Just a few pics of my 1972 Vega that has been sitting in my garage for 13 years untagged.I purchased this car from my dad in stock condition in 1982 for $150.00, it was his work commuter car since 1976 and was all but worn out. now it has a 350, muncie four speed, and Chrysler 8 3/4" rear w/ Detroit locker posi unit. I built this car in 1983 using a Don Hardy Supertwister V8 Vega kit and stock suspension. later I added the mopar rear end, and camaro front spindals. I'm going to put it back on the road after an engine rebuild, and some other freshening up. (tires etc.)
THE ENGINE IS DONE !!!! My uncle Fred built this engine for me. he is the reason this car is back on the road after all these years, and the reason it runs so good. there is a lot of hours in the headwork alone. pic#1 my uncle's Garage with the Vega inside and the engine ready to go in.
pic#2 the engine being installed, it went pretty smooth. the Don Hardy kit makes it easy, plus the fact that iv'e had the engine in and out many times before.
pic#3+4 the engine is in and it really screams. it is a 350 4 bolt main, with 11.5:1 compression, full floating rods, solid lifter cam that is a regrind of the old 30/30 z28 cam. the heads have been ported and have 202 valves, screw in studs and guide plates. I have recently added 4.30 gears in the rear, and 40 series flowmaster mufflers, with 2 1/2 inch exhaust turned out the side. new shocks with coil overs, and polygraphite suspension bushings. It also has a new MSD coil, and ACCEL wires. all I need now is paint, but that will have to wait. It is finally back on the road after 13 years, and it sure is fun to drive. someday I hope to have it painted back the factory dark green, or possibly metallic lime green, and put some new wheels on it like the old style S/S Cragars. I also want to get rid of that hood scoop, and find something cooler looking. there is a ton of things I want to do to this car because of it's "sentimental value" but I just don't have the funds right now.
me standing next to the Vega in my garage
my brother and I are fabricating a set of traction bars for my Vega since it is almost impossible to find them anywhere.
my brother Chris welded them up for me, then I ground them smooth and used body filler to finish smoothing the welds out
I sanded them smooth, and shot a couple coats of primer on them. now I have to paint and install them. I will add more pics when it's done.
I fine sanded them and shot a couple of coats of yellow paint on them. they're ready to install when they dry.
OK! they are installed now, and they work great. it was worth all the work.
this is what happens when you have lots of power, and stock suspension. I didn't even make it to 2nd gear and the lower trailing arm just buckled. it's a good thing it happened in 1st gear and not in 4th at 150 mph.
check out my Blazing Copper 2004 Mazda6 on my other page
Take a Ride...
here is what it looks and sounds like from the outside, taking it easy of course, it is a public road.
putting the Vega in the garage.
we put a set of traction bars on the Vega, and it still wheelhops on takeoff. I eventually got them adjusted to where it just grabs and goes
