BUILD THREAD Midlife Crisis Monte Carlo Build
- Thread starter tokarz1
- Start date
After sandblasting and the internal frame coating I painted chassis saver on the areas I repaired and modified. The frame looks dull on the rest as I have been using scotchbrite pads on it so I can do a final paint with VHT chassis and roll bar epoxy in satin black.
Prepping the new frame for FINAL paint. So many scotchbrite pads, good thing there cheap. I pretty much have no fingerprints on my fingers anymore.
Prepping the new frame for FINAL paint. So many scotchbrite pads, good thing there cheap. I pretty much have no fingerprints on my fingers anymore.
New frame ready for FINAL paint.
Hallelujah, Final paint.
Hallelujah, Final paint.
Time to assemble the new frame. I bought new upper and lower AC Delco front control arms. They seem to have the same part number as the Moog CK ones. The lowers are for an S10 which are the same dimensionally but the rear bushings have larger mounting holes. You can either drill out your frame to a larger hole or replace the rear bushings with G body ones. I replaced the bushings. Scuffed and painted in VHT chassis and roll bar epoxy to match the frame.
Moog 5660 springs were installed next, followed by 2000 Blazer 2wd front spindles and AC Delco backing plates that were sandblasted and painted in the same VHT paint. Raybestos hub bearings were installed lastly.
Moog 5660 springs were installed next, followed by 2000 Blazer 2wd front spindles and AC Delco backing plates that were sandblasted and painted in the same VHT paint. Raybestos hub bearings were installed lastly.
Now its time for a big decision. What rear end? I must have read for days on end on what would fit my needs and came to the conclusion that I want a Ford 8.8. There are many reasons for this but wont bore you with details. Now, from what car or truck? The logical one would be a Fox Body or SN95 mustang. The SN95 use the exact same housing as the Fox but have longer axles to compensate for the ABS.
With both, the need for an instant center kit has to be installed IMHO. They both need coil spring perches welded on and are a touch wider than the G Body rear end which I would want to narrow to 58" stock width. Fox has 4 lug, SN95 has 5 but wrong bolt pattern so I need axles. Both come with 28 spline axles and carrier so again, I need axles. I do have a 31 spline trak loc from an explorer. The lower trailing arm brackets on both of these are wider than the stock 2" 1/2 bushing width so lower trailing arms are in order as well or at least spacers.
How about the pre 1998 Crown Victoria/Mercury Grand Marquis rear end? It has the upper ears at the exact height of the G Body but slightly wider like the Fox and SN95. The coil spring perches are within 1/2" total spacing of the G Body. The lower trailing arm brackets are within 1/4" total spacing of the G Body and take a stock 2" 1/2 wide bushing. The Fox and SN95 have 2.815" axle tube diameters, the Crown Vic has 3". So in both scenarios I need axles, adjustable trailing arms, and want it 58" stock width. Pictures are not mine and the Crown Vic has already been narrowed but they show the difference.
I went on carpart.com just for fun to see what the difference would be if I pulled one myself or just bought one already pulled. My local yards charge about $100 with core charge if I pull it and smell like gear oil for the next week. I found one sort of local for $125. It was about 50 miles away. So I called and he said they do deliveries to my area and could put it on the next route in a few days. Total price he gave me was $120. Done deal.
Picked it up at one of there stops 5 miles away and brought it home to strip down.
Mocked it up and measured everything a million times. Looks good!
Packed it up and shipped it to Quick Performance for modification.
And that’s where I am at. I hope you guys, and girls find this useful and I will update as I progress.
With both, the need for an instant center kit has to be installed IMHO. They both need coil spring perches welded on and are a touch wider than the G Body rear end which I would want to narrow to 58" stock width. Fox has 4 lug, SN95 has 5 but wrong bolt pattern so I need axles. Both come with 28 spline axles and carrier so again, I need axles. I do have a 31 spline trak loc from an explorer. The lower trailing arm brackets on both of these are wider than the stock 2" 1/2 bushing width so lower trailing arms are in order as well or at least spacers.
How about the pre 1998 Crown Victoria/Mercury Grand Marquis rear end? It has the upper ears at the exact height of the G Body but slightly wider like the Fox and SN95. The coil spring perches are within 1/2" total spacing of the G Body. The lower trailing arm brackets are within 1/4" total spacing of the G Body and take a stock 2" 1/2 wide bushing. The Fox and SN95 have 2.815" axle tube diameters, the Crown Vic has 3". So in both scenarios I need axles, adjustable trailing arms, and want it 58" stock width. Pictures are not mine and the Crown Vic has already been narrowed but they show the difference.
I went on carpart.com just for fun to see what the difference would be if I pulled one myself or just bought one already pulled. My local yards charge about $100 with core charge if I pull it and smell like gear oil for the next week. I found one sort of local for $125. It was about 50 miles away. So I called and he said they do deliveries to my area and could put it on the next route in a few days. Total price he gave me was $120. Done deal.
Picked it up at one of there stops 5 miles away and brought it home to strip down.
Mocked it up and measured everything a million times. Looks good!
Packed it up and shipped it to Quick Performance for modification.
And that’s where I am at. I hope you guys, and girls find this useful and I will update as I progress.
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Thanks, I truly appreciate it! Long road ahead and I am no spring chicken anymore but we will get there.
