"Uncle Bob" McVay is gonna go racing! Pontiac LeMans Race Car Build Reveal!
We've got a secret to let off our chests, we've secretly been working on a project in the background and it's finally time to clue you all in on it! A little over a month ago Uncle Bob McVay of Street Racing Channel and The Old Man's Garage fame reached out about having a car to drive/race for Pontiac Nationals this year, well what better motivation do we need to get a project moving!
Now while we DO already have the 1970 LeMans with a healthy 455 under the hood sitting here at the shop, one thing most people have never seen or heard about is the abandoned 1968 LeMans sitting in the back yard just waiting for attention and it's chance to shine! Unfortunately that car is no where near ready for race car life, so we started by getting it moving, then tearing it apart. Full engine build, a new transmission, rear end, brakes, wheels and tires, hood, roof, floors... it's going to need pretty much everything! And we've got to get it all done in time for the 2024 Pontiac Nationals in mid July!
Most of this project will be handled on the new side channel, with busy season upon us we have so much customer work to show off there's not really time or space to show off our own projects. So if you're interested in staying up to speed on that, check out the Automotive Adventures With Austin channel!
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This is great news!! He stands a good chance if he wears his Jimmy Dale Chain!!! Let's Go!!
@LucoreAuto
2 ай бұрын
Lol we'll make sure he brings the chain for maximum chance at success!
ANXIOUS for the AMC Content Love the 304ci / then the Max-Bore 325ci AMC V-8 but am most anticipating the AMC 360ci with those EDELBROCK Aluminum Heads 🙂 Love what YOU All do COOP the WiSeNhEiMeR from Richmond, INDIANA ...
I’ve got a lot of Pontiac stuff laying around from my very simarar build in the 90s butler performance helped me with that.
@LucoreAuto
2 ай бұрын
Ohhhh really? Tell us more!
You will have to get the suspension dialed for optimum weight transfer at the cost of streetability , thats the trade off , air bag in the right rear, budget 90/10 shocks and moroso front springs working within a budget theme. Well matched convertor/ gear ratio combined with Bobs machine work you will get very close to your goal
@LucoreAuto
2 ай бұрын
It's already got Lakewood drag shocks under it now. New good springs front and rear. New Control arms front and rear. New TH350 from Vickers, we'll figure out the converter once the engine info is figured out... we're shooting for the moon on this no doubt but it's possible
Awesome job Austin, you’re a great buddy to your friends. Bob. Will be very happy to
Awesome ! Looks like I got a new channel to watch . Glad you’re doing something g with uncle Bob . He seems to be in a great place .
@LucoreAuto
2 ай бұрын
Yaaah Uncle Bob is a good dude for sure and we're definitely excited to get into this project with him. Have a WHOLE bunch of work to do in not a lot of time, but should be fun once it's done!
🎉🎉 LET'S GO UNCLE BOB AND TEAM FTW🎉🎉❤🎉❤🎉
My 73 Firebird ran in the 11s with pretty simple 455 with 6X-4 cast iron Pontiac heads, 350 turbo and 3.73 gears. 3700 pounds with me in it.
@LucoreAuto
2 ай бұрын
It's definitely doable, obviously much easier with the extra 100+ CI but still doable. Promise I'm not totally nuts!
It would be nice if uncle Bob would get his killer 3rd gen camaro done.. it's a beautiful and well built car..
@LucoreAuto
2 ай бұрын
Unfortunately like with us, the last projects to get worked on, are our OWN projects!
HOWdy LUCORE & AUSTIN, better BPO Turbo 350 transmission on the HORIZON ... Thanks COOP ...
Jimmy Dale NX to get in the 12s with that 2 ton Pontiac just saying no hard feelings. Love the channel.
@LucoreAuto
2 ай бұрын
We're going to try out best to do this without putting any kind of go go juice on it, unfortunately NO2 isn't usually a great idea for a bracket racer. But we'll see!
how about a bulletproof bottom end on the goats 350 so you can "tip the can" and run a 50% load of pop, yup, nitromethane. The sound would make it a crowd favorite, the fumes would make eyes water and the flames coming out of the bullhorns would be epic yo!!!!!!
@LucoreAuto
2 ай бұрын
We'll see how this goes, we've got a few possible tricks up our sleeves ;)
ITS A PONTIAC LEMONS! Excited to see it come together!
@bluesman7475
2 ай бұрын
That is Le Mans, as it is not a lemon
@MLCAPE
2 ай бұрын
@@bluesman7475 It's a joke dude
Neat project...maybe a novi supercharger or a procharger ?? cant wait how it turns out......thanks🔧👍
@LucoreAuto
2 ай бұрын
Certainly considering that! Unfortunately either of those options REALLY tacks on some major costs!
Would love to see videos on the roof replacement. Just picked up a mustang that had the canvas top and might need a repair or replacement as well.
@LucoreAuto
2 ай бұрын
We'll share every step along the way, unfortunately that's one of the steps we are very much NOT looking forward to
Start with a 455……..I’m sure you heard that 100 times 350- bore it as big as possible run as much compression as possible and port a set of Edelbrock heads and call Butler for a camshaft.
@LucoreAuto
2 ай бұрын
Unfortunately yes, pretty much the answer on Pontiac 350 builds is, don't do it, just put a 400 or 455 in the hole. And yes that's definitely the EASY button. But seeing if we can do something a little out of the ordinary with this. Also trying to keep it "budget friendly" is going to be tricky. That means no spending $12,000 to build a new Poncho motor ;)
Found a power tour group leaving from Indy on Sunday the 9th if you’re interested in running with them. They are leaving from the get go gas station in Edinburg at 9:00am.
@LucoreAuto
2 ай бұрын
I appreciate that Mike! Haven't totally nailed down the travel plans yet for Power Tour but we DO have a group here that's heading down together so we'll see. Always more fun with a caravan ;)
@mikeburnett7028
2 ай бұрын
@@LucoreAuto you ready for power tour?
need BIG cubes and lots of compression
@LucoreAuto
2 ай бұрын
Hopefully! Big cubes are off the table but we're gonna get pretty aggressive on everything else!
Front control arms that move freely. 90/10 shocks or adjustable. Moroso trick front springs. Competition Engering I think made a kit that mounted to the 12 bolt and relocated the rear arms. I think we moved the holes on either the upper on lower control arms in an inch to get the pinion angle perfect. The car would hook and jump up like a mad cat!
@hydroy1
2 ай бұрын
That Lemans has a open BOP 8.2 rear, and there is no posi carriers for them ( unless you know of a nice used one.) He most likely will have to just weld up the small carrier gears solid or find a big $$$$ 12 bolt . Mosier & Strange both sell them new but there is a waite time to build one and there right at $3K with brakes. The Ford 9inch is somewhat cheaper but you will have to shorten the driveshaft.
@hk45c62
2 ай бұрын
Those Competition Engineering, cast iron bolt on pieces of trash, are a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. They've been known to break the bolts that mount them to the structural webbing on a 12 bolt rear end and end up wrecking the car.
Can’t wait
Time stops for no one 🕐. Rich let's go 😉🎉🎉 getter done 👍
Look into the 350 ho setup
@LucoreAuto
2 ай бұрын
That's essentially what we're building, just even MORE aggressive than a factory 350 ho. Gotta push this thing faster than it's even meant to go
N2o ain't fer bracket racing? You gotta meet my buddy Jimmy Dale...plus I think he owes uncle Bob a favor
🎉🎉 single small turbo will be cheaper and easier
@LucoreAuto
2 ай бұрын
It definitely would be, however, I HATE how Turbo V8s sound versus an N/A V8, and turbo life isn't usually very good for bracket racing :(
Drop a 400 crank in it, make it a stroker.
@58sportsuburban
2 ай бұрын
It’s not a Chevy… 350 and 400 Pontiac have the same stroke.
@LucoreAuto
2 ай бұрын
Unfortunately not an option on Poncho's. There ARE stroker kits available for these things but a pretty penny that most people would never spend.
@LucoreAuto
2 ай бұрын
There's a very wide gulf between a Pontiac 350 and a Chevy 350 unfortunately... and it's filled with money!
How about an update on Mama Mopar 451 stroker car
@LucoreAuto
2 ай бұрын
That's next in line for the new channel once this Pontiac gets done! It's been sitting here FAR too long
What is going on with the 451 charget and the 304 amx?it seems like all your previous projects just disappear
What other channel
@LucoreAuto
2 ай бұрын
The other channel is Automotive Adventures With Austin
Mid 12s MAYBE with all motor, but to be real --- low 13s unless you drop a TON of cash on it and hit it with NO-2 That 68 is one of the heaviest year A body cars.
@hk45c62
2 ай бұрын
A built 400 Pontiac, with a decent torque converter, 3.70 or lower rear gears, some minor suspension component upgrades and a sticky set of tires will put that car in the 12s.
@LucoreAuto
2 ай бұрын
It's going to be a challenge for sure, we're swinging for the fences a bit and realistically doing something that doesn't make a WHOLE lot of sense. For most people, the smart move, is toss the 350 in the trash and grab a bigger motor. I can be done, it's just not going to be super easy.
@hydroy1
2 ай бұрын
@@hk45c62 Still not there with my Ram Air IV with 4:11s in my 68 Bird, just being honest, best pass was a13: 00 at 104mph. Add that to that 68/69 A bodys was the MOST heavy years. Just watch. I say 13:2s if that on motor (if he can drop about 500 pounds off the car)
@hydroy1
2 ай бұрын
@@hk45c62 It's not built, still got a factory cast crank & rods, can't do much with that in a 350 even when you bore it to 4.15", Austin will need 100hp shot if NO-2 to brake into the 12.s
@hk45c62
2 ай бұрын
@@hydroy1 , I helped a buddy of mine from school build up his 67 GTO. It was a factory 389 four barrel, automatic. His daddy gave him the checkbook and went to work. The 389 was pulled in favor of a 400 that his uncle gave him, along with a 421 Super Duty crankshaft and connecting rods. The pistons were custom JE brand. The top end was Edelbrock,closed chamber versions and a single plane intake. The camshaft was an Isky solid flat tappet, it was around .520 lift,if I remember correctly. Harland Sharp roller rockers. And it was topped off with a Holley 750 double pumper. The transmission was a Turbo 400, with a reverse manual valve body and a custom ATI torque converter. We installed a 12 bolt rear, from a totaled 68 Chevelle, with 4.30 gears and Moser axles and C clip eliminators. The exhaust was Hooker Super Competition headers into a full 3 inch exhaust with 2 chamber Flowmaster. The fastest it went on drag radials was 12.65 at 113 mph. Never ran it with slicks, I'm sure it would have been faster.
Just buy a 400 thats done.
Parts list 390 gears , posi ,bags in the rear coils . good shocks , the easy way and reliable , 6.0 ls with a nice 4l80 and converter , with the indian under the hood a procharger will get you where you want to be . Id stick with a 4l80 , especialy for the street .
@LucoreAuto
2 ай бұрын
We aren't really LS swapping muscle kind of guys around here, so this Poncho is staying Poncho powered. LS and a 4L80 would certainly be an easier faster option but, everyone does that. Some sort of forced induction is a tempting option but... man that's a chunk of money!
@turfguy420
2 ай бұрын
Ahhh It's the pontiac nationals..........
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🤔🙏🙏🙏🙏 some more
I think the body is good for a Ohio car.
@LucoreAuto
2 ай бұрын
For an Ohio car it's not TOO terrible. But it definitely needs some work!
Viking adjustable shocks front and back cal tracs
@hk45c62
2 ай бұрын
Cal Tracs don't work on a car with coil springs and upper and lower rear control arms.
Not to rain on your parade, but you will find out quickly. You do not want to invest in a small bore Pontiac 350, Head selection is going to be minimal, due to valve size limitations because of upper cylinder interference. and that doesn’t go together. No factory head would support the power you’ll need. You are money well spentto build a 455 so you might have a chance of running a 12.00. I promise you you are not on the right track. 12.00 @3800# you’ll need close to 550-560hp crankshaft; that’s not happening with a P350. 👍
over build and tune down
@LucoreAuto
2 ай бұрын
That's always our style but we're going to have to wring about everything possible out of this thing to get near the goals we're looking for