I may be new here but I am not new to G-Bodys. I have owned numerous Monte Carlos, a 84 Cutlass Supreme and just today bought an 80' Grand Prix (parts for the Monte sorry GP guys) I have been working on an 86' Monte SS for a few years now here is some of what I have done to it.
Driveline:
383 ci. Small Block
TH350 w/Shift Kit
Stock Rear End w/3.73 Gear
Cooling:
Two Core Aluminum Radiator
Duel Electric Fans
Brakes:
Front-12” F-Body Cross Drilled & Slotted Disc
Rear-10” F-Body Cross Drilled & Slotted Disc
Body:
Goodmark 2” Steel Cowl Hood
Power Antenna Frenched in Rear Quarter Panel
Firebird Rear Deck Spoiler
PST Urethane Body Mounts
Tubular Transmission Crossmember
Exhaust:
Hooker Competition Headers
Pypes 2 ½” X-Pipe
Flowmaster 40 Series Mufflers
Suspension:
Front:
Hotchkis Tubular Upper A-Arms
Hotchkis 1 3/8” Sway Bar
Hotchkis Coil Springs 1” Lowered 600lb/in
Hotchkis 5/8Machined Tie Rod Sleeves
Q-A1 12 Way Adjustable Stocker Star AL Shocks
B-Body Spindles
Rear:
Hotchkis Adjustable Upper Trailing Arms
Hotchkis Boxed Lower Trailing Arms
Hotchkis Coil Springs 1” Lowered 135 lb/in
Hotchkis Trailing Arm Mount Braces
Hotchkis 1” Sway Bar
Q-A1 12 Way Adjustable Stocker Star AL Shocks
I purchased this Monte Carlo SS in the spring of 2001. It was a total disaster. The first project was the body. Quarter Panels, Both Doors, the Trunk Lid one Fender and the Radiator Support were replaced. About a year later I took the body off the frame and went crazy. The frame rails were gone from the rear wheels to the rear bumper and most of the body mounts had rusted through. So with the body already done I decided to rebuild the frame, and since it was apart I couldn’t go back stock. I sand blasted the frame in my driveway, repaired the body mounts and replaced the rear frame rails, then painted the whole thing with Por-15. All of the fuel and brake lines have been replaced with stainless lines from Inline Tube and the body mounts are now Urethane from PST. All of the suspension components are from Hotchkis (except for the lower A arms they are original). Before I reattached the body to the frame I sand blasted the underside and painted it with Por-15 and a good coat of undercoat. The engine is a 383 I took out of a Jaguar, it came with a built TH350 transmission. I haven’t done anything to it except to add Hooker Competition Headers and a serpentine belt system from GM Performance Parts. For cooling I measured my factory radiator and purchased one from Summit that had the closest measurement to the original and added duel electric fans from Flex-a-Lite. I am working on getting the AC system going now. From then till now turned out to be about a 7 year project. Future plans for “Christine” (as my wife calls her) are : a larger small block, 6 speed transmission and a 12 bolt rear end for the drive line, a refined update of the interior, 18” wheels & tires, and a fresh paint job.
It has been a long restoration, but each time I drive it I am glad that I took my time and got what I wanted for my SS. I know that it can only get better and more enjoyable from here.
Driveline:
383 ci. Small Block
TH350 w/Shift Kit
Stock Rear End w/3.73 Gear
Cooling:
Two Core Aluminum Radiator
Duel Electric Fans
Brakes:
Front-12” F-Body Cross Drilled & Slotted Disc
Rear-10” F-Body Cross Drilled & Slotted Disc
Body:
Goodmark 2” Steel Cowl Hood
Power Antenna Frenched in Rear Quarter Panel
Firebird Rear Deck Spoiler
PST Urethane Body Mounts
Tubular Transmission Crossmember
Exhaust:
Hooker Competition Headers
Pypes 2 ½” X-Pipe
Flowmaster 40 Series Mufflers
Suspension:
Front:
Hotchkis Tubular Upper A-Arms
Hotchkis 1 3/8” Sway Bar
Hotchkis Coil Springs 1” Lowered 600lb/in
Hotchkis 5/8Machined Tie Rod Sleeves
Q-A1 12 Way Adjustable Stocker Star AL Shocks
B-Body Spindles
Rear:
Hotchkis Adjustable Upper Trailing Arms
Hotchkis Boxed Lower Trailing Arms
Hotchkis Coil Springs 1” Lowered 135 lb/in
Hotchkis Trailing Arm Mount Braces
Hotchkis 1” Sway Bar
Q-A1 12 Way Adjustable Stocker Star AL Shocks
I purchased this Monte Carlo SS in the spring of 2001. It was a total disaster. The first project was the body. Quarter Panels, Both Doors, the Trunk Lid one Fender and the Radiator Support were replaced. About a year later I took the body off the frame and went crazy. The frame rails were gone from the rear wheels to the rear bumper and most of the body mounts had rusted through. So with the body already done I decided to rebuild the frame, and since it was apart I couldn’t go back stock. I sand blasted the frame in my driveway, repaired the body mounts and replaced the rear frame rails, then painted the whole thing with Por-15. All of the fuel and brake lines have been replaced with stainless lines from Inline Tube and the body mounts are now Urethane from PST. All of the suspension components are from Hotchkis (except for the lower A arms they are original). Before I reattached the body to the frame I sand blasted the underside and painted it with Por-15 and a good coat of undercoat. The engine is a 383 I took out of a Jaguar, it came with a built TH350 transmission. I haven’t done anything to it except to add Hooker Competition Headers and a serpentine belt system from GM Performance Parts. For cooling I measured my factory radiator and purchased one from Summit that had the closest measurement to the original and added duel electric fans from Flex-a-Lite. I am working on getting the AC system going now. From then till now turned out to be about a 7 year project. Future plans for “Christine” (as my wife calls her) are : a larger small block, 6 speed transmission and a 12 bolt rear end for the drive line, a refined update of the interior, 18” wheels & tires, and a fresh paint job.
It has been a long restoration, but each time I drive it I am glad that I took my time and got what I wanted for my SS. I know that it can only get better and more enjoyable from here.
