87 Monte Carlo SS Daily Driver!

[devildog214]

Hey my name is Dominic, Im 19 and ive been a long time lurker here. Finally decided to put up my ongoing build of my monte.

Bought it january 2009 from guy whos inlaw passed away. Paint and interior were faded, pushed in fender, crappy flowmasters, gutted cat, egr blocked off, smog pump and AIR removed and a pepboys grant Gt steering wheel topped the car off, besides that, the car was stock with 79k on her, purchased it for 2700.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/09/2ylvbld-1.jpg

Did a bit of maitenence to it just so i could drive it around, valve seals done, new cap/rotor, oil change radiator had a crack in it and was replaced with an all-aluminum 3 core.

I drove the car for about 3 months and then the bodywork began. Took about 6 months in the shop but they cut me adeal, 2500 if i worked on it too.For 1500 the car was blasted with baking soda.
The plastic bumper covers and fender extentions had to be stripped with a DA sander.
One of the doors was rusted at the bottom, it was replaced with on from an LS.

The guys did most of the work, i just sanded the primer, stripped some of the plastic pieces, some wet sanding, taped off the body.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/09/ff0qrb-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/09/6i6t89-1.jpg

[devildog214]

Around July 2009 i drove the car home from the bodyshop finally. Now i just had to piece back the interior. New carpet, interior and trunk, new floormats. New weatherstripping (still leaks :hammer:) Put the ss badges on but no stripes. Replaced the grant gt wheel with a stock ss wheel.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/09/sqtr3d-1.jpg

More maitenence!- Rear diff fluid changed, power steering and brake fluid, new trans mount, checked the trans pan for debis, found very little. new disc brakes and pads. Also popped the valve covers off and the thing was spotless, the guy meticulously changed his oil. New KYB GR2's all around. Threw some chrome bits on it as well. Replaced some blown speakers. Got rid of my old dryrotted tires for some 215/65/15 firehawk indy 500s. Yadda yadda yadda...

Started ordering some bolt-ons for my lame 305 to also be used eventually when i got a crate motor. Edelbrock performer EGR (still used the old block off plate) And edelbrock TES headers.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/09/2nlr29t-1.jpg
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https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/12/zsjwav-1.jpg

[devildog214]

Now here comes the pro-tour bits. Didnt like the way the car handled, like a big mushy boat. So on a wihm i ordered a set of UMI front and rear swaybars and was amazed by the difference! A few months later ordered some fixed RUCA's and boxed RLCA's.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/12/2lk-1.jpg
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[devildog214]

Made a big mistake, noticed i needed a new set of tires, instead of doing the smart thing and getting 16s or 17s i found a set of t-type mags for cheap, only have 100 bucks into them including the restoration. They look nice but i still wish i went with bigger rims and tires. Mounted some pirelli p6's 225/60/15 on them.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/09/2qv7fiu-1.jpg
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[COPO-RAT]

Tell me more about the UMI parts! How do you like them? Notice a big difference? I have my dad's 86 SS at my house now and I'm thinking he needs some handling goodies but nothing radical. Do tell.
Car looks great by the way!

[devildog214]

So more time passed and i finally save up enough to order my crate engine, from Phoenix Engines (what a regret) After just days after i carefully break the motor in Im getting no power, and valve taps. The lack of power was coming from the loose spark plug and eventually it fried the electrode off (my fault) But what wasnt my fault was the loosening and eventual shattering of rocker arms, broke two in a few weeks and replaced them with my old 305 rocker arms, no problems since. Also shattered a lifter to boot and replaced them with a set of rhoades lifters (no problems since either.)

Few pics from swap
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/09/2u8ck8x-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/09/2s9ayrn-1.jpg

[devildog214]

Along with the new engine i purchaed and edelbrock 600cfm carb, electric choke, vacuum secondaries. And an msd streetfire distributor and wire set. Gave it a good tune, used an wideband, ran great.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/09/jh67ia-1.jpg
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[devildog214]

Car runs great as of now, just wish it had more guts to it, the engine was supposed to be rated at 344-354hp and over 400ft lbs of torque, But it feels more like 300. It didnt seem right when i ordered it, 350hp with 9.2 to 1 compression and a near stock sounding cam. So im looking to improve on it eventually, a new set of heads and a cam to wake it up. Also looking to make it handle even better, upgrading my 25 year old springs and definitly doing it right with bigger rims and tires.

[devildog214]

The swaybars were a great investment, only paid about 300-350 for the pair, they make adjustable ones but i was going for a nice daily. Grease fittings on the front swaybar and all their control arms too. The control arms i didnt notice much since i already installed the swaybars, but they are way better quality then the stock stamped-steel ones. Like i said, greasefittings as well and polyurethane bushings too (already pressed in to the control arms)

[irregal83]

Nice car! love them g-bodies! welcome to the forum

[devildog214]

Thanks! Definitly getting alot of ideas hanging around here.

[irregal83]

Yeah i know exactly what you mean... i get on here everyday during my college classes and look at cars and take ideas i see from all of these amazing builds and use them inspire my build... although theres so many ideas that the build plan is always changing!

[craigs73]

man you got a good deal on the car always loved the montes keep up the great work

[randywyatt2000]

nice monte carlo ss i also have a 87 monte ss but i droped a 400 into it

[devildog214]

Ok alot of time has passed and theres been a few updates.

Car has been limping around for the last few months, been having problems with spark knock/pinging whatever you wanna call it. I was abit modest in my last post saying it had 300hp, more like 200. Tried everything, timing, carb tuning, 93 octane, vaccuum advance, centrifugal advance. Nothing, playing with the carb lets me move where it pings up or down and more fuel keeps it quiet. So with no other easy solutions i ran the heads, they were supposed to be 96-99 vortec heads, but not for me! They were tbi 305 or 350 heads from an older truck, not even vortec. Also in the engine description the heads were ported and possibly decked, could be the reason i am pinging. So not wanting to deal with the company anymore i went on my own in search of a way to salvage the engine to get what i had asked for and on a budget.

Did some research and ordered the parts i need to get it running right. Went with the 96 and up vortec heads, Comp cams HE268, edelbrock performer RPM vortec mani, arp headbolts and intake manifold bolts, misc gaskets, etc. The parts will go on spring break (around march) so they shouldnt collect too much dust.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/02/2hnvu9t-1.jpg

And just a few days ago picked up a set of older s10 zq8 wheels 16x8 all around. They're in pretty rough shape cosmetically, going to throw out the dryrotted tires they came with, then sandblast then maybe polish them or paint. Also need to figure out what brand 245/50/16 i should go with. I didnt want to get stuck riding on 15s anymore so i saw these wheels, for only 200 bucks and snatched em up.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/02/xdh1js-1.jpg