The Official Hot Rod Thread - Part 2: No Replacement For Displacement

[churchmouse]

My rusty pile of crap is a 1970 Pontiac Lemans that my dad bought at an estate auction from one of our former co-workers in the fall of 2013. Originally ordered as a Verdoro green, green vinyl interior, green vinyl top. 350 with 2 barrel, 3 speed manual saginaw with factory Hurst shifter, 4 wheel manual drum brakes, bench seat. Car has just over 145,000 miles, engine has never been apart, she is wore out. Just started building a nice little 350 Poncho for it.

We got it back on the road in June of 2014, after sitting for who knows how long, at least 5 years. Did all the basics for a car that had been sitting, then about two weeks after we got it running and exactly 6 hours after we put a clutch in it, we headed out for Wichita, KS for the Pontiac Oakland Club International yearly convention. Made it out there without a hitch. Car has seen a few different wheel and tire combos, it became mine after I traded my dad a 1972 Grand Prix that I had. I have made some changes to suit me. It's got some pretty big sway bars, custom boxed rear control arms, has been lowered 2" all around. I put some nice bucket seats in it earlier this year for some side bolsters and lumbar.

Have put 18,000 miles on it since we've had it. Has been to Wichita, Louisville, Davenport, Norwalk a few times, Indy a couple times, all over NE Indiana, drove it to Florida and back a little over a month ago 1,876 miles in 29 hours. I don't drive it everyday, but I do drive it a lot. Once this new engine is in, I'm thinking I'll take a nice trip maybe down to do the Tail of the Dragon.

Thats pretty much the story. Nothing really special about it, but it's part of the family now. It will never leave me while I'm alive.

Put some disk brakes on it before you do the dragon.........

 

[bobzilla]

Is that in a truck...???

Maybe.....

 

[churchmouse]

Maybe.....

I love top secret stuff.

 

[RustyHornet]

Put some disk brakes on it before you do the dragon.........

Eh. More power first!

Got my main studs and bolt kit today. Waiting on the head studs and rods. I actually got a set of rods today, but I realized I ordered the wrong ones for this application. I realized my mistake, but Summit had already shipped them. Already ordered the right ones, now to send these back. I thought I had done the research and had the right rods picked out, stepped away from the computer for a few hours and then without double checking I just made the purchase. So now I've got a set of decent Eagle H beams, but they are floaters.... I needed press fit. I can keep the Eagles for the future 400 build, but they are a Pontiac journal and I had planned on running a BBC journal in that one. There aren't many options out there for Poncho rods, the stock cast pieces will work fine for this build, but it's only a little more money for a set of forged I-beams.

 

[bobzilla]

I love top secret stuff.

 

[churchmouse]

OK....went shopping today.
A friend is selling off a lot of his stuff.
I picked up an MSD Pro Billet Dist. for the stroker with a new cap and wires.
3 sets of header gaskets for a SB chev.
A really nice Hi Volume water pump.
A 120A 1 wire alternator.
Scored a high torque Chev starter. Chev. nose on a big block motor.
Got a set of new in the box QA-1 adjustable coil overs with 200# springs. The springs might be a touch lite for my 64 drop but we will see.
a new in the package 2"X3" cross member. It is one that has to be fit up. A buddy has been looking. Bingo.

Big score for decent money.

 

[churchmouse]

Eh. More power first!

Got my main studs and bolt kit today. Waiting on the head studs and rods. I actually got a set of rods today, but I realized I ordered the wrong ones for this application. I realized my mistake, but Summit had already shipped them. Already ordered the right ones, now to send these back. I thought I had done the research and had the right rods picked out, stepped away from the computer for a few hours and then without double checking I just made the purchase. So now I've got a set of decent Eagle H beams, but they are floaters.... I needed press fit. I can keep the Eagles for the future 400 build, but they are a Pontiac journal and I had planned on running a BBC journal in that one. There aren't many options out there for Poncho rods, the stock cast pieces will work fine for this build, but it's only a little more money for a set of forged I-beams.

I always upgrade to floaters. Always.

 

[RustyHornet]

I always upgrade to floaters. Always.

I would have, but there are no floater pistons available for a small bore Poncho. Keeping with the budget build, I decided not to opt for a set of custom forgings...

 

[churchmouse]

I would have, but there are no floater pistons available for a small bore Poncho. Keeping with the budget build, I decided not to opt for a set of custom forgings...

Sorry. I am one of those very spoiled Bow Tie guys.

Heck we used to float the chevy rods. Get a set of "Pink" stripe rods form a Z-28 or an L-79 and polish the beams, Weigh/match, free float the pins and hang a set of TRW's on them. Not hard if your buddys work in a machine shop (that their dad owns)

 

[ChristianPatriot]

Go ahead Mouse. Tear it up.

https://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/6128710072.html

 

[Brad69]

Ok after looking at stroker kits the wife said "NO" after she reminded me that I traded a 2015 mustang for a 2016 Scat Pack Challenger last year.
She stated you were supposed to build the Cyclone stock so we could drive it.
Then she hit me hard remember the Nova you built that was supposed to be a fun car?
It was a 67 that had a really hot 421 stroker that didn't like to idle in traffic.

So it's gonna be a 1970 351 Cleveland 4v shorty headers, dual plane intake, one of the new street demon carbs 750 cfm.

Now we are down to cam selection I an leaning to a Crane 266-2 266/280 duration 508/510 lift.

Ideas ?

 

[gregkl]

I love these cars and this one has the "look" as well as a big block. Little high IMO.

https://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/cto/6168241959.html

Friend of mine had a '71 big block, 4-speed Non-SS version. According to him, it was very rare. He sold it at the Mecum auction a few years ago for $20K. Was 100% complete but needed to be gone through to make it showroom new. No rust, not hacked in any way.

 

[churchmouse]

Go ahead Mouse. Tear it up.

https://dayton.craigslist.org/cto/6128710072.html

Well, besides it has had the balls ran off of it (as it should yes....) and the paint is done it is a nice truck. Just not worth that money. well, not to me anyway.

If it were my rig yes, it would have its tongue hanging out at 20K on the clock.
Now for 5K we might look again.

 

[churchmouse]

Ok after looking at stroker kits the wife said "NO" after she reminded me that I traded a 2015 mustang for a 2016 Scat Pack Challenger last year.
She stated you were supposed to build the Cyclone stock so we could drive it.
Then she hit me hard remember the Nova you built that was supposed to be a fun car?
It was a 67 that had a really hot 421 stroker that didn't like to idle in traffic.

So it's gonna be a 1970 351 Cleveland 4v shorty headers, dual plane intake, one of the new street demon carbs 750 cfm.

Now we are down to cam selection I an leaning to a Crane 266-2 266/280 duration 508/510 lift.

Ideas ?

That is critical. Headers..?? Auto with or with out a small stall...??? A/C...???

That is where I am with my 64. Spouse wants A/C in it. I have a pretty serious cam/head/manifold package in it. Not sure it would like pulling and A/C compressor at idle in heavy traffic. I do know it will have manual 4 wheel disks due to low vacuum at idle. Maybe an aux. pump for the booster.

 

[RustyHornet]

I'd like to have A/C in the "race" car. One of the reasons I was looking at a parts car earlier....

 

[churchmouse]

I'd like to have A/C in the "race" car. One of the reasons I was looking at a parts car earlier....

They had an electric "Fast idle" plunger on late 60's/early 70's cars to step up the idle when the A/C kicked on. That might be what I have to do. Thing is, with a WOT micro switch for the Nos it might get crowded around the throttle.

 

[Brad69]

Of course factory A/C ,power brakes , power steering, C4 auto 3.25 9inch gonna run a 2500 stall that's about what it was stock.

the cam is just a little hotter than the factory Cobra Jet cam

 

[churchmouse]

Of course factory A/C ,power brakes , power steering, C4 auto 3.25 9inch gonna run a 2500 stall that's about what it was stock.

the cam is just a little hotter than the factory Cobra Jet cam

You should be fine.
I never knew Ford ran a converter that loose. 1500/1800 is usually lock up on most street converters I have leaned on.
The hot ticket was finding a wrecked Vega and snatching the converter. If you had the talent I have seen them go 2K+ before they push the car.

 

[ChristianPatriot]

https://bloomington.craigslist.org/cto/6169143239.html

 

[Bigtanker]

I could totally see Glueman in this.

https://neworleans.craigslist.org/cto/6168324642.html