1971 Pontiac LeMans Sport "Project" Introduction? Post Pontiac Nationals Issues! Lucore Automotive

[@LucoreAuto]

Yeahhhhh not exactly how I wanted to officially introduce this car to you all but, hey that's how things go! Fingers crossed that nothing REAL bad happened to her!

[@davidjohnson8474]

Don't let it frustrate you. I would put a station wagon rad in it and yes aluminum is the way to go! I would say the seal between the intake and water pump. I had this exact issue! I have a 71 LeMans sport too. Mine was a 350 car too. But mine is bucket seats, center console and shifter, power steering and power front disc brakes. I'm blue on blue with black top. Your's doesn't have a lot of upgraded stuff. I have a 455, turbo 350& 10 bolt w/355 gear. Can't wait to see where things go. Good luck

[@josephsperrazza3082]

Ever See Nuzio run his car 11:35 4cylinder With a SD head 4barrel and 4sp .

[@LucoreAuto]

@@davidjohnson8474 they always frustrate us that's why we love them and work on them right!? 😀 This certainly is an odd bird of a car but being so "stock original" have tried to keep my grubby hotrodding hands off it. Fortunately the '70 that JUST got finished is anything BUT original so it can have all the fun goodies and Go Fast parts 😉 One of the things that makes so many people notice this car is the fact it IS a sport but has a very odd build setup. That and the fact it's not wearing GTO badges 😉

[@chrislovett9711]

What a beautiful lemans

[@LucoreAuto]

Thank you! She's definitely a head turner, not much of a racecar but she looks and sounds good!

[@leprechaungarage]

Hey Austin , I was looking at videos of 70-72 Lemans and GTO’s and this one popped up . I completely forgot about this car . Older I get the more I like the green interior , actually hated it back in the day . Red just as bad , blue second best to Black …. White was no way lol now I’d take any of them . This is a great car !!

[@walterdabrowski918]

Love that green color, i had one back in high school, im looking to find another one for old times sake, never gave me any trouble, but then it wS almost brand new when i bought it, i did some amazing things with that car.....

[@nj2879]

Think you have a Lemans there versus a Lemans Sport. The “Sport” would have the same interior type as the GTO for 71. The door panels and seat covers are standard Lemans pattern.

[@ronharris4125]

Hope it’s ok. Looked and sounded great at the Pontiac Nats. Sun 9/5 is the all Pontiac show at QSL. Hope to see you there.

[@LucoreAuto]

Thanks Ron, we'll be there one way or another! The '70 just has a few more bugs to sort out so if this green machine is down will probably bring the yellow one. Fingers crossed no major damage was done!

[@Mynextproject_74]

That's a super nice car!

[@LucoreAuto]

Thank you, very much appreciated!

[@danlayman9579]

Mine was lighter green and buckets it was wonderful 350 2 barrel changed to 4 barrel 😊

[@rogercrawford8372]

Sweet Lemans and sounds good. I would think about an aluminum radiator with a zinc anode drain plug. I bought a anode plug for mine and always get amnesia with installing. Front seal is leaking and this is a good time to have amnesia again. lol

[@LucoreAuto]

I'm really back and forth on the aluminum radiator thing with this car. With the 70, totally yes big bad aftermarket aluminum unit 100% yes. With this one, given how factory original it is I really feel like it needs to have the old one rebuilt. Gotta get those car show points! 😉 Don't want to even think about possible leaks!

[@rogercrawford8372]

You are right on the green Lemans. Oem is the way to go. I’m betting you know a good radiator repair shop locally.

[@LucoreAuto]

@@rogercrawford8372 indeed we do, radiator will be coming out this weekend and heading there on Monday

[@danlayman9579]

Radiator is plugged

[@mickangio16]

From the way it sounds to me you don't have much initial ignition timing. That along with slow advance will make the motor run hot and lazy. I helped a friend fix that same leak between intake/water pump just last summer on his '67 GTO. I think more aggressive ignition timing and be sure to have a coolant RECOVERY bottle kept half full and your problems will be gone- after fixing leak(s), of course. I like the car very much.

[@216youknow]

🍻🍻🍻

[@LucoreAuto]

Definitely needed a drink after this video! Not not NOT how I wanted to introduce this car to you all!

[@stockamx]

Who needs oil pressure or an alternator? As long as your below 200 degrees its all good!

[@LucoreAuto]

Lol! Was wondering if anyone would catch that ;) Need to hook those two back up. But... if it's running and not buzzing we're alternating, and if the engine isn't knocking we've got oil pressure! 😉

[@mikesoresina7022]

Freeze plugs may be bad , I owed the same car , had them done

[@jomabug76]

That things not loud it sounds good ..ive owned 3 pontiac lemans and 70 gto...and u said just before lemans become gto...gto come about in 64. Lemans..tempest .and gto all pretty much same cars just options different. Gto was optopn on tempest...lemans was option on tempest and gto option on lemans ..all great cars..and fixin to get another...u should put roller rockers on that car and aluminum heads and it would be kicken .and high performance air intake..and that car looks good even green .love it .200 degrees is normal temp for pontiac v8

[@Acducec]

I have a Gran Torino that I bought that needed a head gasket put a new rad thermostat did it all finally I changed the water pump but when I went to do it the bottom hole of the water pump had a Gum plugging the hole someone before me used Rad Stop leak prob is that stuff sits on the bottom an plugs that hole double check if you are batting zero I can’t get my Torino to run hot now

[@jamesconley3562]

How to change the radiator totally out I would most likely go with an aluminum change out the water pump thermostat change out the little rubber gasket behind the water pump

[@unclesquirrel6951]

Personally I blame squirrels

[@LucoreAuto]

Could be squirrel sabotage!

[@Loki13M]

You seem to be getting a bit of exercise these days my friend, you sure the Missus ain't monkeying with yer rides to think ya out some? (teasing ofc) Hot Rod is Hot Rod, they can be as sweet or as temperamental as a good woman. And that's why we treat em as such. Its a 50 year old car that looks mostly original, bound to be some OG parts giving out now. That LeMans is a sweet ride overall on first look, unbelievably clean seats and exterior and good call on the black vinyl roof, green x4 is too much. Mebe replace that carpet with some black too? In the immortal words of Kermit the Frog~ "It ain't easy, being green." Thinking it had a pinhole leak or small seam split in the radiator for a while that finally opened up a bit and made it puke on ya. The waterpump leak could just be old seals or the heat might have given it the final kick it needed. Hope shes not too badly cooked. Oh... and if its Hot Rod and ya go aftermarket... then 'Be Cool' man...

[@paulcrenshawii5795]

Me thinks you have an issue...

[@LucoreAuto]

Yeahhhhh not sure exactly HOW bad this issue is just yet. Fingers crossed 🤞 for me AND the car!

[@thewerxshop0486]

Dude stop with the headers on Pontiacs. Nothing but frustration with headers. Ram Air Manifolds flow great and you'll NEVER notice a power difference. You will enjoy easier maintenance and a great rumbly exhaust!! Cold Case Radiator The intake bolts to head get tightened last after the water pump to intake bolt or it will leak there.

[@LucoreAuto]

This was actually the very FIRST experience I had with headers on Pontiacs. So... yeah I learned how much I truly hated headers on Pontiacs from this car. With how original this car really is, I honestly really think it best to put the stock manifolds back on and just leave it. It should still be plenty fun and make a good rumble AND score me originality points at shows. On that point, have the original radiator rebuilt to keep that... or go aftermarket big aluminum unit? Leaning more towards repairing the old girl.

[@stockamx]

You guys sure have a lot of problems?

[@LucoreAuto]

It certainly seems like that! One step forward, one step back some days! In all honesty this is a 50 year old radiator and just completed the first 2 hour long road trip in YEARS so... not all that surprising it gave up the ghost.

the 400 runs hot the 350 does not

[@bikinicarwash6320]

omg! you better not have hurt it!!!!!

[@LucoreAuto]

Fingers are crossed that we don't have damage to the motor. Really really REALLY not in the mood to handle that right now!