A friend of mine offered a vega panel wagon to me free. I was thinking of making a drag car out of it. It`s suppost to already be set up for a V8 but I haven`t seen the car. The price is right but I don`t know anything about vegas except they are light and I`m not too sure about a wagon. What do you guys think?

Are you looking for a drag car project? Do a google image search you can see a few pics of them done up, and determine if that is something that you would like to own. Light weight is a great start in going fast. Look into the cage kits that are avalible. I am sure the stock rear wont handle drag dudy you might need something custom to get the length right. Free is always a good start but if its shoot it could be more work than its worth.

Very retro! Vega/bbc/PG was a killer combo in the day!

If someone offered my a free Vega I'd be all over it.
I always like those cars as a drag car. And a wagon is a plus!!

I have had 4 of them, one '72 coupe with a sb 350, 4sp, Chrysler 8 3/4 posi. another '72 coupe with a built 283 with 3-2's, 4sp, 8 3/4 posi. another '72 coupe pro-street with a built 427, 4sp. 8 3/4 posi and full frame. and a '72 wagon Panel with a 350, and a th400, posi 8 3/4, and full cage.
I used a Chrysler 8 3/4 out of a Dart, they are 1" longer (1/2" per side)then the Vega rear end, we just removed the mounts from the Vega rear end and weld them on the 8 3/4 (Had made a jig to hold the brackets right (easy to make).
Just use chevy Monsa frame/motor mounts, they are the same parts as the 262 motor parts. the stock tranny(4sp) is a M20 or M21 close ratio (The ones I used were) the stock tranny mount and bracket is used. We had to remake the steering shaft to fit through the 427 headers to work

The two coupes With stock looking wheels or Gragar ss wheels you couldn't tell it had been changed (Unless you looked closer) and one had quiet exhaust. The other two just looked mean! :) I think the big block is to nose heavy for cornering, then again it had 15.5 tires/wheels in the rear and 5" in the front.

Oops! I mean Hatchback not Coupes

They are a fun car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pat

Are you looking for a drag car project? Do a google image search you can see a few pics of them done up, and determine if that is something that you would like to own. Light weight is a great start in going fast. Look into the cage kits that are avalible. I am sure the stock rear wont handle drag dudy you might need something custom to get the length right. Free is always a good start but if its shoot it could be more work than its worth.

I`ve been thinking about it alot lately since I have to sell the chevelle. The vega is free and I don`t care how it looks so I would`nt be spending money on body and paint and interier. I`ve been looking at vega sites and it seems the Jegster front vega/monza clip is the way to go up front and a Chris Alston 4 link backhalf. I have a good chance at getting my old 327 back that ran low 12`s at 114mph in a 65 chevelle so I figured it would run alot better in a vega if the chassis was set up right. Anyway, it`s just a thought. I don`t know if I`ll go for it but I need to see the car before I make a decision but it sounds like it would be alot of fun. Thanks.

Take it ! my friend had a regular vega tubbed and stuffed with a 488 cube big block . caged and still a door slammer it ran 9.80 s ! , of course it wasnt a street car but it was fun .

Vega's are neat drag cars or street strip cars.But most guys tub them out .I have always liked them.I have a prostreet vega in the shed that I will probably never get to.Well its actually my dads but they are always family projects.Mine is 2x3 tubing from bumper to bumper It doesnt have any firewall or floors so it is kinda neat to look inside it and see all the steel tubing.

A friend of mine has a coupe with the stock frontend and a home built rear frame and it`s run 8.80`s with a NOS sbc and is a streetcar and my neighbor is building one with a full chassis with a 4 link rear and strut frontend. I`m thinking it would be alot of fun. I`ve looked at pics of wagon racers and they look cool and I remember seeing them alot when I raced my old chevelle all the time. I`m going to have to check it out and go from there. I apprecieate the replies. Thanks.

I have had two fastbacks in the last 15 years both big blocks 1, a ladder bar a-arm,very consistant money winner w/427 + 060 iron 990 heads 9.20s@142.
And 2, a C.M. 4-link,strut w/598 Dart 360s.All time best 7.96@174 championship winning car, both had 96" stock wheelbase.If you are looking to go fast on a fairly reasonable budget ther are always deals on Vega rollers.

Link to my vega http://drag.race-cars.com/racerides/racerides.cgi?category=ethandicap2&item=1046806943

FWIW, it's hard to see overtaking cars when racing out of a Vega wagon with no side glass. A friend of a friend races one and has trouble judging the stripe if he's the slower car. Cool if you are racing heads up but tough if it's brackets. Other wise they look great as drag cars in my opinion. Gary

i'd be all over it like a fat girl on a twinkie! man,i miss those vegas and monzas! i've gotta snag me one when i finish my 'velle.

FWIW, it's hard to see overtaking cars when racing out of a Vega wagon with no side glass. A friend of a friend races one and has trouble judging the stripe if he's the slower car. Cool if you are racing heads up but tough if it's brackets. Other wise they look great as drag cars in my opinion. Gary

I`m not worried about no side glass cuz I usually look out the windshield when I`m racing, LOL J/K. Seriously, this would be a Wednesday night car heads up type. I just want to have some fun. I might try the bracket classes later but I just want to play around with it. I`m going to try to get some pics of it and I`ll keep you guys posted on what I decide.

I just finished building my V-8 Vega a 73 hatchback and I just sold a 72 station wagon body (no motor or trans) for $800 bucks. I tried to talk the kid out of it but he was all fired up to build a V-8 Vega.

I used to have a '74 Vega GT with one of the 215 cu. inch Olds aluminum V-8's in it. It was the same HP as the four banger, but triple the HP and a real blast to drive. It looked bone stock and was a major surprise to unwary Vette owners. I wish I still had it.

Tom

I had a 71 panel wagon..used to get pulled over alot for having truck plates....most v8 monza stuff works including motor mounts radiator etc. I had a 283 in mine and loved it. Lost it in a divorce :( Niever again...

ouch!

I had a 71 hatchback. Had the Hooker header/motor mount kit. Used the front motor mount asm, kinda like the early 55-57 chevy. The headers where 2 or 3 pieces. One tube was 'u' shaped and would go thru the inner fender and under the car to connect to the header asm. If you where sitting at a light with the wheels turned the tire would rest against the header and you could smell the tire burning??!! Had a 350 trans, and a '57 narrowed rearend 1 inch per side over the factory vega rear. had reversed ralley wheels on the rear with G-60 tires. Used a radiator out of a 67 caprice. Never got hot. Fun car and easy to do. kinda mad at myself though, It sat in my parents driveway after I broke and axle for a few years. parents got tired of looing at it and I sold it minus motor and trans for $100 in 1985/86. Funny thing though, a year or so later I got a call from an impound yard that had aquired the car. They wanted to know if i wanted to buy it back. I guess the guy I sold the car to never changed the reg papers??!!