firechicken76

iTrader: (14)

i saw one in hotrod magazine this month, Now I think i want one. whats needed to do to these to swap the motor and trans? how about weight? I realize they weigh different amounts based on their year, but how much does adding an lsx add? I see some of these are around 2200 from the factory??? thats about 1000 less than my lsx swapped third gen.

Steve68

iTrader: (23)

Thats Jeff Schwartz's, I'm sure he built it for a customer, killer little car, he has a business in IL, schwartz performance, has some nice stuff, friend used to have a vega wagon, bad little ride,

speedtigger

iTrader: (16)

I saw that Hot Rod article. That car was in one of the rags previously for a shootout too. It did pretty well. Tons of people have stuffed the old SBC in Vegas using the V8 Monza parts or the hooker swap kit. With the SBC, they do get real front heavy, but an aluminum LS1 might not be too bad. The cars can hook pretty well with the stock rear suspension geometry but the control arm connection points must be reinforced and the factory rear end has to go. It is really weak. Those cars must have frame connectors welded in too. Oh, and most of them rust pretty bad.

philntx

iTrader: (8)

From Jeff's Website:

http://www.schwartzperformance.com/p...x?projectid=31

operatorfailure

iTrader: (3)

I am starting the process of buying parts for my 1977 Oldsmobile Starfire 6.0 swap. It's based on the Monza, which was based on the Vega. Mine was a factory 305 car and with the ls engine in it it will weigh less than it did with that turd in it. I'm planning on being about 2700 pounds with me in it when it's all said and done. Going to keep it all ugly as sin on the outside, but interior and engine compartment all clean and race ready. Cage, racing seats, all that jazz.

Over on the h-body forum there are a couple people that have already done one also, not a ton of info but a little.
http://forums.h-body.org/viewtopic.p...6198&hilit=ls1
http://forums.h-body.org/viewtopic.p...it=ls1#p183393

And here is my turd.

With the stock 350.


After pullout.


I have the engine bay all stripped of everything unneeded now and painted but no pics. Stripping the complete interior and trashing everything is the next job.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

My friend Daren P. has one, not sure if there are pics anywhere. He might be reg'd on here as "BigD".

Urban Legend

iTrader: (5)

I read that article as well. It appears to me that the car was in the Horsepower tv show today as well.

Bowtie70SS

iTrader: (10)

I am sure a lot of people around here would have to Google Vega to find out what one is LOL. There was also a Pontiac Astre. A friend had a 71 Vega that looked like a mini split bumper Camaro, it had a 327.

65impalass

I have had several Vega's and a Monza. I put a 3.8 buick in A vega, Speedtigger is right about the control arm mounting area, I blew mine out with a v6. I would go with an auto to save the stress on the body and I would go aluminum. I love vega's and would like to pick up another one for some sort of swap, quad 4, v6, 5.3 or ?. They all look like mini Camaro's and should weigh less than 2700with aluminum 5.3. S10 front spindles and rears are the hot swaps to get bigger brakes, 5 lug, and stronger rear.

Monza355

iTrader: (3)

I put together a Monza with an LS1 a few years ago. Fun little car. I'm looking for another one. As noted, check out the forums at H-body.org and you'll find that there a a few going together in the projects section.

Bill

firechicken76

iTrader: (14)

thanks guys, it looks like the real hard part is finding one in good shape. ill keep an eye out.

Monza355

iTrader: (3)

Yeah,

finding one is the hard part. Good luck!

Bill

speedtigger

iTrader: (16)

Some guy on V8Buick.com just found an old Open GT. If those are still out there, then there has to be some Vegas left.

gjestico

iTrader: (5)

Ive had a couple of Vegas....
First one was a '76. Swapped a 327 in it. Item of note is that the 76 (maybe 75?) and later Vegas (H-bodys) use a rear supension setup nearly identical to a 3rd/4th gen camaro. The big long torque arm and panhard rod. Also, the 7.5 rearend in the Vega is mechanically nearly identical to the 7.5 rear in the 3rd/4th gen...soo You could swap later innards/gears into it. So I have read anyways.
I would think a Vega with an all aluminum LS1 would weigh around 2500 lbs. I bet the rear would last quite well.
All the swap headers are based on the old SmallBlock chevy, so youd have to do some work to get them to work. Plus they are a little odd design with one tube going out through the fenderwell then looping back under to meet the rest. The hookers are that way anyways.

waybad

iTrader: (4)

I'm building one now,, go to h-body.org
there are couple there Darin is over there with his badass Vega also..
look up 10lbs of **** in a 5 pound box,, my build

Tig

Thats an awesome build. Clean install.