so i dont know too much about pontiacs at all . forgive my ignorance . i wanna build a decent engine . i really want it to rumble . i dont have much cash since i'm only 22 and work in a grocery store . so i need the cheapest most cost effective parts possible to achieve the result i'm looking for . i really wanna have this done in time for route 66 next year . i want the loudest car there . . . .just cuz my neighbors all drive honda's and they race up and down my street with their stupid fart cans . so like i said . . . .i need help. so any help would be great. thanks .  

72 GP is a nice car.  Not exactly the "loudest car there".  If it runs now, just unhook the exhaust pipes from the exhaust manifolds.  That should be loud enough.  

Since you are 22 and don't have much cash, I advise, don't do anything to it except above.  The worst thing you could do is pull the engine and "hot rod" it and not be able to pay to put it back together.

If it were my car (and I have a 455 73 GP SJ), I'd just cruise in it and enjoy the looks.  You'll get plenty, including the girls (who, it seems, happen to like those big, beautiful rides). :-)  

so today i woke up pretty early to go pick up the car . since its not running at the moment i had to rent a flatbed to tow it home . so 200+ dollars later i got the flatbed to the house . then proceeded to spend more than an hour backing that thing into the narrow alley up to the garage . then my 3 friends and myself proceeded to start attempting to push the grand prix out of the garage . but for some reason unknown to myself the car would not roll . not even budge . so after all the trouble i had to get a tow truck out and have them winch it up onto the bed dragging it and ruining the stock rims . but after 400 dollars and a full day in the hot southern california sun i now have this ornery *** parked in my driveway . amen.  

So, did you disconnect the driveshaft and put it in the trunk?  Unfortunately, that's $200 less to spend on cool stuff.  It's called "learning curve."  

Sounds like maybe a seized brake caliper or parking brake to me, which wheels were dragging when it was hauled onto the flatbed? Are you sure the rims are ruined? If there were tires on them, even flat ones should have protected the rims for a short drag like that. Unless they hit the side of the flatdeck. Craig is right when it comes to learning, often it is cheaper to get a pro to do it right the first time than to take matters into your own hands.
On the subject of noise, the best bet is to get a nice new set of duals made with a set of mufflers that will keep the cops off your back. Since the car has obviously been sitting a while, I bet it needs new exhaust anyway and you will be far cooler with a ride that rumbles than one that roars. Take it from the voice of experience, you will get away with more if the cops don't hear you coming a mile away.
Steve  

well i pulled of the rims and tires and put some other ones on there and now it rolls fine . i did not disconnect the driveshaft . .. . . excuse my ignorance but why would that be a big deal ? thanks alot for the advice . this is the kinda stuff i need to learn . i really dont wanna hurt this car in any way accidentally . so i finally got under the hood to discover to my disappointment that the engine is in fact only a 400 . but its still better than a four cylinder .  

I all ways perfered the 400 over the 455 and the parts are a little cheaper aswell.  

Tom, the drivshaft reference, I assume, was to determine if there was a trans problem. When you say that changing the rims allowed the car to roll, I think the car had the wrong rims on it. Some of GM's 14" Rally style wheels would not fit all disc brake cars without catching on the calipers and jamming the wheel. The 400 is a fine performance engine, don't lose heart, there are lots of good guys here willing to share their advice, just ask.
Steve  

thanks for the encouragement steve . much appreciated . i'm working on getting it started right now . i am dropping the tank tomorrow to see if i need to get it cleaned out or coated . i dont know if i need to rebuild the carb but i might do it just to get it running great . i still need to find a good battery and drain the oil . but i'm hoping that i'll have it running in the next two weeks . advice ?  

Every Pontiac I have purchased recently that was remotely in the same condition as your GP needed a carb overhaul.  For me, that is now standard procedure.  

Check the condition of the oil for water emulsion or flecks of bearing or other metal material.  Also, remove the filter and cut it in half.  Inspect the filter material for the same kind of "shrapnel".  If you don't find anything bad, that is a good sign.

If both the above are OK, then remove all the spark plugs and run a compression test on all cylinders.  They should all be 135-145psi on that 72 400.  If less, then squirt some oil in that plug hole and repeat.  If the compression is still low, then the problem is upper cylinder (gasket, valve seats).  If the compression comes up, then it's probably rings.  However, one or more rings could be stuck, but that may NOT require an overhaul.  If you have zero pressure on any cylinder it's overhaul time.

Good luck!

Craig  

Tom, a simple tip if this engine has really been sitting a while, is to pull the spark plugs and put a bit of diesel fuel in each cylinder. Let it sit a few days, if any rings are stuck, this will loosen them up. When I got the 75 350 that's now in my Firebird, I made a small stand that bolted to the motor mount holes and the bell housing bolt holes, installed the flex plate and starter, then proceeded to do a compression test. The best was 110, the rest were between 40 and 80, after the diesel trick, all came up to 125. That motor had been sitting in my friend's garage since 1986! After a fresh cam, lifters and timing set and all new gaskets, it works fine. Most people can't believe it has never been rebuilt. I'm not saying all old motors will turn out the same, or that this is a replacement for a rebuild, I'm just saving the good money for my 400!
Steve  

thanks alot guys . it turned over today . didnt run it because i didnt wanna put gas in the tank . but i think by the end of next week i should have it rumbling nicely in my driveway . whoo hooo  

i'll try to get some pictures posted somewhere soon . so you can check out the fruits of your advice . i might just get a video and put it on youtube .  

Looking forward to it.
Steve  

i'm having technical difficulties with posting the pictures but i degreased my engine a bit and uncovered some codes . . . . .the block casting # i believe is 481988. . .the head casting number is 7ks and the casting code is 260913 and the letters ys were stamped underneath that . i hope those were the right numbers . so if anyone has asny insight on my engine i'd love to hear it . i have the vin too . . . i just . . have . . to find it . . (frantically searching through piles of paper ) . . . . . . .