Project Nightmare- 1982 Monte Carlo SS (clone) build

[jackfrost]

yeah, I would try some polish on the lenses.

boot won't be an issue.

[Dalamar]

great work so far! these cars look great slammed.

[montessaj]

JackFrost--- Thanks for the input, I'll try that lenses polish this weekend and see what kind of results I get.

Thanks Dalamar--- Plans are to go lower with it once she is driving and everything is settled in a little so I can see about how much of a drop I will need. The front will probably be at its lowest with the 3" drop, but the back will probably be dropped another inch to level it out.

[malibu9in]

looking good..take yr time and dont get in a rush!

[montessaj]

Definetly not in a rush so far. Its been almost two years since I started going the pro-touring route. Should be done in April or May. I'm going to hold off on paint for a little bit so I can break the car in properly.

[montessaj]

Thanks for the comment btw.

[montessaj]

Update:

I spent some time at the shop this Sunday and got a few things done, but once again I have run into some problems.

#1 If you remember from previous posts I had been trying to get some imprints off my painted taillights. I tried the lens polish with no success, so.... I decided to wet sand them with a little 2000 grit. It worked great at getting the bubble wrap imprints off, but now I have a dull flat surface, I'm not a body man and I know just about nothing about paint, so how do I make the paint shine again? Maybe I should just have someone re-do them? Suggestions?

Here is a good picture of what I mean by "bubble wrap imprints"
This is before I decided to wet sand the taillight.



Here is another.
Now from what I understood about the smoked taillight process, is that the taillights are sprayed with some clear coat with just a touch of black in it to make it clear enough to see the red lights through but, still appear black until lit.



If anyone does this and is willing to redo these for me, or fix them I'd be more than happy to pay you to do it.




#2 When I installed the sway bar I had all kinds of fits with bolts pulling the threads out of the frame, I solved those issues with bigger bolts. I attached the sway bar to the control arm with the correct end links, but once tightened down the end link is not standing straight up, its sits angled back. I have no idea how to correct this. The sway bar is on the right way, all of the parts are for a Monte Carlo. Maybe it has to have weight in the engine bay?


If you turn your nogin sideways here you can see what I'm talking about, the end link is not standing straight up and down, more leaning towards the rear of the car. Is this ok? Do I need to wait until there is weight in the engine bay to see what happens? Sorry I forgot to rotate the picture prior to adding it to photobucket.


You can kind of see it here also...


In other news.... I did get some other things accomplished in the 3 hours I had before class on Tuesday.

I got the core support almos completely in primer....


The booster is painted semi-gloss black.






Thanks in advance for any help you guys can give on my two issues.

Andy

[montessaj]

Any ideas on my issues with the taillights or the sway bar endlinks before I go back to the shop tomorrow? Thanks guys.

[deeddude]

I think you’re assumption of no engine installed is correct. Can’t tell because the cars not I front of me, but the swaybar ends should sit somewhat higher. With the engine installed and the car at ride height you may need to lengthen or shorten those end links. I use this same chassis in one of my stock cars and I usually have to run to the hardware store for bolts and tubing. If you continue to have problems with the bolts pulling out of the frame; put a washer and nut on the inside of the frame. Good Luck with the project.

[montessaj]

I appreciate the help, I guess we'll just wait until there is a motor in it to figure that out.

[montessaj]

Update time:

I know its a little late, last I worked on the car was Monday, but with school and work well you get the point...
I got just a little accomplished on Sunday. I got the tie rods, and fast ration steering box mounted, tore apart the heat box and began to prep and prime those pieces, and finished up a few things I left hanging in the back of the car.


Still can't figure out what to do with these taillights... Here is a picture of what it looks like wetsanded. Maybe buff it? I have no idea. If anyone knows someone I can send them to to be smoked then let me know.





Here are some pics of the progress. Excuse the fithyness of the car, I am in and out of the engine bay all of the time so it makes a mess.














I used a filler primer on the heat box to kind of smooth out the worn fiberglass showing, after three coats it seems to have done its job.


Also to whoever suggested the aircraft remover, thanks it works wonders. I did wear gloves when I used it because apparently it burns your skin...

[796spdbu]

Andy,
I can repaint those taillights for you if youd like. You can try to wet sand them with 1200 wet. then mount them on your car(mask off surrounding areas,so you dont hurt the paint) and try to buff them. If not send me a PM and ill respray them for you.

As far as the endlinks for the sway bar goes,theyll straighten out once you get your engine in and the wieght on the front suspension.

Greg.

[montessaj]

Hey Greg, Thanks. Pm coming you way......

[CruizinKev]

very nice! I need to find a non a/c box for my MC

[montessaj]

I have one Kev. The box and most of the stuff that goes with it, missing the ducts and the cowl screen and some other odds and ends. If you want it PM me.

[Code Red]

ignore the model?? well **** give her to me then lol

car looks good I wanted to do a ss monte a way back

[montessaj]

ignore the model?? well **** give her to me then lol

car looks good I wanted to do a ss monte a way back

Thanks you sir. I dig your GTO as well.

[796spdbu]

You got PM!!

[montessaj]

Well guys, I know its been ages since I have done an update on my progress, but progress has been made!.... Kinda.

As you have seen in my build I have torn all of the suspension off the car and painted the frame with the front clip still on the car. I never really felt right about doing it that way and it seems kind of half a** to me.


SO I have decided to start all over. I mean that I am going to pull the entire front clip off, all of the front suspension, all of the brake and fuel lines, everything off the firewall, all the rear suspension, the fuel tank and pump, and the rear bumper. I'm going to go ahead and strip the entire frame back down to bare metal, and POR-15 the entire frame, replace the body bushings, and throw another coat of under coating on it. The reason for doing this is because I really couldnt get paint and undercoating in every spot it needed to be with everything still intact. The master cylinder also leaked on the driverside frame rail and ate a bunch of the paint away. I plan on doing this disassembly and reassembly in about a 4 day period working day and night. Sorry I have no pics this post but during spring break there will be a ton of pictures. Just thought I'd let you guys know what is going on with the project. Let me know what you think.
Andy

[jackfrost]

heh... that is almost exactly what I did. mine started off as a motor swap, and I just kept finding stuff that needed painted and/or fixed. I think we'll both be better off in the end.

good luck.