Pontiac is back… Well kind of. This is Lingenfelter’s Pontiac Trans Am based off of a 5th-Gen Camaro. It’s a turn-key package Lingenfelter introduced at the 2012 SEMA show. Mike Copeland, who used to head special projects for GM and built previous HOT ROD project cars, said the only thing left is to sell them.
The Trans Ams will be offered in three price point packages that can be expanded upon or ditched for an entirely custom order. The base model is the $40,000 package which includes exterior work and cat-back exhaust. Package two is $69,000 and includes exterior, interior, paint job, and wheels. The top of the line package, what you see here, includes: exterior, paint, interior, Brembo brakes, full exhaust, and a 455ci V8. Lingenfelter starts with an RHS block and builds a custom 455ci with LSX heads and 655hp to the flywheel. The cars are built to order and don’t include the Camaro (they will buy one for you if you can’t show up with your own).
In 2009 Lingenfelter built four prototypes and thrashed on them for several years tweaking them before production was ready. The body kits were designed and now built by Lingenfelter. The car has specially designed wheels built by Forgeline and no, you can’t buy them, they will only be offered on the Lingenfelter Trans Am.
Well another reader (long time reader) has gone where few dare to tread. Yes I’m talking a Ford car guy, a Thunderbird owner and former owner of a very cool Mercury Cougar wagon, is now a proud owner of a 1990 C4 Corvette!!!!
It’s a great looking Steve!!!!!!
Steve’s White C4
It’s in great shape and I am liking the wheels!!!
I’m sharing this Steve!!!!
Tim,
As a Ford guy I guess I’ve come over to the dark side.
I bought a 1990 standard Corvette with all the sporty stuff. Seats, suspension and all the electronic gizmos.
Super well cared for condition with all maintenance history since new. I does have a worn right muffler cushion.
Last evening was my first ride ever in a Corvette and of course I was driving. Rides rougher than a cob on a rough road as expected. It also makes all the cool dual exhaust music. Two tops, one glass and more switches and gauges than I’ve ever seen before. No deterioration of the interior or paint so it must have been garaged. It also has a fine sounding Bose system which was standard I think. I did find a 1/8″ chip on the drivers front fender.
Yup, I’m on the dark side and was wooed by the devil himself to get me in a Chevy….. We have some streets in various stages of reverting to dirt here. Some very rough streets. The right muffle mount is collapsed (rubber) so it rattles. Roof panel does not rattle at all.
It’s in quite good condition for 22 years old. No interior or exterior work required.
It runs sooooo good. I think it may have never been driven in the rain. Underneath looks new, no tarnishing of the aluminum suspension bits.
The PO provided replacement “dew wipes” for the doors and a new power antenna that’s to replace the one that is stuck up. Please don’t tell me I have to remove the rear fascia to replace the antenna. LOL.
I did manage to scare myself a bit last Saturday. I’m not used to a posi-trac rear end…Ha Ha. Just a little sideways. It sure accelerates quicker than expected for only 245 horses. I’m averaging high 17’s around town which actually is unexpected. I guess the trick is 345 lbft or torque……..”
Thanks for sharing your Vette Steve…..NOW LETS TALK ABOUT SOME MODs!!!
Mopar, Chrysler Group’s custom parts branch, has announced that a modified 2012 Chrysler 200 and an altered 2012 Dodge Charger have joined its lineup. The 2012 Chrysler 200 Super S and Dodge Charger Redline are dressed in the latest Mopar accessories, giving each an “in-your-face” look. While the Charger already possessed bold exterior attributes even before Mopar’s help, the Chrysler 200 gets a little more self-confidence courtesy of two different packages that can be added on.
“The Super S is Mopar’s interpretation of the Chrysler 200,” said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand. “The extensive list of high-quality Mopar parts enhances the performance and appearance of our Chrysler 200.”
Two packages are available to dress up the 2012 Chrysler 200. The first is called Stage One, which is primarily an appearance package which refines overall styling on Chrysler’s smaller sedan. The Stage Two goes under the hood adding a cold-air intake and a cat-back exhaust system. A cold-air intake is added to boost engine efficiency and performance while a cat-back system gives that extra engine note that may be missing while rolling at lower speeds. Coil-over suspension is also added to enhance the overall ride feel.
The 2012 Dodge Charger Redline receives a few more options than the Chrysler 200 Super S. Mopar’s variant of the Charger is based off of the R/T model and can be dressed in three different packages. Stage One adds exterior styling cues such as a Mopar carbon fiber chin spoiler, “crosshair” grille, carbon fiber door scoops designed to enhance aerodynamics, and the interior also gets a few new accents. Stage Two is adds Mopar bolt-on parts to boost power, handling, and braking. These features include a cat-back exhaust system, cross-braces under the hood to enhance handling, and brake linings to bring the Charger’s Hemi V-8 to a halt quickly. Stage Three adds a 426 HemiV-8 engine which holds the reigns to 590 ponies, 220 more than what’s found in the regular Charger R/T. Known as the “elephant motor” this lightweight aluminum V-8 shaves off more than 100 pounds from its cast-iron siblings. Cast-aluminum valve covers and billet fuel rails are also included in Stage Three of the Charger’s performance kit.
“Since the 1960s, the Mopar Brand has built a long history of adding power and performance to the Dodge Charger—and with the Redline, we Moparized the new Charger with modern-day performance and style while giving a nod to our storied past,” said Gorlier. “With three kits, Mopar offers a tailored choice for every customer.”
Both vehicles are set to debut at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit next week. Which vehicle are you most excited to see? Tell us which one you picked in the comment section below.
What you will see unfold in these updates is an exercise in project management for the modifications. When I originally scoped out the components for the 302 that replaced the 250, I used a similar process, but very detailed. I wasn’t overly concerned with improvements other than what a dropped in 302 would provide over that tired old straight 6. (Clearly..I left the 3 speed manual trans in it.)
But this time it’ll be different. There is a lot to do and unlike the previous rebuild, money will be tight and free time limited. The main goal I have is to keep the car in operation in between stages of modification. This will take a clear and well laid out plan, where issues similar to the installation of the dash pad before the pillar post trim arrived (doh!), could be more than just a cost in time.
Below is a high level sketch of what I’d like accomplish with the Mustang. I’ll update this list with more details as I figure which brands, sizes and the like that will be used. Over on my Facebook pages I have already received some feedback and suggestions and I’ll post these up here in some cleverly titled entry.
So give me your suggestions or opinions and as the progression goes even tell me if you don’t like the choice and why.
Brakes and Suspension:
– Upgrade to 4 wheel disc (Brand and size TBD)
– Replace front and rear stabilizer bars (Brand and size TBD)
– Control arms already replaced
– Rebuild power steering
– Shocks already upgraded
Exhaust:
– Add cut-out before mufflers
– Extend tailpipes to exit rear
No other changes anticipated
Interior:
– Addition of upgrade dash and interior lights
– Possible upgrade of all gauges
– Replace front seat belts with 3 point harness
– Carpet replaced
– Seats re-upholstered (upgrade to Leather/Cloth?)
– Paint lower doors
– Tilt steering wheel (Flamming River?)
Training:
Transmission
– Option 1 – Manual 4 speed with Hurts shifter
– Option 2 – T5 5 speed
– Rear Differential * Unsure if upgrade is possible or required
Engine:
* 302 stays
– Replace intake (Brand and size TBD)
– Replace 650 Holley (Holley 750 Avenger)
– Replacement of heads for more performance (undecided)
– Add custom mounting and tension for Power Steering/Alternator
– Remove Fan and replace with electric
– Add more chrome to engine (but not too much Bling..hate too much Bling)
Exterior:
Paint stays except:
– Blacked out rear light deck
– Black Hood stripe (1970 Boss 1970 302 or 1970 Mach 1) – See images below – What do you think?
– Blacked out grill
– Black Front Spoiler
– Black side Boss 302 Stripe (w/o the Boss) (dependent on hood choice)
– Magnum 500 wheels (newer version, not originals)
Hood lay outs:
Mach 1 Hood...Perhaps my favorite...currently not considering adding a scoop
Boss 302 Hood lay out
O.K., let’s hear your thoughts. They will automatically appear to the right of this posting and I’ll add the good ones in the update posts.
Thanks for reading.
Tim
Readers comments and suggestions:
Byron McElfresh December 6 at 9:09pm Report
I seen your asking for advice on heads for a 302. I built a 302 that was .040″
over bore, The larger hyd. roller ford performance cam, used edelbrock rpm
heads, i did a little clean up and evened out the valve bowls, flat top
pistons, a 750 holley Street advegner carb, rpm intake, 1 3/4″ headers, and it
made 416 hp at 6000 rpm, and 349 tq. on the dyno. in the 60 Falcon with 3.73
gears, and a 4 speed,( the guy really needs an auto trans or get a shifter that
won’t granny shift speed wise!!!) But he still ran a 12.61 at gateway.
Wow, that’s pretty good. My 302 is bore .030. Hooker headers and 65O holley. I
wasn’t planning on changing out the cam. Now the rear end great. I just can’t
do the automatic trans though!
Byron McElfreshDecember 6, 2010 at 11:43pm
Re: Hi Tim,the 302
lol-the reason I think the guy should o to an auto trans is the ultra slow
shifts he makes with the old toploader! It’s a very painfully slow 2-3
shift!!!You can almost hear the multiple double clutches! yikes! lol
Tim Sweet December 6 at 10:11pm
good point
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Philip Daly December 6 at 8:58pm Report
351w
Tim Sweet December 6 at 9:36pm
Thanks Philip, But won’t that reduce compression? How much would you gain with
351w heads?
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Terry Wallace December 6 at 8:47pm Report
Ford Motorsports usually has some really great deals on 302 old school engines.
I would check there first. When it comes to flow numbers im finding through my
own testing at my machinists shop,,,,,most numbers are bullshit. beware and
test flow numbers using a reputable shop.
Tim Sweet December 6 at 9:35pm
Thank Terry. I’m with you on the numbers game…happens a lot even with
Corvettes. Regards
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Bill Rice December 6 at 8:46pm Report
Trick Flow Twisted Wedge heads, Great gains in HP and Torque.
Tim Sweet December 6 at 9:42pm
Thanks Bill – what do you think those number might look like over a 302, bore
Corvette Hangout December 6 at 8:28pm Report
C&C aluminum heads with small chambers to get higher compression larger valves
and install 150 shot of nitros.. CorvetteHangout
Tim Sweet December 6 at 9:44pm
I can get behind the higher compression..but I haven’t decided on NOS yet.
Thanks.
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Fatherlarry Monaco
1969 and 1970 Boss 302 heards and intake will work great.
Tim Sweet That was a thought I had as well.
2 seconds ago · Like
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Roy Oberg Aluminum is the way to go, go with a smaller combustion chamber that will give you more compression and less chance of spark knock.
about an hour ago · LikeUnlike
#
Tim Sweet 100% on board with the smaller chambers.
2 seconds ago · Like
, full exhaust, and a 455ci V8. Lingenfelter starts with an RHS block and builds a custom 455ci with LSX heads and 655hp to the flywheel. The cars are built to order and don’t include the Camaro (they will buy one for you if you can’t show up with your own).
Steve’s White C4
It’s in great shape and I am liking the wheels!!!
January 4th, 2012 
aunik_aronno
