1981 Pontiac Grand LeMans Safari Wagon

[81cutlass]

Everytime theres an update on this car I'm like how can it get better, and then it does! I forget this car has the locking rear hatch cubbies.

 

[PBGBodyFan]

And here are some in progress pics

 

[PBGBodyFan]

Everytime theres an update on this car I'm like how can it get better, and then it does! I forget this car has the locking rear hatch cubbies.

Thanks! I added those, adding some options, some no interest in, some are just kind of neat.

Plan is 17x9 snowflakes in spring and tossing in the 8.5” 3.73 posi I have had for a few years I got for a too good to pass up price. Cleaned/freshened it up this summer. Plan to run the 3.8/TH200 with it, might not like the highway but should be a one year only combo.
Then the motor/trans last, I work kind of backwards 🤪

 

[PBGBodyFan]

So the plan was, and still remains long term, to do an LS swap, aiming for a LY6 for a few reasons but a thought popped into my head...since I have almost everything on hand to do it, a SBC swap would be relatively easy and cheap. I really didn't want a 3rd vehicle with the same setup but here I am. The plan would be to be a placeholder, but who knows, I realize things can and do change. I have a rebuilt 350 with TBI heads that has been tucked in a corner as a spare engine/core, then recently acquired a 88'SS parts car that surprisingly to me had a 350 swapped in. The owner of 16 years told me it was a rebuilt 305. The 350 appears to be a crate motor from back in the day, after cleaning it it's clear it was all gray, a 87-95 2 bolt block with a date code of September 1993, L98 TPI iron heads, not sure of the pistons or cam but it does have a roller cam and is setup for a mechanical fuel pump. Maybe only 200hp or so but it beats the current 3.8 and I have a 88' CZF 200-4r from a previous parts car and the 3.73 posi that's already planned to go in, should make a nice setup for a cruiser.

Tossed the rusty oil pan and valve covers in the scrap pile, have a clean set of covers off my SS's 383 and ordered a new oil pan and gaskets. Not "all in" on the SBC swap yet but starting to gather items. I'd do this swap in spring/early summer which is about a year before the LS swap would of(originally) occured

.

 

[PBGBodyFan]

Finally got the wagon home last weekend from the winter location, just mounted the new snowflakes tonight. Definitely gives it a different look and vibe. The Rally’s and whitewalls are really fitting and I dig that look, but this goes with the build and future plans much more. I need 1-2 more gray background center caps so will roll with red on one side and see if anyone notices.

 

[Doug Chahoy]

The wheels look really good on that patina’d classic

 

[motorheadmike]

Finally got the wagon home last weekend from the winter location, just mounted the new snowflakes tonight. Definitely gives it a different look and vibe. The Rally’s and whitewalls are really fitting and I dig that look, but this goes with the build and future plans much more. I need 1-2 more gray background center caps so will roll with red on one side and see if anyone notices.
View attachment 172714

Must resist buying more wheels...

 

[81cutlass]

Dayum those look good on there! Those were the right choice!

 

[Longroof79]

I agree, you couldn't have picked a better style wheel for your wagon. It looks absolutely natural like they belonged there when new.
It looks killer.

 

[oldsmobile joe]

Finally got the wagon home last weekend from the winter location, just mounted the new snowflakes tonight. Definitely gives it a different look and vibe. The Rally’s and whitewalls are really fitting and I dig that look, but this goes with the build and future plans much more. I need 1-2 more gray background center caps so will roll with red on one side and see if anyone notices.
View attachment 172714

did you do 4square?
what size tires?
any spacers involved?