71 Vega Kamback - low buck hot rod

[jb77n]

found this great source of information and thought I'd post now and get this going. My son is 15 and interested in building a hot rod. We picked up a 71 Vega GT Kamback a few months ago and the work has begun, ever so slowly.
We pulled everything off of the car, doors, glass, interior, dash, wiring, fenders, hood, radiator, engine and trans. Kinda looks like the begining of a lot of the projects I've seen here so far.
Today I started making car dollies out of some casters I had in the garage and some 2x4s. I was going to make them using steel but a friend who just did a 67 nove said to just use wood like he did... it cost less. I'm good with that. But don't worry, I'll always put some body stand under it when working on the underside.
Here are some pictures of the car when we picked it up and some at our house after being stripped and work starting.
We will be look to the great community for help along the way.
Cheers,

[jb77n]

Guess some of the picures are too big so I'll post others after I resize them.

[HotfootGT]

Looks to be a nice straight car to start with. Have fun. Working on these cars can be frustrating but driving them is a blast!

[vegon71]

That looks like a very solid car to start with, I wish mine was even close to the condition of yours when I got it. Looks like a good project

[monza75tc]

Nice Kammback. Good starting point. I would check the title against the VIN as 1971's did not have the glove compartment. It might be a late production model, but I would check it out anyway just to be safe & legal. Of course none of us have done anything that could be considered shady or such.

Dick

[jb77n]

Did a bit more work on the Vega today. Cut some rust out where the battery was and welded in a patch. Also cut out a couple small sections of the left rear quarter panel and then the wind started to blow... will have to weld it up some other time.

I did get to treat every place I could possibly get to with Ospho. That is some amazing stuff.

Here are some pics from that day,

[jb77n]

Finally made a set of car dollies to put the body on. Made them out of wood like my neighbor suggested and got the car up on them yesterday.

Now we're going to pull the rear end and front suspension off of the car and continue the body repairs.

[jb77n]

After reading a few nightmare posts about registration problems in California I thought I had better see if I can get the title in my name before I go much farther. I did get the old title when I purchased the car but it hadn't been kept up to date.

Took what I had to the DMV and told the clerk I wanted to get the title in my name and he asked if I was working on the car or if intend to drive it before its annual renewal in August. I said I would be working on it for at least a few weeks before putting it back on the road. He suggested we get the title in my name now and register it in August when it's renewal is due. That way I pay less now as a non-op including what was owed and all I need to do later is pay the registration renewal. SWEET!


Now I'm feeling better about getting parts to put this baby back together.

[joels_vega]

SWEET Home Alabama !

Bought a V8-ed 71-72 GT Panel Wagon years ago: 327, powerglide, stock rear-end, stock front suspension and brakes....
S-c-a-r-y ride because the little wimpy brakes had difficulty stopping the extra weight [think it was an all cast iron SBC] (would go an Extra 100-200 "bonus" feet at 65mph) ..........
If you go a bigger rear end you'll get the Bigger brakes to stop the beast.
Think you can also go HD (heavy duty) or metallic front pads also.
Also aluminum heads and intake manifold will reduce your front weight 54 + 20 = 74 lbs.
Relocating the battery to the passenger rear corner may assist.
Good project --enjoy the journey.

[jb77n]

We plan on doing the S-10 spindles for better brakes and 5 lugs. Have to replace the bushings so while the control arms are out we're going to see if we can get those bigger ball joints in.

Also replacing the rear end with a posi 8.5 S-10 with disk brakes.

Think we can get the parts at the local scrap yard for around $200.

[joels_vega]

Sounds like a good plan -- like the rear disc idea.

So what are you guy's basic plans for the car? (example: pro-street...350engine...turbo 350.... s-10/disc/3:73 rear?)
* The guys here can give lots of advice that may save you some headaches.

*Here's a video idea on hood scoops from bugdewde.
Think the 70-71 Chevelle's that had a "flapper" on the top for cowl induction.
Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2dcybvigXI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XD6lrdBU4o

*(Vacuum Idea) Guy on youtube commented on the 2nd video: "Built a 73 Trans Am, we made the scoop functional just by taking out the original latch, and replacing it with a hinged one, vacuum from the carb opens it."

http://pontiactransamshakers.homestead.com/

Remember Z28 Air Induction hoods? Cool design. The more I look at those flappers, the easier it would seem to make.

http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/showthread.php?t=187453

[joels_vega]

Cool Vega photos (ideas for you guys):

http://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/cto/2241233128.html

* staggerd 'Cuda side stripes would look cool on that

[jb77n]

Nice look and thanks for the links...

[jb77n]

Been a while but starting to do some work on our project again. Here is what we've done lately:
New bushings in upper control arms and S10 ball joints.
Welded seams in engine compartment.
Cut hole in lower control arms and welded S10 ball joint sleeves.

Next task will be to press in new bushings in the lower control arms.
Then put the front suspension back together.

Next weekend will be welding Vega rear end brackets on S10 rear end.

[jb77n]

Got the control arms back on and spindles installed. Used the stock springs for now.

Picked up an S10 rear end for $125 and pulling it apart now. Not sure what year it is but got the axles out and counted 28 splines. This is a disc brake rear end too. Welding the vega rear end mounts on it next.