Calling on the experts for advice – please help!

The early 455's were hot rod engines...the later one's...70 on up to 76 suffered from the smog regulations. The 76 455 had around 200 HP and it probably ran out of snort at around 3000 RPM or maybe a little more. It had a dismal compression ratio...probably less than 8:1. The intakes and heads were blocked up. For a 455...it was the worst one. Still has BB torque but a hot rod it ain't. So, what you have is a 455 gas guzzler that doesn't have snort. Still...many people don't know or don't care. It still has a 455 that could be built if the owner wanted to and still is a good runner if the miles are right.

 

Ahh - figures! Thx for history lesson, I just wish it were in my fav! But, this is why I posted here - is to learn from you guys more about this car.

 

Well...I was quoting from memory and was maybe thinking Olds 455's of which I am more familiar. I don't think Poncho had a 455 untill 70. IIRC some of the 400's had more snort. The 68, 69 Olds engines went up to somewhere around 390 HP and around 10:1 compression. Then they, too, fell prey to the regulations. Nevertheless...your car is still desirable with the 455. It still has BB torque. The money it will bring, as I pointed out, will probably depend on a lot of other things and the presentation as well as the engine. I like the lines on that wagon.

 

I like the car. Sent you a PM.

 

Being from Colorado, I can attest that Colorado cars are generally pretty rust-free, since the majority of the State uses sand, rather than salt. Magnesium Chloride is used in some places, and it's actually worse that salt.

Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa are notorious rust-belt hell holes, however. Most of the Rocky Mountain States do NOT use salt, or use very little.

 

"Magnesium Chloride is used in some places, and it's actually worse that salt."

How so?

 

I agree with the Fox, Grandma shoulda taken 50 grand and ran!

 

I would definately sell one of your other cars and keep that one, you will regret selling it long after its gone

 

It's supposedly less toxic to plants and "nicer to the environment" that regular rock salt, but it is far more corrosive to steel and aluminum than rock salt, although the states using it claim otherwise.

 

Yeah, by the sounds of it, it can't help your rivers and lakes either, plus both are caustic to drinking water and water wells. My guess is that copper tubing would erode faster.

 

I also TOTALLY agree! I remember at the time (years ago) when she told me of this, I was like; G'ma - you should have taken it! That's a once in a life time offer, ya know? Sheesh! lol

No can do. The one car is an SUV w/4 wheel drive, great for winter snow, and for summer camping. And the other car is brand new, that I had custom ordered last year - it's my mid-life crisis car! lol

 

I like the wagon. Have you assessed the rust issues yet?

 

A good friend & I are getting together tomorrow to clean the wagon, and after we're done - I will take some detailed pictures of her. I will also take some up-close pictures of her flaws - so that you guys can hopefully give me a better assessment as to what I should list her for.

 

Hooptologist said......

Get rid of another and keep the wagon, you'll regret it later and you said below.......

OK, I'm joking around here bud but you are in a crisis state!

An SUV 4x4...every body has one and they need to be 4x4 to get around in the snow

A Pontiac wagon such as yours would'nt even need a bag of sand in the back to plow through the snow, it would brobly get used to pull/push SUV 4x4's out of the snow that are holding you up, and you'd look good in it!

Camping in a SUV???, what would you bring? Maybe a pup tent and a six pac cooler? You could bring your house camping with that wagon and put your SUV on the roof for the kids to play with on trials, and did I mention you'd look good in that wagon?

 

Any pix you show will be worthless without getting the car on a rack and showing pix of the UNDERSIDE. You just mentioned the winter snow problem yourself. I keep trying to stress to you about the rust issue and its importance to assess the car. As far as I am concerned...the car can be beautiful but, without underside pix and assessment, I wouldn't give it a second look. Maybe that's just me but....IMHO, rust is THE gauge in assessing an old car's value.