New 87 MC SS Owner Here

[MiSSionImpossi87e]

Hi everyone,

After quite a long time away from trolling these boards, I am back!
I think it is approaching time for me to invest some major cash into my 87 SS, as I've been saving for quite a while.

I have a 87 Monte Carlo SS with T-tops.
Unfortunately, the car's been to H and back, and a previous owner stripped off a lot of the body work to make the car look more like an '84 (long story). Wrong bumpers, no spoiler on the trunk lid, no ground effects, and I had to swap in some used T-tops that don't match well.

• Roughly 15 years ago, I completed an engine swap and put a '94 Corvette LT1 into The Monte (not very original, but this is what I call it).
• I also swapped in a rear-end (8.5"?) from and Olds T-Type.
• It also has one of those suspension kits (cannot remember where I bought it...but I think they were very popular with this group).
• Also added some wheels from American Racing (see photo from roughly 10 years ago).

The car's been mostly just sitting in my driveway for about 5 years. It drives, but I think there is a problem with the distributor, and so I can't drive it very far right now. It is also not smog-legal currently (always fun living in CA).
It's looking rough, and I miss driving it!

Hoping to use these boards to get some advice and leads so it can go to someone for proper restoration and customization!

 

[Monteman87]

Hi everyone,

After quite a long time away from trolling these boards, I am back!
I think it is approaching time for me to invest some major cash into my 87 SS, as I've been saving for quite a while.

I have a 87 Monte Carlo SS with T-tops.
Unfortunately, the car's been to H and back, and a previous owner stripped off a lot of the body work to make the car look more like an '84 (long story). Wrong bumpers, no spoiler on the trunk lid, no ground effects, and I had to swap in some used T-tops that don't match well.

• Roughly 15 years ago, I completed an engine swap and put a '94 Corvette LT1 into The Monte (not very original, but this is what I call it).
• I also swapped in a rear-end (8.5"?) from and Olds T-Type.
• It also has one of those suspension kits (cannot remember where I bought it...but I think they were very popular with this group).
• Also added some wheels from American Racing (see photo from roughly 10 years ago).

The car's been mostly just sitting in my driveway for about 5 years. It drives, but I think there is a problem with the distributor, and so I can't drive it very far right now. It is also not smog-legal currently (always fun living in CA).
It's looking rough, and I miss driving it!

Hoping to use these boards to get some advice and leads so it can go to someone for proper restoration and customization!

View attachment 237269

Welcome, looks just like mine. It was purchased new in 87' by my dad and was handed down to me. I've had it for years now and finally starting to get motivation and funds to work on it. Last week I finally pulled the trigger on some coil overs and I'm eager to have them arrive. My plan it to turn it into something that I think he would've loved to do.

 

[565bbchevy]

Unfortunately, the car's been to H and back, and a previous owner stripped off a lot of the body work to make the car look more like an '84 (long story). Wrong bumpers, no spoiler on the trunk lid, no ground effects, and I had to swap in some used T-tops that don't match well.

The only difference in bumpers between 84' and 87' would be the rear bumper, along with the tail lights and housings with the front nose and spoiler being the same.
Obviously the correct rear spoiler would be the later "lay down" style.
Ground Effects were never installed from the factory, they would have been aftermarket from Lauren Engineering. I have their ground effects installed on both my Monte and Regal but they are no longer in business and I know of no others reproducing them.
It looks like a good solid project, too bad you have to deal with CA emissions though.
Post some more pictures when you get a chance.

 

[MiSSionImpossi87e]

Welcome, looks just like mine. It was purchased new in 87' by my dad and was handed down to me. I've had it for years now and finally starting to get motivation and funds to work on it. Last week I finally pulled the trigger on some coil overs and I'm eager to have them arrive. My plan it to turn it into something that I think he would've loved to do.

Wow...they are like twins! Yous has the bumpers, spoilers, and clean paint I want! 😁
Very nice...thank you for sharing.

 

[MiSSionImpossi87e]

The only difference in bumpers between 84' and 87' would be the rear bumper, along with the tail lights and housings with the front nose and spoiler being the same.
Obviously the correct rear spoiler would be the later "lay down" style.
Ground Effects were never installed from the factory, they would have been aftermarket from Lauren Engineering. I have their ground effects installed on both my Monte and Regal but they are no longer in business and I know of no others reproducing them.
It looks like a good solid project, too bad you have to deal with CA emissions though.
Post some more pictures when you get a chance.

Yeah...whatever is on there is not the SS front grill and bumper.
This is what it should look like:

See the trim plate where the yellow light is...and all the black trim around the side and front...?
This is what I meant by "ground effects". Probably a misuse of the words. the previous "owner" took that stuff off, and there are literally bolt holes still there in the main quarter panels.

Yes to that spoiler too:

Will get more photos when I remove the cover soon (after the rain stops!).

 

[Monteman87]

Wow...they are like twins! Yous has the bumpers, spoilers, and clean paint I want! 😁
Very nice...thank you for sharing.

I really appreciate it 🙏

 

[565bbchevy]

You can get the rear deck spoiler and front spoiler from Dixie Restoration Depot

78-88 Monte Carlo Parts Spoilers & Ground Effects

www.dixierestorationdepot.com

The factory nose would look like Monteman87's nose but would have a black grill and black in the recessed headlight area.

 

[Monteman87]

You can get the rear deck spoiler and front spoiler from Dixie Restoration Depot

78-88 Monte Carlo Parts Spoilers & Ground Effects

www.dixierestorationdepot.com

The factory nose would look like Monteman87's nose but would have a black grill and black in the recessed headlight area.

Been tossing around the idea of repainting it like that..at one point, my old man rear-ended someone, had the front bumper replaced and had it repainted as is..