Ol' Fart's Firebird Fantasy

[Billy Nees]

On E-Bay right now there is a 75 Bonneville 4Door with 10K orig. miles on it. It's a 400 4V and it's in Oklahoma. $3995 buy it now price.
It's big and it's ugly but it's complete, running and doesn't need any paint or body work.
It ain't gonna get much cheaper than that in this day and age.

[oldskool]

Thanks for the info Mr. Billy !

But if I'm gonna buy a big heavy 4-door, it'll have to be a wagon. And since I already have plenty of motor parts and trannies, all I need is the correct year body. I think I can find just a usable body in my area for $1000 or less. I reckin I live in an area with a very depressed economy. If you can get to a car before some wineo or scrap dealer takes it to the crusher, you can find some real bargins.

I was cruisin thru the 455 hp factors again lookin for the best possible combo. What I found that looks better to me than any other combo is a '73 Formula with a 250hp 455. It's factored at 306hp, if this info is correct.

http://www.classracerinfo.com/Engine...px?ENGINE=2079

Since they all look very similar from '70-'73, any of those years will work, as a '73. Some of the '70 Formulas and TA's had a 12 bolt rear end. Then all the '71-73's should have the 8.5" ten bolt.

[Mark Yacavone]

Nah..Don't like the 2bbl..You'll cut too many corners and it won't run the index.
Besides, the car is too far gone..Needs too much..
I was going to suggest a 74 GTO SS combo @250 hp..Build it like a Stocker, but with a flat tappet cam and an Edelbrock intake.
It ought to run under the SS/MA, 11.85 index

You realize you get 3 more tenths index with IHRA..Might be the deal for you.

But here's what you need to do with what you got.
Take that big 80's wagon and put it together as a 77, 400/260 for P/SA.
Put an .88 gear in it and a low gear T350.
If it runs good, then change the front panel and the tail lights to 77
Use your 6x -4 heads. We can steer you in the right direction with them.
Find an 8 " converter in the pile,..and I can get it handled for you

Hey , good, free advice is sometimes hard to come by.
I realize I'm bumping up against the commercial side here, so better save this post LOL ;-)

[oldskool]

Yeah, I like the looks of both those combos. But on the GTO SS deal, I'm figuring that because of all the noise Bill Rink has made with it, that it will soon get hit with a big refactor.

Now, about the wagon. You think it is close enuff to a '77 to convert and pass tech with it ?

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by oldskool

Yeah, I like the looks of both those combos. But on the GTO SS deal, I'm figuring that because of all the noise Bill Rink has made with it, that it will soon get hit with a big refactor.

Now, about the wagon. You think it is close enuff to a '77 to convert and pass tech with it ?

Yes..I think you would need to change the whole nose...or as some would say "doghouse".
The tail lights, and the rear bumper..
The VIN is irrelevant.

[oldskool]

OK guys, I need some help here with some info that may help me and others. I just got involved in a tranny discussion. The OP wanted to know which tranny to run behind his 700hp Pontiac, a TH400 or a Glide. He was afraid the Glide would slow him down. I suggested a TH350, and posted 3 links with TH350's rated at 800hp +.

But one guy basically said the TH350 is junk and won't stand 700hp. I even posted the link of a guy telling about his Turbo Action TH350 that had held up for 3 seasons with 1000hp. But there are a lot of unbelievers.

I assume that lots of you SS guys are running TH350's with somewhere in the neighborhood of 700hp. So I need posts that I can copy and paste, with some of ya'll telling about your sucess with a SS TH350 tranny.

So, can anybody give me some directions on how to find such info on this site ? Thanks !

[oldskool]

Breaker !

I interrupt this thread to call attention to a nice lookin '72 Grand Prix. Has a 400 Pontiac with some good parts in it, TH400 with brake, and a 12 bolt rear end. Car has a lot of other good parts on it. Has run 11.70's. Check it out.

http://www.racingjunk.com/Complete-R...ACE-READY.html

[Tony Corley]

Looks like a good candidate to convert to a stocker from the pictures. Sell what you can't use off of it and install your stuff. Why haven't you bought it yet, lol?

[oldskool]

Originally Posted by Mark Yacavone

Yes..I think you would need to change the whole nose...or as some would say "doghouse".
The tail lights, and the rear bumper..
The VIN is irrelevant.

I just checked out the differences real close. Would need an entire front cap. Hood, fenders, and nose--all different. It appears the '77 Grand Safari shares the front cap with the Bonneville and maybe the Parisienne.

Run that deal as a 72. the 315 hp 455 is a good deal. I ran 10.80's in G with that combo in 09. The heads are a dime a dozen, very easy to find. I know somebody who has a set of .060 Ross pistons, and an older set of prepped stocker heads that you could most likely make a deal for to get you started. You could race that deal with stock lifters, and normal spring pressure as well. Also no EGR valve in the intake.

The best way to attach the headers to the ends of the port is to drill and tap them. Then use a simple stud.

screw in studs is a simple process that anybody can do, don't let that scare you away.

Turning that car into a 77 is alot of time an effort, plus some money. Im not sure that 5c deal is the way to go either. No compression at all. the 72 455 will pour to 9.2 compression. that other deal will be lucky if it makes 8.0

the 71 455 has a very small intake runner. 144cc and at 325 is a dead player

Originally Posted by oldskool

I just checked out the differences real close. Would need an entire front cap. Hood, fenders, and nose--all different. It appears the '77 Grand Safari shares the front cap with the Bonneville and maybe the Parisienne.