1976 Hatchback

[RandyC]

I got another Vega, was looking at a 72 in Council Bluffs Iowa, but both inner fender wells were rotted and someone globbed fiberglass all over them. If only the guy would have told me about that, he was asking $12,000 and I drove 5 1/2 hours to look at it. I was there 10 minutes and drove 5 1/2 hours back home

So I bought a 76, already has S10 spindles, and a Monza 7.5, 3.73 gears with S10 axles. I built a 2002 4.3 Vortec V6, factory roller rockers, I ported the heads, Shaved .030 off and went with a .031 head gasket instead of the .042, 92-95 W cam thats .439INT .442 EXH, but i measured the new cam and it was actually .442I .446E. . 650 Edelbrock carb, shorty stainless headers, aluminum water pump, Edelbrock intake, 200-4R transmission, Cragar 15x8 rear wheels with 4 inch backspacing with 235-60-15 tires. I had to remove some of the inner fender bracing and make my own braces to make a bit more room, 15x6 Cragars with 165-65-15 up front. I took the front clip apart and wire wheeled everything and sealed it with Rust Reforming primer then coated it with hard coat Truck bed liner coating. I bought paint at TheCoatingStore, Sparkling Merlot pearl paint.

[RandyC]

Getting the body ready for paint. Luckily I found only one rust in the body, have a few in rear fender wells, but I wont needs to be as extensive as I will on the body. Lower rear fender between the rear wheel well and the door. Will cut this out and weld new metal in. Other than this, mostly dings, and minor hail damage.

[NVEGAR8D]

Hi Randy, looking good. coming along nicely
nick75vega

[Diesel Dan]

Looking good!
Keep the pictures coming.

[Monza Harry]

Welcome to the group Randy! Traffic here is way down these days unfortunately, but those of us who do return are happy to see participants. So THANX for that, and bringing pics of your nice looking car! Even better is that she is a "Dare To Be Different" ride with an not often loved powerplant. Harry

[RandyC]

I just finished my spoiler. Was going to order one but wasnt too crazy about the ones available. One day whale at the salvage yard I spotted a lat 80's Camaro with the low spoiler on it. Was about the perfect width so I bought it. And oddly, its the perfect curve and shape in all directions. I reshaped the ends a bit, made a cutout in the center, filled spots with fiberglass to use to bolt it down. Just got done painting it.



And found me a 4.3 L Vortec badge for the spoiler too

[RandyC]

made a new patch got the rust spot on the rear quarter panel


Made my motor mounts, have a tad more than 1/2 inch space between oil pan and drag link


No one makes V6 headers for a Vega, so I found a set of shorty headers on ebay, but they angled out too far, these long tubes were fro a street rod 4.3, so I bought a used set of Chevy truck headers and between the 3 made me a long tube set of headers that fit and even a slip fit piece to clear the steering shaft

[RandyC]

passenger header I used pieces from the truck header, was a tight fit so I had to make it a bit oval at the bottom to give room at the frame area

[RandyC]

Well I ordered a front lower galance off ebay from showcars. "Disappointment" sums it up. Its about 1 1/2 narrower than my fenders, nothing lines up good to even make brackets to mount it. Its like its not even for a Vega. So time to do some serious fiberglass work to make this turd fit. Sad thing is, theres not much other option for a lower valance.

[RandyC]

Making a set of headers fit a car they werent made for isnt easy. I have the passenger side done, still have some to do in the drivers side.

[sirrick4]

Looking great. Keep up the good work.

[RandyC]

Headers are done, what a pain to make. Had to loop 2 tubes over the steering shaft or they hit the motor mount and the steering shaft. All clears now. Those are a slip fit connection incase I need to take it back off.

[RandyC]

Made my transmission mount, since the 200-4R has the mount all the way at the end of the tail housing, I had to make one. Bolts in great, had to shorten the torque arm 5 inches since the transmission didnt have a mounting location for it. Still making the mount for it to weld on the cross member. May make it with a few holes to see if preload helps launches.

[RandyC]

I layed under the car with a hose and scrub brush cleaned the floor to reveal 75% of it had the factory paint still on it. I used a cup wire wheel to clean a few spots of surface rust down to shiny metal, then coated the entire floor with Rustoleum Rust Reformer, then hard truck bed line, and finally the cranberry paint. I liked it so much I did the inside floor the same way. Odd thing it was undercoated inside the car but only on the drivers side. Ive been adding sound deadener, have the passenger door done, the floorboard, and most of the hatch area. Still have to take off the drivers side door panel and the headliner to do under it.

[RandyC]

The trans mount came out good, had to shorted the torque arm and make a mount on the trans cross member.