1980 Pontiac LeMans Station Wagon - G-T-faux (stuck with it, and can't shake it... like a bad case of herpes)

[motorheadmike]

Why do you want another truck?

It is mostly a time vs. money issue (more of the latter). The TBSS is 12 years old (very high mileage and next to sh*t its LS2) and has outlived its usefulness (as a truck/family hauler) given Natasha has her Colorado now. The girls fit fine in the back of a car... and the Challenger has ample rear seating space and cargo space for a daily/road trip. Plus, the grand touring aspect of the car is really appealing. You just cannot build a car for what you get with a Hellcat (that includes the warranty).

I am not giving up on building G-bodies - I just don't see the value in throwing my valuable time at another junkyard solution - but also cannot justify spending big money on a low power/dollar return on a basic N/A LS-based engine.

I priced this exact car out earlier this year, and come September we can comfortably afford it as Natasha gets promoted and the girls are out of full-time daycare. Additionally, I've never had the privilege of buying myself a new car - and no new car has ever appealed to me like a widebody, six speed, Hellcat.

 

[Clutch]

It is mostly a time vs. money issue (more of the latter). The TBSS is 12 years old (very high mileage and next to sh*t its LS2) and has outlived its usefulness (as a truck/family hauler) given Natasha has her Colorado now. The girls fit fine in the back of a car... and the Challenger has ample rear seating space and cargo space for a daily/road trip. Plus, the grand touring aspect of the car is really appealing. You just cannot build a car for what you get with a Hellcat (that includes the warranty).

I am not giving up on building G-bodies - I just don't see the value in throwing my valuable time at another junkyard solution - but also cannot justify spending big money on a low power/doller return on a basic N/A LS-based engine.

I priced this exact car out earlier this year, and come September we can comfortably afford as Natasha gets promoted and the girls are out of full-time daycare. Additionally, I've never had the privilege of buying myself a new car - and no new car has ever appealed to me like a widebody, six speed, Hellcat.

I like the wagon

 

[Turbolq4]

I think the Challenger/Charger are great GT cars.

 

[Turbolq4]

As far as the wagon is concerned, I like the LS3 option. Not a hack junkyard approach but also not a burn the wallet, to hell with life, TSP build either.

 

[motorheadmike]

I like the wagon

So do I. The irony is that the Hellcat didn't exist when I bought the wagon. And the Hellcat is the factory embodiment of the car I would build for myself.

As far as the wagon is concerned, I like the LS3 option. Not a hack junkyard approach but also not a burn the wallet, to hell with life, TSP build either.

That's the problem. Both of those options are a huge financial outlay for a very disappointing performance return; and when I settled on the H/C/I build of the current LS1 it was pretty disappointing (other than the sound). If I had to do it over, which it looks like I am, I'd use forced induction. Now I can (potentially) do this one of three ways:

1. Use the 5.3L currently in the Monte and buy a positive displacement blower fit for F-body accessories;
2. Use the 5.3L and adapt the wagon to truck accessories, and pull the Procharger (plus the Holley Mid-Rise intake, injectors, etc) off the TBSS before I sell it/trade it in on a Hellcat; or
3. Use the 5.3L as-is (while on the bottle), and just accept that it isn't a H/C/I LS1.

Option 1 is not cost effective (too many supporting mods required). Option 2 and 3 have the least amount of financial outlay, with Option 2 having the best power and Option 3 having the least aggravation/downtime. I can always transition from Option 3 to Option 2 over time.

 

[Clutch]

So do I. The irony is that the Hellcat didn't exist when I bought the wagon. And the Hellcat is the factory embodiment of the car I would build for myself.



That's the problem. Both of those options are a huge financial outlay for a very disappointing performance return; and when I settled on the H/C/I build of the current LS1 it was pretty disappointing (other than the sound). If I had to do it over, which it looks like I am, I'd use forced induction. Now I can (potentially) do this one of three ways:

1. Use the 5.3L currently in the Monte and buy a positive displacement blower fit for F-body accessories;
2. Use the 5.3L and adapt the wagon to truck accessories, and pull the Procharger (plus the Holley Mid-Rise intake, injectors, etc) off the TBSS before I sell it/trade it in on a Hellcat; or
3. Use the 5.3L as-is (while on the bottle), and just accept that it isn't a H/C/I LS1.

Option 1 is not cost effective (too many supporting mods required). Option 2 and 3 have the least amount of financial outlay, with Option 2 having the best power and Option 3 having the least aggravation/downtime. I can always transition from Option 3 to Option 2 over time.

Cool factor wagon rules!

 

[motorheadmike]

Cool factor wagon rules!

Agreed. I have too much invested in it (especially the sweat equity) to not fix it - but, rolling the TBSS up into a Hellcat buys me time and saves me from the fear that everytime I squeeze the go-peddle in it either the 4L70E or engine is going to blow.

 

[Turbolq4]

Put a crank kit in the engine that's in it.

 

[motorheadmike]

Put a crank kit in the engine that's in it.

All I heard was buy a Hellcat.

Ironically, I just pitched Natasha to demod the TBSS and sell it/trade it in in order to buy a Hellcat, and put a Procharged 5.3L into the wagon. She said:
































Yes.

 

[Turbolq4]

Pics of the new Hellcat!?!