Bone stock VS heavily modified

[CaliWagon83]

I'm itching hard to do a frame-off restomod and LS3 swap. Yes, I enjoy my wagon as-is, but only as much as driving to and from Cars & Coffee. In terms of actual enjoyment of the driving experience, not so much. Sure, I guess there's some retro nostalgic fun in the cold-start ritual, but that's about the extent of it.

 

[GuysMonteSS]

Agreed x2^2

We, assuming there are others in the same boat, forget what a stock G-body is and how it really handled and stopped. 2-3 years ago when I realized our grocery getting Fusion outperformed our G-body in terms of handling and braking I figured I'd push it to the next level. Currently we aren't at the level of a new 'Vette, but it will stop and handle better than a modern car. And it didn't take much to get there, other than some short term living on Struggle St lol.

My buddy has a bone stock and pretty much all original '84 Grand Prix.
I moved it for him maybe a mile or two,but that was enough to make me realise that there was no comparison between it and my SS with upgraded brakes and suspension,bracing,poly body mounts,etc..
His GP felt like it was wallowing all over the road where mine feels like a slot car !!
Theres no way I would want mine to ride and handle like a stock one.
Guy

 

[Doug Chahoy]

Stock is BORING, except for the 86-87 GNs these cars didn’t run any good when they were new. Improve your car to your tastes , abilities, and $$$$. I would NEVER pay big money for a bone stock Gbody. No matter what the mileage is because stock sucks.

 

[565bbchevy]

I think bone stock cars are great, as in a great starting point to build a highly modified car.

 

[GuysMonteSS]

When I bought mine almost 18 years ago if it had of been all stock I probably wouldn't have bought it as I was looking for a muscle car.
At that time it had a slightly modded LS-6 454 crate engine,the Doug Nash 4+1 5 speed,better suspension pieces,and Lauren Engineering ground effects kit.
I still remember that first drive,going down Hwy # 1 sideways and smoking the tires through the gears !!
I was hooked...
Guy

 

[565bbchevy]

When I bought mine almost 18 years ago if it had of been all stock I probably wouldn't have bought it as I was looking for a muscle car.

When I bought my 83' Monte years ago it was a stock CL with a half vinyl and a crap load of chrome and had gray interior with 60/40 seats along with the original 305 in it but I had a different plan for it and it wasn't about keeping it stock.

 

[CaliWagon83]

To me, the appeal in G-Bodies was always their potential, not necessarily what they were stock. Other than a small handful of special editions, they were always pretty weak performers from the factory. But rear-drive, body-on-frame and huge engine bays are just begging to be messed with! 😏

 

[WV CHEVY MANN]

For me the main attaction to a G body is that it is the last GM RWD that has the potential to be a car I want to own and drive.

AGREED !!!!!!!!

 

[motorheadmike]

The best customs are the ones that exist in the realm of possibility. Steve Strope is tops in my book in terms of vision and execution - pushes the limits of design and attention to detail but exercises restraint resulting in cars that should exude timelessness.

https://www.purevisiondesign.com/rides/projects/

By comparison the Ring Brothers "design" utter tasteless nonsense that becomes irrelevant in a year.

 

[CaliWagon83]

My good friend's brother Troy works for Pure Vision.