Howdy

[coolchrisp]

Hello all, new to the forums here and tought i would say hello. About a month ago an older lady i knew sence i was a kid, gave me her 80 monte carlo. I drove here from michigan down teh florida to pick it up. The car is in GREAT shape. the only major rust on the car is the lower doors. The lower fenders have some slight surface rust, but nothign that cant be fixed. The car has 54k original miles on it and the interior is perfect.. only needs a head liner. its going to be my street/bracket car.
I am currently building a 383 that will be going in come january. the motor should be around 550 crank HP. so she will be a screamer!

here are some pictures, i put the rear rallys on it for now. i have the trim rings and center derbys on them now.

 

[jerrycad472]

Welcome to the site. Car looks really clean, too bad the doors rusted. Get it fixed before the Michigan winter hits.

 

[coolchrisp]

Welcome to the site. Car looks really clean, too bad the doors rusted. Get it fixed before the Michigan winter hits.

Thanks! the doors i will probly fix come spring time. it isnt going to be drivin in the snowy/salty roads, so it should be okay for now.

 

[Nightmare388]

Welcome!! Nice car!It should be a fun ride with a 383 in it. It's great to see another third generation Monte owner. We gota stick together brother.

 

[morgend]

It's great to see another third generation Monte owner. We gota stick together brother.

I don't even own one and I think they are the sickest of the monte family.

 

[coolchrisp]

Welcome!! Nice car!It should be a fun ride with a 383 in it. It's great to see another third generation Monte owner. We gota stick together brother.

Haha definitly! I dont have a digital cammera but when i get my photos developed i will post progress on the car.

I know it is covered on the site as i have already read all the threads on the engine swap, but i have one question. It has the 229 with a 200 transmission. when i drop my 383 with a TH350 in, will i need a new cross member? and will the drive shaft have to be shortened?

 

[maliburacer]

hello everyone just joined today

 

[Nightmare388]

Welcome!! Nice car!It should be a fun ride with a 383 in it. It's great to see another third generation Monte owner. We gota stick together brother.

Haha definitly! I dont have a digital cammera but when i get my photos developed i will post progress on the car.

I know it is covered on the site as i have already read all the threads on the engine swap, but i have one question. It has the 229 with a 200 transmission. when i drop my 383 with a TH350 in, will i need a new cross member? and will the drive shaft have to be shortened?

I don't think you have to get a new cross member.I'm not 100% sure but I think the 2 trans are very close to the same length so your drive shaft should work. I went from a 305 and turbo 350 to a 388 and a 700r4 and I kept my stock cross member . I just had to cut an inch off the mounting tab and drill a new mounting hole. I also cut a big notch out of the driver side to clear my 3" exhaust. Here is a site that helped on my cross member maybe it will help you.
http://www.angelfire.com/80s/monte/transmis.htm
I had to order a custom aluminum drive shaft because the 700r4 is longer than my turbo 350 and I also installed a Ford9" that is 1 inch shorter than my stock 10 bolt.

 

[markcp]

Great to see another Monte making a comeback.. I just put a 350 into mine..

 

[79LT1Monte]

You may not need one, but with the kind of power your planning on building you should look into a beefier cross member and drive shaft. Summit racing has a G Machine double hump cross member that is very stout! It also gives you plenty of room to run your exhaust.