1984 Monte Carlo SS

[cornfed]

Picked up an uber-clean '84 MCSS roller from my bro-in-law last year. A half-baked idea lead to rampant impulse spending.

The goal:
PT-esque build with emphasis on driveability and reliability. The A/C has to work, too. Heavy fabrication modifications will be avoided- no notching, no cutting, no welding on the car. Must be able to be returned to stock. Pretty crappy and expensive design constraint but I feel the car is way too clean to hack up.

Drivetrain:
'01 5.7L LS1 / 4L60E w/ 52k bought from Cleveland Pick-A-Part.
BRP mid-length headers, RetroLSX oil pan, Spohn motor mounts, and Iceman X-member are only noteworthy mods. Rear axle has Richmond gears 3.58 or 3.73 (I have to verify) and limited slip.

Front suspension:
SC&C Stage 2, SPC LCAs, SPC coils, Varishocks, SC&C frame brace, Baer 13" Track brakes

Rear suspension:
Currie UCAs, Currie LCAs, SPC coils, Spohn PT sway bar, Varishocks, Baer 13" Track rear brakes.

Wheels & Tires:
Round aluminum chunks wrapped in black rubber.

Before viewing the photos, yea, I totally skipped stripping and painting the frame. Maybe this winter, maybe next winter I'll get around to it. Probably not and I'm ok with that.

Photo journal:

Day I brought it home and washed it:
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Drivetrain ready for fitment:
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It's in the hole!
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Wiring is done until the front clip is reinstalled
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The mess up front. Welding LBJs tomorrow will complete installation this week.
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Out back:
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Out back again, where the 'vette filter/regulator resides:
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Anybody recognize this LSD?
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And that's about where I've stopped as of today. This week my goals are to finish the front suspension and brake installation, and rear disc conversion.

Next steps after installing suspension and brakes:
- reinstall front clip and finish wiring
- install fuel tank and connect lines
- stalk the loading docks daily for my wheels & tires
- adjust suspension, order driveshaft
- have exhaust system fabbed
- window tint & detail

Due to work schedule and having two energetic toddlers, hoping to be driving by October 1.

[titan460]

This is a great project. In fact I've had the same thing rolling around in my head. How are you doing ECU, tranny, fuel, etc to make this swap work?

[SicMonte]

looking good!!!

[Eggy44]

Looks awesome man. Can't wait to see some pictures of it when its on the ground. Want to see the ride height with those springs. Im thinking about putting them in my Malibu.

keep up the good work. that thing looks like its gonna be fun to drive

[78 Type-LT]

That's a clean roller...

[ryeguy2006a]

That's a nice project. I had a 1987 MCSS that was in now where near as good of shape. Nice project.

[CruizinKev]

nice project!!! what rear end is it? 8.5?

[cornfed]

Thanks for the kind words, all.


How are you doing ECU, tranny, fuel, etc to make this swap work?

Factory computer. My wiring harness was twice modified. First modification was convert it to stand alone. Second modification was to correct workmanship issues with the first mod, then extend ECU leads so it could be mounted behind the glove box. I'm using two fuse blocks. The OEM block handles chassis electrical. A Current Performance block handles the engine.

Trans: factory controls. Trying to make OEM 200R4 shifter play nice with 4L60E.

Fuel: BGN fuel tank, BGN in-tank fuel pump and sender, 'vette filter/regulator, -6AN lines to factory fuel rails

etc: Shiftworks mechanical speedo converter, Kwik A/C relocation bracket, will probably swap out steering shaft to eliminate rubber bushings and plastic cladding too close to headers. Planning to use stock F-body radiator and fans for cooling.


Honestly, I haven't fact-checked the rear axle. I don't know if the carrier is factory, it looks aftermarket.

[shudog]

Looks like a great project, you're really moving along!

[FoxGranadaChuck]

Very nice project.

[RomsMotors]

Nice project. It looks like my cutlass back in 2002.

[somcamaross]

Great project!

I will be interested in hearing how the Vari-shocks act.

[montessaj]

Nice!!! I love all of the Montes on PT now.

[cornfed]

Looks like a great project, you're really moving along!

The progress efficiency illusion is the magic of the internet. 10 months have transpired between first and last photos.

I'm hoping to recover from last weekend's setback and finish what I set out to do last weekend. Wheels are due Tuesday, gotta be ready.

[85GPLEf41]

Damn! I am so jealous that's what my plans are for my Grand Prix...:drool:
As for the posi unit it looks like my old Auburn posi unit that i sold.My came with stock 3.42 gears If you take it off it should look like this:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/07/0422092336-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/07/0422092337-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/07/0422092335-1.jpg
Hope this helps.

[SicMonte]

Great project!

I will be interested in hearing how the Vari-shocks act.


I have vari-shocks on my monte. They perform perfectly!

[cornfed]

The rolling stock arrived today.

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Rushforth Fuel in smoked titanium with polished outers. 18x7 up front, 18x8 out back, rolling on Hankook Ventus V12 235/40 front and 255/40 rear.

[mc84_zz4]

Very nice build! And my favorite year SS too!

[Z06killinSBF]

Looks great. nice job.

[FoxGranadaChuck]

The rolling stock arrived today.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

Rushforth Fuel in smoked titanium with polished outers. 18x7 up front, 18x8 out back, rolling on Hankook Ventus V12 235/40 front and 255/40 rear.


Looks great!! It is especially good that you are starting from a basically sound car.

[FULMNTE]

Nice Project...

I used to have a 87 LS Monte...

[CruizinKev]

sweet looking good! :twothumbs

[titan460]

this is quikly becoming one of my favorites.

[cornfed]

Got the front clip on the car this weekend. Obviously final fitment still needs to be done, but at least it looks like a car now.

Final ride height will be adjusted eventually. My goal was to eliminate the gap between wheel opening and the tires, but I'll have to really slam it down, which could make actually driving it impractical for the roads around here. Ground clearance to the oil pan is currently 5.5". After I install my exhaust, I expect to lose even more clearance.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/07/DSC_0022-1.jpg


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[Eggy44]

Looks great man! The wheels set that car off!

[liquidh8]

I really like those wheels too!

[cornfed]

Yay! Moved under it's own power today. Need to get an alignment, fab a couple small brackets, flush brake/trans/power steering fluids, and put it away for the winter, lol.

I'll have to get better photos when lighting is not as harsh.

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[cornfed]

Been waiting to complete the project before I contributed to this thread. Here we go. . .
Thanks DriverzInc for the wheel package!

Car: '84 Monte SS
Drivetrain: 5.7L LS1 and 4L60E from '01 TA w/ 52k miles. Bought from Cleveland Pick-a-part

Goal was a close-to OEM installation without cutting the car. I wanted to retain a totally stock interior appearance, too.

Radiator: Stock g-body w/ extra nipple for steam hose. G-body Cutlass top radiator retaining bracket. F-body LS1 fans w/ custom brackets for attaching to factory retaining clips. Buick Grand National A/C condenser- passenger side connection and same brackets as MCSS.

Intake: DIY parts from Silicone intakes.com. Stock MAF.

Engine swap parts: Spohn motor mounts, Kwik A/C bracket, BRP Mid-length headers, RetroLSX oil pan, NAPA G-body temp sending unit machined to fit in rear of passenger cylinder head (Vato Zone sending units deteriorated during machining process, Current performance stand-alone module for engine (chassis uses OEM fuse block). 2.5" 304 stainless exhaust w/ H-pipe and Dynomax VT mufflers. Mufflers at idle and normal RPM have factory F-body sound but roar when you spin up the engine.

Trans swap parts: Shiftworks tailhousing, built-to-spec trans cable (couldn't find adequate OEM part), custom trans cable mounting tab, Iceman x-member (not quite bolt-in application), F-body shifter modified to mount in factory G-body location and use stock MCSS shift handle. No mods were necessary to fit MCSS handle to F-body shifter. Shortened OEM MCSS driveshaft- will eventually replace with new driveshaft.

Electrical: Wait4Me performance flashed the ECM and converted the harness. I intended to do the electrical work myself until a local shop opened, Downriver Motorsports Wiring in Romulus, MI. The rates were exceptionally fair and quality of work far exceeded my expectations and abilities. The ECM is enclosed in a custom housing on the passenger toe-board beneath the carpet. The passenger loses about 2-2.5" of legroom.
I have a 34" inseam and could sit comfortably. Also had car dyno tuned. In hindsight, I paid twice for the harness and ECM flash, but it was a relatively inexpensive lesson to learn.

Fuel delivery: Buick Grand National gas tank/fuel pump/sending unit/, 'vette filter/regulator, currently have -6AN line from tank to engine but have plastic line to replace it when the weather breaks.

Fittment: RetroLSX pan is the cat's ass. Front cross-member is ~5" off the ground and the pan is tucked from harms way. ~1/8" clearance between stock steering box and alternator pulley. Pass rear spark plug is touching A/C box. I plan to clearance the box when the weather breaks. The engine-to-AC clearance is why the harness is draped over the rocker covers. BRP headers would have melted the OEM steering shaft. Jeep XJ steering shaft was too bulky, so I got it right with Borgeson hardware. Clearance is still a scant 1/8-1/4". BRP header flanges negated use of stock trans cable mounting tab.

Lessons learned: I'd not buy a harness or tune twice, and I'd opt for making my own trans x-member or just buying a G-force unit. I bought the Iceman used but never installed and didn't receive paperwork with it to know if I had the correct application or not. Unmodified fitment was like a saddle on a cow, but it worked out fine. I'm very satisfied with the end result. In hindsight I shouldn't have pussed out and cut the car. Had I gone that route it would have a T56.

Other stats: SC&C Stage 2, SPC tubular lowers and springs (all corners), SC&C frame brace, Vari-Shocks on all corners, Currie upper and lower rear arms, Baer Track 13" kit on OEM spindle, Baer Track 12" kit on rear, 18" Rushforth Fuel on Khumo Ventus tires.

Open issues: headliner repair, driveshaft replacement, purchase DIY A/C lines & charge system, wait for snow to melt and enjoy. :chug:

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[rfalker1]

awseome, looks funnn to drive

[Samckitt]

Radiator: Stock g-body w/ extra nipple for steam hose. G-body Cutlass top radiator retaining bracket. F-body LS1 fans w/ custom brackets for attaching to factory retaining clips. Buick Grand National A/C condenser- passenger side connection and same brackets as MCSS.

What is different about the Grand National Condensor compared to the Monte one?

Any issue with the location of the alternator interfering with the frame/steering?

[cornfed]

What is different about the Grand National Condensor compared to the Monte one?

Any issue with the location of the alternator interfering with the frame/steering?

Monte fittings are on the driver side, GN is on the passenger side. I don't want to drape AC hose through an already congested area, not to mention I'll save about 6-8' of hose.

No issue, but it's tiiiiiiight. About 1/8". I pushed the engine back as far as I could. I intend to borrow the Longacre scales from work to weigh and check bias for curiousity sake, not to scale the car for max performance.

[Samckitt]

I think I am thinking of the dryer. You are referring to the radiator like think in the AC system right?


That makes perfectly good sense then.

[cornfed]

Yes, the radiator like thing.

[rtwind02]

Those wheels look sharp!! This looks like it was be a breast once you are done.

[craigs73]

nice i love them montes the wheels look great with the color of car IMO

[Mudweizer]

Do your upper control arms have greaseable racing bushings or high durometer rubber bushings? Nice Monte!

[cornfed]

Grease bushings.

Thanks for the comments, guys. (I mean guys in the sense of camaraderie not gender bias, lol)