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Anybody into V8 Vega's??

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ToocoolZ28

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I built several V8 Vegas back in the 70s and loved them. I just ran across a Pontiac Astre wagon (same as a Vega) that is in unbelievable condition. Original paint slightly faded, NO rust anywhere, perfect interior, and runs and drives with the original (recently rebuilt) 4 banger and auto trans. This car needs a 350 or 383 in it. Seriously considering it. Only $2200 for the car.
Ron
 
#2 ·
I drove a mid 12 sec 74 Vega GT, back halfed, but a fun kind of sleeper. Flat hood, faded orange paint and the black GT striping. I'd love to have that car back...

I can't imagine paying more than $2K for a stock H-body car, unless it was something collectible like a Cosworth. In these economic times? Seems like if the person really wants/needs to sell it, closer to $1K would be a better deal. Check out the completed listings for Vegas and Astres on ebay; other than the Cosworth and already V8 powered cars, they just don't sell for that much.
 
#4 ·
I am a big fan of Vegas and Monzas. I've owned a couple. I love the way they look but, they just aren't built good enough to handle decent power. I know a lot of guys go fast with them but, unless you put a frame under it and upgrade the front suspension they can be down right dangerous with V8's in them. The whole car is make of sheetmetal and spot welded.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
#7 ·
I never had one, but love them. One of the fastest cars I can remember riding in was in high school and was a brand new Vega that some rich kid had put a 350 in. It turned into a tubbed drag car a few years later.
 
#8 ·
I just looked at a 76-78 Olds Starfire that's in good shape today. I think it can be had for under $500. I've got an extra 350 TBI/700r4 that would be great for a driver. I've always wanted to build a Monza/Vega with a V8 just as a work car, decent gas mileage and looks.
 
#9 ·
they are good cars- right up until they start to fall apart. they tend to rust from the inside out- so even tho you can't see any rust, get under the car and check out the mounting points for the rear suspension.
and it's pretty easy to upgrade things on them- a V8 is an easy swap if you've got V8 Monza mounts and oil pan, and 5 lug wheels and bigger brakes are just a rusted out 2wd S10 part truck away. the S10 front spindles bolt in if you use the S10/G body ball joints, and the rear axles from the S truck slide right in the rear axle if it's got a 7.5 in it (i think all Vegas had a 6.5" rear end, but every Monza ever built has a 7.5 that bolts right into a 74 and newer Vega with the torque arm rear suspension).
 
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#11 ·
I think I owned 5 or 6 Vegas. They were actually fun to drive. The last one was a 1974 GT hatchback, kinda pale orange. I had the shortblock redone with cast iron sleeves. didn't even need a hoist for the engine R&R. (the massive iron head was OFF) I put a Rottenchester 2 jet on it and I drove it for over 100,000 miles before I got rid of it. I remember driving it up over Tioga pass in Yosemite and warning my wife that she might have to get out and push. But eventually, the common Vega problems started to show up, chief among them was rust around the windshield opening. I remember on rainy days my lap would get soaked. Not to mention the battery box rotting out, and this is in Oregon where they don't salt the roads.

One of the 2 new vehicles that I have ever bought was a 1979 Monza Town Coupe. I factory ordered it with a 305 V8, four speed manual, deluxe int, F41 suspension, positraction, dekuxe gauge package, black paint and sport wheels. It was a very cool car and reasonably quick for 1979.
 
#12 ·
I had a Vega in high school. and still have the Buick 215 all aluminum V8 and adapter kit I was going to install. The car rusted out before I could install the engine. I would kinda like to find another but some other day...

TTFN
Mat
 
#13 ·
We ordered a new 1975 Monza 2+2 fully loaded V-8, 4-speed, posi- just before our second Son came along.

It was light yellow w/ black interior and tinted glass. Beautiful small car but we didn't keep it long enough for me to have to lift the engine to put the sparkplug that's right next to the steering gearbox in!

I put a set of 14" x 7" Ansen Sprint wire mags on the 2+2 by using the smallest radials that I could find. Seem's they wouldn't fit anything else! I gave $12.50/each for a set of four, new, in the boxes back then.

Absolutely beautiful wheels by me on it.

I think if you dig deeper, I think a very few of the later Cali cars came w/ 350's in them?

Traded it in for an again ordered new 1977 AMC Matador fully loaded 258 6-banger/auto 4-dr. posi b/c our Daughter came along!

pdq67
 
#15 ·
I had a 1971 Vega back in High School. I threw a rod out of the little 4 popper block which left a big hole. Wanting something with a little more kick, I started with some go-fast parts from a wrecking yard, consisting of a donor 350 LT1 from a Vette. I used a V8 conversion kit that Hooker was selling at the time, which mainly just bolted to and cradled the front of the block and bolted to the frame rails. I remember having to do a minimum amount of cutting to get it to fit. It was a scary fast car.
Drove it for a year and survived, the car caughed, caught fire as I was in the middle of a bridge, and by the time I coasted to the end of the bridge it was well under way. Burnt down to the wheels before the fire dept arrived. I sold the block for $150, and kept the Hurst shifter stick as a keepsake.
 
#17 ·
pdq67 said:
We ordered a new 1975 Monza 2+2 fully loaded V-8, 4-speed, posi- just before our second Son came along.

It was light yellow w/ black interior and tinted glass. Beautiful small car but we didn't keep it long enough for me to have to lift the engine to put the sparkplug that's right next to the steering gearbox in!

I put a set of 14" x 7" Ansen Sprint wire mags on the 2+2 by using the smallest radials that I could find. Seem's they wouldn't fit anything else! I gave $12.50/each for a set of four, new, in the boxes back then.

Absolutely beautiful wheels by me on it.

I think if you dig deeper, I think a very few of the later Cali cars came w/ 350's in them?

Traded it in for an again ordered new 1977 AMC Matador fully loaded 258 6-banger/auto 4-dr. posi b/c our Daughter came along!

pdq67
Click to expand...
the only H body that ever came with a 350 stock was the 1975 Monza- and i think it was only available with a 4 speed saginaw and only available in Cali.
and i've worked on a couple of V8 Monzas- and my V8 Vega GT wagon- and never had to jack up the motor the change any spark plugs. but getting the 3 piece headers in my Vega and getting to the oil filter was an adventure..
 
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#18 ·
I owned 2 Monzas and 2 Vegas. To change the the spark plugs on the V8 Monza you had to access the hard to reach plug/s through the fender well (or jack up the engine). Most people opted to access them through the fender well.

Derrik is correct the only year the Monza came with a 350 was 1975. They also had 265's or 305's in the rest of the V8 models. The hot ticket was the Buick Starfire with the V6 and 5 speed (IIRC it was 5 speed). Drove one and put a deposit down on it, when I came back the next day with the rest of the money he sold it out from under me, I still get mad to this day about that. We made a deal he agreed to it and then burned me of course I got my deposit back. Anyway that was a very fun car. You don't see many Monzas around anymore. I still see Vega's quite a bit at the track.
 
#19 ·
Had a 74' Vega as my first car at 16 yrs. old. Parents got real mad when I pulled out the 4 banger and put in a 327. I had a saginaw tranny with a 9" ford rear end. The saginaw didn't last long needless to say and put a Muncie M21 in it that my then girlfriend now wife's brother sold me. I still have the underdash Craig 8 track stereo system that was in it. I took motor and tranny to put in a 55 chevy then later on then sold the vega. I later bought a Monza with a 8 cylinder in it with a 4 speed. Wish I would have never sold that car.
 
#20 ·
In high school I had a 72 Vega with a 327 and 4 speed muncie from a Camaro. It had some go fast goodies and a monza rear end. I cut the front bumper so it had a split bumper that I thought made it look much cooler. I also installed a dash from a Vega GT. It was waaaay too squirely and I was afraid to drive it much. Wasnt very reliable either, seemed like I was always breaking something. It had the usual rust issues. So I traded it for a Honda CR 250. I used to have a picture but no idea where it got off to.
 
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