More on desecrating classics.....

I spoke yesterday about how I'm fine with putting an LS motor and a six-speed into one of the 400,000 Malibus Chevrolet built in 1968 alone. Just don't do it to a numbers-matching SS396 or worse yet-a Yenko!!  But I see it constantly and that's what drives me up the wall. I saw a 1965 GTO with an LS engine and a six-speed automatic in a magazine. ARRRGGGHHH!!!!  This guy couldn't buy a Tempest or LeMans and do that?  I know gearheads like to modify things in the search for extra performance. I'd be fine if this '65 GTO owner had swapped in a Tremec 5-speed to replace the Muncie 4-speed, or a TH350 to replace the 2-speed ST300. I'd be fine if he  swapped the 389 for a 421 or a 455. At least it's still basically a vintage Pontiac hot rod. If you want a new Camaro-go buy one. But don't screw  up a classic that someone else would want to preserve in original, or semi-original condition!!  Some other horrific examples I may have brought up before, but I think are worth re-visiting. # 1. This guy put a 389 Pontiac into a '57 T-Bird. What the hell was he thinking? This offended Ford and GM guys both. I know the old 292 and 312 "Y-Block" V8s are heavy dogs that have the dual attributes of no power and crappy gas mileage. He couldn't swap in a later model 289 / 302 or 351W for an instant power and drivability infusion? Or a if he had to have a big-block-a 390? At least then it would still be all Ford, and people wouldn't be storming his house with torches. # 2. This guy bought a pristine, frame-off restored 1963 Fuel-Injected,Split-Window Corvette Sting Ray and proceeded to gut the interior for a roll cage, replace the IRS with a narrowed Ford 9 Inch, and cut up the body and floor pan for wheel tubs. He then installed a tunnel-rammed 454 backed by a Powerglide with a trans-brake. Because he loved the "Pro Street" look. If you've lived in a cave the last 30 years-back in the late '80's and early 90's building cars that looked like Pro Stock drag racers was all the rage. He couldn't buy one of the millions of '68-82 C3 'Vettes out there and butcher that?  No, it had to be a for real Fuel-Injected Split-Window!!!  # 3. This guy angered both musclecar guys and Import Tuners by destroying not one, but two classics. This genius put the engine and tranny out of a 1998 Toyota Supra Turbo into a 1967 Camaro. He couldn't understand why everyone thought he should be drawn and quartered and have his entrails cut out and burned. # 4. This guy took a 1990 Mustang GT and put a Chevy LS engine in it. Why? Do you know how much trouble that is? And what did he gain?  Not performance. I know guys with "5.0" Mustangs that run in the 10s with 302s. How can he ever sell it? GM guys don't want it; Ford guys damn sure don't want it. This one really left me scratching my head. # 5. This one falls under the more money than brains category. This guy took the drivetrain out of a 1987 Buick Grand National and put it in a 1984 Pontiac Gran Prix. Huh?  Think about it. Even if the GN was totalled-if he rebuilt it and had a salvage title a nice, running '87 Grand National is always worth WAY more than any '84 Gran Prix!!! Further-transferring not only the engine and tranny-but the gas tank and fuel pump and all the wiring to run the electronics on the fuel injected, turbocharged, intercooled GN motor ( Most '84 GP's had  carburated 305 Chevy V8s ) had to be a nightmare. If a badass, ultra-quick '84 GP is your dream car-swapping in a 350 or 383 small-block Chevy would be both cheaper and a lot easier-essentially a bolt-in. The only word I can think of for this one is "Why?"  # 6. The all-time more money than brains champ-except for Jay Leno's rear drive Toronado-is this one. This clown spent $250,000-that's not a typo-I didn't mean 25 grand, I meant a quarter million. That's right-the price of a nice 3-bedroom house anywhere except New York or California-putting the engine and tranny out of 2013 GMC 2500 Turbo Diesel pickup into a 1970 Chevelle!!!  Even if he spent 50K on a pristine restored Chevelle, and 50K on the brand-new diesel pickup, how did he rack up another 100 grand in the cost of the conversion?  And again I ask "Why?"  Who in the hell wants a '70 Chevelle with a diesel truck engine?  It was fast-but he could have easily built a '70 Chevelle with a 720 hp GMPP 572 Rat motor that would have been cooler and faster for a lot less than 250K!!  I've said it before but I think sports car guys and motorcycle guys are smarter. You never see a 1969 Porsche 911S with the engine and tranny out of a 2012 Cayman. You never see a 1967 Jaguar XKE with the drivetrain out of a 2009 XK8, or a 1972 Datsun 240Z with the engine and tranny out of a 2014 370Z!!  You don't see a 1965 Harley Sportster with the engine and tranny out of a 2015 Softail!!  You don't see a 1973 Kawasaki Z1 with the engine and tranny out of 2009 Ninja!!  If you want to bastardize something do it with a base-model no one cares about not something like a '63 Split-Window, Fuel-Injected Sting Ray!!  Or a '57 T-Bird....Mastermind