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kbonanny

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Feb 11, 2013
11
11
3
Jenkins Twp, Pennsylvania
First off...hello! Been awhile since I've been here as life has hammered me with some nasty surprises in the past decade plus. I have a pair of autoimmune diseases that ripped my life out from under me violently, but enough of that.
My '78 Monte Carlo is nearing completion. I have a fresh full roller 383 stroker that spit out 604 HP @ 6800 RPM on pump gas. I have a TH375B trans behind it, though it has many years behind it, including hundreds of passes @ Numeda Raceway in Pennsylvania and will be refreshed in the near future. I have tubular control arms @ all 4 corners, 450 lb springs in the front, stock rear, the largest sway bars I could locate, upgraded front brakes & spindles to allow for a conversion to a 12" rotor. I'm running full race headers with 1 7/8" primaries into 3" collectors. From there n back is a PYPES 3" stainless dual exhaust with the X pipe & dump pipes with a pair of Flowmaster 40 mufflers. Mechanically the car is 95% complete and it now resides in the body shop being refinished.
One are I need to upgrade once the car is on the road is the steering box. I have far too much assist @ speed, which doesn't leave me feeling confident when throwing the car into a corner at high speed. I know I can buy a box already built, but where can I buy the parts or kit to build it myself? I have 30+ years of professional experience as both a tech and a shop owner, so I have zero apprehension building my own steering box. I know I need to lose the excess assist and the sector shaft plays a major roll on that front, but I'm coming up empty locating parts to "customize" my own box.
I also will be buying new wheels, and I'm about positive I'm going with the weld wheels. My question here is what is the widest wheel I can safely run in the back of the car with NO possibility of a tire and/or wheel making contact with the quarters. I know I can fit a 245-60 tire underneath with no issue, but would like to go bigger there as well, so what is the largest tire & wheel that will fit a stock wheel housing on a G body car? Again, If I have to go a small amount less wide to assure myself of no possibility of tire contact with the sheet metal, so be it. What back-spacing, diameter & width is what it boils down to. I also would like to run something close up front, but being my headers each have 1 tube that goes outside of each front frame rail to get the best flow #s out of my exhaust, I can't afford to go nuts up front.
My final question is related to classic car insurance. Do I have to have the car appraised and then insured at a set value or how does this work? Mechanically I have over $20k into the car in the past few years alone. The engine/exhaust/suspension & brake upgrades were not too far shy of the $20k figure by themselves. I've never had a classic/antique car worth anywhere near what I have into this, and being I've been hit 5 times by people with NO insurance, I need to be beyond positive my car is protected. The car will not see anywhere near 1000 miles per year when complete, though I am not the kind of guy to baby it. I intend to drive it and have fun doing so. You can't have an honest 600 HP under the hood and drive like a 90 year old man. My days of dragging the car are long gone, but I do indeed love finding long, isolated, twisting mountain roads and seeing how well my driving skills are holding up.
I greatly appreciate all answers. If anyone has any questions for me, don't hesitate to ask. I am a lifelong professional auto/truck/equipment technician and I am certified to the hilt.
Thanks
Monte burnout.jpg
again, Kirk Bonanny.
 
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Texas82GP

Just-a-worm
Apr 3, 2015
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Spring, Texas
Welcome back to the site from Houston. We'd all love to see more pics of your Monte. I hope you have your health issues under control and can enjoy life and enjoy the hobby.

Where to start? How about wheel/tire fitment.

UNGN seems to be the wheel and tire fitment Guru. Perhaps he will chime in. On the rear, from what I've read, no two cars are alike. The body of the car isn't necessarily perfectly centered on the frame from the factory so what will fit on one side won't necessarily fit on the other. There are plenty of guys running 15"x8" wheels with 4" of backspacing and running 275's on the rear. Some have to run a thin spacer. Most have to roll the wheel well lip. I've seen 295's on cars but that is really pushing it. 255's should fit pretty easily. On the front, I think you will be pretty limited with those around-the-frame-rail headers. 225's maybe? There are definitely guys on here running them so hopefully they will chime in with first hand experience. Check out the wheel fitment thread...
https://gbodyforum.com/threads/wheel-fitment-guide.2442/

Appraisal: I'm not sure that it is required, I guess it probably depends on the company. Either way, I recommend a professional appraisal when you have that amount of money tied up in the car. I had my car appraised and provided that appraisal to my classic car insurance company. I'm with Condon Skelly. If something bad happens, the appraisal is to your benefit.

On the steering gear parts....I'm not sure where to buy a kit but the parts have to be out there since the boxes are being rebuilt. You might be able to tune your steering feel by tuning the valve in the pump. Check out this thread...
http://jeffd.50megs.com/Pump_valve_mod_page.htm

Hopefully some of this helps. At the least it bumps this thread back to the top.
 
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Turbo Zach

Comic Book Super Hero
Sep 8, 2015
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I want more pictures? If you Google search 79 Monte images. You can find a deep red 79 Monte. He has a few right ups on the car. In my opinion he had the perfect stance and wheel sizes. He used to be a member here.
 
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MrSony

Geezer
Nov 15, 2014
6,793
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Des Moines, Iowa
Coolio.
 

kalidromos13

Master Mechanic
Oct 12, 2016
363
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Palmdale, CA
I wanna see some pics of this! Welcome back!
 
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79 USA 1

Royal Smart Person
Sep 2, 2011
1,062
2,035
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Cheektowaga, New York
Welcome back from a fellow 3rd gen owner! Looking forward to more pictures.
On my 79 Monte Carlo I've ran a 15 x 8.5 Centerline Convo Pro with a 3.75 back space and a 28 x 11.50 15 ET Street tire with no rubbing Was close at the fender lip but did not rub.
P8130097.JPG

On the "new" 79 Monte Carlo I have a 255 60 15 on a 15 x 8.5 American Racing Torque Thrust wheel with 3.75 back space and it will just rub the left outer fender at full suspension compression. As Texas82GP stated it can vary from car to car.
P1011878.JPG
Hope this helps!
Bob S.
 
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TURNA

Rocket Powered Basset Hound
Jul 24, 2009
10,941
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Socialist NY
Welcome back!!!!

Autoimmune diseases suck I deal with them myself.

I highly recommend doing more burnouts like in the pic you posted.

They are a great stress reliever!!!!!
 
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Bonnewagon

Rocket Powered Basset Hound
Supporting Member
Sep 18, 2009
10,540
14,217
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Queens, NY
What you want is an "agreed value" policy.That means both you and the insurer are on record for what the car WILL be valued for- no games. I am with Hagerty and I like them. For a high dollar car you will need receipts, photos, and probably an appraiser, to get them to agree to a value you are happy with. Work with them and don't settle for less that it really is worth- and be sure they will cover it for that value.
 
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