BUILD THREAD Midlife Crisis Monte Carlo Build

[tokarz1]

Hey guys, and girls. A bit long winded but here goes....

I had my share of G Bodies in the past and love them for what they are. Sold them off, bought other ones, sold them. I remember buying them for $100. Well, life gets in the way and fast forward let’s say 20 or maybe 30 years. Where the heck did they all go?? How much do you want for that??

I picked up an engine a while back that I could not pass up but had nothing to put it in. Started looking for a G Body locally for quite a while and stumbled on this in the auto parts section of Craigslist. One owner car with original title from 1986. The guy bought it for the drive train for his wife’s cutlass. Although I have to be VERY budget minded I took a drive out and bought it.

I should have looked at it a bit better than I did but I was really happy to find one that looked in such great shape so close to home. After I got it home I started to take it apart and found the car either went in a ditch or was hit in the front at one time. The front frame horns were bent and buckled in front of the cross member. If it wasn’t for bad luck I would have none.

I soldiered on and found a frame locally that was in nice shape for a good price. Solid frame but three body mounts were bad.

 

[GuysMonteSS]

So what do you have for an engine to put in it ??
Guy

 

[tokarz1]

Time to take the body off the frame. Pretty sketchy with one person but with a lot of jack and jack stand juggling it worked.

Saved parts of the original frame for later use.

 

[tokarz1]

Disassembled the new frame.

I wanted to get the frame in paint so I could keep it from rusting. I used a grinder with a wire wheel but I didn’t like how it came out. Plus after reading how to prep for chassis saver it can’t really be smooth and sandblasting is the best approach. It started to flash rust pretty quick as I pressure washed it inside and out.

Sandblasting is a mess and sand gets in places you forgot you had but works great. Ready for chassis saver.

 

[GuysMonteSS]

Now would be a good time to box in the frame,do a frame notch,add extra bracing,etc...
Guy

 

[B's 87mcss]

Looks like you have a nice clean canvas to start with, great time like Guy says to start with some mod's to strengthen the frame and clean up GM's crappy welding too. Good luck and keep up the good progress!

 

[tokarz1]

You guys posted to quick. My slow as butt computer takes forever to upload pictures. More coming...

 

[tokarz1]

Looks great but I do not like the shine and if you put it on too thick it leaves tiny bubbles. I did two coats. Good enough for now, lets get to repairing and modifying the new frame.

I measured the crap out of the frame at so many points to get it level and make sure it stayed straight along the
way. First a brace then boxed in the C channel.

The new frame is older than 1985 so it did not have the overdrive transmission extension. I still am not sure what I
am going to use for a trans so better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. I removed the extension
from the old frame and welded it on the new frame. Checked frame spec measurements again.

More plates and boxing. Checked frame spec measurements again.

 

[tokarz1]

Took the upper trailing arm plates from the old frame and welded them on to the new frame. They are 1/8" stock so now we are at 1/4" plus we are going to add side braces to these. Checked frame spec measurements again.

Now for the three bad body mount holes. 1" 1/2 ID x 3" OD thick steel washers were used and welded flush on top and welded on bottom as well. Checked frame spec measurements again.

I don’t plan on doing a frame notch now but maybe down the road. Even so there is not much strength between the rear frame rails and shock towers so I made a brace and welded it in. I made sure it would not interfere with a stock gas tank or the rear end. I used the center brace from the old frame to tie the center in. I plan on doing a bolt on brace for the rear of the rails. Boxed the lower trailing arm brackets in as well. Checked frame spec measurements again.

 

[tokarz1]

Sandblasted the areas I repaired and modified. I also added extra gussets to the frame and rear cross member. These came from the old frame. I forgot to take pictures of that. Checked frame spec measurements again.

6 cans of Eastwood internal frame coating.