1973 Vega GT Project
Here is the starting point....The car has been on jack stands in a garage since 1984. 80% of the car wears its' original paint. The floors, trunk and body panels have zero rust. The rear hatch has been replaced as it looks like it was in a mild rear-ender at some point, but the quarter panels were not damaged. It does have some scrapes and dents, but not bad for a 44 year old car. The interior is all there but a bit moldy. Having owned and built many muscle cars over the years, I am very excited about how solid this car is!
It has an earlier front bumper mount, but I also have the original. I don't believe the driveline is original (certainly not the transmission) and the top of the tunnel has been cut. Fortunately, the cut piece came with the car, so I can weld it back on.
The plan is to make it a 70s style street machine with a small block, with a tunnel ram / dual 4 barrels, center line wheels, 4 speed Muncie and 12-bolt rear. I am not going to tub the rear. We are going to try and save the paint and color match the paint in the areas that need to be touched up.
Project Car:
'72 Vega Parts Car (former drag car):
This is the '72 Vega former drag car that I found in PA. It ended being a great source for parts as it contained all of the period correct 70s v8 conversion parts made by Don Hardy Race Cars, which are no longer made. Parts include: Don Hardy Chevy 12-bolt with 3.73 gears and Strange axles, Don Hardy 5 lug conversion rotors, Don Hardy motor mounts, heater box to replace the A/C box in my project car, radiator and several other misc. parts.
327 Tunnel Ram to Replace the 4 cyl. Vega Engine:
Project Progress:
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November 2020:
Back on the ground for the 1st time with the 12-bolt rear end, 5 lug front conversion rotors and all new brakes. The front will drop another 2" or so when the motor goes in...it should have a nice stance!
Interior cleaned and a light layer of undercoating added. Soon to be followed by sounddeadner. Trunk cleaned and painted with spatter. Trunk cover media blasted and painted.
December:
v8 Conversion transmission crossmember by ACE:
327 tunnel ram and Muncie 4 speed installed. ACE poly motor mounts:
Driveshaft installed with new Spicer u-joints. Driveshaft was from the parts Vega. 1 3/8" of yolk clearance at the trail shaft.
Headers and steering shaft install. Sanderson headers needed to be clearanced at the control arm on the passenger side and the steering shaft on the driver's side. Universal radiator brackets installed using stock radiator bracket bolt holes, but lower "L" brackets "drop" the radiator location to accommodate for a larger radiator size.
Shround and radiator cover installed. Shroud is riveted the the face of the radiator cover and through the radiator.
Shortened fuel pick up for the Vega gas tank. The Vega tank is only 7.5" deep and they no longer make a fuel sender, so I had to "shorten" this one in 2 places using compression fittings. Fits perfect now.
