86 Monte Carlo SS Project

[ProdigyCustoms]

Just thought I would post this awesome rendering and design Carter Hickman did for us. Michael is building this 86 Monte Carlo SS to be his daily driver. Since the car is born white and is really in good shape, we asked Carter to do a design using the easy to maintain white. Neither Michael or I are big fans of white, but this project needs to be a quicky, and we don't want to mess with jams, and white never looks dirty. Because the car has Maroon interior that is near mint, again, protecting the budget and schedule a bit, we asked Carter to come up with a design that would incorporate the maroon inside. We think he nailed it.

A one inch frame notch and a set of modified 87 Buick GNX flares allows us to run massive 335 / 30 / 18s on the rear, and 295s up front mounted on, Surprise.......................... Forgelines. The Chrome 18 X 12 and 18 X 10 1/2 look killer and should be easy to maintain in chrome finish. Other then the flares and cowl hood the body is stock. Under the hood is simple low tech. Michael pulled the stock 305 and freshened up our old street racer carbureted 355. The motor makes about 475HP or so. That motor used to run 12.20s on motor and high 10s on spray in the Camaro, so we expect similar numbers out of the Monte. A GNX loaned it's 200R4 to the project with a Art Cat lock up converter. A Moser True Track 10.5" rear with 3.73s will contain the nitrous hits. A full Hotchkis TVS kit including their tubular arms and shocks should get it around the corners. ATS spindles with 13", 6 piston / 12", 4 piston Wilwood will get her stopped.

While no show car by any means, The Monte Carlo will debut at The Year one Experience and see some lap time and dragstrip time.

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[Samckitt]

I love it. Can mine be next? :-)

Please keep us informed as to what modifications were needed to use the GNX flares on the Monte.

[SicMonte]

aaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! just when im about to do one thing to my car.....here you come and totally change my mind!!!!!! keep us all informed on those fender flares....b/c i want a set!!!!!

[6'9"Witha69]

That is going to be cool. Keep us posted as even your quickie work seems to outshine some shops good work.

[bruce_hxc]

Wow, that is freaking nice.

What program was used for the render?

[dropit69]

Wow that looks killer ...can't wait to see finished version..alot of montes running around my area..but none look like that..lol

[Tony_SS]

Nice look! Love the flares on there as well... can't wait to see the finished product. IMHO I would do a 4in cowl instead of the 2in. Great job!

[McssGmachine]

HELL YEAH!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to see this thing finished with the wheel flares!

[tones2SS]

That is gonna be awesome!!!!
I think those cars as well as Buick GN's look awesome when done correctly!!

[zo66]

hey frank , love those flares too, they look familar, they were not purple were they....lol rick

[ProdigyCustoms]

hey frank , love those flares too, they look familar, they were not purple were they....lol rick

Ahh ****, you caught me recycling parts! You wait. I am resizing some pics of your baby you have not even seen. Lot's of PMs lately wanting to know what is going on project wise at PC, guess I will show them.

[zo66]

funny they look great on everything but a midyear,wonder if the purists have spoiled the vision.....:dunno:

[scogin918]

That's a great look. It doesn't take much to make those cars look good. I will have one again!

[casey38boost]

Nice Monte, I wish I could paint my GN those colors!

[GBodyGMachine]

Sounds like a geat car. I was going to go the GNX Fender flare route on mine but I ran into a problem. I wanted my car LOW. I didnt know how much bodywork it would take to make the GNX flares more or less functional. In other words, cutting the quarters and moulding in the flares. Are you going that route, or will the tires not tuck?
Also, how in the world are you getting a 10.5" wheel up front. I would assume they will not be tucked inside the body panels either.
Let me know.

JEff

[ProdigyCustoms]

So here are some pics of the flares taped on and the frame notch. The flares fit about 80% but will require some extensive material removal and adding mostly to clear the 6" wide body line down the side the GN does not have. You can see stock, the flares are held away from the lower body. Also, the quality of the repos is pure Sheot! To be honest, if I was a buyer of these flares planing on painting these black and bolting them on GN, I would burn the manufacturers building.
As for the notch, the inner wheelhouses actually flare toward the outer body just in the last couple inches near the frame. Michael simple pounded that edge in and gainded 1 1/4" of wheel house clearance. Then he cut the frame section out and reused that section, afters triming it, to fill the hole. Total time start to finish to do both side, 8 hours! Now with the notch and the flares, 335 /30 / 18s mounted on 12" wheels with a 6" backspace fit alomst perfect on the original rear. A 5 1/2" backspace would be ideal on a factory rear. We will be changing the rear so we will add the 1/2 to be able to use the wheels we already have. In the end, the flare / notch / tire / wheel combo looks dead hott. Next few days we will work on the front and see how it is going to work out.

Stay tuned.
Jeff, were cutting the you know what out of the fenders for the front wheels to clear. We are moving the wheels out, not in. As for low, were only going with a hotchkis 1 1/2" drop. We want it to practical.

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[GBodyGMachine]

I would like to see the front wheel fitment. I am not going to be running inner fender wells so I figured 9" would be the widest I sould go.

Jeff

[ProdigyCustoms]

Well, as I said, We will move all the extra out ala Nascar style and will trimming the fenders and the insides of the flares. The wheels I have now are only 9 1/2 with 255. I will be having them widened since they are 3 piece Forgelines, that is pretty easy

[Samckitt]

What the h*ll happened to the passenger side door, right at the door handle height?

[ProdigyCustoms]

What the h*ll happened to the passenger side door, right at the door handle height?

The car is a one owner car I have known since it was new. All original paint, not a spec of rust on it. Interior is clean, just wore out drivers seat and console lid. Ran perfect, maintianed by a Chevy freak. My friend that owned it since new had decided to put it for sale about 5 years ago. It was sitting in front of his business. Some drugies stole it and used it for a drug run. Cops caught them before the owner knew it was stolen.

So the damage was crushed steering column, side swiped something killing the door dead, (we have a perfect door) and a crack in the front bumper corner. The original owner put it inside his building and would not sell it for years. We talked him into a few months ago, and then waffled on weather to cut it or not. In the end, we decided to take the knife to it! My friend is going to be PISSED!

Also, picked up another 86 project this last weekend just to turn if anyone is looking. Black / red T top car loaded. needs paint on rust free body and complete interior.

[casey38boost]

What company did you get the flares from? I was thinking of getting some for my GN... i saw some on ebay..

[ProdigyCustoms]

That is them. Most horrible E bay experiance ever. Well maybe not most horrible ever, but surely the worst in quite sometime. I called to verify inventory, talked to someone at one phone number, a female, then was refered to a male for tech help. Was told parts would ship that day if I paid now. Paid now, that was early last week. No flares on Thursday, Friday, Monday. They are in miami, i am in orlando. One day shipping. In the meantime Thursday, Friday, Monday, I call, email, call, both numbers, no answer. I file paypal Dispute, get a tracking number that day. next day here.

I hate that ****. And the flares suck to! But I have a grinder and fiberglass resign

[TPI Monte SS]

Frank, that's gonna look awesome when it's done! Nice work so far on the wheelhouses and flares too, I'm glad to see someone trying to fit those flares on a Monte.

[Samckitt]

Since it has the GNX flares, maybe some fender vents are in order too.....?

[ProdigyCustoms]

Since it has the GNX flares, maybe some fender vents are in order too.....?

I thought about but...........................

[Samckitt]

Personally I like the early 80's Z28 vents better. I have a set that I was going to put on mine, but they are a little big for the Monte fender. They need to be about 75% or original size.

[Samckitt]

Here are a couple of pics of a Monte with the GNX fender vents. The first shot is where the owner installed them, the second is one I photoshoped. I think it looks a little better in that position.

[SickSpeedMonte]

oh man that is just sick!

I have been waiting for someone to try the gnx flairs on the fenders of an SS.

Pretty cool, cant wait to see it come together!

[SicMonte]

hmmm.....this is typical. I had 17x11's on my rear and they stuck out just the slightest bit..even with a frame notch (17x11, 5.5bs) so I sold them. Now that im finally seeing the fender flares on...i shoulda kept them!!! When can you do my car??

[Samckitt]

The Monte guys on here probably know who John Bzdel is; doesn't he have 17X11 wheels on the back? I am currently running 17X9.5 in the rear with 5" backspacing. How much do you gain with a frame notch? 1", 1.5" or more? If I got an extra 1.5", & then went with a 17x11" wheel, I would go with a 6.5" backspacing.

[McssGmachine]

I think John B is running a 17x10 on the back.

[Samckitt]

You are correct. Hmmm... I wonder if a 315 will fit on a 17X9.5 wheel then.

[molyorange 77]

How much of the frame is being cut, or how much room are you gaining from doing the frame notch? How much room do you have between the tire and frame after the notch with the 5.5 B/S?

[SicMonte]

hey guys. i had 17x11 rims with 315/35/17 tires out back and they did fit...but aparrentlly my rear end was cocked 1/4 inch to the driver side? so my driver side wheel stuck out a lil bit...and i wasnt happy...so I sold my rims...stupid move b/c i couolda corrected the alignment of the rear. It was an impulse sell. But anyways...they were 17x11 with a 5.5 b/s and i had a good amount of room on the frame side with a 1" notch.

[blazer4corners]

For the 315's they suggest no smaller than a 10" wheel . Due to " poppin" the center of the tire out.

[Samckitt]

I currently have 305's on an 8" wide wheel& had 285's on a 6" wide wheel..... But they are on my truck & 33" diameter. ;-)

[McssGmachine]

Any updates?

[84supersport]

Yeah, more updates. Can you get some better pictures of the flares? I'd like to know if you cut the body under the flares.

[ProdigyCustoms]

Got a couple deadline projects right now that pay, so the one that cost has sat for a week. Next week we are back on it.

[tracar91]

OK, where's our update?

My dad has fallen in love with this project.

[ProdigyCustoms]

Were in Indy right now for the Hotrods & Restoration trade show. We brought up prodigy and the Billy goat. We are heading to Saint Louis tonight to do a couple days on V8 TV, then heading home to work on the Monte, and Lisa Empty Nest.

[SicMonte]

i was trying to make it to that trade show but i had to work this weekend!! how is it out there?

looking forward to the update on the monte!!

[Samckitt]

Hey Frank,
Anything new on the Monte?

[ProdigyCustoms]

Michael got the frame cleaned up and sprayed the underhood. Got the Front Hotchikis kit on it today (nice stuff I tell ya) and started on the rear suspension. Frame notch is done and he is working on the flare everyday a little. Motor is freshened. Year One is the goal, so he has to hustle!

I get his camera and post some pics soon

[ProdigyCustoms]

Maybe you guys can help me. What kind of spindle can be swaped to these cars, without going the sftermarket spindles. We would just LOVE to do ATS spindles, but we to stay on the cheap. Were kinda clening the shelves on this project. We have some Wilwoods we want to put on it. But with the original one piece spindle / caliper braket, there is no brakes available.

[Samckitt]

A body spindles with 12" brakes using aftermarket upper A arms, & F body 1LE rotors.

I have 98-02 S10 Blazer ZQ8 spindles with factory style upper A arms. ZQ8 spindles use 2 piston calipers & a slip on rotor similar to Vettes & F bodies. I used the spindles but used it with C5 13" rotors & calipers.

[ProdigyCustoms]

What year A Body?

[Samckitt]

Here is info on Global West's website that will tell you what cars you can get 11" or 12" brakes from:

http://www.globalwest.net/G-body%20disc%20brake%20spindle%20conversion%20infor mation.htm

[65convertible]

Sounds like a cool project, can't wait for pics, and details on the wheel fitment! keep up the good work. Paul

[blazer4corners]

b-body spindles are easier to find ...caddys,olds,etc

[Samckitt]

I have a set of B body spindles in the garage. No calipers or rotors though.

[Samckitt]

Frank, any updates on the Monte?

[ProdigyCustoms]

Getting uglier by the minute. Found a killer door this weekend, Motor is about to go in, but possible 11th hour change. It will all come togther at once.

The flares have been a LOT of work. I think we will have to mold them to recoup some of our time, LOL! I think they are going to look dead hot though.

[vintageracer]

Wilwood makes an aluminum caliper that will BOLT ON the B body spindle. I have a brand new set if you are interested.

[GBodyGMachine]

New Pics?

Jeff

[ProdigyCustoms]

Wilwood makes an aluminum caliper that will BOLT ON the B body spindle. I have a brand new set if you are interested.

I am making brackets and may very well sell a kit. These cars need some good brake ptions and Wilwood does not have these on the radar. I will probably do a 12.2" four piston and 13" six piston set up.

[vintageracer]

Frank,

The Wilwoods I have are the very same calipers that all the Saturday night racers use on these B body cars at the local Saturday nigh Nascar tracks. A STOCK B body caliper has a clamping pressure of over 2800 psi per GM specs. This is as much or more than a lot of "racing" calipers. Stock B body calipers or the Wilwood bolt on aluminum caliper will give a G body GREAT BRAKES in the front.

You are on your own on the rear brakes!

[ProdigyCustoms]

Here is a pic of the GN Flare, just a few slight modifications. I have decided to sell them when they are finsihed. I will get pics tomorrow but we have the 2 right ones roughed in. Once done with the plugs, we will mold them and make a set for this car as these are getting REAL heavy! Were going to being pushing it getting ready for Year one, but I guess we would have it no other way, LOL!

[Samckitt]

Wow, looks like a lot of hacking & wacking to get them to fit.

[65convertible]

Hi Frank, Are you going to sell a fitted version, or those modified flares, would love a set for Elky! how long and how much? Keep up the good work and update on wheel sizes etc as finished. thanks.

[ProdigyCustoms]

Hi Frank, Are you going to sell a fitted version, or those modified flares, would love a set for Elky! how long and how much? Keep up the good work and update on wheel sizes etc as finished. thanks.

We will, I am guessing the flare kit will be about $400 a set for quality Vinylester resin pieces. As for tire sizes, I know the rear will take a 335 on a 12" rim, on the front I am thinking with the flare we can probably run a 11 inch wheel and a 295 or so tire. On this car we are using a set of wheels and tires we have, so we probably will not take full advantage of the front possibilities.