My friend in Florida has a similar Vega Wagon that was from rust free California. It is an original 4 speed and now has a strong 350, with 4 wheel disc brakes. Still has the original yellow paint..!!!
Cool video guys. I had a 76 Vega wagon for my first car. Mine was the pale yellow/tan with wood grain and the luggage rack. :) Also only had the aluminum 4 cylinder. I had dreams of a V8 transplant but back then lacked the knowledge and the money for such a project at 16 years old. Also parents that would have never gone along with such a wild idea.
That's awesome a little Vega wagon with a SBC my Uncle had a early Vega the ones that look like a mini 71 Camaro and he put a 400 SBC in it and use to race it. I always liked them cars
I cant fucking believe that you didnt even change the oil and filter just trew battery in and went to start it ....wtf you dont deserve that car ...unsub ...your hacks man ...sorry not sorry just being honest ...you guys sick and make the mechanics look like shit ...fucking dumb
@@marcuspuzio7720 hey man, chill out. It's not that big of a deal to test start it on the old oil as long as it is full and not contaminated with gas or water. They had no idea what condition the engine was in anyway so it's not worth wasting money on oil all to find out that it could have a bad engine I always like to start them up with the old oil first and then if it runs good and everything checks out then change the oil and filter with some good stuff. And besides it's likely a 305 or 350 sbc and if they damage the engine, its pretty cheap and easy to find a replacement.
HI Penny's Crew , nice to see a Kamback wagon .Takes me back to Jimbo's Vega back in the day .This could be a '74 or '75 .I miss Jimbo ... great fabricator , always glad when I had the chance to see him .I'm sure you've seen his Vega around you couldn't miss it . Sometimes made it to the Garden City car show . Thanks for posting .
I had a 71 vega, and I had no complaints about it other than the amount of oil it burned. got great mileage, handled well and for me had been very reliable.
A Marine buddy built a '71 Pinto project with a 289ci 4 bbl, a 4 speed, and narrowed rear end all from a late '60's Mustang. A Musto, as he called it. The only problem he had during the project was overheating and it took a new radiator to cure that. That was the only new part in the swap. In 1976 (?), he drove Musto from CA to NC for a school and then back to CA without problems. The two of us went to the old Orange County International Raceway one weekend and he sold the Musto for enough cash to start his next project which was a Vega with a 327, 4 speed, and narrowed rear end from a Chevy Biscayne. Them was the days! He still lives in SoCal and still builds project cars. His last was a '54 Chevy Bellaire with a 3800 V6
@@pennyshotrodscustoms His son, daughter, and daughters husband all join in on Jerry's projects. His wife test drives the completed cars. A real family effort all round.
Absolutely agree, love the old wagons! My best friend in those days had one and we went everywhere in that thing, and it was perfect for hauling around our guitars and amps and stuff. It sounds laughable now, but we picked up our share of girls in the "Vegrant" as we used to call it. Yeah! Really! A long time ago now, but fond memories none the less.
I bought a 75 Vega in 1978. I was 17. Had 40.000 miles on it. Very good condition. Paid 1000 dollars for it. Drove it 3 years, only repair was clutch cable. Had just over 100.000 miles on it when I sold it for, drumroll please..1500! Guy was happy to get it. Still looked great in and out, and still ran fine. 3 speed manuel. Took the money and bought my first brand new car, a Toyota Celica. Loved it!
I LOVED my Vega Cam back! It was orange and I put a white racing stripe down the driver side . I could lay a stripe in 1st 2nd and 3rd. It was only the original engine ( aluminum block and cast iron head. But it wad quick and it was my High School car. I would love to have it back but it was wrecked!!
Those engine mounts are part of the Don Hardy V8 Vega kit. It came with headers & rear trans mount. My 1974 Vega had it. The roof pillars started cracking soon after I put my 406" small block in it.....fun car.
My cousin had a 72 run of the mill Vega purchased new in 72. Pennsylvania requires annual inspection. It failed inspection when the car was 3 years old due to rust damage. It got fixed but was pretty expensive. The joke at the time was that the Vega was the only car to begin rusting in the dealer’s showroom. 😎👍
I worked in a G.M dealership in that time period,I was the youngest in the shop.I would bring a pick up load of blocks once a week to the machine shop for cylinder sleeveing.
We believe it is worth saving. The body does not seam to bad, not sure of the floors. And as you said alternator and fix the ignition issues. We plan on getting it moving in the spring time.
My son (who graduated High School in 1999) took auto shop class, and the "rule" was -"what comes out, goes back in." He had a 1977 Mustang II with a 2.3 four cylinder. We found a wrecked 1986 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe with a 2.3 . I told my son, he has my generation to thank for that rule, because of V8 Vega's and 351 windsor engines finding their way into early 1960's Falcons .
I bought a new 1973 Vega GT, pumpkin orange with black strips! Even had orange carpet! Loved that car although it overheated and melted a piston at 38k miles. Chevy warranted the parts (new short block), I paid the labor to fix. Was so fun to drive! Wish I had it with a V8!
Had one back in the 70's green on green. A girl in the next town over had a big block. End up building a 302 pinto before getting married. Now being almost 60 I'm going to build a S10 for the fun of it. Have fun 👋👋😁
Vegas make such cool hotrods. Its really ashame that 99% of these cars rusted away or got junked. I have been wanting to build a 71-73 vega with a sbc and 4 speed for along time hopefully one day I will find one but where I live they are all gone. The last one I personally seen was 10 years ago and it was so rotted that u couldnt save it if u wanted to, that car went to someone who was restoring a nice car and they got the rotted one for trim pieces and emblems.
@@pennyshotrodscustoms vegas are so rare these days that I'm not too picky what year they are. I prefer 71-73 but there are so little of them left you gotta take what u can get, hopefully we can see this car doing smokey burnouts soon.
I remember the Pick A Part yard near me in Van Nuys California had a sign that said they would pay XX.XX dollars for any car EXCEPT Vegas and Ramblers. That is how often they failed.
My 1st car was an '80 Spyder. Buick 231 & TH350. There's 3 of these near me in Wpg that might be scrapped soon if the new property owners bulldoze the lot. I'd try and grab em' if I had time, money and space. Someone saved the split window VW bus from there a few years back.
I worked at a Sunoco station in the late '70s. A regular customer always came in and said fill the oil and check the gas! Used a quart of camII racing oil every week.20w50 if I recall correctly
I loved the Vega when it first came out. Unfortunately, I was much too young to drive. ;-) Hey, I noticed you have some MGs parked out there. I own one myself. Great little driver!
I remember seeing a Vega in a hot rod magazine years ago, somebody had put a big hemi in it, they had to cut out the firewall and fenders, but they made it fit.
There was a lot of hype as these cars were being introduced. The Pinto beat them to market by a few months, and the idea Chevy was promoting was the Vega was worth waiting for, what with its revolutionary new aluminum engine. Most expensive engine development program ever, I think they claimed - 50 million dollars. The sleeveless aluminum block was light enough, but the head was cast iron and seemed to weigh a ton. The cylinders often (usually ?) wore out prematurely. The "revolutionary" air cleaner was made as a unit with the filter, and you replaced it all at 50,000 miles. Later ones (this wagon looks "later" to me, going by the grille) had steel cylinder liners, and were called Dura-Built, but the bad reputation of the earlier ones was hard to shake. I had a 64 Impala at the time, and was pretty interested in the Vega. The dealer in Ottawa had the plainest model in a lame caramel colour in the showroom, and my reaction getting into the driver's seat was a lot like yours - I felt like I was in a sardine can. So those factors helped me dodge a bullet. Had a used one given to me years later, and quite liked it.
Chev were a bit too far ahead of themselves. Mercedes Came out with their all Alloy V8 in 1980(ish) and these engines will run forever if maintained . The secret is in the recipe for the alloy. Mercedes used a high percentage of Silicon particles which when the cylinders are bored out, an acid wash is used to expose the silicon . The piston rings ride on the particles reducing wear to nothing. I've rebuilt lots of them and never had to get one rebored yet. i9f GM had of used a similar silicon alloy ,the vega engine would have gone down in history as great little unit.
@@Mercmad So near, and yet so far, eh? Chev did use, and advertised, silicon in the Vega block, but very evidently without a successful recipe. I think the later 2.3s with the steel liners were fine - there was even a retrofit kit for the earlier ones, but Chev discontinued the car within a couple of years of coming out with the Dura Built. (I stand to be corrected on that time - and all recollections, for that matter.) Chev's later in-line 4, a 2.5 without the metallurgical exotica and OHC glamor of the 2.3, soldiered on for a good long production run with a good reputation and even an affectionate nickname, "Iron Duke." There have been other Bow Tie in-line fours - the 1.6 OHC used in Chevettes, the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2/2200 used in Cavaliers, and (as if anybody cares) I rate them as pretty good, with the accent on the "good" and not the "pretty". Say it both ways, and you'll see what I mean.
Yep I had one & it leaked & smoked to a point I just carried a gallon jug of used drain oil around with me lol . Mine the interior was like new but it had rust being from MN & was a 4 spd saginaw car but one day me & a buddy went to go get his tool box & he put it in the rear of the car & on the way home the control arm that held the rear differential in broke off of the body because of the rust underneath so I pulled the transmission & junked it & got 150.00 for it at the bone yard which was more than I paid for it .
A friend of mine put a 427 BBC in a Hatchback back in the early 80's. The shop had not yet put the roll cage and frame tie ins on it yet and he just had to drive it around the block. He was told to let it in second but did he, hell no! He nailed it and ripped into second. When he came back the left front wheel was about 6 inches off the ground. We told him to start looking for another car as this one was done!
They were baby camaros. I had 7 diferent ones and in almost every year. They ran forever as long as you took care or them....a part of my life I'll never forget! Also my head used to explode with all the information I learned 🤯....👺
@@pennyshotrodscustoms Chevy Monza I love too! Every car has it’s own characteristics! The Monza can dart in and out tight places with ease with a good V8 I’ve owned 4 still have my best one my other 1 I had to give to my friend for helping me tow and lost my storage temporarily I had no room one more month later I could of kept also! I have so many spare parts V8 stuff but these cars getting super rare like the Vega’s Hope to see what you guys do with the car!
Friggin spark!!! LOL Good stuff - another runner!!! Looks like there are a few treasures out there to fire up!! Will it start episodes??? Cory sounds like a bit more horsepower (or revs) then Kevin....... ha ha ha ha ha !
I love the Vega I owen two of them a 76 with a V6 5 speed and a 72 with a small block 350 turbo 350 that I'm building they were really good looking fun little cars the one you are working on is ether a 76 or 77 model look at the vin tag under the hood it will tell you the year of it
Vegas here were marginally in existence for 3 months from off of the showroom floor because of galled cylinder bores from either no steel sleeves or sleeve rotation in the cylinder bores, and rust from poor paint finish prep.
And this is the way reputations are built. I hadn't heard about sleeve rotation in the cylinder bores - "That can't be good," but what trouble/symptoms resulted? I had a 74 hatchback given to me in 78 or 79, covered in rust blisters and with a rear control arm detached by rust from the body. The (brand name deleted) rustproofing sticker on the windshield was in good shape, though.
@@pennyshotrodscustoms Glad I didn't have a mouthful of hot coffee, seated in a toney restaurant, when I read that! The spatter would not have been pretty, and there would have been no enhancement at all, at all, of my prospects of becoming known as suave and debonair.
Drain the oil and get the cooling system working , cap off . Sound like the lifters and valve train is making noise due to lifters collapsed Carb is likely varnished up
I really thought that it was a sold short little fun wagon as they were not too fast but lots of fun and places for graphics galore. Love the will it starts...... begs the question; Why did they park it, too many four speed cars that it was a throw away.?? Not sure but remember one at a track having a picture of a girl in long nylons and a smile... discrete tho. I used to stuff V8's in them but the score back in the early eighties
Wonder why it ended up in the field of cars? Maybe it ran bad or overheated or perhaps the transmission was bad. The hood butchering to accommodate the radiator looks really bad.
@@pennyshotrodscustoms Vegas are great but hard to find some parts like brake rotors. You may want to change it over to S-10 spindles and rotors as they are still readily available.
Car's (probably) a 1974-75 model and, the 1975-78(?) Monza, Sunbird and Starfire all had SB Chevy V8 options; when helped immensely in doing a V8 Vega conversion.
My mother had a Chevy Vega back in the 70's. It was a panel wagon. Where the glass was there was sheet metal no back seat just a cargo area. I blew out the head gasket on it one night.
Your Mom's car was a "Panel Express" they were the cheapest Vega that had no rear side glass only sheet-metal. Businesses could paint their logos there instead. Sort of a mini-van Vega.
@@MrSFSTUDIOS yeah thanks for the info. Don't know why she bought that car. She took part of the cargo area out so people could sit behind the front seats. Awful.
@@MrSFSTUDIOS you are right. But there were three people in our family. Mom and my sister. So someone had to sit in the back. So out with the formed sheet metal where the back seats would have been. The car wad already a hoopty at this point in time. Rust and all.
Just getting caught up with some of your videos. Love the Vega, especially a wagon! So your saying as a 6’5” guy, I would need to use a shoe horn for me to get behind the wheel? Spark / no spark? Sure it’s a Vega and not a Gremlin? Lol! I love getting old crap running!
i remember when vega's had a bad rap about them having aluminum engine blocks cars were made cheep. here in denver there was a junkyard where they took about 50 vegas to make a wall standing on end headlights pointing up. now there hot item.
Man ive been eyeballing an ole Vega panel delivery wagon in my towns used car lot for about three months now with no price tag, really want to see whats going on with it and jump on it asap since it's got the plastic fender coatings and hardly any rust aside from basic surface corrosion, but I haven't gotten to inquire further or look under the hood just yet. Theyre just too cool and that one would make one hell of a mini camper for out in the mountains
Yes we are in Canada. The yard and 95% of the cars belong to a good friend of ours. He likes that we are actually doing something with some of them. The cars that are not in this yard are definately ours.
I bet they used the monza v-8 bellhousing. Engines mounts appear to be transdapt. Headers are probably don hardy, maybe even the front coil springs. I've build 6 cars, 2 , 4 speeds with muncie m-21 transmission. Oh, yeah, change the rear end before you jump on it. On the manual trans get a frame connector, and tie it into a cage, before you twist the frame and break the windshield. Have fun.
Penny's Hot Rods & Customs : you're welcome. There is lot's more information that i can provide if someone plan to build one, on a budget. Like rear axle selection , fuel sysyem up grade, how to keep it cool in summer weather, using factory parts, ect. I'll keep an eye out and if i see some interest i'll enlarge on my comments.
The wagons are awesome. With the longer wheelbase. But I prefer the Chevy Monza wagon. I had a 78’ that I dropped a Stroker motor in. It was a great car. But so is this one. Trade ya an 87’ Chevy van StarCraft custom. 🤷♂️🤷♂️ 😂 worth a try …
...not as exciting as spraying ether into an engine as it cranks ,then have your hand in flames along with a can of ether acting like a flame thrower....
@@pennyshotrodscustoms Just kidding. I'm a 62 year old Mustang and Pinto racer. I remember those old things when they were brand new first year. I raced Pintos in the 90s and Vegas were legal, but there weren't any original Vegas left. V-8 Vegas was the only way we would see one in the late 70s. We began to consider V-8 Vegas basically box stock because that was the only way you could find one. So yes that is an original engine! lol
Been really looking for a Vega , had one when I was younger it was a wagon with a small block 400 , would love to get my hands on another one , is it for sale 😈☠👍✌✌
Too bad it's not a Motion Performance car! Would still love to have a Monza Town Coupe. I had a small block Ford Pinto back in the day & my buddy Lester had a 350 Vega. His Vega was faster but would twist & crack windshields.
Cousins old man had a 70 or 71 fishmouth panel wagon, 327 4 speed, only thing made it legal for the road was the lights and horn, drag racer for the street.
Replace that dead HEI distributor, reluctor coil probably dead and falling apart. 70 bucks at NAPA for a new distributor complete. I had a 75 Vega GT back in the 80`s with a 350 in it. little rocketship until the unibody twisted.
Surprised the battery didn't fall thru the fenderwell. That was the weak spot (one of many) with a Vega. I would say run away from this one guys only because I am emotionally scarred for life when it comes to Vega's (but that's a story for another time). Penny's Rule!
![โอ้เธอช่าง... - บี้เดอะสกา ft. ต๋อง เทวัญ (Prod. by ป๋าเพชร) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/zbWhiLFmVL0/mqdefault.jpg)
My friend in Florida has a similar Vega Wagon that was from rust free California. It is an original 4 speed and now has a strong 350, with 4 wheel disc brakes. Still has the original yellow paint..!!!
That is awsome Mr. GTO.
wow, I had a buddy in high school with the famous yellow vega wagon lol.......it had the small block 4 cylinder lmao
@@zundfolge1432 Cool.
this car deserves to be restored. love the old wagons.
We plan on getting moving in the spring time.
Cool video guys. I had a 76 Vega wagon for my first car. Mine was the pale yellow/tan with wood grain and the luggage rack. :) Also only had the aluminum 4 cylinder. I had dreams of a V8 transplant but back then lacked the knowledge and the money for such a project at 16 years old. Also parents that would have never gone along with such a wild idea.
Thank you Russel. I do beleave that under the white paint this one may be that pale yellow/ tan.
That's awesome a little Vega wagon with a SBC my Uncle had a early Vega the ones that look like a mini 71 Camaro and he put a 400 SBC in it and use to race it. I always liked them cars
We think this one is a 76, not the most desirable car but we will try and work on it in the spring.
I cant fucking believe that you didnt even change the oil and filter just trew battery in and went to start it ....wtf you dont deserve that car ...unsub ...your hacks man ...sorry not sorry just being honest ...you guys sick and make the mechanics look like shit ...fucking dumb
@@marcuspuzio7720 hey man, chill out. It's not that big of a deal to test start it on the old oil as long as it is full and not contaminated with gas or water. They had no idea what condition the engine was in anyway so it's not worth wasting money on oil all to find out that it could have a bad engine I always like to start them up with the old oil first and then if it runs good and everything checks out then change the oil and filter with some good stuff. And besides it's likely a 305 or 350 sbc and if they damage the engine, its pretty cheap and easy to find a replacement.
@@marcuspuzio7720 Could NOT have said it better DUMB Fuckers/Shit for Brains Hacks.
@@marcuspuzio7720 UH yeah, that's what you do. Then once it starts, if it starts, then you change the oil.
Your ignorance is glowing.
HI Penny's Crew , nice to see a Kamback wagon .Takes me back to Jimbo's Vega back in the day .This could be a '74 or '75 .I miss Jimbo ... great fabricator , always glad when I had the chance to see him .I'm sure you've seen his Vega around you couldn't miss it . Sometimes made it to the Garden City car show . Thanks for posting .
Thank you again Greg.
I had a 71 vega, and I had no complaints about it other than the amount of oil it burned. got great mileage, handled well and for me had been very reliable.
They are cool little cars.
A Marine buddy built a '71 Pinto project with a 289ci 4 bbl, a 4 speed, and narrowed rear end all from a late '60's Mustang. A Musto, as he called it. The only problem he had during the project was overheating and it took a new radiator to cure that. That was the only new part in the swap. In 1976 (?), he drove Musto from CA to NC for a school and then back to CA without problems. The two of us went to the old Orange County International Raceway one weekend and he sold the Musto for enough cash to start his next project which was a Vega with a 327, 4 speed, and narrowed rear end from a Chevy Biscayne. Them was the days! He still lives in SoCal and still builds project cars. His last was a '54 Chevy Bellaire with a 3800 V6
Thank you George, we like to here stories like that.
@@pennyshotrodscustoms
His son, daughter, and daughters husband all join in on Jerry's projects. His wife test drives the completed cars. A real family effort all round.
Absolutely agree, love the old wagons! My best friend in those days had one and we went everywhere in that thing, and it was perfect for hauling around our guitars and amps and stuff. It sounds laughable now, but we picked up our share of girls in the "Vegrant" as we used to call it. Yeah! Really!
A long time ago now, but fond memories none the less.
Like hearing stories like that Mark thank you.
The Chevy small block is the greatest engine ever made, 50 years of factory production.
And the LSx series has been around going on 25 years now............and, that Gen III has earned my respect.
Excellent video & car plus 350 V8 motor Vega wagon and only seen one those cars like in my life also was intresting too!
Thank you Andrew.
A video of that Vega roasting the tires off would be pretty awesome!
Will have to wait untill spring time. We promise.
Go watch my 1974 406 SBC Vega V8 do exactly that...
th-cam.com/video/rjnkz6Ia5p0/w-d-xo.html
I knew you guys would get it running not bad , I'LL BUY IT 💸
😈☠👍✌✌
I bought a 75 Vega in 1978. I was 17. Had 40.000 miles on it. Very good condition. Paid 1000 dollars for it. Drove it 3 years, only repair was clutch cable. Had just over 100.000 miles on it when I sold it for, drumroll please..1500! Guy was happy to get it. Still looked great in and out, and still ran fine. 3 speed manuel. Took the money and bought my first brand new car, a Toyota Celica. Loved it!
Cool you sold it for a profit.
I LOVED my Vega Cam back! It was orange and I put a white racing stripe down the driver side . I could lay a stripe in 1st 2nd and 3rd. It was only the original engine ( aluminum block and cast iron head. But it wad quick and it was my High School car. I would love to have it back but it was wrecked!!
This one should be pretty quick also. We will see in the spring time.
Those engine mounts are part of the Don Hardy V8 Vega kit. It came with headers & rear trans mount. My 1974 Vega had it. The roof pillars started cracking soon after I put my 406" small block in it.....fun car.
Thank you for the information.
My cousin had a 72 run of the mill Vega purchased new in 72. Pennsylvania requires annual inspection. It failed inspection when the car was 3 years old due to rust damage. It got fixed but was pretty expensive. The joke at the time was that the Vega was the only car to begin rusting in the dealer’s showroom. 😎👍
lol i heard the same thing before to funny
those are aftermarket V8 Vega mounts, most likely TransDapt brand, I used the same ones on my Vega years ago..
Thank you for the information.
The quick and dirty V8 Vega swap used stock V8 Monza engine mounts. Gee Whizz all stock Chevy parts.
Always disconnect fuel line from tank to fuel pump. Keeps old gas from entering fuel pump and carb. Good video.
Thank you for the tip Chuck wanted to work on it this summer but got away on us.
I worked in a G.M dealership in that time period,I was the youngest in the shop.I would bring a pick up load of blocks once a week to the machine shop for cylinder sleeveing.
Cool.
That is definately a good perc for working there.
All it needs is a alternator and some ignition issues solved and you got a good running vega is it all rotten or what? Is that thing worth saving?
We believe it is worth saving. The body does not seam to bad, not sure of the floors. And as you said alternator and fix the ignition issues. We plan on getting it moving in the spring time.
@@pennyshotrodscustoms you can get a new window for it.
Very lot them Vega's are & was cancer out. Worth it I buy or build tube frame 1st thing. Not that hard build. TIG it.
That they were.
Nice! There was an Orange V8 wagon in Philly/South Jersey area 30 years ago or so... very fast..never seen it lose on Front St
Cool, nice story.
My son (who graduated High School in 1999) took auto shop class, and the "rule" was -"what comes out, goes back in." He had a 1977 Mustang II with a 2.3 four cylinder. We found a wrecked 1986 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe with a 2.3 . I told my son, he has my generation to thank for that rule, because of V8 Vega's and 351 windsor engines finding their way into early 1960's Falcons .
Thats awesome like hearing stories like that Alan.
Its really impressive that it started good vid 👍👍
Thank you Rick.
I bought a new 1973 Vega GT, pumpkin orange with black strips! Even had orange carpet! Loved that car although it overheated and melted a piston at 38k miles. Chevy warranted the parts (new short block), I paid the labor to fix. Was so fun to drive! Wish I had it with a V8!
An orange one would be cool.
Had one back in the 70's green on green. A girl in the next town over had a big block. End up building a 302 pinto before getting married. Now being almost 60 I'm going to build a S10 for the fun of it. Have fun 👋👋😁
Just for the fun of it, that sounds like the begining of a plan.
Vegas make such cool hotrods. Its really ashame that 99% of these cars rusted away or got junked. I have been wanting to build a 71-73 vega with a sbc and 4 speed for along time hopefully one day I will find one but where I live they are all gone. The last one I personally seen was 10 years ago and it was so rotted that u couldnt save it if u wanted to, that car went to someone who was restoring a nice car and they got the rotted one for trim pieces and emblems.
This one is not the best year, but it is can be saved and we do plan on getting it running and driving next year.
@@pennyshotrodscustoms vegas are so rare these days that I'm not too picky what year they are. I prefer 71-73 but there are so little of them left you gotta take what u can get, hopefully we can see this car doing smokey burnouts soon.
@@briang4470 In the spring time, that is the plan.
I remember the Pick A Part yard near me in Van Nuys California had a sign that said they would pay XX.XX dollars for any car EXCEPT Vegas and Ramblers. That is how often they failed.
@@mexicanspec would like to see a picture of that signe.
My 1st car was an '80 Spyder. Buick 231 & TH350. There's 3 of these near me in Wpg that might be scrapped soon if the new property owners bulldoze the lot. I'd try and grab em' if I had time, money and space. Someone saved the split window VW bus from there a few years back.
Cool, yes try and save it. look for storage after, its easier that way.
This reminds me of Don Johnson n Nick Nolte working on that Yellow Chevy👍
Almost like a Swiss watch😊
I am not sure about a Swiss watch, maybe a Chinese nock off?
Oh gosh,memories! If I remember correctly I used more oil than gas in my vega.
It must have been the aluminum block.
@@pennyshotrodscustoms yep
I worked at a Sunoco station in the late '70s. A regular customer always came in and said fill the oil and check the gas! Used a quart of camII racing oil every week.20w50 if I recall correctly
I loved the Vega when it first came out. Unfortunately, I was much too young to drive. ;-)
Hey, I noticed you have some MGs parked out there. I own one myself. Great little driver!
Little vega are net cars dont think the MGs will run lol there cool little cars.
I remember seeing a Vega in a hot rod magazine years ago, somebody had put a big hemi in it, they had to cut out the firewall and fenders, but they made it fit.
That would of been cool with a hemi.
There was a lot of hype as these cars were being introduced. The Pinto beat them to market by a few months, and the idea Chevy was promoting was the Vega was worth waiting for, what with its revolutionary new aluminum engine. Most expensive engine development program ever, I think they claimed - 50 million dollars. The sleeveless aluminum block was light enough, but the head was cast iron and seemed to weigh a ton. The cylinders often (usually ?) wore out prematurely. The "revolutionary" air cleaner was made as a unit with the filter, and you replaced it all at 50,000 miles. Later ones (this wagon looks "later" to me, going by the grille) had steel cylinder liners, and were called Dura-Built, but the bad reputation of the earlier ones was hard to shake.
I had a 64 Impala at the time, and was pretty interested in the Vega. The dealer in Ottawa had the plainest model in a lame caramel colour in the showroom, and my reaction getting into the driver's seat was a lot like yours - I felt like I was in a sardine can. So those factors helped me dodge a bullet. Had a used one given to me years later, and quite liked it.
Thank you Stephen, like to here stories like this.
Chev were a bit too far ahead of themselves. Mercedes Came out with their all Alloy V8 in 1980(ish) and these engines will run forever if maintained . The secret is in the recipe for the alloy. Mercedes used a high percentage of Silicon particles which when the cylinders are bored out, an acid wash is used to expose the silicon . The piston rings ride on the particles reducing wear to nothing. I've rebuilt lots of them and never had to get one rebored yet.
i9f GM had of used a similar silicon alloy ,the vega engine would have gone down in history as great little unit.
@@Mercmad So near, and yet so far, eh? Chev did use, and advertised, silicon in the Vega block, but very evidently without a successful recipe. I think the later 2.3s with the steel liners were fine - there was even a retrofit kit for the earlier ones, but Chev discontinued the car within a couple of years of coming out with the Dura Built. (I stand to be corrected on that time - and all recollections, for that matter.) Chev's later in-line 4, a 2.5 without the metallurgical exotica and OHC glamor of the 2.3, soldiered on for a good long production run with a good reputation and even an affectionate nickname, "Iron Duke." There have been other Bow Tie in-line fours - the 1.6 OHC used in Chevettes, the 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2/2200 used in Cavaliers, and (as if anybody cares) I rate them as pretty good, with the accent on the "good" and not the "pretty". Say it both ways, and you'll see what I mean.
@@Mercmad Did not know that.
Yep I had one & it leaked & smoked to a point I just carried a gallon jug of used drain oil around with me lol . Mine the interior was like new but it had rust being from MN & was a 4 spd saginaw car but one day me & a buddy went to go get his tool box & he put it in the rear of the car & on the way home the control arm that held the rear differential in broke off of the body because of the rust underneath so I pulled the transmission & junked it & got 150.00 for it at the bone yard which was more than I paid for it .
A friend of mine put a 427 BBC in a Hatchback back in the early 80's. The shop had not yet put the roll cage and frame tie ins on it yet and he just had to drive it around the block. He was told to let it in second but did he, hell no! He nailed it and ripped into second. When he came back the left front wheel was about 6 inches off the ground. We told him to start looking for another car as this one was done!
That is pretty shitty and funny at the same time.
My friend had one and the thing spun evewhere it went. It took him a while to figure out how to get it to hook up.
They are neat little cars there thank you for watching.
Love those Vegas, especially the wagons!
It does have a sertain amount of charm.
They were baby camaros. I had 7 diferent ones and in almost every year. They ran forever as long as you took care or them....a part of my life I'll never forget! Also my head used to explode with all the information I learned 🤯....👺
Still own a Monza very similar! I like how the small block looks just right in them! Goes good too!
There neat little cars do you have a charger
@@pennyshotrodscustoms 4 69 chargers not finished yet but trying!
Holy crap thats the best .
@@pennyshotrodscustoms check out my Instagram chargerlife440 I posted a picture of a few years ago
@@pennyshotrodscustoms Chevy Monza I love too! Every car has it’s own characteristics! The Monza can dart in and out tight places with ease with a good V8 I’ve owned 4 still have my best one my other 1 I had to give to my friend for helping me tow and lost my storage temporarily I had no room one more month later I could of kept also! I have so many spare parts V8 stuff but these cars getting super rare like the Vega’s Hope to see what you guys do with the car!
I had a ride once in an Astre (Pontiac version) with a 283. Freaking WILD.
I like to call them ASHTRAYS.
It would be awesome to see life and use of having fun and enjoyment out of these old iron
We are planning on taking another look at this one in the spring.
Friggin spark!!! LOL Good stuff - another runner!!! Looks like there are a few treasures out there to fire up!! Will it start episodes??? Cory sounds like a bit more horsepower (or revs) then Kevin....... ha ha ha ha ha !
There will hopefully be more coming up depending on snow. We have a few fails also.
I love the Vega I owen two of them a 76 with a V6 5 speed and a 72 with a small block 350 turbo 350 that I'm building they were really good looking fun little cars the one you are working on is ether a 76 or 77 model look at the vin tag under the hood it will tell you the year of it
This one is a 76. We may get back to it this summer.
I had a 75 vega wagon I put a stroker 383 in it, damn sure woke it up.
Sounds like it's down a cylinder maybe a bad wire .. kind of sounds like it's chugging kind of while running
Sounds like a normal V5 chev.
It might be. We think the cap, rotor, and wires are probobly bad.
A young lad in my neighborhood had a fastback Vega with an olds 425 in it. It was a tire roaster for sure.
Thats a lot of engine right there
My first car was a 74 Vega 2door. Loved it.
They are pretty cool cars Joe.
I had a blue wagon back in '79. 2 speed powerglide.
i had an old 74 vega and did that spark test, shocked the hell outta my hand, it leak so much oil the cables were soaked in it
They were neat cars back in the day and still are pretty cool.
You need to get this one back on the road.........well done.
This one is actually on the list for the spring time.
Vegas here were marginally in existence for 3 months from off of the showroom floor because of galled cylinder bores from either no steel sleeves or sleeve rotation in the cylinder bores, and rust from poor paint finish prep.
And this is the way reputations are built. I hadn't heard about sleeve rotation in the cylinder bores - "That can't be good," but what trouble/symptoms resulted? I had a 74 hatchback given to me in 78 or 79, covered in rust blisters and with a rear control arm detached by rust from the body. The (brand name deleted) rustproofing sticker on the windshield was in good shape, though.
@@stephenandloriyoung5716 Rumour was that these cars rusted on the show room floor. This one must have been parked outside.
@@pennyshotrodscustoms Glad I didn't have a mouthful of hot coffee, seated in a toney restaurant, when I read that! The spatter would not have been pretty, and there would have been no enhancement at all, at all, of my prospects of becoming known as suave and debonair.
@@stephenandloriyoung5716 😂
Whats up with that brown car would run to or are you guys into selling it
Have not looked at it. It is a V6 Regal. Most of these cars are a good friend of ours and most were not running or missing major parts.
Drain the oil and get the cooling system working , cap off . Sound like the lifters and valve train is making noise due to lifters collapsed
Carb is likely varnished up
We will working on it in the spring time. Thank you Dave.
My favorite aftermarket part is the cheap chrome valve covers.
It screams 70's or 80's.
My father used one in jersey as a refrigerator after the motor quit, it was used to hold billy beer
Thats a new one.
My Mom actually had a Vega Estate Wagon. 4cyl of course. She loved that car.
Cool
On a quite night you can hear a vega rust but I did love mine anyways
Also on the show room floor.
I really thought that it was a sold short little fun wagon as they were not too fast but lots of fun and places for graphics galore. Love the will it starts...... begs the question; Why did they park it, too many four speed cars that it was a throw away.?? Not sure but remember one at a track having a picture of a girl in long nylons and a smile... discrete tho. I used to stuff V8's in them but the score back in the early eighties
Its a long story and maybe one day will tell you guys about it. there a net car will keep making videos if you guys keep watching them.
I had a 71 with a 283 and a Power Glide transmission. Don Hardy Twister kit. It ran like a scalded cat!
Yes it would, but whas it rusting as it went.
In TX no rust.
Two guys and a Vegan. Love it!
Thank you
Wonder why it ended up in the field of cars? Maybe it ran bad or overheated or perhaps the transmission was bad. The hood butchering to accommodate the radiator looks really bad.
Its along story but it runs and drives been many years used to drive in it lots .
@@pennyshotrodscustoms Vegas are great but hard to find some parts like brake rotors. You may want to change it over to S-10 spindles and rotors as they are still readily available.
@@MrSFSTUDIOS Good to know i would of never guessed that thank you
wow tap the coil with the handle of a screwdriver ok see if that fixed it! Backyard mechanic at it's best.
lol
I love the get the old heaps going segment. Stay greasy.
There will be more from this field. The owner and us are very good friend and he does not mind us getting these cars going.
@@pennyshotrodscustoms Awesome.
Car's (probably) a 1974-75 model and, the 1975-78(?) Monza, Sunbird and Starfire all had SB Chevy V8 options; when helped immensely in doing a V8 Vega conversion.
Thank you, we are not sure of the correct year for this one.
Not a 74 for sure..best year made....they had a very cool front grill... The 75 76 had that boring flat grill look...
Update on this wagon?? Maybe I missed it in the comments.
Nothing yet hopefully this summer.
Thanks for sharing a your friend for B.C Rob ✌
Thank you Rob.
My mother had a Chevy Vega back in the 70's. It was a panel wagon. Where the glass was there was sheet metal no back seat just a cargo area. I blew out the head gasket on it one night.
Your Mom's car was a "Panel Express" they were the cheapest Vega that had no rear side glass only sheet-metal. Businesses could paint their logos there instead. Sort of a mini-van Vega.
@@MrSFSTUDIOS yeah thanks for the info. Don't know why she bought that car. She took part of the cargo area out so people could sit behind the front seats. Awful.
@@jimbo9357 That is bizarre. They were mostly sold to businesses for delivery vehicles, and as such were sans interior in the back.
@@MrSFSTUDIOS you are right. But there were three people in our family. Mom and my sister. So someone had to sit in the back. So out with the formed sheet metal where the back seats would have been. The car wad already a hoopty at this point in time. Rust and all.
I learned to drive on a 72 vega 4spd. Old man let me park the car when he came home from work. I think I was about 10yrs. old.
Thats awesome like hearing stories like that.
Just getting caught up with some of your videos. Love the Vega, especially a wagon! So your saying as a 6’5” guy, I would need to use a shoe horn for me to get behind the wheel? Spark / no spark? Sure it’s a Vega and not a Gremlin? Lol! I love getting old crap running!
Was actually looking at it yesterday we might work on it again today maybe.
@@pennyshotrodscustoms You have so many projects, at least you will never be bored!
@@unclemarksdiyauto Got that right lol
Awesome video guys...it's always nice to see the dead brought back to life. 😀🍻
Thank you Patrick.
i remember when vega's had a bad rap about them having aluminum engine blocks cars were made cheep. here in denver there was a junkyard where they took about 50 vegas to make a wall standing on end headlights pointing up. now there hot item.
I remember hearing lots of stories like that
@@pennyshotrodscustoms now i would not mind having one. i know they do drive very nice . and the 4 speeds the shift so easy and smooth.
Man ive been eyeballing an ole Vega panel delivery wagon in my towns used car lot for about three months now with no price tag, really want to see whats going on with it and jump on it asap since it's got the plastic fender coatings and hardly any rust aside from basic surface corrosion, but I haven't gotten to inquire further or look under the hood just yet. Theyre just too cool and that one would make one hell of a mini camper for out in the mountains
With the 350 and 4 speed it is pretty cool. We are planning on working on it next summer.
Do you vuys live in Canada? These car you have in your video's, is it your personal yard?
Yes we are in Canada. The yard and 95% of the cars belong to a good friend of ours. He likes that we are actually doing something with some of them. The cars that are not in this yard are definately ours.
I bet they used the monza v-8 bellhousing. Engines mounts appear to be transdapt. Headers are probably don hardy, maybe even the front coil springs. I've build 6 cars, 2 , 4 speeds with muncie m-21 transmission. Oh, yeah, change the rear end before you jump on it. On the manual trans get a frame connector, and tie it into a cage, before you twist the frame and break the windshield. Have fun.
Thank you for all that info Jerry.
Penny's Hot Rods & Customs : you're welcome. There is lot's more information that i can provide if someone plan to build one, on a budget. Like rear axle selection , fuel sysyem up grade, how to keep it cool in summer weather, using factory parts, ect. I'll keep an eye out and if i see some interest i'll enlarge on my comments.
@@jerrydesilva7359 Thanks for your help
The wagons are awesome. With the longer wheelbase. But I prefer the Chevy Monza wagon. I had a 78’ that I dropped a Stroker motor in. It was a great car.
But so is this one. Trade ya an 87’ Chevy van StarCraft custom. 🤷♂️🤷♂️
😂 worth a try …
HAHHAHA think ill keep it one day would like to get at it,
@@pennyshotrodscustoms I get it ..😂😂
vega gt split bumper is my dream car with built motor
This one is a few years off.
Those mounts are V8 Vega/Monza aftermarket for the day, now discontinued
Thanks
I have a 72 Vega. its a little different caged tubbed 496 four link lots of NOS.
That one fast car u have. What u running in 1/4 mile?
I was warned not to use my hand as a choke when starting a recalcitrant engine, because of risk of backfire, so I pass the message along.
Good point.
...not as exciting as spraying ether into an engine as it cranks ,then have your hand in flames along with a can of ether acting like a flame thrower....
@@Mercmad ...and you know this how? That's the kind of excitement I missed out on, not to say I haven't seen fire where it shouldn't be.
@@Mercmad We will have to try that next time.😁
These guys are not the brightest. No insult intended. But there was several things that could have gone south really quick.
Hi guys very cool vega let's get that out of there and work on it
We will be in the spring just have a few other cars to finish off first.
OH MAN! A SURVIVER!
SAVE THAT ONE BOYS! It has an original engine!!
We will try and pull it out and getting running again.
@@pennyshotrodscustoms Just kidding. I'm a 62 year old Mustang and Pinto racer. I remember those old things when they were brand new first year. I raced Pintos in the 90s and Vegas were legal, but there weren't any original Vegas left. V-8 Vegas was the only way we would see one in the late 70s. We began to consider V-8 Vegas basically box stock because that was the only way you could find one. So yes that is an original engine! lol
I had a Vega Camback in the late 80s that I planned to put a small block Pontiac 400 in.
Me dad gave me one years ago, wagon like this with a 283 in it.
Cool.
Been really looking for a Vega , had one when I was younger it was a wagon with a small block 400 , would love to get my hands on another one , is it for sale
😈☠👍✌✌
Not at this moment.
Great job guys 👍👍🇨🇱
Thank you Shane.
I built one early 70s with Corvette powertrain. Stock it would lift the front wheels off the ground.
Cool.
Too bad it's not a Motion Performance car!
Would still love to have a Monza Town Coupe.
I had a small block Ford Pinto back in the day & my buddy Lester had a 350 Vega.
His Vega was faster but would twist & crack windshields.
That is bad that it would twist enough to crack windshields.
This would be a great car to take up to Gimli and run for fun. Then change the motor for something real hot.
We do plan on getting it running again in the summer.
If it goes up for sale, let me know.
OK but we usually do not sell cars.
Love these!! We have 2 ourselves
They are pretty net little cars.
Is it for sale
Sorry it is not.
Bernie brings back memories to this old man
Where are yall at.is the vega for sale?
We are in Manitoba Canada and for now it is not for sale. It is a friend of ours.
Cousins old man had a 70 or 71 fishmouth panel wagon, 327 4 speed, only thing made it legal for the road was the lights and horn, drag racer for the street.
Thats awesome like hearing stories like that what ever happened to it.
Don't know, probably sold it, later in the Navy a guy I worked with had a '71 coupe with a 350 he raced, bad ass car.
Replace that dead HEI distributor, reluctor coil probably dead and falling apart. 70 bucks at NAPA for a new distributor complete. I had a 75 Vega GT back in the 80`s with a 350 in it. little rocketship until the unibody twisted.
We are going to revisit this one in the spring time. We did hear that these things twisted with a little HP.
My cousin told me of two guys he knew grenading factory rear end in one of these.they put a 350 in one and died in the process.
That is possible, since the original engine is just a 4 cylder.
Guys where are you finding these cars? That's cool
These cars belong to a good friend of ours, he was collecting them for years.
Had many. V8 Vegas and Monzas. H bodies were fun.
Something about a v8 vega is cool
Subscribed and liked please give a update or updates on the VEGA thanks 👍🇺🇸
Welcome and thank you will be working on it in the spring time winter is starting now booooooo but we will be back on it in the spring.
Cool little car!
They are a little strange, but still cool.
I thought you were going to toss that battery into that car window. Glad you didnt
Heck no my brother was only kidding we would never do that.
You don't have to hold in the clutch to start that thing man. I hope ya'll save that old thing..... if not,let me know where I can come get it
We plan on looking at it again in the spring time and see if we can move it.
Surprised the battery didn't fall thru the fenderwell. That was the weak spot (one of many) with a Vega. I would say run away from this one guys only because I am emotionally scarred for life when it comes to Vega's (but that's a story for another time). Penny's Rule!
Rumour was these things rotted on the show room floor.