I thought you said PRE-malaise....
I thought "malaise" was associated with the late 70's...
The power robbing emissions stuff started around 71-72.
dculberson wrote: The power robbing emissions stuff started around 71-72.
The ugly started at the same time.
The early Grand Ams were some of the best looking cars of that time, and can be more than capable when built right. Too bad this one doesn't have it's beak. 
The '73 Gran Am grew to be the '77 Can Am which I always liked.
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My first car was this '77 Malibu Classic in the same orange w/ the same rims.
I had not vinyl top and no white walls.
It looked more bad ass than it was. My older brother ordered it new w/ HD suspension and posi but stayed with the same 250cid straight 6cyl and 3 speed auto that he had in his earlier Nova. Other than that, the car had no options. Came from the factory w/o AC but had a bitch'n Craig aftermarket stereo.
It was damn cool for 1983!
In reply to JohnRW1621:
CAN AMS RULE! Too bad that stupid rear spoiler mold broke, or they would have made a lot more of them.
Fun fact: The early Grand Am was in line to get the SD455 under the hood, and there were wagon prototypes built as well. One remaining wagon prototype was purchased by one of the car's design engineers, and he still has it.
400 cu in motor
76 HP.
Fueled by Caffeine wrote: 400 cu in motor 76 HP.
A cam, intake and carb install in an afternoon, and will wake that sucker right up. Toss better heads and pistons in, and the sky is the limit. My "throw-away" 1974ish 400 mutt makes around 400hp with 1971 base model GTO heads, forged pistons, and a cam and intake.
as a kid tried to get my dad the Pontiac man to buy one, no go
SilverFleet wrote:Fueled by Caffeine wrote: 400 cu in motor 76 HP.A cam, intake and carb install in an afternoon, and will wake that sucker right up. Toss better heads and pistons in, and the sky is the limit. My "throw-away" 1974ish 400 mutt makes around 400hp with 1971 base model GTO heads, forged pistons, and a cam and intake.
Wouldn't it be easier to say "remove engine, install new engine". :-)
Yes. Remove 400ci, install 400ci, rebuilt. No cast, all forged. Crazy, barely streetable compression. Win at life in an ugly ass car.
Fueled by Caffeine wrote:SilverFleet wrote:Wouldn't it be easier to say "remove engine, install new engine". :-)Fueled by Caffeine wrote: 400 cu in motor 76 HP.A cam, intake and carb install in an afternoon, and will wake that sucker right up. Toss better heads and pistons in, and the sky is the limit. My "throw-away" 1974ish 400 mutt makes around 400hp with 1971 base model GTO heads, forged pistons, and a cam and intake.
Yeah, probably. But since Pontiac stuff is worth its weight in gold now, I would probably toss a bunch of bolt-ons at the existing engine if one was to plan on keeping it all Pontiac under there. Even the smogger ones are capable of good power without much work.
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