I'd love for somebody to start a low budget Pontiac powered GT build thread on this site. Hey, it wouldn't be a "dime rocket". But I think it could be done for a reasonable price. Could also double as a bracket car, for those who don't live close to a lot of tracks that run SS, & don't have the funds for long hauls. But, I know that lots of guys here don't like bracket racing. So, that's all I'll say about that.
If I had to take a guess as to what the cheapest Pontiac Body Stocker roller might be, I'd have to say it would probably be a 3rd gen Bird. When I was gonna build a Pontiac powered bracket car, back in 2007, there were lots of 3rd gen Birds around, cheap. I bought several. Max price was $500. So, I figure it was the same all over the country. That's why I assume there were lots of Stockers built, using 3rd gen Bird bodies. So, that means that there should be some decent 3rd gen Stocker rollers out there, for sale, which would work good as a 350 Pontiac powered GT car.
Glanced thru the thread that's going now, where guys are talkin about all the cars they have, or know of, that are not being used. There are occasionally guys come on here asking about a car to buy. Maybe that would be a good way to help get somebody started in class racing. They could start off with a decent Stocker roller, which mostly just needs a trans & engine.
As you guys well know, there are some body styles that have had all the possible combos wrung out, & can no longer be competitive, on a level many insist on. One of these cars might make a good candidate for a low budget, just-under-the-index, Pontiac powered build.
I'd prefer a Pontiac body, such as a Bird or Ventura. But, the little 428 powered Cobalts have proven that a Pontiac engine will power a Chevy body just as good as it will a Pontiac body. The engine don't care what brand name is on the car. But, it has to be a GM body, which will work with a Pontiac V8 engine, & be NHRA SS legal.
I know from past experience that LOTS of Chevy guys cringe at even the thought of a Pontiac engine in a Chevy. But hey, for you guys, we can consider an Olds or Buick body. I assume there may be some Olds & Buick X-bodies out there somewhere. Anyhow there should be some 70's GM X-bodies, as well as GM 2nd & 3rd gen F-bodies out there, that are just settin around gathering dust & rust.
Anybody here know of one that would work, which might help some new guy get started with a cheap Pontiac powered GT car ?
A '77 350 or 400 Pontiac engine would probably be my choice, because, the 6X heads required are still plentiful & fairly cheap. These engines have been very competitive, in stock & SS, for a long time. So, building one to just barely run under, in hot weather, shouldn't break the bank.
If anybody has a good roller prospect for such a project, which you'll sell for a reasonable price, post that info. Then I'll go on some of the Pontiac sites & see if I can find a guy who is willing to give this thing a shot. There are lots of bracket racers who are spending enuff on bracket racing, so that they could build a low budget GT car for the same money, if they just knew how.
Guys here with the know-how could provide needed info on the build thread, & help locate some decent used parts, that will be needed. Hey it would be sorta like a forum project. From what I've read, a lot of members here are even older than me & no longer race, themselves. Hey, this could be a way to help pass on some of what you learned, & maybe help a younger guy get into SS racing.
What do ya'll think ? Anybody interested ?
I remember when I 1st found this site, how much I enjoyed following Brent Flynn's low budget Stocker build. Maybe a low budget Pontiac powered GT build would also generate some interest. I don't have the knowledge & experience most of you guys have. But, I'll definitely do all I can to help with info, parts round-up, etc. Let's do it !
