1980 Sunbird

[EagleFish]

Hi! Everyone,

Well, it appears that I am getting back into the H-Body addiction!
I made a down payment on a 1980 Sunbird in FL.
It is a red, hatchback with black interior, a 151 engine and TH350 trans.
It needs work, but has a decent body and a good floor pan.
I am still living in PA so, the car will be delivered to Richard's H-Body Museum and Resort in Dade City, FL.
Richard has just about ALL of the parts and then some that I need to make this into a nice 'Bird.

Exterior color change to: Bright Blue Metallic w/Formula decals and spoiler and air dam.

Interior color: Black w/Formula steering wheel & tilt column (unless I can find a good tan interior.) Richard has most black interior pieces.

Engine: The 151 goes! The top end is making noise??? It was going to go anyway.
Engine choices: I have several choices of engines:
1 - A stroked built (140) Cosworth-Vega w or w/o fuel injection;
or
2- A 3.8L V6 (in just about any stage of build.)
or
3. A 4.2 all aluminum Rover V8. (All I need for the Rover is Intake & exhaust manifolds w/exhaust system and I believe an adapter to bolt up a transmission.

Richard does not have a sb Chevy laying around. His cousin has a 327 sb Chevy running, but he may not want to part with it.

Transmission Choice of: 4 speed, 5 speed, TH350 or buy a TH700R4?

Rear end gearing: 3:73 or 4:10 depending on trans choice.

Wheels: 5 lug x 15 inch. (Perhaps, Firebird Snow Flakes)

Just about everything I have listed is "no cost" since Richard has ALL of these parts.

I would appreciate your feedback on which way YOU think I should go with this resto-buildout with the parts I have available? So, don't be shy, speak your piece, I won't be insulted, but neither should you if I don't use your advice.

Thanks.........John
John and Richard

[bill1978v8]

Nice looking Sunbird! Good to see your getting back into H-bodies!

Bill

[vegastre]

Good choice,



I'm partial to Pontiac of course so Snowflakes would be outstanding. Historically speaking, a fuel injected Cosworth engine would be very cool. I like the cross pollination of drive trains and body parts from different year H-Body's.

[Smiley]

The 151 TH350 trans should work with a Chevy V8 so you could reuse it with the torque arm, shifter and possibly the drive shaft.

[79440bird]

If you stay with a 4 cylinder go with a quad 4 fuel injection I actually seen one in a roadster that was carburetored so it can be done without fuel injection, and long time ago someone in hot rod magazine made a quad 4 make 600hp. Of coarse that wasn't pump gas. But if you want a hbody that's different an gets good gas mileage and you like 4 cylinder motors,that's the way I would go. I had a quad 4 in a 1990 Beretta gtz 5 speed and it beat a lot of 6 bangers

[EagleFish]

Bill, Thanks for the encouragement.
The car is in Riverview, FL.
So, it will be delivered to Richard's house.
I am planning on driving down in January to work on the car and stay maybe 3 months.
It is easier and cheaper for me to go down than bring parts and car up to Butler area, PA area.
Of course, I will probably relocate down there near Richard in Dade City, just north of Tampa in the Spring.

John
John and Richard

[EagleFish]

Bill, Thanks for the encouragement.
The car is in Riverview, FL.
So, it will be delivered to Richard's house.
I am planning on driving down in January to work on the car and stay maybe 3 months.
It is easier and cheaper for me to go down than bring parts and car up to Butler area, PA area.
Of course, I will probably relocate down there near Richard in Dade City, just north of Tampa in the Spring.

John
John and Richard

[bugdewde]

John,
You know I vote for the aluminum V8. !!!!
If Richard still has the Monza with the Rover engine in it, take it for a spin. You'll like it. Power of a V-6 or better --- with a lower weight and center of gravity. I think Eric (previous owner) had a 3.73 gear in it. I'd say that was too steep, as the motor makes plenty of torque. My '73 with the 3.5L Buick V8 pulled strongly from a dead stop in 2nd gear(T-50)..... with a 2.56 rear gear!
27 mpg if driven easy on the highway with a slightly detuned Edelbrock 500 cfm carb from D&D Fabrications. Ran great!!!

A special bellhousing is required for a manual trans or an adapter for an auto.... if I remember correctly.
I have a spare 2-barrel intake/carb and exhaust manifolds lying around if needed that I could donate.

[EagleFish]

Hey! Dwight,

Yes, Richard still has that car.

I am seriously considering the 4.2 Rover V8. This engine Richard has was originally equipped with FI. I'm not sure if I want to go that route or not. If not, then I want a 4 bbl or multi-carb system on it. No, 2 bbls, thank you.

As you can tell from the engines available to me at this time, I am looking at overall balance of the car, performance and handling. Of course, there is nothing like a big old monster powerhouse V8 under the hood. 4.2L is only 256 ci. That's close to the original SB Chevy - 265.

Yes, a bell housing or adapter is needed to couple up the engine depending on the trans type. A TH700r4 would allow me to run 3.73 or 4:10 gears on the highway and then be able to do a little drag racing. This car is not going to be a daily driver. I drive an o4 impala 3.4 right now.

I just got on the list for one of the fiberglass rear panels that Doug is making for the Sunbirds. Can't paint the car up real nice and leave it bare ass naked.

John
John and Richard

[EagleFish]

Smiley, Yes, that is why I mentioned that Richard's brother has a nice mildly, built 327. It would bolt up to the car and the trans w/o a problem and be a nice combo. I just don't know if he wants to sell it and for how much $$$$?

John
John and Richard

[starfire]

My '79 Starfire was Bright Blue Metallic. Very nice color. I had the blue cloth interior in it.

[zeke]

I like the Quad Four suggestion but among available combos, I would go for the fuel injected Cosworth, 5 speed with 4:10 gear.

[dindin]

I vote for a pontiac v6 performance motor.

Al

[bugdewde]

I vote for a pontiac v6 performance motor.

Al

The '61-'63 Pontiac Tempests used the Buick 215 aluminum V8. That Rover motor is a direct descendent of the Buick motor. Most parts will interchange. I'd have some Pontiac emblems made to go on the Rover valve covers. Only 0.009% of the population would know the difference.
Viola!!!! Instant Pontiac performance V8 that is lightweight (90lbs less than V6 about 250+ lbs less than V8) has a lower center of gravity that allows for excellent cornering and braking(no mods)..... all with plenty of torque and excellent fuel mileage..... oh, and it sounds like a V8.... 'cause it is one.....

[EagleFish]

Starfire,

Here is an old pic of Richard's '79 Monza Spyder with Bright Blue Metallic paint.

John
John and Richard

BTW, Richard is now 74 y/o. Still playing with his H-Body collection and a new '39 Pontiac 2 door coupe. Yes, he is still under the hood and crawling under the chassis!