[Scarebird]

What I am not getting are the seats - why so flat? My TA has 1996 Corvette seats that fit excellent, very comfortable and best thing they hold you.



They sort of match the rears, but that will be moot as the rears will go away one day for luggage space.

[pastry_chef]

Butler's get it.
https://butler-ls.com/

[NeighborsComplaint]

Not ruined, just fugly as in trying too hard to make an antique (classic) Firebird relevant.

Plus, I hate those black skinny spoke "ricer wheels" on a classic car.

[gene simmons]

$350 for a new LS block from summit,why would anyone want to use anything else.
At least the guy in the other thread had nice looking firebirds. The car referred to in this thread is typical of what hot rod would feature,for the average reader.

[RocktimusPryme]

Goes faster, stops quicker, turns harder than anything that wouldn't have come off the line in 1973........yup totally ruined. Why would anyone want those things?

Its a nice car, I like the wheels even.

[Young Pontiac Guy]

Opinion: Beautiful car, well done, purpose built to keep up with modern cars.

I feel like I can speak a little to this:
1- I have had LS engines- 2005 GTO modded up, 2007 Trailblazer with the 5.3. Great torque, inexpensive to fix, moderate cost to mod. Pretty awesome.
2- New Challenger RT, 5.7 liter of kickass. Again, great power, a blast to throw around due to the weight!
3- And 2 Pontiac powered 400 cars- 62 Catalina and my Firebird. One of the engines hopped up and one of the engines not so hopped up.

All of them had manual transmissions. Once you get a more modern transmission, you realize the benefit. I really enjoy the T56 (Original and then the updated Magnum in the RT) and the Richmond 5 speed that I had in the Bird. The Catalina is about to get a T56 soon.

There are huge benefits to the LS power plant. Since the dawn of time people have been upgrading. It (the LS) is the available modern upgrade. Its more complicated to upgrade the old Poncho to make it modern with fuel injection and such. If you want to do a purpose built car that keeps up with the latest and greatest supercars the LS is a great option. Not that the Pontiac isnt, just there are a lot of benefits to the LS.

I dont knock it. I think that is one badass car. I would like it more if it was Pontiac powered but its not my car. I bet for most folks, if he was your friend and you went for a ride you would have a change of heart. Many cars have done that for me (1992 Dodge Stealth, 400whp, 2008 GT500 vert manual, 1970 Roadrunner, 2015 Hellcat). (BTW holy crap on the Hellcat). You get a ride and taste of what the modern stuff can do and it is freaking awesome.

I simply think its great that he has a 2nd gen and is modifying that. That was his passion and he made it his own. Hey, it could be a Honda Civic...

Joel

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by Formulajones

LOL You Pontiac guys are way too easy to get all riled up, and Steve suckered you right in

X2

Out of all the car groups I've been involved with, Pontiac guys are the most sensitive (tied with the Corvette group).

I laugh when people claim it's ok to have different opinions on modifications, but then they'll blast someone for modifying something if it doesn't fit their agenda.

[Steve C.]

In part from Car Craft.....

Pontiac fans are as dedicated as the Mopar nuts, and serious political strife between the Pontiac specialists breeds even more strong opinions and loyalties.



.

[Skip Fix]

Originally Posted by gene simmons

There are plenty of chevys bastardized by LS engines,and you don't see them bi**h about it. Lol

Yes some do,preferring a Rat motor between the fenders.

Hey I'm putting a Pontiac in a Chevy body so I can't say much and if he likes the LS go for it.

[gene simmons]

Originally Posted by Skip Fix

Yes some do,preferring a Rat motor between the fenders.

Hey I'm putting a Pontiac in a Chevy body so I can't say much and if he likes the LS go for it.

I would be one who would prefer a Big block chevy.
There is nothing wrong with a pontiac in a chevy body.

[Steve C.]

Bwahahahaha.... you guys should see the looks we get with our Pontiac engine in the Ford Fairmont. High Performance Pontiac magazine even made note of it in one issue when we took it to the Pontiac Southern Nationals in Dallas.

http://www.allpontiac.com/coombes.html

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/0501..._view_at_track


.

[gene simmons]

Originally Posted by Steve C.

Bwahahahaha.... you guys should see the looks we get with our Pontiac engine in the Ford Fairmont. High Performance Pontiac magazine even made note of it in one issue when we took it to the Pontiac Southern Nationals in Dallas.

http://www.allpontiac.com/coombes.html

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/0501..._view_at_track


.

That's a cool fairmont,and it runs as good as it looks.

[gene simmons]

Originally Posted by 72projectbird

X2

Out of all the car groups I've been involved with, Both Pontiac guys are the most sensitive (tied with the Corvette group).

I laugh when people claim it's ok to have different opinions on modifications, but then they'll blast someone for modifying something if it doesn't fit their agenda.

There is plenty of strife among the ford and chevy guys. Lol

[Scott Roberts]

If you seem to have an unlimited budget on a car, why wouldn't you build a fuel infected big inch Pontiac motor for it....? There is simply a coolness factor to running a modern/retro engine in a car like that.... it sets it apart in my opinion! Just my personal opinion...

[mgarblik]

Originally Posted by Scott Roberts

If you seem to have an unlimited budget on a car, why wouldn't you build a fuel infected big inch Pontiac motor for it....? There is simply a coolness factor to running a modern/retro engine in a car like that.... it sets it apart in my opinion! Just my personal opinion...

Because it doesn't matter to these guys. It's just an engine. The concept that a Pontiac engine belongs in a Pontiac car doesn't compute. The engine is just one of many component parts making the car, has no individual significance. OK for the vast majority, annoying to a tiny minority.

[Gator67]

I’ve always like the look and feel (and the smell and sound) of factory appearing Pontiacs, but with subtle upgrades to increase performance and reliability. However, after taking a ride in a very nicely done pro-touring 72 Camaro in 2012, my preferences shifted in that direction. The performance of that Camaro just made a huge impression on me. So much so, that when I finished the restoration of my ‘70 TA, I ended up feeling disappointed. The TA looked fantastic, was very solid, reliable, and performed like a slightly juiced factory RAIII 4-speed should. Handling wise, it was light years ahead of my GTO and 68 FB. I should have been very happy, but to be honest, it just felt like a dog in comparison to that ’72 Camaro (and just about any modern car for that matter). So my efforts for the last few years have been focused on a ’70 Formula that’s getting the full pro-touring treatment. I’m going with factory paint (carousel red) and keeping some of the chrome, emblems, and stainless trim, but that’s about it. I’m not going for the murdered out vibe, wide body or other changes just to be trendy. But so many things have to be changed in the interest of performance and making sure everything works and looks right together. The goal all along has been to keep it Pontiac powered, and my good friend and neighbor Frank of allpontiac is helping to make this happen. It’s kind of a project to demonstrate it can be done, and given that the rest of the car consists of standard aftermarket pro-touring components (mostly from Detroit Speed and other familiar names in the industry), we’ll be able to see how well it stacks up against LS powered cars. But being in to this as far as I am now, I completely understand why folks go LS. It’s proven and it works, much less to figure out from scratch. If Frank and I can’t make the Pontiac work in this application, I would be disappointed, but I wouldn’t hesitate to make the switch if the difference is big enough. In my opinion, the Pontiac would be cooler, and would look much better in the engine bay than an LS, but I wouldn’t prioritize this over being able to drive two hours to a road course, thrash the car for 2 hours, then drive back home.

[Chief of the 60's]

The nerve of some people putting in an LS, 305 SBC, 350 SBC, Oldsmobile or Buick V6 motors in Pontiacs.

[gene simmons]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

Because it doesn't matter to these guys. It's just an engine. The concept that a Pontiac engine belongs in a Pontiac car doesn't compute. The engine is just one of many component parts making the car, has no individual significance. OK for the vast majority, annoying to a tiny minority.

That's exactly right,Mike. There is no connection to any specific engine design for them. The majority of people are casual observers,and not muscle car or hot rod enthusiasts. With that in mind,i couldn't care less what others do with there cars. I like what i like.

[gene simmons]

Originally Posted by Scott Roberts

If you seem to have an unlimited budget on a car, why wouldn't you build a fuel infected big inch Pontiac motor for it....?

I would do that.

[gene simmons]

One of the nicer 02 TAs i have seen,5.3 S480 turbo. This guy was at our local track a few years ago. Butlers got into the LS market because there customers with older pontiacs also had late model pontiacs with the ls engine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x5wi0YYkQI