MONTE CARLO Help me figure out this body!

[MakeMineaMonte]

'86 Monte Carlo LS is what this car SHOULD be, but wtf is going on with my body panels? Things were switched/replaced at some point and I want to get it all matching one way or another so that I can do the needed body work and paint. The fenders aren't matching. I don't think either are original or even LS fenders maybe. The passenger side is longer than the driver side which is maybe part of why the header is pushed in on the driver side corner? Paint doesn't match on the driver side (you can see the shade differences). Also, the chrome that I've seen on almost every LS is on the raised center portion of the body panels. Mine was all on the lower section (like a base model). In addition the tail lights and rear bumper are wrong I think. It doesn't have the 86 LS "smoothed" bumper or wrap around tail lights. I can't figure out why it's all mixed up. It was a two owner car with no accidents on the carfax and 45,000 miles. Maybe trying to make it look like an SS? Seems like the only original body part is the front header? So what do I have on this car and what's the best way that I can get it all to match? If the "easiest" plan of attack is to make it look like a base model with a different header panel, I'm not into that idea...

 

[pagrunt]

That looks like a CL not a LS, the LS header is added on with poor body work on the "conversion" of the drivers side fender. There is also all the trim studs for the '81-'86 lower trim. Also the SPID label on the inside of the trunk lid will have the RPO Z09 if it was a true LS.

 

[Doug Chahoy]

The driver side fender looks correct for that header. The header has the side marker light. Passenger side looks to be wrong. I sure hope you didn’t pay more than a few hundred dollars for that.

 

[Gwarren79]

With that amount of rust, just replace everything from the doors forward with a donor...........

 

[MakeMineaMonte]

That looks like a CL not a LS, the LS header is added on with poor body work on the "conversion" of the drivers side fender. There is also all the trim studs for the '81-'86 lower trim. Also the SPID label on the inside of the trunk lid will have the RPO Z09 if it was a true LS.

I've wondered if it wasn't actually an LS, but the VIN matches an LS which adds to my confusion.

 

[pagrunt]

I've wondered if it wasn't actually an LS, but the VIN matches an LS which adds to my confusion.

The VIN wouldn't say if it was a LS or CL/base car. Like I said a true LS would have Z09 on the SPID label if it's still there & the trunk lid is the original. Also forgot to add the tail lights & rear bumper cover are another sign cause the LS used a set up that all '87-'88 cars used, '86 CL cars used the same as the '81-'85 cars.

 

[pagrunt]

https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/docs/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits/Monte-Carlo/1986-Chevrolet-Monte-Carlo.pdf

 

[pontiacgp]

driver's side fender has no side marker light, the passenger side does. The passenger fender is not the correct one cause the headlight asssmbly has a wrap around that has a side marker.

 

[Doug Chahoy]

driver's side fender has no side marker light, the passenger side does. The passenger fender is not the correct one cause the headlight asssmbly has a wrap around that has a side marker.

That’s what I said LOL