1988 Monte Carlo LS Street Car Build Thread

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My engine block may be done this weekend, if so I will go pick it up. It is being machined by a local super stock racer. Quite accomplished with some Wally's to his credit. The parts are rolling in though my new short travel lifters are not due for 2 more weeks. I need to load my rolling chassis on the trailer to take it to the shop this weekend and drop the body back on. My killer good weather turned to rain today and we expect more this week.
 
Huge progress was made today! The morning started as a rolling chassis with the body on a dolly, the day ended with them married and the six speed and temporary engine block mounted in the chassis. I trial fit the headers and marked the AC box for modifications as well as got my fuel lines mounted back up in the chassis.

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I will get the front sheet metal bolted back in place tomorrow as I wait on my block. From there, we can start engine assembly and then getting it on the road!

BTW, the rear frame rails lined up and had zero issues despite others telling me I needed a tree, comealong, hammer and god knows what else to get it bolted together.
 
I'm interested in the 4.3 tbi harness? If avail I'll offer a uncut carb harness,and some other "wants/needs" for the mc? Lmk.good progress.
 
So I caught your 1 3/4 header thread earlier today & decided to research what they were intended for. I found & read through this entire thread tonight. You've done some nice work. I'm tagged-in now so I'll be looking forward to your updates.

It's hard to tell 100%, but it looks like you shifted the #4 tube farther out vs. over the top of the #6 tube? Where on the a/c box was the interference? I've been considering options for a 78 Malibu getting a mild 408sbc. I have a used set of full length headers (from a donated motor) plus some mild steel mid-length units (used on a previous g-body}. I looked into some 1 5/8 mid-length 304 SS headers I found online since the car is pretty low compared to most on this site but think maybe 1 3/4 might be the better choice for future growth especially @ the price of the set you utilized.
 
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So I caught your 1 3/4 header thread earlier today & decided to research what they were intended for. I found & read through this entire thread tonight. You've done some nice work. I'm tagged-in now so I'll be looking forward to your updates.

It's hard to tell 100%, but it looks like you shifted the #4 tube farther out vs. over the top of the #6 tube? Where on the a/c box was the interference? I've been considering options for a 78 Malibu getting a mild 408sbc. I have a used set of full length headers (from a donated motor) plus some mild steel mid-length units (used on a previous g-body}. I looked into some 1 5/8 mid-length 304 SS headers I found online since the car is pretty low compared to most on this site but think maybe 1 3/4 might be the better choice for future growth especially @ the price of the set you utilized.

These headers are designed for the roundy round guys. They are a basic design common to Schoenfeld and Dynatech. These headers can be had for as little as 150 bucks or so in mild steel. With these, the headers will protrude about 1 1/2 or 2 inch into and 2-3 inch from the front of the AC box where the aluminum tube comes into the box for the evaporator. While all this is on the one half of the box, it was more then I wanted to play around with. The pictures do not give a real accurate reference. There is a easy hands width between the top of the tubes and the box. I may try to use some header wrap here since they are basically paired in this area. Over all, there are about 4 hours in this modification including cutting, fitting and throwing it back in the car for one final test fit before purging and final welding.

For some reason, there is a lack of affordable single piece 1 3/4 inch headers on the market for these cars despite being such a popular build. Additionally, the ones available do not have 3 1/2 inch collectors like these.
 
These headers are designed for the roundy round guys. They are a basic design common to Schoenfeld and Dynatech. These headers can be had for as little as 150 bucks or so in mild steel. With these, the headers will protrude about 1 1/2 or 2 inch into and 2-3 inch from the front of the AC box where the aluminum tube comes into the box for the evaporator. While all this is on the one half of the box, it was more then I wanted to play around with. The pictures do not give a real accurate reference. There is a easy hands width between the top of the tubes and the box. I may try to use some header wrap here since they are basically paired in this area. Over all, there are about 4 hours in this modification including cutting, fitting and throwing it back in the car for one final test fit before purging and final welding.

For some reason, there is a lack of affordable single piece 1 3/4 inch headers on the market for these cars despite being such a popular build. Additionally, the ones available do not have 3 1/2 inch collectors like these.

How is plug clearance? I have AFR 190's & the full length 1 5/8 headers I mocked up on them had the #5 plug touching the tube (not the plug boot, the plug tip). All other cylinders appeared to have adequate clearance between the plug tip & tubes.

The SS headers I was looking @ are 304 material which I have access to for bends & straight pieces to tweak. But, like you mentioned, for the $$ it might be better to tweak a set like these. The difference will be how low they are beyond the frame rail though for me since the car I'm working on is fairly low (2" spindle & 1" spring up front).
 
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