OK well I need some good ideas for my 77Monza

[MonzaRacer]

So I am Pro-Touring the 77 Monza, I am still leaning ttowards the Yellow extrior, probalby black interior.
So i am working on some things to get it running. To begine with it will have an all forged rotating assembly (283, 040 over ,blue print), TCI THM350 w'saturday night special converter.
As I am back to work I was talking to Mark over at SC&C about better upper arms for adjustablity.
I have an S10 spindle conversion with Raybestos Brute Stops pads for now, but since the ZQ Blazer upgrade makes it easier to install some bigger brakes on front, I have an S10 diff in rear for now w'3.42s, So far its in good shape so it stays.
I am thinking the 04 Vette brakes up front, and well what for the rears?
Was thinking of tring to adapt the Exploder brakes as they keep a seperate Ebrake or Camaro/Vette?
I had 225/50/15 on 15x7 Outlaw IIs on front with 3 5/8 back space and 275/60/15s on Outlaw IIs on 15x8.5 with 3 5/8 back space.
I have thought about 215/40/17 fronts and not sure on rears yet.
I am still thinking of a STS remote turbo setup or NOS,
The engine selection is also up in the air as I found a 4.0 DOHC Old Aurora V8 too (with turbo?)possibly?
Cant afford LS power.
AS for the supension I have prety much figured on Air Rid ShockWaves up front and custom build a rear setup with colRide in back. I have even got a spare NOS bottle to use for an air tank(figured it would make the people wonder at least and if I ran 2 bottles and got into a match race nad had to drop a bottle I could fake it and remove the air bottle instead(ala Pinks type race).
This car is going to drive by end of may hopefully but not finished yet.
Come on guys I need some helpful ideas and figured some of the most creative guys on the web could bounce some ideas.
Thanks
Lee

[G-TX]

http://www.v8monza.com/album/index.htm

[MonzaRacer]

Yeah I am on all the Monza boards ,got my S10 adapters from Bob Gumm over on the V8Monza site.
I need some Pro-touring ideas ,maybe wheel thoughts. anyone think I am crazy to start with a 283?

[bookends]

I'd find a 350 block and build a screaming 302, put a tko 600 behind it.

[ProdigyCustoms]

I love those cars. My first car (that I drove) was a V8 Monza. I wanted a Mirage so bad i couldn't stand it. The white car was a dream.

[vintageracer]

Frank,

I've got a phone number if I can find it for a VERY NICE low mileage Mirage with cold A/C and V8 if you want it. $5000

[NOT A TA]

I had a yellow 77 Monza (wife's car)and an 80 Monza Spyder I special ordered through my uncles dealership when my 68 Camaro was stolen. I wanted to order the IMSA Mirage version but they weren't available when I ordered the Spyder. My Spyder was black /red int and had a Buick 231 V6. Traded the yellow one for a 66 Mustang I still own. The Black Spyder went to the Ex when I divorced her.

How about installing a Buick Grand National engine/turbo setup in your Monza? They're mighty fast even in the big bodied car and could be scary fast in the Monza. I'd be very interested in the Mirage Vintageracer mentioned if Frank doesn't want it.

[RobM]

if you cant afford an LSX then a turbo system is going to be a stretch, those remote systems alone are way more than what a lsx would cost to put into the car.

[Scott Parkhurst]

I also have a Monza dream. But, mine would be long-term so I could afford it.

I'd want to start with a tube chassis. Go LSX/6-speed, maybe a turbo.

Then, modify a Mirage body to fit over it all (steel flares and all).

Finally, I'd shave it of all logos and paint it black.

I'm betting very few would even know what kind of car it was anymore. I've wanted a V-8 Mirage for many years. Someday I'll have one.

My original dream was BGN V-6 w/ 5-speed, but now it's an all-alloy LSX with 6 gears.

I will build this someday.

~SP~

[MonzaRacer]

Never seen any steel Mirage panels, they were almost all fiberglass except for a very few that came through as SMC but the SMC panels didnt hold up as SMC wasnt perfected,, 5 yrs after the last Mirage was ordered the fiero made sMC work.
I thought of a GN but the best price I can find is for worn out units nad well over $3k to set up (and its been done.
I am not quite into the LSx line yet.
I have thought about a TKO and will probably look into it as money progresses.
The reason for a 283 right now is I have a free block, 7 rods, 6 forged flat tops and I still have new bearings and seals.
To build it all I need it are rings, 2 pistons and a rod.
My friend with a machine shop has spare rods and we have 2 pistons and rings coming,,and the headers to run a SBC I already have.
I will get to do my own machining so it will be blueprinted and the heads are from my brothers.
I already have the TCI trans and converter so for now till I get pedals and other stuff ready it can be running.
OH and the LSx headers were quoted at approx. $900 so thats a definate reason to build my own.
My thoughts have been to use STS parts but I have turbos and would probably piece together the piping till I get it all right.
Dont get me wrong the turbo was a thought and I like the STS idea for an Hbody.
I have s10/Gbody spindles from 86 S10 on it but have been thinking of using the ZQ spindle and upgrading to 'Vette brakes(talk about stop on a dime?)I still have to figure out some things on the back as I am using an S10 rear end right now.
I was even thinking of a hot rodded 700R4 or 4L60E with paddle shifter.
My trick now is to get my bills caught up and try to get it running before Power Tour.
I dont know if I will get the ART suspension on it completely by then.
Loosing my job for a month sucked and put me way behind.
Now my choice will be to use the 4.3 liter emblem but mill it out and use vinyl graphics to put in the liters.
I have also looked into the 4.0 DOHC Aurora engine but I am not sure if its a viable yet.
My time off affected my FlexFI plans too.
Probably gonna have to run my AFB if I can getthe throttle shafts unfroze.
Around here in Indiana (at least the yards I have to deal with)want WAY too much for the LSx/manual combo and I have had 350s in other Monzas and the torque is hard to control, not sure whats going to happen after i get some 17in sticky tires under it though.
Dont get me wrong the ideas are good and keep them coming.
I just have to work with what i have for now.
Heck it may have 15s on it for this year or at least till my last ESOP check comes in.
Thanks
Lee

[LS1NOVA]

LS power is cheaper than 4.0 power and they dont leak oil or pull head bolt threads!
Cool project.
How about some 315/35/17's under the back.

[bookends]

a cheaper alternative to the LS1/LS2 is the 4.8/5.3 LS style motors, go with a carb intake and use manifolds, they accept all the same mods, rev to the moon, and are plentiful. find a used tko 500 or tremmec 3550 they go for less than a grand, and have fun

[MonzaRacer]

Well the tire would hang out of the wheels wells about 2 inches, I may be able to squeeze 295s under but I dont know.
Besides the car can only use something like a 215 40 or 45 17 on front ,,,just not a liot of room there..
As for the 4.0 there is one in local yard condition unknown, last LS engine I priced was $2500 bare and 90k on it.
I am not paying that for any LS engine unless its a 505hp LS7.
I can build pretty much any SBC and make good power for $2500, not pile MORE cash on top of $2500.
As for pulling head bolts I have worked on Northstars and generally you dont see many bolt holes fixed unless the engines over heat and need headgaskets.
And as for leaking oil I have only seen a few and generally it is the pan areas and that is fixable. The 4.0 I found looks real clean ,found out the previous owner got busted while in college and the car was towed as abandoned.
My future plans are, if I use it , to run it with Megasquirt, but then if I can get piezo injectors big enough I will build my own FI anyway.
Oh well I am still in the wait for weather mode as it got cold again.

[ProdigyCustoms]

I am thinking GN V6, Hee hee

[MonzaRacer]

Dont get me wrong I can get good heads from AFR for any LS engine but the availability around here is still outside my cash flow. Besides it means a LOT of fab work and I know for a fact that LS manifolds wont clear the steering. Then I dont know what I will have to do for a rad, and all the other parts.
This is not to say that LS power isnt out of the question but but considering that even if I used a 350 I can buy a rebuild kit for less than $200 bucks and a pair of heads for well under a grand and make 400 to 450 hp and if I decided to build a different engine (like the 302 idea) the price isnt that much different.
I have connections to do machine work and still have plenty of SBC parts, heck if I could get a decent set of aluminum heads and headers O have a 402 BBC that could go in.
As forthe LS manifolds a few guys got them in but had to do some clearance work, major fab work to install the mounts, and one guy had to shift his engine to the right some.

[vintageracer]

I also know of a second Monza with a full fiberglass widebody Mirage kit for sale here in Tn. It's rough and overpriced but it is a V8, A/C and 4 speed.

[LS1NOVA]

Sounds like your mind is made up already anway. If your going to SBC, Id say a 8000rpm 302 and a 5 speed like already mentioned. Also on the tires, (sticking out 2 inches), I like what Rad Rides does. Pick the tires and the stance and build the car around that.

[LS1NOVA]

Oh yeah dont forget if you do the Northstar. The oil pan, exh. manifolds, and water crossover would have to be fabbed. Also the throttle body is over the trans.

[MonzaRacer]

dont get me wrong guys I have thought of the 302 but remember this 283 at 0.040" will only be 0.085" less than a 302.
And the fact the pistons would be over $500 alone and I would need either spacer bearings or spacer inserts to put the steel 3 in stroke crank(no I wont spend cash on an aftermarket one even if I had the cash).
The 283 will have preped rods(by me), factory nitrided steel crank, and old thick block and since I have to get an adapter for the oilfilter I will remote the sucker.
I may have a better set of heads (modified Vortecs) that can use old intakes (as I like my old Scorpion).
I have located the small injectors that GM uses in the CSFI/MFI conversion and I think they will work fine for my application and are E85 compliant. No wI just gotta buy the Megasquirt!
BUT I do have a prototype setup for DIS for my Chevy so no fighting the firewall!
Anyway still looking at wheels but the offset is bitch unless I can get adapters or look into using the wider (since it now has a 2wd 86 S10 in it now) S10/Blazer 4x4 unit,,,,hmm wonder if the later ones with disc brakes can be made to fit?
Oh well I did find a 6.0 LS from a truck with 42k on it but no price yet. Pan looks like it might fit but the headers might be a pain, as I am not sure I can modify them (as was suggested to me) and still use the ones I have.
BUT then accesories may be a pain also,, but I did get a free Astro front mount plate with the A/C compressor (yes I am looking into setting it up with A/C.
Anyway, not sure if the 6.0 come through but may have a set of aftermarket heads atleast (maybe).
Uh does the LSx have the same trans bolt pattern as an SBC I forget just what does fit it (the truck is a 4x4).
I also found a built 4.3 Vortec V6 too and thought of trying to mimic the Typhoon setups.
Anyway just thinking and writing down ideas.
Lee

[Damn True]

Turbo Ecotec or Turbo GN V6