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Calling All Pontiac Guys!

This one cleans house everytime I have a gathering.... need some Mopars to come in and help take him down. He's a friend of the Butler Performance guys in TN, so it works well.... really well. Come help us 10/10/2020 for the #MoparVsBrandXstreetcarShowdown in Danville, AL @ Jakes Dragstrip

firebird wade.jpg
 
I have a buddy that has always been a huge Pontiac dude since we were kids. Worked on many with him over the years so I have a soft spot for them. A 70' Judge has always been my favorite. Keeping with my 70' theme of car's I guess....
 
Nothing wrong with a little Pontiac fever ..thinking of pulling the pin with this Tempest, with a built 400. Have to wait till thing cool down, hope it's still there, hope I'm still here.:)

$_59 (6).png
 
while we're on the subject.....

I may have an opportunity to purchase cheap, either an '82 or '83 firebird convertible.
I can barely read a portion of the VIN sticker that says MFG in 1982, but can't read the month.
It's being stored at my shop and I've had several folks ask about it.
After asking the owner if he'd sell, he said he'd like to get $1000.

The kicker is that it's a v8, four speed car.

It's NOT a trans am.

The body is decent but it's been painted and the paint is peeling in 4 inch swaths in some areas and the metal under that has shallow surface rust.

The top conversion was done by "ici", and I can only find one reference to that company online- a sales brochure.

This is the time to save that car with respect to the rust and paint and the fact that it's now siting outside and the top does not seal well.

I advised to owner to remove the carpet and any floor drain plugs it might have, or to drill holes and paint them so the rain could get out.

Any thoughts?
 
the rarity factor lies only in the fact that its a convertible car.
that would be the angle id sell it as.
they made tons of those cars,usually with weak kneed 305-s hooked to the manual trans.
you couldnt even order a 350 manual trans back then.
truly some of our darkest hours as car /power guys.

now,if you wanted to buy it and redo it.
id hit him at 800 tops...the body rust alone sounds like he would take 800.
id ls and either 5 or 6 speed it,along with a full body redo
leave the interior stock and just get it cleaned/shampooed.
then it would be worth some Real money,Esp if you marketed it out West.
what a lot of us older folks ignore,is that the younger kids Do want their cars of their childhood.
an 82 fits right into that gen.
gl whichever way you decide to go.
 
Fun, flexible foundation. Easy to add a LS, or crate 350 or 383 SB stroker. Go easy on the total HP/TQ though so you don't break supporting systems and parts. Get it looking "real purrty" including the top, AND SELL IT!
 
LS or stroker tempting, but a nice Pontiac 400 could put some smiles on. Keep it Pontiac so you don't get the head shakers about the sb Chevy in a firebird.
 
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82 it was basically a Chevy (Camaro) with slight Pontiac body differences
& Pontiac badges anyway, corporate GM/Chevy stuff

resale isn't that high to begin with, even in good condition
not some car sitting for ever, with a leaky converted/aftermarket top

you can get a nice/clean, running & good driving, Gen 3
'real' Trans Am for $5k-$10k or less, even a GTA or Formula sometimes
especially in that era 82-87 (even thru 92 with a 5.7ltr LT1 & manual)
(I've seen good drivable, well maintained, not rusty or even leaky cars
for less than $5k even, I knew a guy who sold a 92 Firehawk/Trans Am SLP
for less than $10K, needed some interior work & tires)
Yeah it may not be a converted/convertible (flexy flyer), but still, not a
305cid "Chevy" base model Firebird

pre 81 are worth a shitload more, 'almost' no matter the condition
especially 'real' Trans Am's & Formula's
Especially 'the pure' Pontiac version, not the corporate/Olds/GM drivetrains

if it's a LG4 V8 8.6:1 v8 145hp Firebird
Manual Trans not available in 82 "allegedly"
only with the LC1 V6 or LQ9 L4, both were 3.42:1 gear ratio
the 83 LU4 8.6:1 (150hp), LU5 9.5:1 (175hp) or L69 9.5:1 (190hp) V8's
had a manual std. eqip.
IIRC with a v8 std. was 3.23:1 rear or a G92 option 3.73:1 gear

Budnicks 92 Trans Am 540ci N20 Outlaw Pro-Stock Sac. Raceway early 90's.JPG
 
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Yeah, but when you remind Pontiac guys they want to fight. Talk about a boat anchor.
 
44070dart said:
Yeah, but when you remind Pontiac guys they want to fight. Talk about a boat anchor.
Click to expand...
I'm one of those. Pontiac quit being Pontiac when they started putting Chevy motors in it, but that just me. I always wanted to put a Pontiac 455 in a 66 Chevelle (owned one after high school) just to p/o the Chevy guys...lol!
 
I sold this '65 about 8 years ago. Needed rear floor and trunk pan, but bought it right. It was not a GTO, but looked the part. 400 / auto, nice interior and paint. Funny thing is at cruise night the car got zero attention. I liked it, bought it in the winter, repaired it, and flipped it in the summer.

65 gto 400.jpg 1965 gto.jpg
 
I've personally never seen a manual trans v8 in that body style.

I've seen a couple of v6 camaros with a manual.

I was thinking junk yard 5 speed swap.

I know a guy with a mid 80's 4-4-2 that did that.

Said it was real easy even though it was originally an auto.
 
My cousin has an early eighty's one with 26,000 miles on it and a 4 speed. He's looking to sell it this spring.
 
44070dart said:
I sold this '65 about 8 years ago. Needed rear floor and trunk pan, but bought it right. It was not a GTO, but looked the part. 400 / auto, nice interior and paint. Funny thing is at cruise night the car got zero attention. I liked it, bought it in the winter, repaired it, and flipped it in the summer.

View attachment 927156 View attachment 927163
Click to expand...
65 My favorite year in the gen 1 GTO's :thumbsup:
or even the Lemans/Tempest dressed as GTO's :bananadance:
 
GTO4.jpg
We've got the 2 1973 Grand Ams. One is a 455 one is a built 400. The 1970 GTO drag car with a Chevy 454 and my son's commuter car a Pontiac Vibe, really a Toyota with Pontiac badges. Hell, he can't drive that 4WD Diesel RAM 3/4 ton everywhere.

The Grand Am was 3 cars. Interior from the Grand Prix, drivetrain from the Trans Am and an upgraded body from the LeMans, sort of. These were sketches for the 1973 GTO.


GTO2.jpg
GTO3.jpg
 
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