1973 Opel GT build

[Jeff Groves]

So kind of a GM car.
I bought a rolling Chassis. Fresh paint no interior or drive train. $1000
Shipping cost me another $650

I'm in the process of buying and building a 3.4 Chevy V6 to drop in it.
Now a stock 1.9 4 cylinder is about 80+ HP
A stock 3.4 V is about 180 hp.
Swap some heads and intake stuff? You get about 200+ HP.

Should be fun!

 

[Tonyrodz]

So kind of a GM car.
I bought a rolling Chassis. Fresh paint no interior or drive train. $1000
Shipping cost me another $650

I'm in the process of buying and building a 3.4 Chevy V6 to drop in it.
Now a stock 1.9 4 cylinder is about 80+ HP
A stock 3.4 V is about 180 hp.
Swap some heads and intake stuff? You get about 200+ HP.

Should be fun!

I always thought they were cool looking cars. I didn't know they were so underpowered.

 

[Danny3737]

My first car was a 75 Opel Manta. It was a fun car and easy to work on. The GT had the flip up headlights which could be a problem sometimes. You can get a decent HP pick up with just a reworked head, cam, headers, and Weber carb with the stock motor, but I doubt those alone will get you 200 HP. Either way, it will be fun to drive. Hopefully the rear end will be able to handle the extra HP of the V6

 

[Tonyrodz]

What was the stock rear ratio?

 

[Danny3737]

I honestly don’t remember. That was 40 years ago...ugh. I do remember it was fairly slow off the line, but it had a lot of top end speed. It was a great car, very easy to work on.

What was the stock rear ratio?

 

[drakon543]

id have to look for it but there are a few cam options for the 3.4 also. one company makes a thumper cam for the 3.4 gives it a real nasty sound.

 

[Danny3737]

It’s a cool looking car. Looks like a mini vette. I had Turn 6 suspension on mine with KYB’s. I also had a header and mild cam reground. The 1985 year had fuel injection.
The V6 should give it some good pep. Too bad you can’t put one of the Ford SHO motors in it. I hink The show Wheeler Dealers did a GT on one of their episodes. Add some pics when you get a chance.

 

[Danny3737]

This is identical to the Manta i had, except mine had a front air dam I had on mine. I also had beefier springs for the 2” drop. The GT is a cooler looking car.

 

[Tonyrodz]

It’s a cool looking car. Looks like a mini vette. I had Turn 6 suspension on mine with KYB’s. I also had a header and mild cam reground. The 1985 year had fuel injection.
The V6 should give it some good pep. Too bad you can’t put one of the Ford SHO motors in it. I hink The show Wheeler Dealers did a GT on one of their episodes. Add some pics when you get a chance.

Yup, it was a green one. I didn't know they made them in 85. Thought they were only made in the early to mid 70's.

 

[Danny3737]

Sorry, it was 1975

Yup, it was a green one. I didn't know they made them in 85. Thought they were only made in the early to mid 70's.

 

[Danny3737]

It’s funny how close it looks to the 1975 Celica which was my second car. Those came with the indestructible 20R 4 banger. You could mod those motors to the max and never have a problem

 

[Jeff Groves]

 

[Jeff Groves]

Anyway. It gets a 1" drop with the new wheels I ordered.
https://esmwheels.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=59_64_73_93&product_id=64

Fronts are 15X7 for 205/50 15's
Rear are 15x8 for 225/50 15's

I've seen several GT's in my travels with those sizes and they work great and bolt right on.
The 3.4 build? Seen several of those also. Bad arse Cars!

 

[Jeff Groves]

Just a side note.
Did you know the Corvette started life as "Project Opel"?

 

[Jeff Groves]

Here's a new friends GT with the 15x7 rims.

 

[Jeff Groves]

The 3.4 I'm building is a cast iron RWD lower end.
That gets the FWD 3.4 aluminium heads and all intake systems from a Grand Am GT.
A different cam and larger throttle body for the EFI.
Plus a few other things I'm not remembering right now.

 

[Jeff Groves]

After some bargaining and wheeling dealing?
It looks like a different Engine may be implanted.
An inline 5 cylinder from a Colorado!
L52 at around 220 HP. STOCK!

 

[George B]

After some bargaining and wheeling dealing?
It looks like a different Engine may be implanted.
An inline 5 cylinder from a Colorado!
L52 at around 220 HP. STOCK!

Interesting.... Isn’t that engine similar to the 4.2 I6 in the Envoy and Trailblazer? Thats a torquey lil thing.

 

[Boatguy272]

Nice, I had one back in college.. Good luck with the build !