Hello everyone

I'm new here and I'm looking at a 1970 Pontiac Lemans 350cui with Tri-power carburetor from Holley.

It would be great if you can give me some buying advice.

the car was driven until 2012 and then stored in a dry garage until now.

What should I look out for in these vehicles?
Rust in any case 

What else is there to look at in particular? Known problems? etc...

Thank you for your help

Greetings
George

I don’t have any pointers but wanted to just say  and good luck in your investigation.

Someone should be along soon with alemanes info

Hi George! 

 

The Lemans is like any other GM A-body in terms of rust. So check the lower fenders, hood, trunk, doors, rockers, quarter panels, and floor and trunk boards.

Assume a new battery is needed as wel as tires, they are most like flat spotted and certainly dry rotted.
 

Unless the car was stored with some sort of fuel stabilizer like Stabil or Seafoam, I would expect the fuel to be one step above varnish and the whole fuel system will need to be flushed.

Take note on the condition of the chrome, stainless and pot metal parts. Is everything there and in decent shape? Will you have to do much with these parts in the future? 
 

Check under the dash, is the wiring hacked or in poor condition? Any blown fuses? Do the lights work? Are any bulbs out anywhere? 
 

Check fluid levels for anything being low.

Any sign of critters - living or dead inside or out? Mouse/rat poop? Insects?  Chewed seats or carpet?

Check how the brake pedal feels.

If the car looks all original expect to replace ever rubber line in the car as a safety precaution. These cars were built before ethanol was out in the fuel. Chemicals, UV rays, dirt and grime work to deteriorate rubber from the outside, but ethanol fuel will deteriorate old fuel lines from the inside! Modern hose is made to withstand ethanol fuel, so in order to prevent a potential disaster, replace every rubber hose in the car that comes in contact with fuel or engine vacuum.

if the current owner has the car running, then definitely drive it. Make sure everything works.

5 hours ago, Frosty said:

Hi George! 

 

The Lemans is like any other GM A-body in terms of rust. So check the lower fenders, hood, trunk, doors, rockers, quarter panels, and floor and trunk boards.

Assume a new battery is needed as wel as tires, they are most like flat spotted and certainly dry rotted.
 

Unless the car was stored with some sort of fuel stabilizer like Stabil or Seafoam, I would expect the fuel to be one step above varnish and the whole fuel system will need to be flushed.

Take note on the condition of the chrome, stainless and pot metal parts. Is everything there and in decent shape? Will you have to do much with these parts in the future? 
 

Check under the dash, is the wiring hacked or in poor condition? Any blown fuses? Do the lights work? Are any bulbs out anywhere? 
 

Check fluid levels for anything being low.

Any sign of critters - living or dead inside or out? Mouse/rat poop? Insects?  Chewed seats or carpet?

Check how the brake pedal feels.

If the car looks all original expect to replace ever rubber line in the car as a safety precaution. These cars were built before ethanol was out in the fuel. Chemicals, UV rays, dirt and grime work to deteriorate rubber from the outside, but ethanol fuel will deteriorate old fuel lines from the inside! Modern hose is made to withstand ethanol fuel, so in order to prevent a potential disaster, replace every rubber hose in the car that comes in contact with fuel or engine vacuum.

if the current owner has the car running, then definitely drive it. Make sure everything works.

Thank you very much Frosty for your detailed information.

I will check the Pontiac next weekend and hope everything will be good. attached some pictures:

 

Welcome to the site.   Have never seen the Starter N Clutch Ford Torino (inspired) stripes on a Pontiac, but looks good!  

Hey all

It looks like the tire size are not original or doesn't fit correctly

What are the original size for this beauty and what is possible

 

George

question to all.

Is there any difference between the 70 and 71 lemans?

I keep reading different things about the 350cui engine.

1970 have more horse power than the 71th.

Does somebody have a list of the differences? the picture of the above Leman looks like a 1971 but the engine have according to the owner 320HP...

The front clip between the 70 and 71 Lemans are somewhat different. 

 

1970 Lemans

71 Lemans

 

A 71-72 Lemans Sport could also be ordered with the T42 option, which was the GTO Endura front clip.

As for the difference in 350 engines, GM and the rest of the auto industry went from gross horsepower to net horsepower ratings, starting in '71. That means instead of running an engine with no parasitotic restrictions at all (e.g. the gross HP rating) to an engine full dressed with an A/C compressor, a power steering pump, an alternator, and an air cleaner and air filter, stock exhaust manifolds, and perhaps a stock exhaust system (net HP), all of which dramatically lowered the HP ratings.

There are some subtle changes in heads, compression, and camshaft year over year too. The federal government had mandated the elimination of lead in gasoline by '74 or '75. So Pontiac and other car manufacturers had several years advance notice to start adding harden seats and valves to withstand the loss of lead in the fuel. It also eventually led to lower compression ratios for emissions purposes (later in the 70s).

As for tire size, a stock Lemans came with 14" wheels but 15" wheels were optional.

G78-14s were the base tire on 14x6 steel/hub cab rims

G70-14s were an option on 14x6 Rally II rims

225-60-15s were the option on15x6 Rally II rims

 

 

Edited September 18, 20241 yr by Frosty

Ist es den Möglich wenn dieser LeMans 320PS hat, das es ein High output (HO) Motor ist? ich denke nicht das der Tri-Power Vergaser 75PS ausmacht.
@Frosty

What do you think about the car above?

I'm also not sure if the Tri-power Holey Carb is good.

The LeMans have 156'000km (97'000miles).

 

Thanks in advance.

Hi George

Tri-power carbs are definitely a cool thing to look at, however, you or some mechanic you know, had better know how to keep them tuned up. Tri-power was not available after 1967 for a reason. Rochester 2-barrel carbs were stock. Holly carbs are aftermarket carbs. 

While I won't say that the car has 320HP because it may have been rebuilt with aftermarket parts. I will say a stock Pontiac 350 was only rated at 250 HP for 1971-72.

In order to make 320 HP, several things would need to be done to the engine to increase the HP. A new cam, ported and polished heads, different pistons/high compression would be needed. I see stock exhaust manifolds, which kills power. A Tri-Power carb was rated at an additional 5-10 HP over a 4-barrel carb in 1966. So Tri-Power doesn't add a lot to the HP equation by itself. I do see an MSD box and MSD coil (I assume an MSD distributor too). That helps move the needle a bit.

Here are the stock 350 configurations from Pontiac.

I doubt that this is a 350 HO motor if it matches any of the above information. 

We can determine what engine it is from the block and head casting numbers. It could be a 1967 or 1968 350 HO motor but it won't match the table above. The pictures you provided doesn't show us what we need to know either way.

The car has a column shift automatic, so this car was mostly likely a bench front seat originally. As previously commented, the reverse "Starsky and Hutch" Torino paint job is cool and it will grab some attention for sure. This car appears to be a cool fun cruiser, while not trying to be a GTO. It may or may not have 320 HP, but you will still have fun with it.

 

 

The knowledge this snowman has, 

If I make the deal, what are you thinking. Can I drive 150km home?

even though it has been standing and not driving for so long?

 

george

Do you have someone to folllow you in a vehicle that could tow you off the road if nessary?  Or maybe even the rest of the way home.  Points to knock him down a bit on price. (you would do well to do your homework on cost to fix issues. )  Dash, altho nicely done, the original dash has been destroyed.  Looks like a very lame patch panel on Pass side fender bottom. Hard to tell. (can't see the other side)  Seats,  both front buckets will have to be reappolistered to match each other.  Looks like your Driver side kick panel is messed up?  Hard to tell from pic.   Make sure to look for Engine oil leaks and or Transmission leaks.  You should bring a new battery. Jumper cables.  Justa pointing out some things you should take a closer look at.  Hard to say anything for certain until your looking at.  Frosty brought up some good points about old gas in the system. Would be worth adding a few inline filters under the hood to keep gunk from reaching the carb and pluging it up.  To drain the tank as much as possible with a cheap fuel pump and add new fuel.  Then keep your fingers crossed to get home.  Good luck.

Edited September 21, 20241 yr by JUSTA6

1 minute ago, JUSTA6 said:

Do you have someone to folllow you in a vehicle that could tow you off the road if nessary?  Or maybe even the rest of the way home.  Points to knock him down a bit on price. (you would do well to do your homework on cost to fix issues. )  Dash, altho nicely done, the original dash has been destroyed.  Looks like a very lame patch panel on Pass side fender bottom. Hard to tell. (can't see the other side)  Seats,  both front buckets will have to be reappolistered to match each other.  Looks like your Driver side kick panel is messed up?  Hard to tell from pic.   Make sure to look for Engine oil leaks and or Transmission leaks.  You should bring a new battery. Jumper cables.  Justa pointing out some things you should take a closer look at.  Hard to say anything for certain until your looking at.  Good luck.

Dear JUSTA6

Yes my brother will come with me.

I'm not sure if its a to high risk to drive the car after 12 years standing... because of all liquids like motor oil, cooling liquids, brake fluids..

 

 

 

3 minutes ago, George Whisky said:

Dear JUSTA6

Yes my brother will come with me.

I'm not sure if its a to high risk to drive the car after 12 years standing... because of all liquids like motor oil, cooling liquids, brake fluids..

 

 

 

Agreed, make sure all fluids are full and ready to go.  If car will not start, that JUSTA drops the price in half if you have no way to check engine (anything could be bad)  Trans could be bad or even rear end.  Don't let them scam you.  Remember If it was easy or inexpensive, they would have had it repaired to get top $$$ out of it.

1 minute ago, JUSTA6 said:

Agreed, make sure all fluids are full and ready to go.  If car will not start, that JUSTA drops the price in half if you have no way to check engine (anything could be bad)  Trans could be bad or even rear end.  Don't let them scam you.  Remember If it was easy or inexpensive, they would have had it repaired to get top $$$ out of it.

The car starts perfectly, without any issue.

Is it not a problem if the liquids are 12 years old?

I will make an 1:1 exchange with my Hummer H2.

Liquids will be fine until you have a chance to drain/replace them.  Happy for you!     Want to see many pic's of your adventure getting home.

Yes i will have the chance to change them after 150km driving😂

if the deal will work i will share pictures:-)

Yup, we love pics around here! Good luck George, keep us posted either way.

I support all the advice JUSTA made. I would also make sure to have tools to help fix anything that might develop. Is it possible to find a quick oil change place before you leave the area you are buying the car from?

I would further suggest that the inline fuel filters should, ideally, be the clear or see thru style so you can see if they are trapping rust, dirt, or debris from the fuel tank.

If the car is running alright, it should make the 150km drive home with little or no issues.

Soo no deal done with the Lemans😔

the seller wants to much for the car.

my Hummer H2 +2‘000.- that would be around 32‘000$
in Switzerland are the old cars very expensive… soo I look further.

Sorry to hear the bud. Good luck with your search. 

Bummer dude! Keep looking. Best of luck!