74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Started a build on a 40k mile 350 2bbl LeMans which has been parked since 99. Car was headed for scrap but it is now Billy Nees approved and endorsed! Car is the same color as the Buford T. Justice sheriff car from Smokey and the Bandit with a white top and lovely green and white interior(yup....that's right) of which the upholstery closely resembles my grandmas couch when I was growing up. I am told it will make a great Q, R or T car.
Trying to thrash it out for the Dutch classic coming up and stay close to the grand budget. Had some almost new 26x8.5s and 26" front runners laying around, Billy threw in a set of 4.56 gears and a posi to use for now. Just got a set of cheap headers and a Jegs XHD converter. Ordered a cam from Bullet which should be here Tues. The rear is out and opened, should have the gears in by the end of the weekend. Driveline is getting ready to come out as I am typing this(wife and kid are thrashing away while I slack!) Gonna check chamber volumes and upgrade springs then drop it back in figuring on an overhaul over the winter. Neighbor Bob and my son are gonna freshen up the trans the beginning of the week. If all goes well we should be playing at Maple in a coupla weeks. I will work on the picture thing but am rather computer retarded unfortunately. |
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Pictures shouldn't be too hard. I just download mine and resize them in Microsoft Paint. From there just upload them from the "manage files" part at the bottom of the messages.
Cool to have another car joining the build section. We need to start a "Dime Rocket" racing association. Model it after the "Chumpcar", commonly called crapwagons, road racing series. They have a dollar value on what the car can be worth. They call it a low grade racing series but many of the cars are nicely prepared. I'm real sure if we could manage a get together, we'd draw a big crowd at the races. Just out of curiousity, where'd you score the car at? |
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
I will try that for the pics then. It actually was about 3 miles from my house. We went to check out some potential 283 stuff for Billy, found the car outside the garage and they said it had been inside the garage until about a year ago and now they were gonna fill it with scrap and junk it. My boy goes....I wonder if that would qualify as one of Billy's Aardvarks?? And here it is!
|
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
The rear is stripped and ready for the gear swap. Motor and trans are out and split...gonna tear down the top of the motor later today and hopefully get the rear back in.... Progress is being made!
|
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Pictures sure would be nice....They are worth a thousand times years later, ask me.....Frank
|
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
1 Attachment(s)
Not the best pic but its a start
|
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Quote:
http://classracer.com/classforum/att...5&d=1380458574 http://classracer.com/classforum/att...6&d=1380460129 |
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Wayne good luck on your Lemans build. What are you using for ignition? I have '77 Lemans 400 (same body) and the car always hooks on a decent track. You have lots of potential there. (See Bill Edgeworth) . That motor won a lot of races years past in the Ventura body with a 2-bbl. Bob Michael.
|
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
1 Attachment(s)
Not the best again....apparently cant use the cell phone for pics. Buford in drydock.
|
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
using a Davis HEI unit I mooched from my neighbor
|
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Wayne, Good luck with the build really looks like you found a pretty solid piece to get going with, and I bet Billy will really get into that.
|
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Quote:
That's not a bad looking car at all. Good luck with this build. Just a question, was the car running when you guys got it? If you find anything like that around here, it's either pure junk or the owner wants to retire from the sale! Can't wait to hear the end results. |
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Wayne, looks like you got a good start to this project and with Billy guiding you this should be a great project.I look forward to seeing the finished car
|
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
6 Attachment(s)
The car was running....old gas made it a bit stubborn but we managed to lay down about a 100 ft "one wheel wonder peel" before getting it up on the trailer! It does have a little rust here and there but overall is in pretty good shape. Here is some more pics.... I was surprised to see no bore notches for the intake valves and no valve notches at all in the pistons. My Pontiac experience is very limited but it doesn't fit with what I have seen before? Looks good inside motor....ridge is alomost non-existent. The boy got the control arms boxed and will be welding the tubes to center of rear in a bit.
|
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
congrats on the great project.
Way cool dime rocket. I've never seen pontiac pistons like that, but do see the valve notches in block for the valves, I think, if my eyes work. Billys thread is really great. I got lucky enough to meet him at Cecil. I should get my pics off my phone of his launch and at the 700 or so foot mark. Hope you get it done for The Dutch. I hope to go on ssunday.lol.stutterrrrrerrrr Keep us posted. Chris |
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Quote:
Good luck Don't drive Billy completely crazy..It's been said he doesn't have far to go... |
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Hey Wayne, have you found head gaskets yet? If not, I've got a number to call. You can PM me if you want.
|
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Wayne..........You have a PM....
|
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Some may disagree, but, this is what the spirit of Stock, and the sport, is all about... I have a '72 Lemans Wagon, that would fit this bill... i drive it everyday, but, it has a little rust on it... dont know how NHRA tech would feel about that :) Its a neat old car... I could run 250 hp 455, or 200hp 400... i just need a set of 7k3's, i think, for the 455... I happen to have a good TRW version, of both engines, sitting around :) Car already has 3.90 gears, Eaton posi, and Moser axles in it( rear would probably grenade itself, unless i go with 400 cubes, and 4.56-4.88s).. 10'' continental 3200ish converter...i have headers...Oh crap, this is gettin interesting! I even have a cam, its a Bullet, .405 with probably a bit too much duration, but it would work :) Should i , or shouldnt I? hehehe
https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/...37111160_n.jpg |
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Yo Brent, you must be a yougster if you don't remember my old K/SA, 1972 LeMans wagon with the Sport (GTO) nose on it. Even had junior stock stripes on the roof! 250/455 combo. Would have loved to have tried the H.O. set up for I/SA.
|
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Quote:
Im building my 68 Bird into an E or F car... but, would love to do a 'dime rocket".... I have most everything i'd need...except for some 7k3's... I have correct intake, a fairly decent shortblock(went 11.50s with stock heads, in my bird), 3.90 gears(to start), and decent converters...but the 10bolt is the weak link... Why cant we run a 400(with 4bbl)? I think it was rated at 250hp, as well...correct? I know the 455 is a no brainer...i just need a 12 bolt...or a good 8.5 10bolt... I wonder how good a 400/200 2bbl would run? I have everything but a correct intake...shouldnt be hard to find... |
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Very cool project Wayne, Billy speaks very highly of you and your work. Hope to meet you one of these days. If you need anything feel free to ask.
Brent, the reason no one runs the 400 in the 72 lemans is because it is rated 5 hp higher than the 455. The 55 is the much better combo. You could run the index with a bone stock shortblock. Quote:
|
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Don do you still have your great wagon, I took so many pictures of it at the Groves. My question is , did they come with the hood scoop and side vents as a wagon? It would make a wicked race car. I'm sure you had no traction problems. Claude Ruel
|
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Quote:
|
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Quote:
|
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Quote:
|
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
That Tons of Fun wagon was one of my fathers favorite cars from back in the day, to bad it's so difficult to find one of those wagons.
|
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Quote:
https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...37111160_n.jpg |
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Quote:
Neat cars! |
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
This one came from Witchita, Kansas...then ended up in Oklahoma...then to Indy, around '93... i bought it in March 2011... 14.10/96mph 1.96 60' on street tires... 13's are around the corner...
|
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Has the Burford car made any runs or headway yet?
|
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Guy, I hate to be an ol' stick in the mud, but you need to run that car with a 4 bbl.
The 2 bbl is just too small with 350 ci. You can run it in N without a roll bar. The hp is way too high but it will still run the index easier with a 4 bbl. Write a letter to NHRA. Tell them the hp was kicked up on that car because of Rink's GTO. A Ventura body style with a ram air hood.. Should be back down to 250 max...Really 235 where the GTO started.It should have never been factored up in the first place. |
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Amen to Mark! Keep writing those letters and working on the car. They reduced my '62 Grand Prix from 318 to 275hp although I still had to throw a bunch of money at it to be in the middle of the pack for a K/SA!
|
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Sorry for disappearing on everyone. Been working a lot of overtime at my regular job and the garage has been crazy at night. With only the Lee Sherman left this season and since the engine is already out I am going to blueprint the shortblock over the winter and come out swinging in the spring. Good news is the rear is done and back in the car, the trans is fresh and ready to go and the carb is redone.....so I have a great headstart. I will keep everyone posted as I make progress .
|
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Danny Ashley,,,7-10-11
Can you spare a dime..thread Quote:
|
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Was this build ever completed??
|
Re: 74 LeMans stocker "Buford"
Nope, I'm sorry to say. Wayne went Bracket Racing with his Wife and Son. It was a better fit for him. It was a really nice survivor car but by the time that I got there to try and save it, it had been scrapped.
|
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:41 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright Class Racer.com. All Rights Reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners.