UMI's 1972 Pontiac LeMans, Restoration and Pro-Touring Build

82307 Views 214 Replies 48 Participants Last post by UMI Tech, Jun 13, 2017

UMI Performance

Discussion Starter · Jan 7, 2013

4

Hello Everyone,

This is our thread for the restoration and pro-touring build on our 1972 Pontiac LeMans.

We debated for months whether to restore this car or to purchase and restore a more popular model such as a GTO or Chevelle. This LeMans has been with the UMI team for a long time and has been used to design and test fit a lot of the UMI a-body products we now offer. Because of the cars history with UMI and the fact that is has served to help us build some great products we felt it deserved a full make-over. Our plans are to use LS power and have it accelerate, handle and stop well with Made In USA quality.

We hope to have the project completed sometime late in 2013, thanks for following along!

Our first series of pictures shows the car before:

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UMI Performance

Discussion Starter · #2 · Jan 7, 2013

3

The dismantling has started.

Once the body is off we can begin working on the frame in our fabrication shop while our body guy goes to work on the body. So far it looks like we will be needing at least one fender and rear lower quarters on the body.

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Georgia69

· #3 · Jan 7, 2013

Great stuff, thanks for sharing. At the risk of blasphemy, a LeMans is every bit as cool as a Chevelle, to me anyway.

Robinls5

· #4 · Jan 8, 2013

Looks good. If you need another car to work on , I will lend you my 70 SS 468 Red, Sta. Wgn.
Bob
Click on the blue to C my 2

davis95

· #5 · Jan 8, 2013

You made a great choice using the LeMans. The less-popular cars need more attention than what they usually get.

Reactions: 1

douglee25

· #6 · Jan 8, 2013

Awesome build!

Doug

GRN69CHV

· #7 · Jan 8, 2013

70-72 Lemans is a favorite of mine. I'd get one and build it to my specs before I'd spend the extra $$$ on a GTO. WIll be following.

UMI Performance

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jan 8, 2013

3

Thanks for the replies everyone! I too am a LeMans fan and a Pontiac fan so I like the car. But we have got the comment from a few "Why are putting money into a LeMans" Or "Aren't you doing a GTO clone?" To us an a-body is an a-body and with the wheels and paint we plan on this car will look pretty killer and handle awesome. The car will offer the pro-tour look while being able to back it up

We have made more progress on the LeMans. All the body mounts are removed and we used a 4-post lift to lift the body off the frame, the body will then go on the rotisserie. We will now begin stripping the frame and preparing it for paint. I have more pictures of the body and frame we will be posting soon.

Thanks for looking!

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jfkheat

· #9 · Jan 8, 2013

I used to own a 72 LeMans. I think you are doing the right thing by redoing that car. Why spend the extra money for the GTO name when the car will be modified. Plus, tht Lemans is almost like a part of the UMI family. I look forward to seeing the progress and the finished product.
James

14u2nv68

· #10 · Jan 8, 2013

Fun to watch you guys do your projects... Keep the pic’s coming. :thumbsup:

TMIproducts

· #11 · Jan 8, 2013

Sweet car!

I find myself liking the more rare cars. I have a 66 Chevelle and love it to death, but I find myself lusting over weird cars. Just because they are 'cool' and you don't see them everyday. It got so bad I bought a 62 Cadillac Limo a few years back.

If you need help with the interior let me know!

UMI Performance

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jan 8, 2013

TMIproducts said:
Sweet car!

I find myself liking the more rare cars. I have a 66 Chevelle and love it to death, but I find myself lusting over weird cars. Just because they are 'cool' and you don't see them everyday. It got so bad I bought a 62 Cadillac Limo a few years back.

If you need help with the interior let me know!

Thanks Tim, I appreciate that! We will be in contact when the interior comes and we decide what to do.

And I know what you mean about the rare and weird cars... I do the same thing

UMI Performance

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jan 8, 2013

3

Body is off and being placed on the rotisserie. The rear bumper gave Buck all kinds of trouble and refuses to come off... so for now he left it on there and cut holes in it to place the rotisserie. (See 2nd image)

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FiredUp396

· #14 · Jan 9, 2013

This should be interesting I have stared at this car's under carriage many times now I get to see it transformed and getting a new life.What is your plan for paint?

UMI Tech

· #15 · Jan 9, 2013

So, what does everyone want to see? What would make this build super-exciting?

Key words so far include, LS, T56, Big Brakes, Rear Discs, High Travel Coil Over, Low, Big Tires, Double Adjustable Shocks, Posi, 5-pt harness, Road Race Seat, Boxed Frame,
Full UMI of course.

Are we missing anything?

Ramey

Sent from my iPhone using AutoGuide.com App

1971ss454Elco

· #16 · Jan 9, 2013

LSX454 with a poncho twist like maybe LSX455 w/T56
Maybe incorporate the rarely seen Magnum 400 stripes and badging

Marc S

UMI Performance

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jan 9, 2013

5

Here is just a few pictures to show some rust areas we are dealing with.

Also we had to cut the trunk to get to the bumper bolts and attach the rotisserie. When cutting we quickly learned how weak the trunk is, it looked good from the inside but we learned the old owner must have placed a layer putty on it and then sprayed it with a import style dash paint to cover up the thin rusted trunk. We need to reinforce this area before getting it up on the rotisserie.

Frame is being dismantled now and I will be posting those pictures soon.

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Cam

· #18 · Jan 10, 2013

I personally think the lesser Lemans makes a great sleeper. When they were new you could get a 455 H.O. without much to give it away. They have nice lines.

The car looks like it has the 1972 GT stripes; was it a GT?

UMI Performance

Discussion Starter · #19 · Jan 10, 2013

FiredUp396 said:
This should be interesting I have stared at this car's under carriage many times now I get to see it transformed and getting a new life.What is your plan for paint?

Hi Jeff, I assume you have seen us at Carlisle a few times?

Right now the color is a toss up between some sort of pearl white or a graphite gray metallic. We are leaning more towards the gray now to give it a little more of a whoa factor.

Cam said:
The car looks like it has the 1972 GT stripes; was it a GT?

Unfortunately it is not... the previous owner had those strips put on.

Thanks for looking!

UMI Performance

Discussion Starter · #20 · Jan 10, 2013

2

We have started dismantling the frame and preparing it for paint. We have some welding and grinding to do, one small hole to fix and some reinforcing while we are at it. We will be grinding out all the factory welds and re-welding it with UMI quality.

The car does have the original motor and transmission, a 2-bolt Pontiac 350 and a TH350 trans. The motor and heads were redone, motor was bored .030 over, it ran pretty decent.. it will be replaced with some LS power.

Here are a few pictures of the chassis and drivetrain before taken it down to a bare frame. I will be posting more pictures shortly of the dismantling.

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