1972 Monte Carlo - Resto Mod

[dr.bombay]

Next step is the rear end and rear suspension. I know the cardinal rule of car restoration is to tackle things system-by-system to not end up in a demoralizing morass of loose parts. However, i will bend this rule a bit to pull the fuel tank and fuel lines to get access, inspect the trunk floor/drop panels for rust.

Pulled the stock fuel tank which was actually in good shape. Since the car had been regularly driven, the innards were clean and there were no leaks or rust. there was a small dent on the bottom which my son wondered if it might have been the result of 1970s style / Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift (yes a Monte was character in that film) car chase jump... i think (hope?) not... Which gets me wondering - how did that golden era of car chases coincide with the rolling sofa cars of that time? It didnt cross my mind as much as a kid watching Steve McGarrett chasing bank robbers on twisty highways in Hawaii in a 5000 pound Mercury Marquis with 7" tires

But I digress. The tank and sender went up for sale and went to a new home in a local kid's chevelle build. My plan is to get a dedcated EFI tank rather than messing around adding an internal sump box. With the tank out, i could get a good look at the floor which looked great and free of rust. the whole area was washed down, scotch-brited, and primered with factory-esque Zinc Phosphate. I think it was Zinc Chromate from the factory but i understand that stuff is mega toxic.





Oh and the drab green primer color was chosen to match the remaining primer i see under the floorpan and inside the inner structure. Some archeology tells me that this was consistent with GM assembly practice in the Van Nuys plant where the Monte was built in '72. Again - not going for a purist restoration but want to keep the history where possible and where it doesn't conflict with my modernization goal.