Monte interior vs. olds

[Deadeyejedi80]

how much different does the gbody Monte Carlo interior look from an olds? I’m considering a bucket seat , console shift and steering column swap from a 1986 Monte Carlo into my 80 cutlass .i would prefer all Oldsmobile but this stuff is local to me and might be an option

 

[UC645]

I think the only thing that is car specific are the upper sail panels. Everything else should interchange

 

[fleming442]

As far as I know, those items should be the same. Oldsmobile pieces will more than likely have more chrome, but the basic construction should be the same.

 

[Injectedcutty]

The column plugs might be different due to the 80 having different lights and such, only way to know is compare. The console would require the brackets from the MC be transferred to the Cutlass.
I have aftermarket buckets and a MC console in my 87 Cutlass....

 

[UC645]

Oh crap I missed that the Cutlass is an 80’, if you’re not rewiring the Monte dash you’re going to have issues, columns are definitely different and the block connected that passes through the firewall is completely different. You would need every scrap of wiring from the Monte to make it work properly.

 

[Deadeyejedi80]

I had hoped to just swap columns and be done . If I have to do a bunch of wiring changes I’ll just hold out for an 80 cutlass interior . What I didn’t want is it looking like a Monte interior in an Oldsmobile . It sounds like it will be visually different .

 

[WanaBa442]

I was contemplating the same thing, found an 86 Monte LS with the right color blue interior to swap into the 78.
It would work, but anyone who knows would immediately spot the Monte console in an Olds….
But, it seems the console availability ratio for the two is at least 2:1 in favor of the Chevy unit.

 

[fleming442]

I completely forgot about the wiring differences. So, is/are the year breaks: 79-80, 81-84, then 85 & up? I think the main difference is the wiper switch on the column vs. dash, no? Or, is that 85 & up? I'm thinking you might be able to repin the column connector 79-84?

 

[Longroof79]

The column will interchange, but the main issue would be the stalk mounted wiper switch vs, the dash mounted switch. If you still intend on using the dash mounted wiper switch with a newer column, there shouldn't be an issue. You just plug in the large plug from the column and leave the smaller plug un-plugged....again, if I recall correctly. If you plan on replacing the dash with a newer style minus the dash mounted wiper switch you'll need some of wiring pigtails, etc. to make it work.
As for the Monte Carlo interior, I'd say if you could get it all for a good price, grab it. You can always trade off some of pieces you don't intend to use.

Bruce, you pretty much summed up the column/ dash difference. What I said was pretty much redundant.

 

[ck80]

Query: what's wrong with the existing column?

If you're just concerned with floor shift, why not just swap the collar off the floor shift column body that is sans shifter arm mount onto your existing column?

Little known/appreciated fact about the columns is that you use the same linkage and such and, if you watch, while shifting that same couple inch ring on the body where the column shifter would've been actually rotates and moves the same as if a ghost was shifting it.

Guys with broken shifter parts have been known to grab that column ring on a floor shift car and muscle it around by hand to shift the car as well.

If your existing column is otherwise sound, way less work to swap that than go crazy rewiring the car to rep in a different year column.

Even easier still is to pull the pin, remove the shifter arm, then just put a security collar around the column that hides what you did.