My 1987 Monte Carlo SS project.

[mc84_zz4]

...What mirrors are on your car? They look like Buick mirrors. Where did you pick those up at?

The stock 83-85 Monte SS had them, 86-88 they swapped to the 'Aero' mirrors.

[Small Block LSX]

The stock 83-85 Monte SS had them, 86-88 they swapped to the 'Aero' mirrors.

Got'cha. I like those mirrors better than the aero mirrors for sure.

[Small Block LSX]

I got the car home Saturday night. What a wild ride. I got off work at 2:00am. I got home at 2:30am and went to sleep. Woke up at 4:00am to get ready and leave for the airport. At 5:30am my flight left for Milwaukee and then immediately after I landed I had to catch my connecting flight to Indianapolis. The guy picked me up at the airport and was a really nice guy. I was so excited to see the car as he was talking it up the entire way there.

When we pulled up to his house I started to drool. Then as I got closer I started to feel my blood getting warmer and starting to boil. He said he didn't have a chance to detail the car, etc. The grass in the car is the same grass that was in the pictures he took 4 months ago. Once the interior is vaccumed and wiped down it will be a 9.5 out of 10. The interior quirks are that the factory tach doesn't work, the dome light doesn't work, the cruise control doesn't work, and the horn doesn't work. None of them really bother me THAT much as the car has an aftermarket tach. I will most likely race the wires back and hook up the factory tach and ditch the monster tach. So, interior is/was great.

Then I moved on to the engine and it was damn near spotless. It could use some polish on the chrome pieces but that was really it. All the small nookes and crannies were super clean without any rust. Only thing I could complain about is the grass/weeds/small branches up in the cowl. Again, it's just because the guy didn't really maintain the appearance of the vehicle. Its obvious he hadn't washed it or driven it in months.

I then started a walk around of the paint. The hood has the tree sap stains which he did tell me about. It should come out with some polish and claybar. The checkering on the rear quarter window that he said was quarter sized turned out to be the ENTIRE panel. This checkering is also the same sun faded look on the driver side door. The pictures he took of the door jams were slightly misleading. He said this car had zero rust. After looking closely there was surface rust starting in the door jams on both sides. Right in the lower corners. Then on the underside of the driver door it was starting there as well. On the trunk (behind the lip) some surface rust was starting. The worst spot was bubbling behind the paint under the passenger side mirror. Then there is just the misc. light scratches because it looked like he had no idea what he was doing the one or two times he probably washed the car.

I was disappointed because he said, "This is a Barrett Jackson car." He also said how much of a car guy he was.... well it didn't show. When I drove the car it drove solid and it put a smile on my face. I know that I will be working on it and giving it a better life. I figured I couldn't expect the world from a 25 year old car.

Lastly, he said he had receipts for $15,000 worth of parts. The receipts are definately there from what the previous owner had spent. However, it appears that he parted the car out. There are recepits for 18" wheels with KDW tires, a 6" cowl hood, a stereo system, etc. Out of all the receipts the only things still in the car are the engine, rebuilt trans, driveshaft, and the crate engine. Oh well.

He was also wrong on the engine itself. He said it was a ZZ4 and after inspection its actually a Fastburn 385 so it has better heads... albeit they are still pretty mild. I also noticed the car has true dual exhaust. The car has a custom and very nice transmission crossmember which was a surprise. Other small goodies like March brackets for the belt system which are nice to have.

Then, I decided to go along with the purchase anyways. About an hour in on my road trip the car started to get a lot louder. I stopped and didn't notice anything. Then when I got around Chicago I left a toll booth and it because crazy loud. When I looked in my rear view mirror I actually saw a bolt bouncing down the road. I pull over at a Burger King and noticed that my passenger side exhaust fell down (where it meets the header). The car sounded like a damn stock car. I was going deaf with the windows raised! I then grabbed the hood latch to take a peak under the hood and the T-handle hood latch breaks off. I start to second guess my purchase and become extremely upset. I grabbed a Whopper, looked up some local shops, and hit the road again. I stopped at 4-5 different shops that were all closed for the day. I ended up just chugging all the way home with the hanging exhaust.

The next day we bolted the exhaust back up and worked out all the small quirks. I am happy and disappointed at the same time. I guess when someone says they are a "car guy" you can't always trust them. I know I can make it better... but I feel cheated in a way. I paid over excellent condition RETAIL book value for this car. Besides the engine and clean interior it is "average".

I haven't even spoke about the messed up trans now. The car will shift from 1st to 3rd. Whether I am feathering the throttle or under WOT the car does not shift into 2nd at all. Tried to trouble shoot and searched the internet and found nothing that helped. It also sucks that he said it was a built 700R4 and I find out its just a rebuilt 200R4 with a high(er) stall.

I've been so busy with work this week I haven't even been able to wash it. The car does rip through 1st (gets sideways quite easily) and pulls like a raped ape in 3rd gear from 60-115mph. I will get her all washed up this weekend and take pics for you guys if you are interested. Until then, the paint job will be pushed up towards the top of the list.

Today I registered the car in MN and got my vanity plates. I was happy that my first choice was available. My new MN plates will say, "ONGRNGO" (On Green Go!)

Sorry for the novel,

John

[jackfrost]

uhh... pics?

[trapin]

I am positive that I will be doing 18x8" wheels in the front and either 19x9.5 or 20x9.5 in the rear. I'm going for more of a Pro-Touring look.

The 20" wheels could probably work but they're not exactly Pro-Touring. We're not so much "a look" but rather a build philosophy that centers around optimal all-around performance. Typically it's the smaller wheels (such as 17's and 18's) that lend themselves better to achieving this goal. One of the editors of Camaro Performers (Steve Rupp) actually uses a "track wheel" on his '68 Camaro that is a size smaller than his usual 18" wheels because they help his car perform better on road courses.

I would go with 17's in the front and 18's in the rear and drop the ride height like the purple car, that would look absolutely bad ass. But it's your car and the 20's would probably work. I will say though that it's nice to see different cars on here for a change. I have always been of the opinion that the Monte Carlo SS never truly got it's due back in the 80's because of Camaro and Corvette. It seemed like it always got stuck with the stinker engines. I'd love to see one built up to represent what that car really should have been back in the day. It also has sentimental value for me because the first "sports car" I ever drove was a 1986 Monte Carlo SS. I was 14 and my Dad tossed me the keys to wash it while he and my Mom went out for dinner (it was a GM company car). As soon as they left I took it out on the main roads and beat the living snot out of it. Old man never found out. LOL

[Small Block LSX]

Here are the pictures after washing up the car today. I can't find the charger for my digital so I just used my iPhone.

They'll have to do!

[Small Block LSX]

I know the air cleaner is a pile of trash. I tried fitting a larger K&N filter with a new hat and it wouldn't clear the hood. Unless I change my hood that setup stays... unless I get a low profile setup.




I have no idea why the coolant is a yellowish color. I wonder if it was just water and the water wetter that people use at the track. I think I may have it flushed out and get some new coolant in there.




Adding an electric fan and a shorter water pump would give me tons of clearance. Might be first on the list... not sure yet.








Haven't had a chance to hit the interior. It is mint. It just needs to have the grass sucked out and polished window crank handles or just replace them with new billet ones.



The guages are also pretty lame. I will most likely end up replacing them all with a new dash setup.

[Small Block LSX]

The 20" wheels could probably work but they're not exactly Pro-Touring. We're not so much "a look" but rather a build philosophy that centers around optimal all-around performance. Typically it's the smaller wheels (such as 17's and 18's) that lend themselves better to achieving this goal. One of the editors of Camaro Performers (Steve Rupp) actually uses a "track wheel" on his '68 Camaro that is a size smaller than his usual 18" wheels because they help his car perform better on road courses.

I would go with 17's in the front and 18's in the rear and drop the ride height like the purple car, that would look absolutely bad ass. But it's your car and the 20's would probably work. I will say though that it's nice to see different cars on here for a change. I have always been of the opinion that the Monte Carlo SS never truly got it's due back in the 80's because of Camaro and Corvette. It seemed like it always got stuck with the stinker engines. I'd love to see one built up to represent what that car really should have been back in the day. It also has sentimental value for me because the first "sports car" I ever drove was a 1986 Monte Carlo SS. I was 14 and my Dad tossed me the keys to wash it while he and my Mom went out for dinner (it was a GM company car). As soon as they left I took it out on the main roads and beat the living snot out of it. Old man never found out. LOL

I am going to take the forums advice. I think even with lowering the car and adding 20s it would look awkward. Since I won't be doing a frame notch (most likely) the wheels wouldn't tuck anyways. I think my best choice is 18s to get the look without compromising THAT much performance.

I will most likely end up doing my suspension and then figuring out what I have to work with. I don't want to put new shoes on the car and then realize I will have clearance or rubbing issues.

[montessaj]

The car looks flawless man. I totally dig it.

[Small Block LSX]

The car looks flawless man. I totally dig it.

Thanks!

It was the best one that I found after searching for 6 months. Still has some small issues, but that is part of the fun getting it all fixed up!

[CruizinKev]

cool project man! keep it up!

[72Chevelle454]

You can get a lot of your questions answered on www.montecarloss.com . You will find the owner of the purple Monte on there....SickSpeedMonte....you can also see his ride on www.sickspeedmonte.com I think that his stance is about as perfect as you can get with a G body. He goes in detail of how he built it up.

BTW - that's a clean Monte you have.

[SS1156]

I had an 85 and I loved that car. I thought about doing a PT Monte SS, but I really want to do a 70-73 Camaro or 70-75 Firebird. The Monte's do make a bad ass PT car. They are full frame, V8 and rear drive, what more could you ask for????? And you can put a 6 spd in them too!!!! Nice cars guys.

[blazer4corners]

If u change 2 a shorter water pump none of ur brackets or pulleys will work As a owner of multiple m/c ss's radiator clearance never a prob.