So it's got a 4.3 V6. I had a Monza (same platform) with a 4.3 (262) V8. And another one with a 350. Externally, the blocks were identical. The 4.3 V6 is just a 3/4 350, so it shouldn't be too difficult to do. (The Astre looks to be nicely done. I'll bet it will haul ass.)
And yeah... you had to unbolt the mounts and jack up the engine to change the spark plugs. I put headers on my 350. Talk about a ball of hair...
There was a really, really awesome version of that car back in the day. I'll try to see if I can find the picture of it... but the car was truly something else.
EDIT: Here it is... the Astre GT...
[This message has been edited by 82-T/A [At Work] (edited 05-17-2024).]
The Vega is the only car I have had more different ones than the Fiero. The Fiero came out two years before the Astre or I might have had one. Lower production numbers made them harder to find used. I had a base Vega hatchback until I got a 71 GT, the initial model year.
The GT had many "stylist" amenities that the base models did not. They had chrome trim around all windows, nicer seats, nicer rims/hubcaps, sportier dash and instrumentation, ...
standard ...
GT
... notice the wood grain surrounds, and nicer door panels.I also bought from a junkyard one with a small block Chevy 400cc swapped engine. I bought my Wife a 1973 Vega Kahmmback GT.
I swapped a small block 350 in my 71 GT. Direct bolt in with the Don Hardy swap kit. Likely what the above Astre used. Don Hardy was the V8 Archie of the day. He was a famous racer, being entered into the NHRA Division 4 Hall of Fame.
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Don Hardy graduated in 1959 and worked at Thompson Chevrolet until October 1963, when he was drafted in the Army. After basic training he was sent to Alaska for 18 months as a welder and tank mechanic.
After being discharged in July 1965 he moved to Floydada, TX the southern edge of Panhandle Country, where he started his business, Don Hardy Race Cars, building and modifying cars for drag racing. He built 12 to 20 cars per year that were shipped all over the United States and several foreign countries.They manufactured National Champion drag race cars until 1984 and during that time won 15 National Championships. They won Car Craft Magazine’s Professional Chassis Builder of the Year, 1977 through 1981.
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Originally posted by Raydar: And yeah... you had to unbolt the mounts and jack up the engine to change the spark plugs. I put headers on my 350. Talk about a ball of hair...
I never had to. I thought they were easy to get to except one. I also installed headers and it was a challenge.
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Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: There was a really, really awesome version of that car back in the day. I'll try to see if I can find the picture of it... but the car was truly something else.
EDIT: Here it is... the Astre GT...
That was actually the Li'l Wide Track. It featured a factory chin spoiler and a factory rear scoop.
I would like to have the Astre I posted in the first post. Especially since Pontiac is no more. Imaging the illuminated Pontiac on the Fiero GTs on that Astre.
[This message has been edited by cliffw (edited 05-17-2024).]
Originally posted by cliffw: That was actually the Li'l Wide Track. It featured a factory chin spoiler and a factory rear scoop.
I would like to have the Astre I posted in the first post. Especially since Pontiac is no more. Imaging the illuminated Pontiac on the Fiero GTs on that Astre.
I always forget that name... and I can never search for one because I keep thinking it's a GT.
This was one that was on Bring a Trailer a while back, which I missed. I would have paid $10 grand for it without even thinking twice.
I know people would be pissed, but I would drop a Tremec 5-Speed and a 3500 roller in there and take out whatever the heck is in there now. I'm not so hot on the interior... the dash is less than exciting, but still... I bet it would be awesome with a 3500 in it.
I don't care how many stripes and/or dee-cals have been applied, the Vega GT/Astre Li'l Wide Track is still just an econobox. And I don't know how long a rear differential designed to handle 110 HP would last with a half decent V8 (or even a potent V6) swapped in before really ugly noises would emanate from the back of the car.
Not a Vega or an Astre... but you get the picture!
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 05-18-2024).]
I don't care how many stripes and/or dee-cals have been applied, the Vega GT/Astre Li'l Wide Track is still just an econobox. And I don't know how long a rear differential designed to handle 110 HP would last with a half decent V8 (or even a potent V6) swapped in before really ugly noises would emanate from the back of the car.
Not a Vega or an Astre... but you get the picture!
Ok, so I've noticed something... and it's probably ME... but I've noticed that when I mention something, if I don't spell out every single thing that I would intend to do... I always get the... "you know, if you don't do this then that..." I'm not trying to be a stick in the mud... but I'm making the assumption that people will also already assume that other things will get done too. I'm just curious if this is in fact me that needs to change, or if it's just the general assumption of stupidity of others that most people have (that most people will do dumb things).
Because when I said I'd swap out the engine and transmission with a 5-Speed and a 3500 roller... it was already understood in my mind that I'd have to re-do the entire car, including suspension, steering (probably doesn't even have rack and pinion), brakes, rear-end, and even wider tires. This response should in no way be taken as mean / aggressive... just trying to self-reflect here because this has happened to me like at least a dozen times on this forum in the past two weeks.
But yes... it is an econobox... and in the video I posted, I was actually a little dismayed when they took the camera around the door frame. The construction looked really, really piss-poor. Either that, or it had been in an accident and had parts replaced. I've only ever seen one in my life up close (a Chevy Vega hatchback) and it was so rusty that I don't think I noticed the build quality.
Ok, so I've noticed something... and it's probably ME... but I've noticed that when I mention something, if I don't spell out every single thing that I would intend to do... I always get the... "you know, if you don't do this then that..." I'm not trying to be a stick in the mud... but I'm making the assumption that people will also already assume that other things will get done too. I'm just curious if this is in fact me that needs to change, or if it's just the general assumption of stupidity of others that most people have (that most people will do dumb things).
It's just you. Just kidding. There are things that fall under the "It's understood/it goes without saying" category. I run into it all the time with my wife and others that can't visualize or don't have the ability to look at a job or project and see the big picture. I love my wife terribly, but as she puts it "Not everyone thinks like you do" and I often have to stop and explain every little detail of what we're going to do with a project.
For instance.... Had a central AC project that was going to involve replacing all the 30 year old ductwork in the attic of our 9 room home, replace the drip pan under the air handler and it just took me a few minutes to formulate a plan for raising the air handler up to get the pan out and replace it, but she just couldn't understand how to do it. It was the same way at my old place, the farm/ranch thing. I had a vison of what I wanted to do from the very start, before ever cut the 1st tree or dug the first post hole and I had all kinds of trouble getting my family and friends to understand how I was going to take the land from the terrible overgrown forest and turn it into a productive piece of property. Maybe it's the Marine in me, always being able to adapt and overcome, but some thing just are part of a job I just assume every understands has to be done first in order to make the big picture come to life. (In the end, considering my age and the temperature in the attic, I decided to contract that work out. It weren't cheap either and part of me wishes we had done it ourselves)
(I have a walk in tiled shower, with a built-in seat that I am in the process of re-grouting, sealing and re-caulking. I've never really done grout work on 4 x4 porcelain tile and started to call you as I know you have done lots of home renovation, but I figured it out) But, getting back to your concerns...for some......... For those that understand, no explanation is necessary. For those that don't, no explanation will do.
[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 05-18-2024).]
It's just you. Just kidding. There are things that fall under the "It's understood/it goes without saying" category. I run into it all the time with my wife and others that can't visualize or don't have the ability to look at a job or project and see the big picture. I love my wife terribly, but as she puts it "Not everyone thinks like you do" and I often have to stop and explain every little detail of what we're going to do with a project.
I love you MJ, do you know that? This is exactly the same with me and my wife too... and half the people I interact with. I often have to question how much I should say, because a lot of people get offended too if I go into too much detail because it gives the impression that I think they don't know things, and I don't want to do that either.
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Originally posted by maryjane: Maybe it's the Marine in me, always being able to adapt and overcome, but some thing just are part of a job I just assume every understands has to be done first in order to make the big picture come to life. (In the end, considering my age and the temperature in the attic, I decided to contract that work out. It weren't cheap either and part of me wishes we had done it ourselves)
But, getting back to your concerns...for some......... For those that understand, no explanation is necessary. For those that don't, no explanation will do.
Quick story about the Marine thing. I think I mentioned I spent a little bit of time at Soto Cano Air Base... it's in the middle of the jungle, and has gone through various stages of development. Anyway... it was a relatively memorable (good and bad) experience. I met someone in my travels a few years after... he (in his past) was part of a small Marine contingent (?) that was part of US SOUTHCOM working with the Army Corps of Engineers. Anyway, I ran into this 60-something guy (now civilian), nearing retirement... he was doing digital forensics. I was working with him for a couple of months, and US SOUTHCOM came up, and he mentioned JTF-Bravo. I immediately told him about my time there, and he proceeded to tell me about how when he was an active Marine (and not a DOD civilian), that he was tasked with clearing the land to help support ACE to build out JTF-Bravo as part of a large push by the Reagan Administration. He said they didn't have any Earth movers, and needed to get it done quickly. He proudly told me about his "get it done" attitude where he got ahold of C4, tied and wired it to dozens of trees, and blasted them out of the ground... hahaha. It was great...
I've noticed that when I mention something, if I don't spell out every single thing that I would intend to do... I always get the... "you know, if you don't do this then that..."
First of all Todd, my post was not directed towards you alone. Had I quoted you? No, I hadn't. I was simply making a couple of comments regarding my thoughts on these cars.
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Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:
...I'm making the assumption that people will also already assume that other things will get done too.
A lot of assumptions are being assumed there, including the assumption that I was addressing you in the first place.
More powerful motors have been swapped into cars innumerable times over the decades without the rear differential being upgraded to handle the extra torque. Whether this is not done due to ignorance or expense, the fact remains that assuming it'll be done is fool's play.
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Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:
I've only ever seen one in my life up close (a Chevy Vega hatchback) and it was so rusty that I don't think I noticed the build quality.
Yep, that was a major part of their charm. They just rotted away into nothingness.
[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 05-18-2024).]
