BUILD THREAD 1987 Monte Carlo from Iceland
- Thread starter Sævar Örn Eiríksson
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sandable primer is on, the doors are now completely straight, however there are still minor details that need work which didn't show until the primer was on 🙂
It's coming soon!!
Welcome to GBF, from Seattle, Wa.,USA.
You may spend more time reading and answering questions than building your gbody. I am only at the bottom of page one, (with yesterday's date on it) and have 19 more to go to catch up to today. Count me in on the watch party.
EDIT: I guess I read the first page too quickly. What I thought was yesterday's date, was actually 2 yrs and 1 day ago. Not 1 day ago. As I edit this, I will need to go back to page three to continue from where I left off.
You may spend more time reading and answering questions than building your gbody. I am only at the bottom of page one, (with yesterday's date on it) and have 19 more to go to catch up to today. Count me in on the watch party.
EDIT: I guess I read the first page too quickly. What I thought was yesterday's date, was actually 2 yrs and 1 day ago. Not 1 day ago. As I edit this, I will need to go back to page three to continue from where I left off.
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Some more progress, as I had no recommendations for a tachometer suitable for the dash (except those found used for 120 bucks or new for roughly 400) I decided to go my own route, and I have to brag that I'm quite happy with the result, however it may annoy the purists, but that's not what this is about for me at all.
and a video showing how it all works
and a video showing how it all works
If you are driving your Monte, you have a bunch of us beat no room to complain.
Wow, Just read 20 pages, pictures and watched videos. You're close to getting this to being a great driver. You have to crank this up once your done ,ehh?
The metal work is astounding!!! Following.
The metal work is astounding!!! Following.
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Thanks for your interest and kind words, I will continue this project for as long as I have spark. I am wise enough to let go of a project instead of letting it sit, so there may be a new owner if I get bored with it.
Today I tackled the non-working speedo... the verdict, someone never installed a driven gear when the 350 was put in there... duhh
So then before purchasing a driven gear I must decide on a differential ratio, so first of all, count the one I already have... it's a 2.41:1 ! That's a technical top speed of 305 kph/ 190 mph YEA RIGHT
I'm totally fine with a technical top speed of around 120mph so 3.55:1 it is!
I've found this kit, with a locker aswell, I like these lockers, they're about 80% locked, so there are no brunt forces that break axle shafts etc.. Just an even and smooth transaction of power between each of the axles, so both wheels will spin if we give it hell! I've had this in my 4x4s before with great results, eaton truetrack.
Some pictures of the diferential (I forgot to film the transmission tailhousing removal, you just have to believe that I did it and found the cable was attached to nothing at all..!)
It's clear that this thing has been doing one wheel peels for decades, judging by the wear of the spider gears and center pin!
I've considered buying this kit to remedy both my gearing and the sloppy one wheel peels, then I have to calculate which driven gear I need for the transmission, but I have a calculator for that online that I must search for again... They weren't expensive either, the gears.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VHQKBQT/?tag=gbody-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000C9MMBY/?tag=gbody-20
I've also considered buying this kit to remedy my sloppy rear suspension, it tilts when I floor it, the bushes are completely worn out, I don't want poly bushings honestly, plus these are cheaper and more similar to the original.
So then before purchasing a driven gear I must decide on a differential ratio, so first of all, count the one I already have... it's a 2.41:1 ! That's a technical top speed of 305 kph/ 190 mph YEA RIGHT
I'm totally fine with a technical top speed of around 120mph so 3.55:1 it is!
I've found this kit, with a locker aswell, I like these lockers, they're about 80% locked, so there are no brunt forces that break axle shafts etc.. Just an even and smooth transaction of power between each of the axles, so both wheels will spin if we give it hell! I've had this in my 4x4s before with great results, eaton truetrack.
Some pictures of the diferential (I forgot to film the transmission tailhousing removal, you just have to believe that I did it and found the cable was attached to nothing at all..!)
It's clear that this thing has been doing one wheel peels for decades, judging by the wear of the spider gears and center pin!
I've considered buying this kit to remedy both my gearing and the sloppy one wheel peels, then I have to calculate which driven gear I need for the transmission, but I have a calculator for that online that I must search for again... They weren't expensive either, the gears.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VHQKBQT/?tag=gbody-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000C9MMBY/?tag=gbody-20
I've also considered buying this kit to remedy my sloppy rear suspension, it tilts when I floor it, the bushes are completely worn out, I don't want poly bushings honestly, plus these are cheaper and more similar to the original.
Why a TrueTrac? An Eaton style posi is a bit cheaper will withstand more than the 26 spline axles will. Quick's Performance, the vendor in your Amazon link above, sells the same kit with a clutch style posi for $500.
My math says your tire is 28" tall. So that says 3.73 is the rear gear needed if you don't plan long trips at greater than 65 mph/105 kph.
What's the speed limit there and how long can you travel at highway speeds?
My math says your tire is 28" tall. So that says 3.73 is the rear gear needed if you don't plan long trips at greater than 65 mph/105 kph.
What's the speed limit there and how long can you travel at highway speeds?
Thanks for your reply, I have no specific reason for a truetrac over anything else, however I have good experience with them. I had them in my 1991 46" tire ford explorer with a turbo diesel and the locker held up perfectly, the disc type LSD locks have always been feared where I come from, as good as they work and as simple as they are, they don't seem to have a very long lasting performance, become ineffective quickly. The mechanical locking mechanism of the truetrac seems to hold up fine, and I'm not using huge power.
The top speed here is 90kph (~55mph) so gearing can be lowered significantly. I think I'll stick with 3.55 though just to prevent a roaring scream going down the highways if I ever even do that, this will not be a 1/4 mile car either, so 🙂
But I haven't placed any orders yet, I'm still looking at options and waiting for international shipments to become normal again
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