Newbie wanting general info

[carsonhowe22]

Hey guys, I'm a newbie to the site. I currently own an F-body (2001 Z28), although I do not own a G-body. I've always liked them and I'm debating buying a roller and building it from the ground up. I know a bit about them but definitely not everything. I'm just wanting everyone's input as far as any differences through the years that I may not be aware of (interior/exterior changes, motor changes, etc), known problems/quirks, differences between manufacturers, etc.

I'm wanting either a Monte Carlo or Regal. I'd like to find something without a motor/trans, wanting to drop possibly an LQ9/700R4 in. Want to do some interior work, possible a dash swap and custom console. Maybe a sub in the back, nothing too major. Biggest concern is muscle.

Basically, if you could go back and tell yourself something about your car that you wish you could have known, let me know! Lol. I appreciate your input.

Pic of my car for sh*ts and giggles

 

[FirstClass 383]

welcome, you have come to the right place

 

[BPTTONE420012]

aaaaahhhh, burn it, burn it, set it on fire and push it off a cliff... lol... j/k... cool car... i had a 3rd gen camaro with a 502 that was frowned upon in the world of g's... i would buy a monte, but i am far from an impartial judge on which is more badass... i have owned a half dozen g cars over the years and i always find my way back to the monte... idk what it is about them, maybe the body styling, but i have always been a monte fan... i rememver i was about seven or eight yrs old, and me, my brother, and my father were drivng down the street, (dad was driving) and a GN drove by and my dad says "hey ant, check out that monte" my response was, "that aint a monte, thats a ****in buick"... my brother almost pissed himself laughing and for the rest of the drive he kept TRYING to point out different cars and their make n model, i guess trying to win back his "car cred" in his sons eyes... but anyways, not suppose to be story time... differences in years, not many, GM was rather lazy, they designed a platform, built it, and if it sold, they didnt change a damn thing... if you buy a gbody monte, there were NO SS in 78-82, didnt come back out with the ss till 83... not much of a difference, i think the engine went from 264 or 265ci to the big ole powerhouse 305 lol... i have an 82, but no one would ever guess its not an SS...

 

[axisg]

If you have a bottomless budget then buy the cleanest example of the car you want.

Keep in mind that anything pre- 85 will likely have a 3speed trans, only the 442, GN, and T-Type will have the heavier 8.5 rear. IIRC the Malibu is the lightest and the GP the heaviest. Cutlass and Monte will have the most available parts as they sold the most cars over the years. All the lines ( in Canada ) got the chev 305 as an available powerplant ( making for an easier SBC power swap ). The cutlass / 442 came with the olds 307. Interior lines varied over the model lines with everything from bench to buckets. T-Tops tend to be fun but also tend to rattle and leak.

 

[86 Grand prix]

Buy a Grand Prix, then you can be the red headed step child. No really the styling is mostly the difference other than the SS engines. Most people say the Grand Prix dash is nicer but that is an opinion. The grand prix is the hardest to find parts for, especially sheet metal. Nobody supports them in the aftermarket unless the part you are looking for is used across the G body line up..

 

[Gbarrie]

Buy a Grand Prix, then you can be the red headed step child. No really the styling is mostly the difference other than the SS engines. Most people say the Grand Prix dash is nicer but that is an opinion. The grand prix is the hardest to find parts for, especially sheet metal. Nobody supports them in the aftermarket unless the part you are looking for is used across the G body line up..

xxx2

Gbarrie.

 

[carsonhowe22]

Buy a Grand Prix, then you can be the red headed step child. No really the styling is mostly the difference other than the SS engines. Most people say the Grand Prix dash is nicer but that is an opinion. The grand prix is the hardest to find parts for, especially sheet metal. Nobody supports them in the aftermarket unless the part you are looking for is used across the G body line up..

That's funny because I'm a redhead. Lol. Not a stepchild however.

Pretty dead set on either a Monte or Regal. I like the Chevy a little better, big thing about the Buick is the tail lights.

 

[86 Grand prix]

I had a 71 grand prix SJ 455. That helped me make my decision but I still looked at several Monte SS but every one was pretty high priced for the condition and worn out. I ended up picking up an 86 GP with 26,512 miles for $400.00. It stayed for sale here for months and the price kept dropping, just no interest in the GP. That made up my mind. It was sun cooked from sitting out but completely rust free including the frame.

 

[carsonhowe22]

I had a 71 grand prix SJ 455. That helped me make my decision but I still looked at several Monte SS but every one was pretty high priced for the condition and worn out. I ended up picking up an 86 GP with 26,512 miles for $400.00. It stayed for sale here for months and the price kept dropping, just no interest in the GP. That made up my mind. It was sun cooked from sitting out but completely rust free including the frame.

I'd like to find something like that. I'm going to school for collision repair. Would like to repaint it myself.

 

[Intragration]

If you have a bottomless budget then buy the cleanest example of the car you want.

This is the best advice yet, but I'm guessing he meant to say "if you DON'T have a bottomless budget, buy the cleanest example of the car you want". In other words, don't buy something that's going to need a ton of repair or body work or paint if you can avoid it. Spend an extra grand or two and get something that will be a nice base. I completely agree on the concept of buying a roller. If you can find a decent one, this is the best way to get a nicer car for a lower price. I lucked out in this respect, hopefully you will too.