1976 Chevrolet Other

Base Hatchback Hatchback

1991 Corvette L98

Automatic

Clear

Gasoline

I'm selling my 1976 Vega Hatchback that's equipped with a V8 engine from a '91 L98 Corvette. I have owned this car since March of this year and am selling it to make my fiancée happy (I'm 57 and now have a 1 year-old son...fiancée is not happy about the hot rod aspect of this car, and I also have a '68 RS Camaro project and a '68 Firebird project...she thinks 3 classic cars are too much...women just don't understand us, do they?). I have limited history on this car...it was sold new in Des Moines, IA, then spent years in Jonesboro, AR with a blown 4 cylinder engine, then purchased by the guy in KY who put the V8 in it, The mileage on the body is correct at 49k, and it is virtually rust free...solid floors and underside, solid quarters and fenders, a really nice foundation for a strong running street or drag car. It comes with the original selling dealer's metal emblem and keys from Crescent Chevrolet in Des Moines, IA, as well as many of its original papers (engine warranty card is filled out with original owner's name, owner's manual, plastic envelope, maintenance folder, Uniroyal tire guarantee) . The engine is from a low mile wrecked '91 Corvette (I don't know how many miles are on the engine). The L98 was the last Corvette engine to use a distributor, and the '91 L98 had angle plug aluminum heads (an excellent design) with screw in studs and guide plates...it has 10.5:1 compression ratio and requires premium gas...it puts out 250 horsepower (plenty for this little Vega). The transmission is a Turbo 350 automatic from an unknown GM (it shifts smoothly and needs a torque converter cover). The rear-end is the original non-posi Vega and doesn't make any noises or clunks. Stock Vega rears are notoriously weak, and I intended to replace it with a Ford 9 inch rear at some point in the future. In the meantime I located a rare posi rear from a '74 Vega GT. It has 3.36 gears and a GT swaybar, but I am not guaranteeing this rear is good...it is unknown whether it's good or not (it turns freely with no clunks). The engine was converted from the original fuel injection with computer to an Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold with an Edelbrock 750 (brand new carb...box and instructions are included). The distributor is a GM HEI from an unknown year and model. The hood will not close on the Edelbrock open element foam air cleaner as the engine sits too high (my plan was to install a fiberglass cowl hood scoop from Jeg's on the stock hood). The engine starts easily and I have adjusted the distributor timing to 8 degrees BTDC...it idles smoothly. The carb stumbles some at wide open throttle because it is probably too much gas for this engine...it can be jetted with smaller jets. I am including an Edelbrock 650 carb so the new owner can experiment with it and see if the engine runs better with the smaller carb. The engine doesn't overheat as it has a new Griffin Be Cool radiator and aluminum flex fan. The exhaust system has Doug's shorty headers and has new aluminized 2 1/2 inch steel pipes with Turbo high flow mufflers which sound great...at idle it's fairly quiet, but it roars at wide open throttle...there don't appear to be any exhaust leaks. The body has virtually no rust...Vegas were extremely rust prone, especially in the area under the windshield wipers...this car is rock solid there, and there is no rust underneath or in the wheelwells. There is minor damage to the right quarter panel above the wheelwell and it could be easily repaired. The left quarter panel has a small amount of bondo to repair a fender bender (I don't know how much damage was done to the quarter...it appears to have been minor). The hood currently on the car is not original to the car and has quite a bit of rust. I purchased a rust-free hood locally on Craigslist and that hood goes with the car. The car's brakes and shocks have been examined and are in good working order, but the brakes could use an upgrade as they are original Vega stuff. The car stops fine, but the brakes are not for a V8's power (it has small front discs and rear drums). The interior has new carpet, but the door panels, seats, and rear panels are original to the car and show a lot of wear. The original dash has a couple of cracks bit still looks decent. Included with the car are 4 original Vega GT wheels...the trim rings and center caps are beat up and the wheels need to be blasted and repainted. The tires on the car are new 14 inch blackwalls, and the original hubcaps are still on it...it's a real sleeper. I'm including an extra set of bumpers with good rubber strips (the rear is shown in one photo). There are minor electrical issues with the car...the horn doesn't work, the turn signal switch has to be held a certain way to get the signals to work, the heater fan doesn't work (original A/C was removed and fan wasn't hooked up). The brake lights, headlights and wipers work fine, the gas gauge works, and the engine starts with the original ignition switch. Lighted oil pressure and water temp aftermarket gauges work fine. This Vega is sold with no warranty and just my good word that it is as I have said it is (please note my excellent feedbacks from 12 years on Ebay...over 800). I will take cash in person. or will accept a cashier's check that has cleared my bank, and I will let a shipper pick it up in my driveway (buyer must arrange all shipping details and cost). Buyer will receive a notarized title with the selling amount not filled in, and the title shows the 49k miles is correct. A $500 down payment on Paypal is required within 24 hours of the close of this sale or I will relist it. You can contact me at 614/769-5868 with any questions about the car. Please note I will be out of town (I live in the Columbus OH metro area) from the 26th of June thru the 3rd of July, so if you want to pick it up in person you can do so from Sat. the 22nd thru the 25th, but must wait til after the 3rd of July otherwise. Please don't do what I did and make sure the head-of-the-war-dept (aka: wife) is ok with you buying a ridiculous, over-powered, socially unacceptable car like this Vega before you bid. Thanks and happy bidding.