My 1972 Pontiac lemans project so far!

[protouringuk]

Just thought id stick up a few pics of my car so far,i really love the protouring look but ive had to build this on a 'tight' budget so its not a proffesional build and def not a show car.
Everything on it was found on ebay or swap meets and word of mouth,except for the paint,wheels and little bits and bobs.
It started off with a straight six and tan interior,but now has a chevy 327 and th350 box.
The seats are from a 2001 saab 9-3(i think) and fitted remarkably well,also changed from coloum shift to b&m shifter.

[T_Raven]

Dang that thing is pretty sweet!

[aronhk_md]

I'm partial to pontiacs :1st:. I like what you've done, and to be honest I have more respect for the budget builds than the checkbook builds. Some would give you a hard time for using a chevy drivetrain, but I understand the allure.....cheaper for the same power...lol.

[dlrepmn]

Nothing wrong with that at all. Maybe he had one sitting there done and ready. And he is in the UK for god's sake. Don't get the Pontiac Police going already.

Nice car. Love the seats. They look comfy. Never seen a better looking four door.

Scott in Minnesota

[protouringuk]

yeah i know its not strictly correct with the chev engine but it was the right price and goes like stink,its the only car ive ever really enjoyed so it tics all the right boxes.
Next project i would like to do is a 69 camaro but prices for them over here are way over the top and not many come up for sale.
Thanks for all the positive replys
Cheers:)

[LeighP]

Nice job....T/A front wheel spoilers?
I'd love to get my hands on a 4 door LeMans for a daily driver....great size family car.

[NOT A TA]

its the only car ive ever really enjoyed so it tics all the right boxes.
Cheers:)

That pretty much sums up all that really matters.

Cool 4 dr. and I like the creative front spoiler!

[Brad1970]

I'd be interested in how the backseat fits or was fitted... can you share your secret(s)?

[wellis77]

Very cool build. Nice work.

[FoxGranadaChuck]

Nice ride!!

[srh3trinity]

There are a lot of things going on with this car. Clearly, there has been some thought put into the project and you have gotten great results.

[protouringuk]

Thanks for the replys,as asked the front wheel spoilers are indeed Transam items( borrowed from my bosses 1980 TA),the front valance i had to make from a foam board/plastic,it is actually for roof facias but you can cut and form it very easily.The rear seats i used threaded rod/bar about 10mm and nuts to space the seat up over the tunnel and the base of the seat is steel so i removed the covers and foam, popped some holes through the base and the floor and bobs your uncle in they went.The seat back was easy just fixed it to the original rear bulkhead.
Im happy with the results but i relly want a ducktail spoiler for it but its about $400 from a supplier and by the time i get it over the pond it may as well be £400,which is an awful lot of dough for a bit of fibre glass,so it might have to wait.

[droptop73]

so it might have to wait.

Or make one!

From one low buck guy to another.:)

[Mingus]

Looks really nice. Painting the front bumper makes it disappear a little. It always looks like a snaggletooth sticking up on my wifes' '72.
Don't let anyone bother you about the Chevy engine either. The hardcore Poncho guys crack me up because they are always so into keeping Pontiac power, but Pontiacs came from the factory with Pontiac, Chevy, Olds and Buick engines. Don't think they ever managed to throw a Caddy in there, but I could be wrong. :)

[dlrepmn]

Now you did it!

"The hardcore Poncho guys crack me up because they are always so into keeping Pontiac power, but Pontiacs came from the factory with Pontiac, Chevy, Olds and Buick engines."

Prepare to be lit up. Men carrying manuals, build sheets, serial numbers are now slowly dying a little inside and thinking at this very moment how to voodoo you into their "only" :poke:concept of Pontiac Mojo.

Voodoo on you!!!:naughty:

Practice answers:

"Yes, it was a six. Trust me it's much faster now.""Let's just leave it at that."

"Yes, they made a 5 speed Muncie in 1968"

"Yes, Pontiac did make a 383"

"Sure it's a 4.1 OHC, why else would it say it on the hood?"

[Mingus]

Uh oh, now I've done it. :eek:
In all seriousness, I think anyone can do anything to their car that they want, including a concourse restoration. I wouldn't ever do one (I think there's way to many things that can be improved from stock) but that's what makes things interesting. If everybody did their cars the same it would be boring. I just don't understand why people feel a need to pick apart someone elses' car. I see things constantly I wouldn't do to a car, but as long as it isn't being done to mine I don't care. I don't feel a need to set the owner straight about it. I also see things constantly that I do like on cars. People have told me that I've "ruined" my car by modding the suspension and because I have a '67 front clip on it. I also want to put an LS engine in which means all of the Olds guys already have dibs on giving me the voodoo hex.
Can't we all just get along? :rotfl:
The soapbox is open. :)

Mike

[T_Raven]

Imagine how the chevy guys would respond if someone put a Pontiac 455 in a 69 Camaro.

Any kind of "purist" gets annoying. Old cars suck stock. Nothing wrong with using a small block if it's a low buck build like the OPs car. I personally don't like to see small blocks in Pontiacs because every body and their grandma has a small block. And I'm tired of those same old purists talking about how the 327 was the greatest engine of all time

I personally don't see the point of putting money into a small block when the LS is so much better. Big blocks are cool but heavy so if you were going to put a BBC in a Pontiac you might as well put a Pontiac engine in.

Of course people can do what they want with their cars, but nothing wrong with sharing opinions.

[78 Type-LT]

Nice ride..

[Mingus]

Prepare to be lit up. Men carrying manuals, build sheets, serial numbers are now slowly dying a little inside and thinking at this very moment how to voodoo you into their "only" :poke:concept of Pontiac Mojo."

LMAO! :rotfl:I think I won't be alone in getting hexed after that remark. Especially when you own a Pontiac. How could you? I love your practice answers too. The sad part is, it's not a joke that you need them ready for when the purist vultures descend on you. You should also be prepared to explain why those rear tires are way wider than stock, and why did you change the brakes? Do you like stopping or something? Aren't you aware that '68 was the pinnacle of brake performance? Especially if it had front drums stock.

I technically am not a Pontiac owner, since the '72 LeMans is my wifes' car. She bought it and puts her money into it. I'm the one that gets to mess it up though. She has a few practice answers for it too:

"It didn't come with a 455? Well, it did when I bought it."

"Yes TT II's were a rare dealer installed option."

"They never put a 455 emblem on the trunk lid? Well, I put that one right where they should have."

I can't wait until I get the Covan dash and Autometer gauges installed. Should give them something else to fret about.

"Any kind of "purist" gets annoying"
I agree 100% Traven. I shouldn't single out the Pontiac people, they can all get out of hand.

"Of course people can do what they want with their cars, but nothing wrong with sharing opinions."

I agree. Sharing opinions (good or bad) is great and is what makes the world (and this site) go 'round. I'm talking about the people who don't have opinions, they have THE answers. They come up and start pontificating like their view is the one and only. The strange thing is most of the ones I've run into are guys who have a newer "enthusiast" car ('Vette, Porsche, Ferrari, etc.) or a $100k+ trailer queen that they have never turned a wrench on. Nothing wrong with that either. I'm not some kind of reverse snob that thinks if you didn't work on your car that you somehow are not worthy to own it. But it damn sure doesn't make you an expert on how every other car should be put together.

"Imagine how the chevy guys would respond if someone put a Pontiac 455 in a 69 Camaro."

I bet RSX302 can give some first hand insight into this. I'm sure he gets hit from all sides for putting a Ford engine in a 1st gen Camaro. I think it's cool. At a car show a while back, I saw a 55-57 T-Bird with a 572 BBC in it. Talk about stirring up a hornets' nest! The strange thing is it makes me do a double take when I see a non SBC engine in any kind of street rod. Nobody seems to pitch a fit about Chevy power in a '32 Ford.

Sorry, I've rambled long enough, or is that pontificating? :hand: Funny how that sounds a lot like Pontiac. Pontiacificating?

Meanwhile, back at the topic: The car looks great. It's really cool to see a '71-'72 LeMans. I don't see them very often, especially a 4 door hardtop. Seems like there are way more GTO's from those years. The seats look like they belong there. Better get a practice answer for that. Probably for the spoiler too. :)

Mike

[T_Raven]

I bet RSX302 can give some first hand insight into this. I'm sure he gets hit from all sides for putting a Ford engine in a 1st gen Camaro. I think it's cool. At a car show a while back, I saw a 55-57 T-Bird with a 572 BBC in it. Talk about stirring up a hornets' nest! The strange thing is it makes me do a double take when I see a non SBC engine in any kind of street rod. Nobody seems to pitch a fit about Chevy power in a '32 Ford.



Yeah RSX302's car is BAD ASS I don't care what you like lol.

Funny you mention 32 Fords. I was just thinking the other day how people on here are starting to get bored with LS engines in First gens (not me yet) and I was thinking, Imagine a street rod forum...oh great another small block 32 Ford build woohoo (yawn).

But yes back on topic, this is an awesome car. 4 door cars don't usually look too good but this one looks great. It's always cool to see something a little different, especially if it's a Pontiac lol.

[Roadbuster]

I like it! The car really looks like it means business!

Pontiac Police? Where?!:ssst:

[White05GT]

That is one sweet ride! Love the interior and think the back of the car looks fine the way it is. Well done.