Yenko Vega?

[marxjunk]

not sure what to make of this listing...but looks like a neat little car

https://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/5362773080.html

[old5.0]

I posted pics of it in another thread sometime back. It looks good in person, but I have no idea if it's real or not.

[black69]

That has to be a clone, if it was a real stinger, why would it have a 2 barrel manifold laying around. Neat car none the less. I had a 74 vega that was its twin (less the yenko stripes). Slowest car on the planet. Aluminum short block and heavy cast iron head. My dad and I bonded rebuilding that stupid motor, with him telling me this is the <span style="font-style: italic">stupidest</span> engine he ever worked on, the block had no steel sleeves!. He had sleeves put in for me and it was fine, but it was still a very slow, but good looking car.

[marxjunk]

a steel head on an alum block has been proven to be a good choice..it stabilizes the block..bores an retains the gasket much better...really good stuff and ahead of its time...but theres always controversial theories..the good outweighs the weight savings...especially on turbo configs..


just not wise on the sleeveless cylinders..my aunt bought a new one in 72 it was sky blue...a neat little car for about 30,000 miles and then it started having issues..the whole family loved that little car til it started having issues and then she couldnt even give it to a family member..lol...she always said it was cursed and haunted by 49 studebaker...i dunno she did drink a bit..

[black69]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: marxjunk</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
just not wise on the sleeveless cylinders..my aunt bought a new one in 72 it was sky blue...a neat little car for about 30,000 miles and then it started having issues.. </div></div>

This is why my dad jumped ship after what he saw GM do on that vega we rebuilt together. We also did tons of body work as it rusted faster than anyother car we ever had, right after it was fairly new. He had new buicks and chevys from the 50s to 1970. When the 70 buick worn out he 'accepted' a mint 76 lincoln 2 door towncar I found.

[iluv69s]

Between my best friend and I, in the early 80's, we had about a half dozen vegas. Even had a GT wagon at one point. We usually cut the bumpers and made them split bumper cars. They did a wicked 5k sidestep single spin holeshot!!!
We had planty of late nights under the cars replacing clutches, trannys and rears...in the end, they ended up all smoking because the alum blocks..Usually they became throw away cars ....

[earntaz]

Bought one of the original 71 Vegas -- gave it to my Dad who loved it ... drove it a total of 96K before my brother installed a SBC. In 96K the only thing that ever went wrong was a starter and a throwout bearing. NEVER went thru/burned oil up until the time engine was removed. Not running the engine hot and proper MX let that little engine run great ... TAZ

[Bill Pritchard]

TAZ,

Did the Vega you gave to your dad have factory a/c? It seems the cars so equipped were much more durable than those non-a/c cars.

[earntaz]

Bill -- no A/C ... but well taken care of. I have heard of those with the Vega having all kinds of issues with the engine. Most happen after overheating the engine just one time. She was bought in New Mexico and driven to Wisconsin. For the most part it ran perfect. I might add it did not have the rust issues that some early models had. TAZ