.png)
Grant established some basic rules before embarking on this build. The budget was capped at a modest number, which he couldn’t break under any conditions. That did not mean cut corners would be allowed. The car would be made agile and attractive, but the two would have to balance. So the rules were laid out, and Grant went to the drawing board to begin transforming this $2,000 Custom S. W
The car ran briefly, but it’d clearly been damaged at some point. The gearbox and the motor had to go, but before he could replace them with something befitting a versatile pro tourer, he had to assemble the new suspension. With QA1 coilovers, Right Stuff big brakes, a Grand Cherokee’s steering box, Summit sway bars, and a set of no-name control arms, he injected some new life into the Pontiac and learned to appreciate its odd handling quirks and surprisingly friendly character.
Turning his attention to the Pontiac’s rear, he picked out a collection of cost-effective suspension bits. With Bilstein shocks, Hotchkis springs, Sphon control arms, another Summit Racing sway bar, as well as a set of KMC wheels, he’d have the grip and predictability needed to support his new powerplant.
With the footwork addressed, he found a local engine builder with a penchant for Pontiacs and made an offer. They quickly shook on a deal; Grant traded in his busted Pontiac 400 as well as $600 for a freshly rebuilt replacement, added a Pypes 2.5” stainless system with an x-pipe, and then backed the new engine up with a Bowtie Overdrives 200-4R.
Then came time to prep the Pontiac for paint. Thankfully, further inspection revealed minimal rust. The rear quarters had been beat into a horrible state, so those had to go, but the total amount of sheetmetal needed in freshening up the body was negligible, and the time investment wasn’t terrible for typical paint-prep times.
While the car was away in paint jail, Grant got a little froggy and began collecting the various accessories. Along with a couple TMI Pro Series universal seats for a little more support, he picked up a set of LED headlights to help modernize the appearance slightly. Along with the coat of FX Gray being applied at the time, the few cosmetic improvements would, with some luck, turn this Pontiac into a real head-turner.
The weeks seemed to trudge by, but once the final coat had been applied, the time seemed well spent. With the gleaming, revitalized Pontiac back in his garage, Grant got to addressing the little issues. He installed a sheet of sound deadener, chased down the last of the electrical gremlins, reinstalled the dash, added new gauges, and tweaked the windows.
Further improving the grip of the car: a BOP 10-bolt with factory limited slip and 3.73 gears—which he bought for a song. It was a pretty big upgrade from the 3.30, open-diffed rear he had in previously. Now, with the recently added Foose Legend wheels, measuring 18x8” and 20x10” front and rear, respectively, he had the traction to make driving in even slippery conditions fairly relaxing.
The widened footprint revealed how the stoppers were now the Pontiac’s weak point.With a new set of Wilwood brakes and lighter Mags u123 wheels, he could stop with the certainty needed in something so quick. .
The big-ticket items have been addressed, but Grant is a perfectionist and still has a plenty he’d like to accomplish with this budget-constrained beauty. This Pontiac Custom S proves you can adhere to a budget and still have a fun, stunning, inspiring car. To keep tabs on its development, visit Grant’s thread here.
Car Images:
Gallery Type:
thumbimage:
Feature on homepage:
home body feature