Faults:
Headliner began to sag throughout the years and was replaced.
Factory quadrajet has been rebuilt twice - once at 72k and once at 99k, first from sitting, and second because the ethanol in today's gas is no bueno for old cars.
Ball joints replaced at 90k.
Idler arm and center link done at 73k.
Starter went out somewhere around 95k.
Exhaust from after catalytic converter to muffler rusted out over the years; replaced with a custom 3" cat back with SLP muffler.
General Comments:
This car has been in my family since 1988, when it had 40k on the ticker. My dad owned it and drove it sparingly until my senior year of high school in 2010.
I daily drove the car for about two years, parking it only when it snowed. I also auto crossed in it a few times and made a few passes at the local 1/8 mile drag strip. It managed a best of 10.35 at 67 miles per hour.
I retired the car from daily duty in June of 2012 when I bought a second vehicle. I still drive it as much as I can when it's nice out though. It's needed a few things replaced, nothing out of the ordinary for a car of its mileage or vintage. It's never left me stranded once.
Driving one of these is stupid fun. I say stupid, because they aren't trendy like Mustangs or JDM type imports. In stock form they're pretty slow compared to pretty much any new car.
The fun comes from the chassis - the suspension is wonderfully thought out, and is crude but very effective in helping this car rip up the road. The 305 is asthmatic but torquey - on stock size 215 width tires it'll chirp second under full throttle. Peeling out and power oversteer are as easy as stabbing your right foot toward the firewall. While the handbrake is ineffective and the car doesn't get as much steering angle as most imports, it is surprisingly easy to drift and power slide, and is very forgiving at the limits of grip.
Over the years, I've replaced most of the stock bushings with Delrin, the struts with high end Koni units, strut mounts with high performance units, and the phenomenal WS6 springs with Ground Control weight jacks. I've also strengthened the chassis with subframe bracing. I plan on replacing the slushbox with a proper manual gearbox, and the aging engine with a more powerful full roller small block. The car was great stock, but can really be a world class performer with some love, time, and money.
Best car I'll ever own. I'll never get rid of it.
5th Apr 2015, 05:11
Congrats on your purchase :)
One word of caution: The varijet carburetor is a difficult beast. Locate a GOOD rebuilder ;)