1986 Monte Carlo SS Restomod LS3/4L80e

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Bryan.Carmichael

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Mar 2, 2016
14
34
13
Tulsa Oklahoma
A quick introduction to myself... My build starts back in 1996 in Coweta, Ok. I first purchased the Monte Carlo SS at the age of 16 after I flipped my 1985 Cutlass I bought in 1994. I’d say G Body 4 Life. I was attending Vo-Tech my JR and SR year in auto body. During that time I built a 400hp 383 putting 460 ft lbs of torque to the ground. Then I moved on to paint and body with a 4 inch cowl and a rear spoiler the size of the Batmobile’s rear spoiler and the color choice of 1998 Corvette purple. I showed the car for several years bringing home many first and second place trophies. In 2000 I got Married, 2001 had my first kid and 2002 I tore my SS apart anddddd..... yes that’s right! It stayed disassembled until 5 years ago. It’s crazy what a divorce does to your ambition to rekindle your first love ( yes my Monte SS). It’s been a complete restoration with new almost everything. Decided to go LS3 and 4L80e. I was married recently and my wife fully supports my hobby. She is always out in the shop with me and learning all about my build. I will add pictures and as much detail to help my fellow brethren out on your builds. Be patient with me as I can get this build thread up to date. I’m going back several years to update. I hope to make new friends and learn new ideas on my build. Thank you and looking forward to all the comments.
Below are some pics of back in the day and how I left it tore apart in 2002.
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Bryan.Carmichael

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Mar 2, 2016
14
34
13
Tulsa Oklahoma
What is the source for your drivetrain?

RRR Racing, built the 4L80e transmission. I bought the 3600 stall from PTC converters. The driveshaft I will have built by Drive Shaft Inc in Tulsa. I haven't measured yet but I'm only assuming it's not going to fit, and those factory gbody shaft don't have a good history of holding up to power. The rear axle is still the factory 7.5. I went ahead and rebuilt it and added the blazer disc set up until I can afford to upgrade.


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Bryan.Carmichael

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Mar 2, 2016
14
34
13
Tulsa Oklahoma
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This is where I started. Suspension wasn't bad, believe it or not, but it was 30 yrs old with 64,000 OG miles. I purchased new tierods, ball joints, bushings and spindles. Rock Auto was my source to this except the spindles. Spindles are Belltech and was purchased through eBay.
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The control arms I blasted and cleaned up with fresh paint. I originally went with 2" drop spindles with factory springs. Since then I replaced with blazer spindles and drop springs. I then cleaned up the firewall and painted it gloss black.


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I purchased th efull bushing kit from energy suspension.


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Sorry the pictures are not in order.
 
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Bryan.Carmichael

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Mar 2, 2016
14
34
13
Tulsa Oklahoma
After finishing the front suspension I moveed on to separate the body from the frame. Some advise to the one's that are going to do this separation, bolt on or weld square tubing to the rear bumper mounts. This will keep the integrity of the frame the same when you go to remount the body. The frame springs out when the body is removed. I did not do this. I had to use ratchet strapes to pull the frame back to square. It wasn't bad but I could have avoided it. I had the frame blasted and I coated it with Por15 chassis paint. Powder coating is idea but I tend like to do everything myself. Two things I didn't do that I think in the future I'm gonna wish I did, frame notch for wider tires and box in the frame. These gbody frames tweak bad. There are many videos online that should have sold this to me, but I didn't. I figure I can always go back and do it someday.




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Turbo Zach

Comic Book Super Hero
Sep 8, 2015
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5,874
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50130
Welcome from Iowa. You have a nice project there. It is awesome you have your son helping you and welding at such a young age. I see you have a Chevy pickup poking out in one of your pictures. We like square bodies too!
 
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Bryan.Carmichael

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Mar 2, 2016
14
34
13
Tulsa Oklahoma
Welcome from Iowa. You have a nice project there. It is awesome you have your son helping you and welding at such a young age. I see you have a Chevy pickup poking out in one of your pictures. We like square bodies too!

Thank you! One day I'll make it up to Iowa! Lol. My son is such a cool kid. Always wanting to help out where he can. I'll teach him all he wants to learn. I have ever 6 kids and most all of them show some interest in working in the shop with me. Yep that's an 84 C10 short wide. It's my cousin's frame up project that's been going on for four years. It's been fun working side by side with him. I actually just finished building an 84 C10 for my wife. Bought it in February and finished it last month. So about six months I neglected my SS. Here is a picture of my wife's short wide. It's turned into here daily driver. [emoji23]
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Texas82GP

Just-a-worm
Apr 3, 2015
7,981
18,676
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Spring, Texas
Welcome to the Site from Houston. Cool project. You've done some nice work. Looking forward to more history as you post it and more progress. Don't be shy if you have a question. There's a lot of great, knowledgeable guys on here.
 
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Bryan.Carmichael

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Mar 2, 2016
14
34
13
Tulsa Oklahoma
Welcome to the Site from Houston. Cool project. You've done some nice work. Looking forward to more history as you post it and more progress. Don't be shy if you have a question. There's a lot of great, knowledgeable guys on here.

Thank you! I'm looking forward to this! I hope to have more of my build up soon.


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Bryan.Carmichael

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Mar 2, 2016
14
34
13
Tulsa Oklahoma
I believe my next step was the disc brake swap. I chose the 2000 Blazer set up. I used a local contact to purchase the backing plates, he was pulling it so why not. LOL. The rear disc brake calipers and the front calipers are the Blazer set up/. I'll eventually go Bigger when I go big wheels. But for now this will do.
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My cut wasn't perfect but it worked just fine.


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