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

[axisg]

Nice save ! I get the occasional arm slap, foul comments and discouraging looks when the wife is hot and unhappy whilst I am breaking the tires loose and having fun in my old heap. I don't know what there is to be unhappy about, I am having fun, the kids are enjoying it, so I carry on !


Now for a personal question and if its none of my business I know you are not shy about sharing your true feelings. LOL
Talking BS over wings and beers last week. How much $$ does it take to upgrade your average Gbody to the calibre you are at Mike ?

A friend of a friend is working over a Gbody cutlass. Cant recall but low mileage 4.8 or 5.3, FAST Controller, Single turbo ( for now ), TKO, and 8.5 rear. I figure he's around $10 - $12k cdn and figures there is another $3-4 k in bits and pieces before he even pulls the frame to reinforce or starts suspension. Thats not including the initial cost of the car.

 

[motorheadmike]

Nice save ! I get the occasional arm slap, foul comments and discouraging looks when the wife is hot and unhappy whilst I am breaking the tires loose and having fun in my old heap. I don't know what there is to be unhappy about, I am having fun, the kids are enjoying it, so I carry on !


Now for a personal question and if its none of my business I know you are not shy about sharing your true feelings. LOL
Talking BS over wings and beers last week. How much $$ does it take to upgrade your average Gbody to the calibre you are at Mike ?

A friend of a friend is working over a Gbody cutlass. Cant recall but low mileage 4.8 or 5.3, FAST Controller, Single turbo ( for now ), TKO, and 8.5 rear. I figure he's around $10 - $12k cdn and figures there is another $3-4 k in bits and pieces before he even pulls the frame to reinforce or starts suspension. Thats not including the initial cost of the car.

Thanks - it seems that she fails to realize that I have been driving like this for over 20 years, and I learned everything I know driving in Toronto.

As for what it cost me to build this car vs. what it would cost to have another person attempt similar vs. having it built.

I am into the car for ~$20K CDN in parts - keeping in mind that I already owned the donor car for the brakes, engine, transmission, and electronics; and I previously owned the wheels and some other parts too. For the next guy it would be an additional $8 to 10K to make up the difference - so up to $30K CDN. To have it built for you expect to pay $45K CDN - that is the number Hagerty hung on it for replacement cost. If I went to sell it I would be lucky to get 50 cents on the dollar for its appraised value - likely closer to 40 cents.

In other words - don't build, buy.

 

[vanrah]

Greetings MIke & all; WOW I spent a good part of yesterday reading Much of this thread. Mike you can be Very proud of this build. Your skill level is outa sight. You inform yourself & then get the job done. And your ability with wires is far beyond the average guy. What the hell do you do for a living? I think you should consider opening a shop, in short order you would have more customers that time! And probably make a s__t load of money from us less informed-skilled guys. As for the 13.2 first outings, not bad. You will soon be in the 12's & quicker if ya go crazy with speed parts. Have ya weighted it yet? You would be one of the few (5 or10) guys that I'd like to see get the Bronze Brick. But of course I want Too much. Take care & Enjoy, Ole Bob.

 

[motorheadmike]

Greetings MIke & all; WOW I spent a good part of yesterday reading Much of this thread. Mike you can be Very proud of this build. Your skill level is outa sight. You inform yourself & then get the job done. And your ability with wires is far beyond the average guy. What the hell do you do for a living? I think you should consider opening a shop, in short order you would have more customers that time! And probably make a s__t load of money from us less informed-skilled guys. As for the 13.2 first outings, not bad. You will soon be in the 12's & quicker if ya go crazy with speed parts. Have ya weighted it yet? You would be one of the few (5 or10) guys that I'd like to see get the Bronze Brick. But of course I want Too much. Take care & Enjoy, Ole Bob.

Thanks, Bob. I am an Infantry Officer, with a background in delivering major capital infrastructure projects, and now specializing in ionizing and non-ionizing radiation safety - so yeah, not a mechanic (but, my Dad was). I used to fix Grand Nationals on the side - but, the human factor of unrealistic expectations just wasn't worth the effort. So no shop for now, maybe post-retirement - but, I am only 38 so that is going to be a while. Lastly I tried weighing it at the track but they didn't have scales - I am guessing it is about 4000+lbs.

 

[motorheadmike]

Played with her rearend. The S60 is broken in and needed to be flushed and filled. Interesting that Strange didn't include a magnet inside... so I fixed that.

 

[TURNA]

What happened to the rear?!?!?!!?

 

[motorheadmike]

What happened to the rear?!?!?!!?

Made it to 500 miles and required a fluid change according to Strange's instructions. Cracked it open, let it drain, hosed it out with some brake cleaner, a layer of Ultra Black, and cranked the cover down. I will fill it up in the morning after the RTV and JB Weld cures.

 

[DRIVEN]

This car is ridiculous. I loved it.
And congrats on GBOTM!

 

[TURNA]

Ah I just re read your post broken in not broken.......

 

[liquidh8]

Nice, I really dig that that wagon!