell of a lot of fun. I was going to drop in a sbc but I ended up selling it and getting into "A" body Mopar's for a while...I was young, easily distracted. lol

In high school one of my friends had a 72 Vega GT that was done with a built 327, 4 speed, sub frame connectors, narrowed 12 bolt. That was probably the fastest car I've ever ridden in.

That shell looks not bad. What are they asking for it?

timbuk · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

my 73 had the bugcrop dusting option started at 37k miles

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

The seller wants "close to 2k". He said it's set up for a SBC and that it is a GT.

57 Pathfinder wrote:
I still have a major soft spot for Vega's. I was always most partial to the 71-73 styling...really similar to the 70 1/2 Camaro. I paid $42 for my '71 which was the outstanding towing bill on the car. The motor was seized, and the car had 31,000 miles on it. I put in a Chevy 3.8 V6 (229) with a Vega 4 speed, and eventually a posi rear from a Vega GT. It was ultra low budget, but it was a hell of a lot of fun. I was going to drop in a sbc but I ended up selling it and getting into "A" body Mopar's for a while...I was young, easily distracted. lol

In high school one of my friends had a 72 Vega GT that was done with a built 327, 4 speed, sub frame connectors, narrowed 12 bolt. That was probably the fastest car I've ever ridden in.

That shell looks not bad. What are they asking for it?

long stroke · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Other than the premature oil burning, before they put the cast iron sleeves in them. I LOVED VEGA'S. I owned a 1974 hatch back with the high output four and a four speed stick on the floor and it was a rocket that handled better than most cars then. I bought the car in early 1978 and it had about 35,000 miles on it. Sure it burned oil but other than that, it was a real sweet heart. I drove the car two years before i sold it to a guy that pro streeted the car. My Vega, unlike many then was a solid rust free car and that was why i had no trouble selling it. The guy actually paid me what i was asking with no dickering. I went to see the car after he converted it to a pro street and he did a wonderful job but he kept the stock front wheels on it, for some reason. The Vega haters can hate all they want, the reality is that is was a great car with a poor cylinder wall design. Once the cast iron sleeves went in it was complete but of course by then it was too late. The Monza replaced it and the rest is nasty history. Cheers. George

GLHS60 · Poncho Master!

long stroke wrote:
Other than the premature oil burning, before they put the cast iron sleeves in them. I LOVED VEGA'S. I owned a 1974 hatch back with the high output four and a four speed stick on the floor and it was a rocket that handled better than most cars then. I bought the car in early 1978 and it had about 35,000 miles on it. Sure it burned oil but other than that, it was a real sweet heart. I drove the car two years before i sold it to a guy that pro streeted the car. My Vega, unlike many then was a solid rust free car and that was why i had no trouble selling it. The guy actually paid me what i was asking with no dickering. I went to see the car after he converted it to a pro street and he did a wonderful job but he kept the stock front wheels on it, for some reason. The Vega haters can hate all they want, the reality is that is was a great car with a poor cylinder wall design. Once the cast iron sleeves went in it was complete but of course by then it was too late. The Monza replaced it and the rest is nasty history. Cheers. George

Wake up George, Wake up, you're going to be late for school!!

Aw shucks Mom, I was having a nice dream...

Thanks

Randy

hawkeye5766 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Had a 74 back in 82, did my own v8 conversion with 2 sp pg remember the biggest pain was the exhaust manifold (can't remember left or right). Think I have a 8mm silent movie of it running, like that helps! Dad said sell too many cars in yard. Would be cool to find that old movie!! Thanks for the reminder.

Pontiacanada · A Poncho Legend!

57 Pathfinder wrote:
I was always most partial to the 71-73 styling...really similar to the 70 1/2 Camaro.

Ya, I loved the baby Camaro front end ... the later ones lost that appeal.

I bought mine off a old man that used it for taking pictures across Canada (from inside the car ... he had a tripod mounted onto a homemade console, with a remote shutter release so he could take pictures while driving blankstare ). He probably went through a lot of windshield washer! He showed me his photo albums.

Mine "fogged a few crops" until it finally quit also.

-- Edited by Pontiacanada on Saturday 9th of January 2016 07:14:48 AM