speaking of "out of the box" projects........

[camcojb]

I picked this up from a good friend Ross (hapevo). I wasn't planning on doing anything at the moment with the economy and being self-employed, but he practically gave it to me................. thanks man.

It's a 73 Vega hatchback. Originally being built as a 1/4 mile street car, it's already been mini-tubbed, has about 15" of wheelwell room. Comes with a truckload of NOS parts and body panels, Currie 9" rear with aluminum center section, Bilstein coil-overs, and torque arm (which will need re-locating). Not sure what to do up front to get a decent sized tire/wheel for a pro-touring track car, but it will need a different front clip, possibly a Chassisworks g chassis or similar.

Bought an LQ9 6 liter from a good friend with new Texas Speed CNC L92 heads, L76 intake, new rails, dbw throttle body, computer, correct rockers, etc. I'll swap the cam, should make 550 hp or so.

This is going to be a very low-dollar build, at least for me. I'll start a thread when I get to the point that progress is being made, but wanted to share what I bought. I was able to sell the Dart I had to pay for this, and I think this will be a much cooler build.

http://www.camcojb.com/temp/vega2.jpg

http://www.camcojb.com/temp/vega3.jpg

http://www.camcojb.com/temp/vega4.jpg

http://www.camcojb.com/temp/vega5.jpg

Jody

[GregWeld]

Jody ---

Gwen is vomiting as we speak....

Long story but back in 72 I sold my 66 Vette and bought a brand new 73 Vega - Yellow - hatchback.... It was without a doubt THE WORST CAR EVER... that I've ever owned. I loved the little car - but the engine was a complete POS... I went through 3 head gaskets.. and a couple warped heads...

So here's the funny part. At the time - I also owned a 55 Chevy 2 door post... Gwen would drive that over the Vega... In early 74 I TRIED to trade the Vega in on a new 74 Mercury XR7... the dealership would NOT TAKE THE VEGA on trade - but would give me a heck of a deal without the trade - so the VEGA sat in front of the dealership where I left it - for about 2 weeks... they finally called me and asked me to PLEASE come get it.... Poor little Vega.... so home it came - where Gwen would still choose the 55 over it... It sat for 6 months or more before I could finally pawn that little POS off on somebody (for 2K if I remember right)...

I was at Jim Greens yesterday (the 'famous' drag racer) and he still has a couple of Vega AA/FC bodies sitting around.. They're SO KOOL!

It will be major fun to see what you do with your new toy! :cheers: :woot:

[70rs]

That looks like a fun project. With 550 hp it should be a handfull. I had a Vega when I was a kid. Like Greg I went through several head gaskets and later it got impounded (left for dead on side of road) and crushed into a neat little cube. It ended up about the size of a coffee table. :lol:

[Blue70]

Very cool
I would love to do a Vega!!
Cant wait to see what you do with it!

[66LS7]

I had the Pontiac version (Astre) in high school. I managed to rip the rear lower control arm out of it, fry the clutch & seize the motor in 3 months time. I always thought I would put a small block in it & go racing. I believe the car is cooking pan or a shovel by now.:lol:

That is going to be a great project I will be watching to see how it comes toghether. I am already visualizing it in my head.:thumbsup:


Randy(D&Z Customs LLC.)
[email protected]
1-262-347-9741

[zbugger]

Very nice little project Jody. I can just picture you driving it. You're gonna look like Hightower from Police Academy when he ripped out the front seat and drove from the back seat of that little CVCC they stole. lol....

Just kidding. I like the little Vega. I can't wait to see what you can do to it.

[CRCRFT78]

I saw that on Craigslist a couple of months ago, VERY COOL CAR!

[awr68]

Going to be a total rocket!! :thumbsup:

[cheapta]

I love Vegas! I looked for one when I was starting my latest project but here in New England they rotted on the showroom floor! I got a 65 Nova instead-almost as bed rot-wise. Good luck with it!

[Sales@Dutchboys]

Love it Jody.:thumbsup: didnt you have a vega couple years ago for the power tour? This is cool though you already have a jump start on the project.

Paul

[camcojb]

Love it Jody.:thumbsup: didnt you have a vega couple years ago for the power tour? This is cool though you already have a jump start on the project.

Paul
no, I've never owned a Vega. I used to drive them when they were new, had a couple friends with them. Seemed like a no-brainer at what I paid, and I always like to be different.................... :lol:

[Novelli]

Cool car. I used to have a Super Gas Vega. Im actually looking for a Vega or a Nash Metro..........Yes I said it......Nash Metro. Getting tired of the norm, need a new off the wall project.:thumbsup:

[radrambler]

Jody

I LOVE IT !!...:thumbsup:

your REAL TALL
how in the flying hell are you gonna get into a vega ???:lol:

Tom

[camcojb]

Jody

I LOVE IT !!...:thumbsup:

your REAL TALL
how in the flying hell are you gonna get into a vega ???:lol:

Tom
I drove them when they were new, I think I'll still fit............... :wow:

[OLDFLM]

Very Cool!! Love watching the Malibu build thread... where do I subscribe for the Vega build?!! :thumbsup:

[camcojb]

Very Cool!! Love watching the Malibu build thread... where do I subscribe for the Vega build?!! :thumbsup:
Thanks Ty. I'll post a build thread when one starts. At this point I'm not sure when I'll be spending any money on this.

Jody

[Rick Dorion]

I have a soft spot for Vegas - it's my era :)

Looking forward to the build. Wish I had some funding to get ready to buy it when you move on!

[Ricochet]

no, I've never owned a Vega. I used to drive them when they were new, had a couple friends with them. Seemed like a no-brainer at what I paid, and I always like to be different.................... :lol:

No doubt this thing will be an E-ticket Jody! Cool, different & will be a blast. Look forward to seeing this come together!

In regards to being different...Don't worry about that...we all know you are different!! :D

[hapevo]

I am very ecstatic that Jody decided to take this Vega project on. I can't wait to see it evolve. :thumbsup:

There is a little bit of irony here. I first met Jody a "few" years ago while he was working at a local speed shop :_paranoid, and at that time I was driving a Vega with a SBC in it which was my first car. The good ole' days!

[GregWeld]

I bet my wife that 70% of all the guys "my age" owned a VEGA at some point... so far this thread is making me a winner (yeah in my own dreams...).

:rofl:

[camcojb]

I am very ecstatic that Jody decided to take this Vega project on. I can't wait to see it evolve. :thumbsup:

There is a little bit of irony here. I first met Jody a "few" years ago while he was working at a local speed shop :_paranoid, and at that time I was driving a Vega with a SBC in it which was my first car. The good ole' days!
thanks again Ross, you are a good friend. I'll bet your wife is happy that she can park her car in the garage again................. :unibrow:

Jody

[ironworks]

We did a big block vega for a Guy a few years ago. The guy came in and asked if it was possible. Now he says the steering does not work really well when he is heavy on the gas pedal........

[GregWeld]

Cool car. I used to have a Super Gas Vega. Im actually looking for a Vega or a Nash Metro..........Yes I said it......Nash Metro. Getting tired of the norm, need a new off the wall project.:thumbsup:

One of my buddies in Portland has a Nash Metro - cut the top off and made it a roadster -- has an all tube chassis - and a 468 bbc.... We call it HOOVER because he took off a round Hoover emblem from a vacuum and stuck it on the front grill... When he rolls that thing onto a show / fairground... EVERYBODY stops to stare! It's WAY more fun than almost anything there! Don't even ask how it drives... it's too scary.:rofl:

[buickfunnycar.com]

Waaay cool Jody,love them V8 Vega's.:unibrow:
Can't wait to see what you do with her...:woot:

[hapevo]

thanks again Ross, you are a good friend. I'll bet your wife is happy that she can park her car in the garage again................. :unibrow:

Jody

You are very welcome. :cheers:

Yeah, the wife is pretty happy. :thumbsup: Now, if I can get that black car out of the way............

[DFRESH]

That's awesome Jody---have had many friends with Vega's as drag cars--have yet to see a well done PT edition---I'm sure you will do it justice. Can you lay out some of the initial plans (color scheme, interior, wheels, etc) you have for it? Looking forward to seeing this come together. I love real world builds, especially when done by someone like yourself who has had some impressive iron pass through their hands.

PS--is the motor you mentioned the Caddy version of the Vette motor?

Doug

[moparnate]

you dont want that vega, I think you should just sell it to me..:unibrow:

[camcojb]

That's awesome Jody---have had many friends with Vega's as drag cars--have yet to see a well done PT edition---I'm sure you will do it justice. Can you lay out some of the initial plans (color scheme, interior, wheels, etc) you have for it? Looking forward to seeing this come together. I love real world builds, especially when done by someone like yourself who has had some impressive iron pass through their hands.

PS--is the motor you mentioned the Caddy version of the Vette motor?

Doug
the LQ9 is the Escalade 6.0 liter with iron block and aluminum heads. Tentatively thinking silver with black GT stripe. Debating keeping it 15" wheels like the Vintage Wheels I had on the Chevelle and Hoosier road race tires, or going 17" with Forgelines and sticky tires. Not sure how the bigger wheels will look on such a small car.

[E.rodz]

love the vega I had a couple with v8's in them it does not take very much motor to make them really scoot.had a 283 in one and pulled 11's with it easy and drove it everyday.good luck with the build.

[tones2SS]

Definitely "out of the box" project Jody!!
Should be a fun little rocket. Keep us posted please.:thumbsup:

[tony byram]

Your ideas for the Vega are cool! A friend of mine had one and that car was barrel of fun, put a solid lifter 327-350hp out of a vette in it with a M20 four speed, we even got the 5 lug spindles for the front and the neatest thing was it was a GT, silver with the single black stripe on it, so we put second-gen Camaro Z28 wheels on it and it was awesome looking. I will try to find some pics of it if I can. Even 350hp in that little car made it fly, we smoked alot of so called hotrods in that little sleeper. That will be a fun car to drive! Be sure and take lots of pics!:thumbsup:

[66LS7]

the LQ9 is the Escalade 6.0 liter with iron block and aluminum heads. Tentatively thinking silver with black GT stripe. Debating keeping it 15" wheels like the Vintage Wheels I had on the Chevelle and Hoosier road race tires, or going 17" with Forgelines and sticky tires. Not sure how the bigger wheels will look on such a small car.

Jody I like the silver & black, but make the stripe satin black & then the wheels can have satin black on them also would look super cool!!!:thumbsup:



Randy(D&Z Customs LLC.)
[email protected]
1-262-347-9741

[DaleLee]

Should be a real fun project! We just finished a low budget one over the summer for a 16 year old girl. It is her first car and her high school car. Both her dad and herself had an overall "look" that they wanted... (a little old school with the wheel and tire choice), but thats ok. It turned out nice for a first car and it is absolutely "outside the box". It turns a lot of heads. Good luck with your project! It will be great to see some build pictures!!!

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs182.snc3/18945_260728325914_209567055914_4892146_8141838_n. jpg

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs182.snc3/18945_260728335914_209567055914_4892147_3457020_n. jpg

[awr68]

One of my buddies in Portland has a Nash Metro - cut the top off and made it a roadster -- has an all tube chassis - and a 468 bbc.... We call it HOOVER because he took off a round Hoover emblem from a vacuum and stuck it on the front grill... When he rolls that thing onto a show / fairground... EVERYBODY stops to stare! It's WAY more fun than almost anything there! Don't even ask how it drives... it's too scary.:rofl:

I've seen it and it is a cool car!

[GregWeld]

^^^^^^^ So nanner nanner to those of you that think I just make this S*** up!

:rofl:

[novanutcase]

We did a big block vega for a Guy a few years ago. The guy came in and asked if it was possible. Now he says the steering does not work really well when he is heavy on the gas pedal........

This one right?

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g170/novanutcase/shoppics3-7-07010.jpg

John

[GregWeld]

^^^^^^^^^^ Epic fail!!


:rofl: :rofl:

I know for certain Jody's will look a bit better than this one!

Sorry Rodger..... :>)

[nvr2fst]

I bet my wife that 70% of all the guys "my age" owned a VEGA at some point... so far this thread is making me a winner (yeah in my own dreams...).

:rofl:

Greg, Although your in another era than most LOL, I had my share of the Vegabond we were so proud to call cool. I remember towing my first one home by using all the interiors seat belts (dont ask) and envisioning a cosworth replica....never happened.

[GregWeld]

Era or EON.....

I wanted to post up a pic of my little GT - I have real photos of it - even has the Good Chevrolet (Alameda, CA) dealer ads in the license plate frame... but couldn't get the scanner going... Mine was a '74 I think since that's the date of the photos I have... so I would have been 21 !! Must have been drunk when I bought it! :rofl:

[nvr2fst]

Jody, Im assuming nothing has been done to the front chassis yet, otherwise I think you would of posted a photo. What's the track width on these things.
Do you plan on modifying a after market sub or strengthening and updating front end. I cant recall any serious mods on a vega out side of prostreet style

[camcojb]

Jody, Im assuming nothing has been done to the front chassis yet, otherwise I think you would of posted a photo. What's the track width on these things.
Do you plan on modifying a after market sub or strengthening and updating front end. I cant recall any serious mods on a vega out side of prostreet style
I am not sure yet. Likely an aftermarket clip of some sort, the modded front end on there now will not work.

Some guys have done simple S10 spindles and a-arm swaps to the stock front and gone pretty fast around corners, but you can't get any tire up front that way.

[XcYZ]

I wonder if the track width is close to that of an early Nova?

[GregWeld]

I wonder if the track width is close to that of an early Nova?

Listed as Front Track - Rear Track

54.7, 53.6 -- 71-77 Chevy Vega

59.8, 59.6 -- 68-74 Chevy Nova

54.5, 54.7 -- 83-01 Chevy S-10 Blazer 2-dr, 83-01 GMC Jimmy 2-dr
54.5, 54.7 -- 90-01 Chevy S-10 Blazer 4-dr, 90-01 GMC Jimmy 4-dr
54.5, 54.7 -- 82-93 Chevy S-10 reg cab, 73" box, 82-93 GMC reg cab, 73" box STOCK Malibu and El Camino drop spindles are bolt-on
54.5, 54.7 -- 82-93 Chevy S-10 reg cab, 89" box, 82-93 GMC reg cab, 89" box
54.5, 54.7 -- 83-? Chevy S-10 ext cab, 83-?? GMC ext cab


So the key is - to make it 4 wheel drive! :rofl: :woot:


DIMENSIONS TAKEN FROM THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE:

http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/wiki/Wheelbase,_track_width,_and_differential_measureme nts#GM_Car

[camcojb]

Should be a real fun project! We just finished a low budget one over the summer for a 16 year old girl. It is her first car and her high school car. Both her dad and herself had an overall "look" that they wanted... (a little old school with the wheel and tire choice), but thats ok. It turned out nice for a first car and it is absolutely "outside the box". It turns a lot of heads. Good luck with your project! It will be great to see some build pictures!!!

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs182.snc3/18945_260728325914_209567055914_4892146_8141838_n. jpg

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs182.snc3/18945_260728335914_209567055914_4892147_3457020_n. jpg
that's a nice car Dale!

Jody

[camcojb]

Listed as Front Track - Rear Track

54.7, 53.6 -- 71-77 Chevy Vega

59.8, 59.6 -- 68-74 Chevy Nova

54.5, 54.7 -- 83-01 Chevy S-10 Blazer 2-dr, 83-01 GMC Jimmy 2-dr
54.5, 54.7 -- 90-01 Chevy S-10 Blazer 4-dr, 90-01 GMC Jimmy 4-dr
54.5, 54.7 -- 82-93 Chevy S-10 reg cab, 73" box, 82-93 GMC reg cab, 73" box STOCK Malibu and El Camino drop spindles are bolt-on
54.5, 54.7 -- 82-93 Chevy S-10 reg cab, 89" box, 82-93 GMC reg cab, 89" box
54.5, 54.7 -- 83-? Chevy S-10 ext cab, 83-?? GMC ext cab


So the key is - to make it 4 wheel drive! :rofl: :woot:


DIMENSIONS TAKEN FROM THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE:

http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/wiki/Wheelbase,_track_width,_and_differential_measureme nts#GM_Car
hmmmmmmmmmmm......... interesting. I know S10's can be made to handle decently, and they also take an LS swap, so there's hope. :)

[GregWeld]

^^^^^^^^ Glad to be some help Jody!

[ScotI]

S10's are basically g-body front suspensions (or, for the optimists of the group.... the g-bodys also use the S10 suspension up front :D ).

[tony byram]

Heres the wheels you need for that lil vega.http://www.yearone.com/serverfiles/fbshopmain2.asp?hid=818AA10424

[camcojb]

Heres the wheels you need for that lil vega.http://www.yearone.com/serverfiles/fbshopmain2.asp?hid=818AA10424
yeah, those are cool, but I need an 11-12" wheel on the rear; want to take advantage of the mini-tub....................... :D

[tony byram]

Woah! Youre gonna stuff some serious rubber in those fenders! Now thats going to look killer that little Vega with huge rollers on the rear. :thumbsup:

[camcojb]

Woah! Youre gonna stuff some serious rubber in those fenders! Now thats going to look killer that little Vega with huge rollers on the rear. :thumbsup:
the rear wheelwell is 15" wide with the minitub. I need to see what will fit up front after doing some sort of custom subframe, and then balance the rear tire size with that. In other words, I don't want 335's out back if I can only fit a 235 up front....................... :wow:

[DaleLee]

Thanks for the compliment Jody! As far as trying to fit a wide tire up front, I would rule out the s10 spindle swap entirely. The track width was actually a little wider than stock Vega when everything was said and done with Wilwood brakes. The front rim on that car is only 4" with a centered backspace, and to get the car as low as it is in the picture, the tires are setting with more negative camber than I would like on the street. I would go custom entirely. Good luck with your project! I can't wait to see more!

[lhkustoms]

I've seen it and it is a cool car!
me too it is a cool car

^^^^^^^ So nanner nanner to those of you that think I just make this S*** up!

:rofl:

Greg arent you always making up stories :lol:

[GregWeld]

Yeah Luke --- I'm a regular fibber with my pants on fire... :rofl: :rofl:

[lhkustoms]

Yeah Luke --- I'm a regular fibber with my pants on fire... :rofl: :rofl:

Greg your too funny and you forgot your trademark
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh

[avewhtboy]

Glad to see someone doing this. My first car was a vega, pos motor like others said but fun car otherwise.

I have been thinking about building one as well. Corner carver cosworth vega with a turbo charged cosworth engine 400-500hp.

Looking forward to seeing how much front tire you can stuff in there.