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View Full Version : Well folks got a new project to use as old daily driver, in patina,,,



MonzaRacer
08-17-2025, 01:13 PM
I got to a position to reclaim ownership of another first gen Monte Carlo.
I picked up this car from Texas, actually had zero issues titling it even.
Originally a California car driven to Texas and even had trailer hitch of sorts( drag and drive in future).
Stored for last 20ish yrs , it does have critter damage, surface patina, multiple layers of paint and body filler.
Code 53 Placer Gold, small block 350/2bbl BUT one option I love, it came factory with TH400! Code M40!
Only other part is factory air.
I've decided the rodent/age/sun damaged seats will be replaced with Pontiac Grand Prix GXP.
So after picking up a corner lot with two buildings, a larger pole barn and smaller pre instructed building with GXP in it now.
Two post lift gets installed next Monday, I can't wait.
So local cruise and show coming up 20/21 of Sept.
So the car set for 20 years I've dropped the battery in it fixed the negative ground and was trying to get the 350/2 barrel running. But upon finding rust and cooling system and going to the fact that set for 20 years with what may have been nearly straight water my theory was there might be something going on with this engine. I did get it to crank just a smidge by hand, I had already started putting a water pump on it and changing the alternator over and few other things I was gonna do.

MonzaRacer
08-17-2025, 01:49 PM
So the name of this project is "Nothing Else Matters".
Car came from San Antonio area, shipped in at beginning of year.
Rad looked bad inside so I started looking for options, found a 3row aluminum rad, teamed up with a 91 Cavalier rad like my old 70 Monte had.
Found inexpensive new gas tank on Walmart.com.
So once I got the car down to my new property with the pole barn that I'm going to work out of, this got it put inside with the wrecker and my grand prix GXP that needs some work is stashed in the other building.
So while I was working under the hood of the Monte Carlo trying to get it ready to crank over cuz I dropped the battery in and it wouldn't crank over the only thing working is the door buzzer.
So I started thinking about it after I started working on the 350, the water pump was Rusty and trying to lock up and the thermostat housing was full of rust. So I figure well I'm going to go look for a big block at a reasonable price something used stock that I can drop in and make run worry about go fast later. Found one and it got sold out from under me before I could go get it. So I love found a second one little farther north so it was on a running stand I could hear it run when I got there. So I took my tampon with me and drove up and picked up a 78 to early 80s 4:54 quadrajet carburetor HEI distributor had a new fuel pump sitting on it it's got an aluminum water pump of unknown origin and supposedly lower miles cuz it came out of the motorhome. It ran and didn't smoke sounded really good.
So conceptualizing what I fear of accumulated some bits and pieces trying to gather some of my old parts back up from previous cars.
So new parts:
3 row aluminum rad/fan/controller
Gas tank
Ridetech rear CoolRide
Master cylinder
New hood hinges
Hooker headers for bbc
454, running.
Summit 3" dual exhaust kit
Collectors
Switch panel
Three gauge panel
Poly motor mounts

Tires I already had on ralleys 7"/8"
Just to name a few things I've got to do.
So now I've got less maybe a bit over a month to get it rolling down the road.
Oh yeah seats are crap so I have another set of GXP seats to install or Silverado seats with integral belts I got for my Caprice.
Silly car won't crank by key so I did pick up a switch panel
Debating on putting my Hurst Pistol Grip Q Stick in too

Body repairs may start with panel binder and sheet metal to start.
And I intend to install a 5" goodmark steel cowl too, plans are to bond it on, finish hood roughly and spray it Blitz Black from John Deere.
Has 72 front but grills broke so I picked u a 70 grill and one piece of side trim that was missing.
Also found couple of better 71 headlight Eschueon as I don't like 72s and ones trashed.
Gonna do a David Freiburger comment wash but with Ajax.
Also thinking of painting roof Blitz Black.