BUILD THREAD Dixie Restoration's 1986 Monte Carlo Restomod

[Texas82GP]

This has been a fun and rewarding project and thanks for all of the feedback. We didn't think the headrests would be such a controversial topic 🙂

The interior is 90-95% complete. We have some adjustments to make (i.e. glove box and door panels) and we need to figure out which radio we want to use. We also want to do 1 of our custom gauge clusters but this may wait until the Spring. A month ago, we had all agreed to do a Dakota Digital VHX cluster but after doing the set-up for #ProjectPrestone (shown above), it made us think we could come up with a real nice Autometer cluster.

For now, the car is getting some UMI upgrades with a new set of 17x8 rollers. We'll post that progress as we get the photos.

I took the same approach on my DD several years ago.. Headrest delete....

 

[Dixie Restoration Depot]

Here’s what we started with. Prior to us acquiring the car, it had received a paint job (used to be silver) that looks very presentable but not show quality. The paint and body is a solid 10 footer. It had already undergone a stock suspension rebuild with new ball joints, stock springs, brakes, etc. but the stance just wasn’t going to cut it for us. Not to mention, those are 295’s stuffed in the rear with black wagon wheel rims all the way around. It looked a bit 4-wheel drive and the rears rubbed the frame when cornering. All in all, it is a great starting point that just needed a few suspension mods to give a fresh look and feel.

 

[GuysMonteSS]

I like the blacked out power window switches also.
Guy

 

[Dixie Restoration Depot]

I thought I saw a post saying that the car is a bit too white, and we definitely agree. We have quite a few ideas on how to go about fixing that, just haven't chosen one yet so stay tuned.

 

[Dixie Restoration Depot]

A little altitude adjustment in the form of UMI Performance 2" lowering springs and brand of shocks. Once this is done, we plan on a set of 17x8's. The car did have a fairly recent suspension rebuild, which definitely made our lives easier getting it apart (and staying clean in the process). We should have completed photos up towards the end of the week.

 

[TURNA]

Are you fixing the rust?

 

[Dixie Restoration Depot]

Are you fixing the rust?

We do plan to clean it up a bit the same way we did the floors.

 

[Dixie Restoration Depot]

We finally pulled the trigger on a set of wheels, going with Jegs 17x8 rally wheels with 4.5 inch backspacing and a 245/45-17 set of rubber. It definitely updates the look quite a bit, while keeping it conservative. Keep in mind that we are still trying different center caps to find the right fit.

 

[pagrunt]

I would say use either the '67 or the police car centers.

 

[Dixie Restoration Depot]

Our first thought was to use the flat caps as well which we did try first and here is a picture of those. Opinions in the building varied from loving it to absolute hatred.