This is my first post and a lot has already happened.

im rebuilding my uncles 1970 Pontiac lemans. He wanted to make it a drag car, but passed before he finished the project. He already put a ford 9 inch rear axle and some pretty fancy suspension in the car, but from there it’s a blank canvas for me.

I met the co-owner of a company called allpontiac. They build aftermarket aluminum Pontiac blocks. If you don’t already know them, look up allpontiac.com. They’re incredible. Anyways, with his help, I’m putting a 535 engine with aluminum edelbrock heads, a Holley street dominator intake, and I’m working on getting more parts!

Im hoping to have a little more than 700 hp by the end of this project. My friend’s dad owns a dodge demon, and I want to prove that Pontiac is still the best brand even though they went out of business. 
 

if anyone has any suggestions, I’d love to hear them. I’m only 17 and not very experienced, so I’d love it if I could get some advice on anything you could think of.

Welcome aboard, Sounds like quite the project. Hows the overall shell/body?

All Pontiac is well known by anyone who has been around Pontiac and they have a stellar reputation.

There are several other well known Pontiac Performance people/businesses that I would suggest you look into.

Spotts and Butler are two that come to the top of the list as well.

https://butlerperformance.com/

http://www.spottsperformance.com/   

This will give you more options and/or ideas for putting together a plan. Lots of research before pulling the trigger is key.

Hey it may even save you some cash, and we all love to do that  

Best of luck.

Edited July 13, 20205 yr by SPRINT 6

Look forward to hearing more about your build! Sure your uncle would be very happy with you continuing his project. Great hearing about keeping Pontiacs in the family!

Is this going to be a pure drag car or a street/strip car? Makes a difference at what parts you throw at it, and how fast you want it to go. The faster you want to go, the more dough!

Have you given any thought to how fast you want to run or class you want to run and what rules you have to satisfy (such as roll cages, safety harnesses, etc.)? Those are important first steps.

Edited July 13, 20205 yr by Frosty

When I got the car from my aunt, it also came with a lot of parts. Some are junk, I’ve sold the ones I won’t need (some sweet 78 Firebird wheels!) but it did come with the intake manifold I want to use, some harnesses, a 350 engine (gonna use the valley pan, timing cover, and thermostat housing.) I don’t have a certain class in mind, but I do want it to be street/strip. Im hoping to be in the 8-10 second quarter mile range. I’m in a GTO club and they have a Drag race/car show event called pontiac heaven every year, plus it’d be cool to have the fastest car at my school lol.

8 minutes ago, 1970lemans said:

plus it’d be cool to have the fastest car at my school lol.

Well, you e got the coolest for sure! Time to work on the fastest 

4 hours ago, 1970lemans said:

When I got the car from my aunt, it also came with a lot of parts. Some are junk, I’ve sold the ones I won’t need (some sweet 78 Firebird wheels!) but it did come with the intake manifold I want to use, some harnesses, a 350 engine (gonna use the valley pan, timing cover, and thermostat housing.) I don’t have a certain class in mind, but I do want it to be street/strip. Im hoping to be in the 8-10 second quarter mile range. I’m in a GTO club and they have a Drag race/car show event called pontiac heaven every year, plus it’d be cool to have the fastest car at my school lol.

You are exactly what we like to see around here.  Young guys pickin up the torch and keeping the Pontiac spirit going. Welcome to the site!  Look forward to watching your build.

I am familar with the Pontiac Heaven event. It's on the wish / bucklet list to come see. So you are located in the SW for sure.

I am going to make some assumptions. You don't have a ton of money. This will be a gradual improvement project as you have time and save up some money. An 8-10 second car will definitely require a roll cage, drive shaft loop, scatter shield, and certified safety harnesses, and perhaps an external cut over switch. A 350 Pontiac, in the long run, probably won't get you to the 8-10 second range without a power adder. In time, you will probably upgrade your engine and transmission combination. However, a lot of Pontiac engine parts can move from a 350 all to way to the 455s, like your intake manifold, valley pan, etc.

My advise would be to pick and choose. Pick a class you can run in now. What safety items are required for now. Then look at the next class / goal and what is required for it. This will allow you to still enjoy the car while racing it. You eventually decide you enjoy driving it more than racing it and convert it into a cruiser or vice versa decide to race it full time. Find out what you like to do but with your car and time (and money).

Welcome! I reiterate what JustA & Frosty said, both in your desire and initiative! 
I don’t wish to discourage you on your project, but along the lines of what Frosty said, you need to do some good research before you pull the trigger and buy! 
The reality is an 8 or 10 second car is not realistic for the street! Not from fuel cost, drivability or control! So if you really want a street/race car you need to consider all the factors. 
I’m not saying you can’t achieve a 8 second car, but a “70” Lemans just from a weight standpoint is not practical! Just the shear physics of it would require more than 800 bhp! 
A Dodge Hell Cat’s quarter mile time is just under 12 seconds! Yes it weighs more than the Lemans, but not enough to make that kind of difference.

The Lemans with the right equipment and the proper mods could achieve mid 11s but that’s going to take a lot of cash & work! 
So know that we all support you, we wish you the best and will do what we can to help, but I want you to have your eyes wide open! So you don’t get down the road and say, well if I had known that!

Edited July 14, 20205 yr by Last Indian

I totally agree with Last Indian. It's so important to do your homework and set realistic goals for you, your car, and wallet. We will be glad to help you. Be honest with yourself. Talk to the guys in your car club too. Ask a ton of questions. One thing about us car guys, we love to talk. Don't be shy - ask.

Edited July 14, 20205 yr by Frosty

I just have the 350 for parts. I will be using a 535 cubic inch engine from allpontiac in the lemans. I also have a 1984 Firebird that I will drive a lot more often, I just want to be able to drive the lemans on the street. I appreciate all the advice! I will make sure to update this thread when I make progress! 

Welcome bud. Great project! Sprint mentioned Butler performance, I've dealt with them in the past and their customer service has always been great. I 1st heard of them on the show "Street Outlaws". They built the engine in Big Chiefs 72' LeMans. Like Frosty said bro, ask a lot of questions, even if you already think you know the answer. The knowledge these guy's on here have is amazing and their always willing to help. Can't wait to see your progress! 

1 hour ago, Frosty said:

I totally agree with Last Indian. So it's important to do your homework and set realistic goals for you, your car, and wallet. We will be glad to help you. Be honest with yourself. Talk to guys in your car club too. Ask a ton of questions. One think about us car guys, we love to talk. Don't be shy - ask.

You guys Musta missed he's building a 535 with the help from the co owner of allpontiac.  Using some of the parts from the 350.  Agree with Frosty and Last Indian.  8 second car is not streetable, 10 sec is really the outside limit.  11's as Last Indian said would be a realistic goal (and fastest car in the school parkin lot!) and both brought up the safety issues that must be met to run it on the strip.  They are there to keep you safe.  Now I'm late to the party as reply's are already in front of my post.

Edited July 14, 20205 yr by JUSTA6

2 hours ago, JUSTA6 said:

You guys Musta missed he's building a 535 with the help from the co owner of allpontiac.  Using some of the parts from the 350.  Agree with Frosty and Last Indian.  8 second car is not streetable, 10 sec is really the outside limit.  11's as Last Indian said would be a realistic goal (and fastest car in the school parkin lot!) and both brought up the safety issues that must be met to run it on the strip.  They are there to keep you safe.  Now I'm late to the party as reply's are already in front of my post.

JustA, you are never late to the party! The party doesn’t start till you’re here!

Yes I saw it was a 535! Still won’t generate enough hp to to get to 8 seconds and most likely not even 10 flat! In the Lemans that is! The money you have to throw at a 10 second car is close to double that of a 12 second car!