Four Speed Grand Prix

Once again the staggering effects of the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo are on display as Steve examines this “downsized” Pontiac Grand Prix. But is there a surprise under the hood? And did Steve really take a claw hammer to his personal Pontiac? Watch the video and see!

[@martymiller4300]

A wise man once told me “it’s a lot easier to take something apart when you don’t intend to put it back together again”.

[@Daniel-fd3wp]

@martymiller Great Comment. 👍

[@Mr.Death101]

I've heard that before in the fact that the company called Ikea reverse that is hilarious and now they're making billions

[@mortimersnerd9991]

Allot more fun too, and often educational.

[@user-pr8zn6iw5t]

Isn't that the truth!

[@peteness9550]

It doesn’t require a smart man. It just requires someone who isn’t a social media user. There is no such thing as a stupid question.. in the real world.

[@rawbsworld6604]

🤗 nothing but respect for a guy that knows when to use the proper tool for the job 💪!!! 😝 ✌️🤙

[@truracer20]

It looked like he's done that job before. I think GM still honors the recall on those ignitions.

[@2011joser]

An ‘81 was my first car out of highschool back in ‘86. It was my pride and joy for some years. I replaced its buick v6 with a brand new one from gm and added a 4 barrel Edelbrock intake, 4 barrel Holley carb, and dual exhaust. It wasn’t fast by today’s standards but it ran with the v8 a bodies and made a great noise doing it. It was quite the cruiser with custom paint, custom Alpine stereo system, custom offset, staggered wheels and short coils all around. I built it to stand out in a sea of Cutlasses, Regals, and Montecarlos and was the source of many great memories. Thanks for the video.

[@tomwesley7884]

Wow, man, put the four barrel and dual exhaust on the v6. You're one of the few.

[@zorak1704]

I had a 1981. Replaced the V-6 with a Buick 350.

[@googleusergp]

You could get a 4 barrel on a 231 V6 in some years and applications.

[@2011joser]

@@googleusergp the 4 barrel was a 252 c.i. and was very rare and not available new from gm. There was no properly sized aftermarket carburetors for the 252 intake manifold.

[@googleusergp]

@@2011joser The 3.8L turbo could be had with a four barrel.

[@mcsg_pelecan]

Now I want a 4 speed Monte or Grand Prix! Thanks for another video!

[@mexicanspec]

I can get you a factory 4 speed Malibu.

[@ZacLowing]

Guy in my town had a new 1981 Grand Prix, jacked up with air shocks, Craigers and 50's in back. I heard he threw a blue printed LT-1 into it and it was sweet!

[@peterantonopoulos2572]

Morning Steve....i built a similar bodied 81 Calais for my brother in law back in the 90s.400 hp small block, grand national style body kit, laid down a beautiful midnite blue metallic, she was a looker and a mover.

[@bobbyz1964]

Had no idea 4 speeds were an option. When those cars were new I wasn't looking at new cars. Back then if I went to a dealership it was to look at the cheap stuff in the back row. Well OK, I still do that.

[@dustydon6419]

and you’re a better man for it.

[@bobbyz1964]

@@dustydon6419 More like the cheaper man.

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

We're all pulling for you Steve. Hope to see you soon

[@joelmurphy7980]

In 1980 my brother in law bought an odd car off the dealer lot. An unsold brand new '79 Cutlass Salon 4dr with a factory installed 305 4bbl with a Hurst shifted 4spd. It had a 10 bolt 3.08 limited slip, a Camaro style dual outlet muffler exhaust, a tan interior with factory tach and a split bench front seat. The thing was a hideous metallic green with hubcaps that had matching hideous green plastic inserts. Ugly as sin, but I always thought it was pretty cool due to the way it was equipped. Didn't run too bad for a tall geared smog era 305 either.

[@57WillysCJ]

I keep one of those jacks in my truck. They are great for when someone calls for help because they are stuck in the mud. When it's a car they are usually sunk so deep, you can't get a jack under to lift the wheel up to slide a board under. These jacks with a piece of plywood under it do the job.

[@petervitti9]

In September of 1980, I was 21 years old. I remember a tractor-trailer load of beautiful brand new redesigned 1981 Grand Prixs coming into Escanaba, Michigan. I remember a two tone sepia-cream one in particular. Thanks. Great episode.

[@samholdsworth420]

I wasn't even conceived yet LOL I thought being born in 81 was old

[@chrishottle4376]

Greetings from north Texas. Keep inserting the cancelled video blip. Motortrend really did make a mistake cancelling one of its best shows ever.

[@DanEBoyd]

I rode in a '78-'80 Grand Prix back in about 1981, which belonged to a teacher in my high school. His Grand Prix was notable because it had the V6, and a three speed manual with a floor shifter!! Only other teacher's car I rode in was a late '70s Corvette. A few years later I went on a road trip in an '81 or later Grand Prix which had the Oldsmobile 350 diesel. That was a nice car.

[@GreyRockOne]

Nice! I remember the 70-72 the most, power and looks! Still my favorite, Thanks Steve!

[@steveib724]

Had a 76 and 86 with brougham interior gotta say they were the most comfortable cars I've owned. 305 in the 86 it took big hit strong too like ti have the pedals in that thanks stevei

[@lilmike2710]

Had a 77 myself. actually ive owned several GPs but the 77 with the 355 was the most notable. lol it's factory color was some really crazy bright orange. Not exactly orange orange but in the ballpark. And it was indeed a comfortable ride. sitting in the drivers seat felt like sitting in a smaller, more sporty car with the console gearshift and snappy gauge and instrument cluster. And that 355 Pontiac engine wasn't a slacker at all. Yet another of my past cars that I wish i still had.

[@jeffreycarleton1535]

My Girlfriend’s, brother in law, had a 1981 two tone, dark blue over light blue, with landau top, Grand Prix, with bucket seats! He’d removed the V6 and dropped in a 350 Chevy motor that was stroked to a 383 with a big hydraulic cam, headers, and I can’t remember the transmission, if it was a TH 400 or TH 350, but I do remember him saying that it had a 25 or 2800 stall converter, and a B&M shifter, it sounded so sweet, it had a really nice rumble out of the dual exhaust at Idle! Unfortunately, for some reason, he never got around to installing a decent rear axle under the car, he ran out of cash I guess! With the right rear end and slicks, I’m certain it could have ran into the mid to high twelves! It ran low 14 high 13 in the 1/4! He used to surprise those high school kids on the street with it ! I always loved the lines on that car!

[@ricksaint2000]

Thank you Steve

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

Love 80's GM G-Body cars

[@Rom3_29]

Very unique garden planter. Especially front grill holes are made for flowers.

[@vehicleIDspecialists]

Just a few highlights from the 59 SPID codes on this 84 GP: code GU1 is a 2.41 rear axle ratio, code LD5 is a 3.8 liter V6 2 barrel engine, code MV9 is Turbo Hydra-Matic 200 automatic transmission, code 77B is cloth interior Dark Maple, code C04 is a vinyl padded roof, code 78T is a Dark Maple vinyl top code QMX is P195/75r14 tires code AM6 is Split front seat 3 passenger with center arm rest Good stuff Steve keep the SPID labels coming!

[@samholdsworth420]

Two speed?! Lol damn that would have been rough

[@mattskustomkreations]

I love how you Tonya Hardinged that dashboard.

[@SteveMagnante]

Whyyyyy Meeeeeee..... Thanks for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante

[@mattskustomkreations]

@@SteveMagnante 😂😂😂

[@MichaelandCathy1999]

Hey!, I have right now, a 2009 Pontiac G6 GT, which I proudly own and drive. 3.5 litres of V-6 power ( chipped and K&N’d, resonator delete, roughly 40 hp over stock:260 hp) It is fully loaded with every option, except the adjustable pedal option. I’m 67 and it’s the best powered and most comfortable car I’ve had. 🇨🇦👍

[@googleusergp]

I have a 2009 G6 convertible. I bought it new.

[@Bloodcurling]

What's this have to do with the video?

[@googleusergp]

@@Bloodcurling It's a Pontiac he's talking about.

[@jaysmith179]

Love these cars. My brother had a 1985 Gran Prix LE. It was silver with the black strip on the lower part with the 305 V8. Factory bucket seats with console shifter and factory sunroof. Rally wheels with white letter tires and the half black vinyl roof. I wish he still had it today. I have never seen another one like it,

[@googleusergp]

I've seen plenty that way over the years. They were common back in the day.

[@jaysmith179]

@@googleusergp Most I have seen had the bench seat with hubcaps and the slow 3.8L.

[@googleusergp]

@@jaysmith179 There's a 1985 Grand Prix in my neighborhood that's got a similar paint scheme. I see the guy filling it up at the gas station now and then. Seems to be a daily driver.

[@timothyhays1817]

Hammer time! A mechanic's dream with those problem child cars.

[@jackchappell7503]

I have a 86 with t tops. Love it! We all miss you Steve!!

[@rightlanehog3151]

Steve, How many others wanted to provide the same tender loving care to their Grand Ams? 😉😂

[@Freedomquest08]

Before or after the head gasket blows?

[@NorthernChev]

I had an original ‘78 4.9L V8 automatic Grand Prix back in the early 80s and yes it would definitely lay down the rubber from a stand still, but immediately ran out of breath during acceleration.

[@googleusergp]

Yes, because the 301 V8 was an economy engine, not a performance engine. It was right for the times.

[@LongIslandMopars]

​@@googleusergpFriend of a friend had a 77 GP back in the day with a 301. After a day of pulling a "built" 318 out a street sleeper Volare, the 3 of us headed back to Queens from way out east. I think he had that 301 matted the whole time. Never missed a beat and just floated down the expressway but we might have only been going 85 (felt fast with all the 4 coils doing their separate thing...)😂

[@googleusergp]

@@LongIslandMopars Ooof, that's a slow one. The 1977 Grand Prix was the last of the 1973-1977 cars and they were much heavier than the 1978 models that replaced them. A 301 two barrel (that's all you could get with the 301 in 1977, VIN code "Y", RPO code "L27") might have mopeds and bicycles passing you on a hill. That's a lot of car to move with that little horsepower. LOL.

[@LongIslandMopars]

@@googleusergp Yep. I remember it well. Black with a camel tan gut. Had the Pontiac rally rims on it. It was a looker but I remember remarking how gutless it felt. In contrast, the Volare was a mover. Originally a 6 popper, the 318 that my friend built started life in a Polara that got scrapped. He built the engine like a 340 and it surprised many given the Volare was a stock-appearing 2 door Premier. The only hint that something was different were the set of staggered Mopar rally wheels and some throaty but not obnoxious mufflers. We pulled the 318 because the Volare rotted away around itself. This was back in the early 90s before prices got stupid and he picked up a mint 71 Challenger with a blown 318 for $2500. We swapped in the race 318 and Torqueflite and transferred the front disc setup from the Volare (the Challenger had front drums). The rear end in the Challenger was taller than the Volare's so this thing had even longer legs on the highway. Those were fun times.

[@googleusergp]

@@LongIslandMopars Just like the GM cars, just about all of the Big 3 was one big swap what you want on it and make it work. Most times, it would look factory issued if done right. My former coworker at the auto parts company has a 1974 Grand Prix with a 400 that he bought new in 1974. He was thinking about selling it and offered it to me saying, "I know it won't get LS swapped or ruined if you have it". He's a person that if he swaps something, he keeps all the original parts and everything can be turned back to stock without much trouble. I am convincing him to keep it.

[@charleykeenan6171]

I had a '81 Gran Prix that had a 455 swapped in by the previous owner. His dad sold me the car after he went away for life. I finished the details up and it looked like a factory install, right down to the A/C working .. awesome little ride.

[@rolandblaine4937]

I saw a factory 3 speed manual floor shift Grand Prix back in 1983 on the used car car lot of Summit Ford in Lee's Summit MO. I don't remember what year the car was, my buddy was a salesman there and he showed it to me because we both liked cars that were oddballs.

[@johnkranyics281]

Good morning from Ontario Canada. 👍👍🇨🇦

[@joniportwood1974]

I had a 1981 Grand Prix in the mid 90's, and I was really fond of it.

[@jplevesque5428]

I wasn't expecting that hammer time ,,,,lol 😂😅,,, I counted 37 hits,,,you maniac 😂😅,,, made me laugh out loud 😂😂,,, thank you for all the videos and knowledge that you share for us,,,, keep up the good work 👍

[@SteveMagnante]

I was channeling Robert DeNiro's character in the phone booth during "Goodfellas". Thanks for watching, writing and COUNTING. -Steve Magnante

[@Guns_N_Gears]

My buddy had a black 1 back in the late 80's. He put a chivey 350 with a 4 barra fuel make it happener in it. It had all the go fast parts in it, Accel high energy lighting whriler, auto fan disengager, 63 amp charging whirler, and Im guessing around 308 open rear. She would do a burnout for about 6-8' and really impressed the ladies on the cruise scene. But, boy that car was a beauty! Thanks for the memories Mags!!!

[@mikeyboy3054]

My old man had a company car in 81 that was a fully loaded Grand Prix with the 267 V8 Beautiful car but highly underpowered. I loved that car. Learned to drive on it.

[@googleusergp]

Then it was a Canadian version as the 267 V8 was a Chevrolet engine and not used in a 1981 Grand Prix in the US. You might have meant 265 V8 which was a Pontiac V8 and used in the Grand Prix in 1980-1981.

[@mikeyboy3054]

​@@googleusergpYou are correct. I grew up in Canada and it was a Canadian built car with a 267.

[@urbanurchin5930]

The 1976 Grand Prix was my favorite year ! Always loved the waterfall grill and the quad rectangular headlights !

[@jasonreed3524]

Remember going to the dealership when my Mom bought her 83’ w/ factory radio delete and the 6 cylinder. Learned to drive on it, that car was so slow! She kept yelling at me to get out of the fiero which as a 11yr old I thought was the coolest car ever.

[@philricci2012]

I like how you don’t waste valuable time on labour hours and go straight to the much more efficient hammer method of disassembly.

[@marklittle8805]

Steve, get better sir....and this video of you hammering that dash made my day.

[@FrankStein1]

Yep ... years ago i had a 4 speed 78 monte carlo. It was actually kinda quick for its day.... i hated it . For some reason it broke down on me if i looked at it... i fixed it so many times. Finally in 1989 i sold it to a guy in Florida. In 2000 i heard he was still driving it and it " NEVER" broke down. Now i really hate that car.

[@discobobentertainmentmore]

I used to own an 85 Pontiac Grand Prix. It had a 305 in it with an automatic transmission. It was dark blue. It was a very smooth riding car

[@ktm42080]

You made me smile while you were "fixing" that Grand Am. 😂

[@tomwesley7884]

Made me cringe, but I guess it was a junker

[@SteveMagnante]

@@tomwesley7884 Yes, I "love all cars" (except French cars...there's RE-NO-WAY I'll ever own another Le Car) and it pains me to watch cars being damaged or destroyed. But that Damned Am Grand Am I had left me stranded several times because of a malfunctioning ignition lock. When I exposed the dash wiring I was met by a horrifying bundle of CRUSH BUTT CONNECTORS!!! Some genius had clearly been in there in the car's past and made a mess. I said..."that's it..NO MORE" and lost my cool with the hammer video. Yes, the car had already been declared JUNK due to the ravaged dash harness and much chassis rust. But otherwise, I try not to do stuff like that. Thanks for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante

[@adamburma]

I fixed my mom's 81 Ford Fairmont the same way when I had to replace the heater core.

[@ccg1171]

I had a 95 Grand Prix new in 95 it was great. HUD & radio controls on the wheel was technology back then.

[@bradkrekelberg8624]

I had an '82 Regal, and I've always found the G-body Grand Prixs interesting. It seems like you see them the least, and I'm a big fan of their dash. I see a 2+2 around the show circuit here from time to time. Always a pleasure to see.

[@terryrideout7457]

Yes the Dash got me?I kinda liked the cutlass exterior but didn't like th e dash .That's y I bought the 83 back in 2003.same with the regal I didn't like the dash.and Monte Carlo.

[@richardbates2367]

Cool I had several 81-87 Oldsmobile cutlass supreme red 2dr gbody cars and about 5 Buick Regal cars, a few limited ones two Buick Regal Factory V8 Sport Coupe released in 1986 borrowed the name from the name from the 78-82 Buick Regal cars, but the 86 was a roller cam Oldsmobile 5.0 307 vin y V8 base interior no lower exterior trim Buick mag 14x6 steel wheels gm th200c both of mine were anyway Buick 7.5 10 bolt corporate gm rear 2.73 gears in the black one both were air conditioning tilt steering column and power windows cars my grey regal that was the daily driver for a kid just out of highschool with a Pontiac manufactured?? 7.5 gm corporate 10 bolt rear and 3.08 gears and the for a example I also owned later on in life recent years actually a 84 Oldsmobile cutlass supreme brougham buttercream yellow factory full wheel cover and black steel rim wheels,no ac or rear defrost th350c lockup torque converter tilt steering column pw,pdl non cassette tape player am fm stereo with local and seek function,V6 car but 2bbl California emissions smog and big waffle looking cat equipment Buick 3.8 litre 231 V6 and I had transplanted a 1991 Chevy Camaro RS tpi 305 081 casting heads h.o. sbc in a 72,423 mile 84 Oldsmobile cutlass supreme brougham that drove great one of the best driving gm gbody cars I've owned unfortunately my younger brother in the fall of 2012 hit a deer in it with the front end of the car about 54mph bent and twisted the body panels and completely obliterated the fiberglass nose cone and one of the 84 Oldsmobile cutlass supreme brougham specific grilles insurance considered it totaled even though it still drove fine with a different doghouse on it from a 86 Oldsmobile cutlass supreme salon 2dr gm gbody, and my cutlass supreme brougham that 84 up until that point had the small Oldsmobile logo rocket emblems I believe on the lower front of the door, but it might have been the lower rear section of the front fenders by the hinge area of the door anyway I have not seen them on another 81-88 Oldsmobile cutlass supreme since...had a few 77-83 Oldsmobile 88 delta and 98 regency brougham cars that had them and a few of those had the same full cover hub caps the 84 Oldsmobile cutlass supreme brougham did.

[@gr8fulpn]

I have fallen for the G-bodies first was an 84 GP with the V6, it was a great car until the trans went. My current project is a ‘79 Cutlass Salon factory 4spd car with the Chevy 305, paid $900 for it when nobody wanted the G-bodies

[@kobkob5442]

Steve I love what your doing,with that I see motortrend has listened to you and you are on there commercials for their 75th anniversary👍 Way to go Steve. Can you please start a T shirt campaign,, I would wear your shirt proudly.

[@SteveMagnante]

Funny, I keep hearing about this reference to me but haven't seen it. Might have been nice if somebody from MT reached out to me to say "hey...you might like this....". But nope. Reminds me of how I was the LAST ONE TO KNOW when Roadkill's Junkyard Gold was cancelled (cancelled? Whaddayamean we're cancelled?") I'll try Googling "MT 75th anniversary promo". Thanks for watching and writing. -Steve Magnante

[@dustydon6419]

@@SteveMagnanteso you’re not receiving regular mail box gifts from MT for their continued use of your image in the promotion of their product? I’m guessing you and the Dirt Everyday guys signed that away knowingly or not. At least Chappelle is still getting some love. Freiburger had him in the latest Roadkill episode. I’m not looking to dig into your personal business but I guess most, if not all, MT hosts don’t get royalties? Them not giving you a heads up is bad business in my opinion. Hmm, maybe I should be doing this in an email. Been a fan of your work for a long time, yes even in print. Love this channel. Of all my KZbin subscriptions you’re at top.

[@LordEvan5]

Every one who was a car guy had some g body in the 90s

[@deanow3631]

G in the 80‘s

[@lvsqcsl]

I worked at a restaurant in which the owner had a 1981 Pontiac Gran Prix he bought new. I graduated that year and he let me drive it to the prom. It had T-tops and a 265 V-8 engine. I think 1981 was the last year for Pontiac V-8 engines. I took the T-tops out and my date was impressed. That was one of the best handling cars I had driven up to that point. IIRC that particular car started out in 1978 on the "A" body and when the front-wheel-drive "A" bodies came out in 1982 it was reclassified as a "G" body. I think this car did run until 1987 and the Cutlass Supreme and Monte Carlo ran until December 1987 as 1988 models. GREAT VIDEO!

[@googleusergp]

Correct, the last Pontiac V8s were produced for the 1981 model year. After that, they were "Chevy-iacs" most of the time.

[@knowel7138]

I love OG bodies, back in 92. My first car was a 1987 Buick Regal Limited with Oldsmobile V6.

[@Riverfurm]

I had a 78 Olds Cutlass Cali. Had a factory 260 engine and a five speed manual trans and power everything else. The engine was bad and I had two 455 Olds engines from a jet boat. Out of the two I built one good one and dropped it in the Olds. Bolted right in. Trans last two weeks. Put a Muncie M20 in .That lasted till I found a T5 5spd out of a Firebird and the 3:42 gear set for the rear.(Twisted the driveshaft out it once) Got about 10-11 mpg only a 14 gallon tank. Back then it only took $20 to fill it. Had it for a long time. But the body mounts started to rot out so I sold it. They were fun cars to drive. I enjoy Steves videos, hope he comes back soon.

[@carlm8821]

My very last G-body was an 81 Grand Prix LJ in the common but odd Waxberry goldish-hue color. It was apparently stolen b/c it didn't have a motor and tranny and there was front end damage when I got it, but a friend gave me a good 3.8 and tranny to put back in it and later on I got an 86' Brougham parts car and used the V8 suspension, front end as well as the entire interior, going so far as doubling the insulation in all the side panels, door panels, headliner and under the carpet...added factory baffles to the rear upgraded delco speakers and a Delco Bose stereo from a late 80's Caddy. Not only was the sound system amazing for factory, but it rode smooth as silk and with the windows up with all new rubber seals and extra insulation, you were totally isolated from outside sounds! Was very pleased with the results.

[@Mac10Daddy]

I remember seeing G bodies around everywhere when I was a little kid. Now it’s a treat to see one.

[@russchiappa4870]

Fantastic clearance job on the gran prix ! How many times I’ve gotten deep on a project and just wanted to get out a lump hammer. Hahahah

[@Piggypongtheavgeek]

A high school friend had a red Grand Prix that belonged to his dad. He had it special ordered with the 4 speed.

[@willhorting5317]

Prior to the Grand Prix becoming a four-door, my older sister always wanted a Buick Regal. But never bought one. Once the Grand Prix became a four-door, she bought a new Grand Prix. From that point on... until Pontiacs stopped being made...my sister would buy a new Grand Prix every few years. She bought her final one the last year that Grand Prix were made, and has been driving that one ever since.

[@googleusergp]

The auto parts manufacturer I worked for had tons of them as company cars for territory sales personnel. A few of them wound up with some internal management folks.

[@willhorting5317]

@@googleusergp 😎

[@jeffrobodine8579]

You could find nice examples with blown diesel motors on the cheap back in the day. They were perfect for a big block swap while still being exempt from the emissions police. Yes, where I lived they did emissions test back in the late 1980's on up.

[@LongIslandMopars]

Yep. That was the hot ticket back in the day.

[@googleusergp]

Assuming it was a big block Chevrolet or Oldsmobile engine, since Pontiac did not make a big block V8.

[@jamesstewart3771]

@@googleusergp what do you call the 455 then ?

[@tomwesley7884]

@@jamesstewart3771 455. Pontiac blocks were the same size.

[@googleusergp]

@@jamesstewart3771 A Pontiac V8 just like any other one in the Pontiac line. Pontiac V8s were not small or big block. Anyone into Pontiacs never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever ever calls them "small" or "big" block.

[@deanstevenson6527]

6:58 Thor's Hammer of Love 💝😘. Bless the Mag Meister!

[@Ron_Lockwood]

Great content as usual. We had’99 & ‘01 Grand Am GTs ,123 mph right out of the box.😎

[@trevorchambers1812]

Had a '78 GP, 305/TH. Nice car, kind of like a baby Eldorado but the power of a Cortina for the running cost of a Jag.....

[@xfactorautomotive1496]

I still can't believe GM ditched Pontiac and kept Buick. Around here, when Pontiac was in it's hay day, like every 3rd car you saw on the road was a grand am or grand Prix...and it was "cancelled!...what'd ya mean cancelled?!" In favor of frickin Buick?! Ugh!

[@sengle928]

Because China. If Pontiac had stayed, they would’ve gone head to toe with Dodge. A new Firebird to take on the Challenger and a New GTO to take on the Charger.

[@xfactorautomotive1496]

@@sengle928 that would have been awesome. I'm sorry they thought they couldn't be on par with Chrysler...I believe they would have done fine. It would have been better than packing up and giving up, that's for certain. And f**k china

[@purpurahaze9179]

Buicks are very popular in the Asian market

[@xfactorautomotive1496]

@@purpurahaze9179 more catering to the Chinese

[@purpurahaze9179]

@@xfactorautomotive1496 I was primarily referring to Japan but I did say Asian

[@user-ThomReec8587]

I helped a neighbor shoehorn a 73 455 w/4spd in his 79 GP in 83. While we were junkyarding parts buckets, tilt colunm engine/tranny etc, we actually ran across a 78 4spd GP minus motor/trans, but we pirated the pedals and tilt colunm hinch we put a 4spd in his. FYI the 455 was originally backed by a 400 turbo.. That GP was a nice little Sleeper. My 69 400/4spd GP was his inspiration, which also was the car he learned how to drive a stick.

[@jamesthompson8008]

I enjoyed this one Steve! I'm guessing there had been 'trust issues' building with that Grand Am, & I'm willing to bet many, many others have felt the same with those.

[@JerroldSullivan-nt7qj]

Awesome…..love your videos……love the interior of theses cars with the gauge package and the floor shift with the center console, In the summer of 1985 I had drivers ed at my high school, we had brand new 1985 GP’s all had bench seats, and the 3.8 v6. A really clean mint low miles beige one all goes to my local,cars and coffee….car is really cool…..especially with the 400 Pontiac swap.

[@MASS1866]

I did that with my first 1985 Monte Carlo. I was a student in motor vehicle mechanics and didn’t have a lot of money and needed a car so I bought a Monte Carlo with a blown 3.8 and step the 4 x 4 350 in it. Wasn’t too much to look at, but turned out to be a fun car.

[@marioncobaretti2280]

Very pleasant class today mr. Steven p mags

[@17Onager]

Seeing you pull out that jack was a blast from the past. My dad had a 1985 Buick Regal with that same jack. I can still remember helping him jack up that car.

[@Offthbadan]

Absolutely one of my favorite body styles of the Grand Prix, maybe the best. I had an 91 which I got a lot of compliments at the time but always loved this generation. And can’t help but think of King Richard.

[@mikeyboy3054]

Same

[@tomwesley7884]

Handsomely styled, downsized for '78

[@DanEBoyd]

And the subsequent FWD Grand Prix body style with Rusty Wallace!

[@mexicanspec]

Have you ever seen a 1965 or 1966 Grand Prix? This is not the best by any stretch of the imagination.

[@Offthbadan]

@@mexicanspec Yeah those are nice but in my opinion the smaller, even the early seventies had the best styling. But we can all agree the last generation was bland.

[@CarefulWithThatAxeEugene]

I had an 79 , 82 , 84 and 86 grand prix. And two Monte Carlo SS a 85 and an 86 . All g bodies loved those cars. But I was young and dumb sold a few wrecked a few. Didn't know they would be worth anything years down the road. I almost forgot about the blue 84 cutlass Oldsmobile didn't have it long. But man they were great cars and so much fun to drive as a teen and young man. Love the g body shuffle.

[@CarCrazy12804]

When I was a 3 or 4 yr old the next door neighbor had 1 of these. I always liked them and wish the Diecast model company greenlight or autoworld would make these in matchbox size

[@dustydon6419]

Sad day when GM axed Pontiac. They had a rich history, some very iconic models. I have a lot of respect for the folks that continue to drag race pure Pontiac stuff. I have an uncle who’s in his 70’s now. He still has a ‘66 & ‘70 GTO that he bought new. He’s drag raced both and always with Pontiac power and a 4 speed ( at least the ‘66 was a 4speed ). When I was a kid he called the ‘66 Super Goat and ran it at Capital Drag Raceway ( “Saturday, Saturday, Saturday night under the lights at beautiful Capital Drag Raceway ……Be There! ) That was from the local radio commercial back in the 1970’s. His wife, my aunt, drove a ‘70 GP SJ. I remember looking over her shoulder from the backseat and her running that thing up to 120mph. God a had a great childhood and I sure miss those days. Anyway another good video and educational session. Thanks Steve! Now get to that Lincoln in the background.

[@RipRoaringGarage]

I had an 82 LJ, originally with a 3.8 V6. Had the landau top, two tone paint, bucket velour seats, with the center shifter. It didnt have the luggage rack. Oh, and it has a 4.2 V8.Its how I bought it. Yes, 4.2, not 4.3. It was a Ford engine from an LTD II. Had a C4 transmission. No vacuum lines connected. Half the elctricals were in a bundle to one side. But it ran reliably. It looked really good for the conditions. It wasnt in the US either lol. I was home sick and bought the first American RWD V8 I could find. I miss it so much. I had some of my best times in that car. I regret selling it, instead of bringing it home with me.

[@FastSS02]

The first car I bought with my own money was an 86 Grand Prix with the doggy 3.8. It had about 70K on it and had been repainted factory gunmetal gray with a blue pearl over it with a gray vinyl landau roof. It looked good except for the stock wire wheel hubcaps. I found a set of 14" steel "snowflake" rally rims from an older Pontiac at the junkyard and my dad cleaned them up and painted them to look factory new! It really set the car off. I wish I still had it to do an LS swap in. A 6 speed manual would be really cool!

[@todell7008]

Every time you pop a trunk for the big reveal, I shutter. I remember the time I did it at a remote junk yard. Flipped up the spare tire and a 3 foot copperhead took a swipe at my fat fingers! 😳

[@purpurahaze9179]

​@@cw9734yeah their bad about building nests under the outside door handles. My 79 LTD Landau has the same style door handles

[@barberjeff67]

I remember seeing a 2+2 in the Burlington, VT area years ago. It really stood out!

[@SuperOperator4]

Missing Pontiac Motor Company...........

[@sengle928]

I agree, they would’ve given Dodge a good battle these days.

[@Mistapetey67]

My first car I bought in high school 1996 was a 86’ Grand Prix, two tone blue and gray with bucket seats and console. I went to Greater Lowell Voke. I was in automotive, and the culinary teacher had her car in shop for oil change and asked if I wanted to buy it for $1000 bucks. There were many passed down G bodies in my HS parking lot at that time.

[@TheMrdhyde]

My 1st car was a 1983 Pontiac Grand Prix LJ. 231 V6 3.8 L Buick motor with bucket seats and console. Bought it in 1988 for $1500.00

[@deanow3631]

Bought a 2-door 88 ga with v6 for a winter ride in 98. It was a quick fun little car with plush cloth interior. The body rotted away quickly and the original vendor supplied engine parts for it continuously failed on it. Power steering, alternator, ac compressor- to name a few. Eventually I let it go, as it was doing the same to my money and time.

[@MrPoppyDuck]

Very informative! Thanks for a great video!

[@warringwarthog]

i always swapped out the V6 for the V8 back in the 90's

[@johnkelly8525]

Did the V8 fit the original gearbox 🤔

[@DeadInsideButStillSmiling]

Someone tried to put some life into that boat anchor. At least the 350ci would have motivated it a bit better than the 3.8.

[@googleusergp]

Better off with a Pontiac V8. If you want a small block swap, do it in the correct division. LOL.

[@DeadInsideButStillSmiling]

@@googleusergp agreed

[@raymondcanessa7208]

@@googleusergp 77-81 Pontiac 301 Pontiac were prone to cracked crankshaft rod journals. Carbon build-up on pistons was a big concern too.

[@googleusergp]

There’s been a 301 in my family for well over 40 years. Never once had a problem. Most of the time it’s the people that own them and don’t know how to take care of them.

[@raymondcanessa7208]

@@googleusergp True a lot of them were in firebirds that people drove like trans am's

[@fronttowardenemy]

My dad ordered a ‘79 GP with a Hurst 4-speed. They were still using the Pontiac 301 V8 at the time. First time since 1969 you could order a GP with a stick. They only made 232 of them for the ‘79 model year! Man, do I wish he had held onto that one…

[@GermanischesCowgirl]

An example of one of the few metric frames that didn’t become a street stock at the local race track.. yet

[@purpurahaze9179]

Unfortunately that's the fate of most G body's that and demo derby. I would rather see them used as drag cars

[@robviousobviously5757]

live the Mustang Pace Car on the cover... father drove me to school in one back in the day.. 5.0 4 speed A/C car with those wonderful Recaro buckets.. great memories... guess I will finally get out of bed and head to a Shelby Track day in my 2013 Boss 302 or 1967 Fastback with a 347...

[@johnkelly8525]

Such a hard life 😅

[@michaelstrafello7346]

Malibu also had 4spd w/229 v6 I know of at least 2 because I put sincro's in them when they were new

[@petebach7221]

I just came over from UTG. I'm subscribed now. Get well, Steve.

[@donfleming458]

Steve..........I have a 1978 Pontiac Grand Am that shares many components with the Grand Prix..............except the roofline! The Grand Am in those years shared the coupe roofline with the Malibu 78-81. My car retains the original Red over Silver with Carmine interior. I did upgrade the 301-4V to 400-4V from a Trans Am. Nice job on that dash! LOL

[@DF-zp1os]

Rode home from the birthing hospital in a '78 with a 301, automatic, no a/c! I am not sure what age i became aware of these options, but nonetheless i still remember that car. Keep up the fight and get better.

[@nathanbarden9709]

You could tell right away that was a V8 swap. Looks like a pre-smog engine without the all the emissions spaghetti. Someone wisely ditched that boat anchor V6. When I briefly worked at a GM dealer in the late 90’s one of the bitter old techs still complained about what junk these cars were: warranty work for unfixable baked-in problems. I think he had PTSD. I’d still love to have one with a nice V8 drivetrain swap. 💨

[@googleusergp]

I spot a ported vacuum switch on the thermostat housing, so this is some sort of smog era V8, and with the oil dipstick on the left, I'm going to say 1970s era. I believe the dipstick moved to the right side around 1980.

[@danielsweeney6742]

Steve I owned a 78 Cutlass 442 it had a 305 4 speed. Loved that car.

[@brucecourchene8090]

Steve the master dash technician, great stuff😂

[@Tumbleweed_Tx]

double whammy for me today... My ex wife had am 84 Grand Prix when we first met. Those G-Body cars were the best looking cars GM made for a really long time... That cover of Motor Trend has a 79 Mustang Pace Car. One of those was the only cool car my parental units ever had. I learned how to drive a stick in it when we were test driving it... lol

[@alensley1368]

Love the Grand Prix.

[@waynetaylor8082]

BUT for that CHEESY STEERING WHEEL?!!

[@debbiebermudez5890]

Mr. B. Here ! ☕️☕️🍩🍩. Morning Mags ! So sad most of many vehicles were headed to the graveyard ( SUV’s ) were coming !

[@tomwesley7884]

Morning

[@debbiebermudez5890]

@@tomwesley7884 Good morning ☕️☕️🍩🍩

[@frankfurther3828]

I once cast my eyes upon the '62 Grand Prix, serial number 000001.

[@1967davethewave]

I currently own a 2004 GP and it has given me 240k mostly trouble free miles. I used to own a '62 GP in Caravan Gold with a Saddle interior, 303hp 389 4bbl, "Slim Jim" automatic and 3.23 rear gear. Man I wish I had kept it. I bought it in 2009 for $6500 and sold it in 2014 for $8500 and thought I had done pretty good!!!

[@jeffshadow2407]

I like the way he always finds the right magazines in every car!😅

[@HotRod-wv4vm]

Thanks Steve. My youngest son has a 97 Grand Prix GT

[@BuzzLOLOL]

Totally different car...

[@BigBalledBastard]

I had an 83 Olds Cutlas with a modified 231 and 700R4 modified ( in addition to pulling the lockup converter wire ). It was a great car (after modifications) I miss that car so much!

[@johnkelly8525]

What does pulling the lockup con wire do, 🤔

[@michaelnazaruk4100]

​@@johnkelly8525 - I think removing that cable/sensor keeps it from locking the torque converter to go into overdrive. One of the many problems I had with my '83 El Camino was this lockup sensor. The car would go into and out of OD constantly - drove my nuts till I got it fixed!

[@johnkelly8525]

@@michaelnazaruk4100 so not a hot rod mod

[@michaelnazaruk4100]

@@johnkelly8525 - Well, yeah it was. You don't want your car going into overdrive while you're racing at the drag strip or trying to bake the tires to impress people.

[@johnkelly8525]

@@michaelnazaruk4100 I would have thought unlikely, but yeah, thanks heaps l just had to know

[@Bbbuddy]

My dad bought a new 1975 Buick Skyhawk (Monza clone) with a manual transmission. The clutch cable had been misrouted, and his clutch slipped for the next 6 years. Went through 3 clutches before a shop figured out the problem.

[@googleusergp]

Yikes, a "Chevy-iac", or in this case, originally a "Bui-iac". As most know, I'm of the division power theme: A Pontiac engine in a Pontiac vehicle. But after 1981, that was not possible as the 301 and 265 V8s went away. My dad had a 1978 Grand Prix with a 301 V8 that was a company car. It used to come home now and then and we'd use it from time to time. It was code 61 Desert Tan exterior paint with a code 62 Camel Tan vinyl interior. I think the company got rid of it by about 1980-1981, as I don't recall seeing it after that point. My grandfather wound up with a 1979 Caprice 305 V8 that he bought in 1983 for $1000 and kept 13 years. I've spoken about that car many times. A Grand Prix LE would have a "K" in the VIN number, but more on that below. 1982 was the first year that these became "G" bodies for mostly all purposes. There were "G" bodies prior to 1982 and there were "A Special" bodies, but the easiest way is to divide them like this: A body prior to 1982, G body from 1982 onward. The 1969-1972 Pontiac Grand Prix and the 1970-1972 Chevrolet Monte Carlo were "G" body cars as they rode on a different wheelbase than their "A" body cousins of the same years. It's funny you say, "They all have the same bones and equipment". In 2004, I went on a job interview for a front end parts company. They were ready to publish their latest catalog. Mind you, this company sold fast moving front end parts and used the Moog part numbering system with an "X" at the end of their part number. So they hand me the catalog and say, "This is going to publication, what do you think?" I knew this was a test, so I thumbed through it. The manager said, "Well, what do you think?" I said politely, "You said this is going out to print? Well, you list a Monte Carlo's front end parts, but you don't list a Grand Prix. They use the same parts. You have a 1988 Grand Prix as RWD, but it was FWD in 1988. You don't list a Bobcat in 1975, but they use the same front end parts as a Pinto that year. You don't have parts for a Firebird in 1981, but it's the same as a Camaro. This book has a lot of errors in it". About a week later, I meet one of the guys that interviewed me at a national automotive conference. He said, "Hey, I gotta talk to you. You couldn't have been out of the parking lot and my boss said that "we gotta make that guy an offer". The catalog manager got ripped a new one for all those mistakes you found..." I did get the offer, but refused the job, and my then current job panicked and gave me a raise. That front end parts company went out of business around the same time I started my current job in 2005. So, things work out. Correct, this was an "LD5" originally with the VIN for the win: 2G2 for Canadian made Pontiac, A for manual seat belts, J for Grand Prix, 37 for two door notchback special, A for 3.8L (231 CID) V6 with two barrel, aka RPO code "LD5", Buick produced, aka "I Hear You Knockin'", 1 is a check digit, E for the 1984 model year, 2 for St. Therese, Quebec Canada assembly and the rest is the production sequence. The St. Therese plant operated from 1966 to 2002 and last assembled the F body cars before closing. The 231 V6 was a heap of an engine in these years as it suffered from poor oiling and paired with the THM200 three speed automatic transmission (as this car has) meant trouble for the owner. We got the SPID, glad you did: AAA for standard equipment, AK1 for active front head restraints, AM6 for split front bench seat (which was an option, typically they were standard with bench seats), AT6 for manual passenger seat adjuster, A01 for tinted glass, all windows, BX2 for extra wide lower exterior moldings, B34 and B35 for front and rear floor mats, B84 for bodyside moldings, B93 for door edge guards, CD4 for delay wiper system, C60 for air conditioning, D20 for passenger sunshade, D35 for outside sport mirrors, D90 for body side stripe, GU1 for 2.41 rear axle ratio, "one wheel peel", K19 for Air Injection Reactor system, K34 for cruise control, K99 for 85 amp alternator, LD5 for 3.8L (231 CID) Buick produced V6 with two barrel, MV9 for THM200 three speed automatic transmission, MX1 for automatic transmission merchandising option, NA5 for Federal emissions, NB1 for closed loop emission system, N30 for deluxe steering wheel, N33 for tilt steering wheel, N91 for simulated locking wire wheel covers, QMX is a tire code, STE for St. Therese, Quebec Canada assembly, TR9 for lamp group, UN9 for radio suppression group, UP8 for stereo provisions, UT1 for AM-FM stereo cassette with ETR and clock, UX6 for custom speaker system, U25 for trunk light, U28 for ash tray light, U29 for instrument cluster courtesy light, U58 for AM-FM radio provisions, U76 for antenna in windshield, VK3 for front license plate bracket, V73 for US/Canada vehicle statement, WS5 for sales/program options, 59L for Frost Beige lower exterior paint, all of the 77 and 78 codes point to Dark Autumn Maple interior trim and/or vinyl top, moldings and seat belts, among other codes. That's one way to fix a dash board. GM shop manual, "Remove dashboard". Mr. Magnante: "Hold my beer. Watch this....."

[@deanstevenson6527]

You never fail to Magnify the Magnante. Cheers 🍻🥂✓

[@googleusergp]

​@@deanstevenson6527Nice of you to say. Mr. Magnante does a good job, I just add details as I see them.

[@deanstevenson6527]

@@googleusergp 🥝✔️

[@jaysmith179]

Love these cars. My brother had a 1985 Gran Prix LE. It was silver with the black strip on the lower part with the 305 V8. Factory bucket seats with console shifter and factory sunroof. Rally wheels with white letter tires and the half black vinyl roof. I wish he still had it today. I have never seen another one like it,

[@googleusergp]

@@jaysmith179 Yes, I've seen that combination. Back then, you could get a dizzying array of combinations with color and trim and sometimes you could "override" the recommendations which made for some goofy color combinations. There were even some local "special edition" Grand Prix models over the years.