UPDATED 6/9/22: Ever think one thing for the longest time and then realize it was BS?

[tkruger]

My 87 Monte Carlo has a dealer installed (once replaced) full vinyl top. I happen to think it looks nice. The quality of materials used by the dealer appeared to be better than the stock GM tops of the time. Granted due to age I replaced it for a new one about 7 years ago. Then again the car was cared for properly over the years too. Also had all of the windows tinted by the dealer. All of it was tastefully done and whoever the dealer had do it was not a hack.

This said I have seen allot of 'get it sold' upgrades. Unfortunately these far out number the proper upgrades that can be be done.

My 87 LS has the aluminum drums but an open diff. I have changed the shoes once but never the drums, not sure if they are original put have no way to check. I would assume that if someone replaced them they would have used steel ones.

 

[abbey castro]

I don't think aluminum drum came on Chevys. It's not on the GM Dealer fact sheets. What RPO is it?

 

[69hurstolds]

My 87 Monte Carlo has a dealer installed (once replaced) full vinyl top. I happen to think it looks nice. The quality of materials used by the dealer appeared to be better than the stock GM tops of the time. Granted due to age I replaced it for a new one about 7 years ago. Then again the car was cared for properly over the years too. Also had all of the windows tinted by the dealer. All of it was tastefully done and whoever the dealer had do it was not a hack.

This said I have seen allot of 'get it sold' upgrades. Unfortunately these far out number the proper upgrades that can be be done.

My 87 LS has the aluminum drums but an open diff. I have changed the shoes once but never the drums, not sure if they are original put have no way to check. I would assume that if someone replaced them they would have used steel ones.

Quite possible for 1987, you may have the RPO for aluminum drums on the trunk decal SPID. J41 would be disc/drum with cast iron drums, and J42 would be the same except with aluminum drums.

 

[abbey castro]

I have the 1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Dealer Order Guide. Nowhere is there a J41 or J42 Brake listed. I have seen Z28s with them but never a Monte Carlo. Unless someone can indicate the GM Publication/pg# showing J41/42 as an option, it is bogus info. I've seen in other places that their brother's sister boyfriend had a Monte Carlo with them. I say that is misinformation. I've seen 80s Camaros/Firebird with aluminum in junk yards. I was looking for a set to put on mine before I went with the Camaro rear disk set up (LS).

 

[69hurstolds]

For one, it all depends on the publish date of the dealer order guide as some options became available or deleted during the model year. Bulletins usually were the mode of choice on those types of changes. The only G-cars I know for sure that could have had aluminum drums were T-Regals (non-GN) with peg legs, exception: GNX.

J41 is for disc/drum with cast drums. If your car came from the factory with aluminum drums, you'd have J42. If the order guide doesn't specify any special package that includes aluminum drums, then J41 will be the RPO of choice by default. It's not like you could just order up J41 or J42. That's all that was being conveyed here. Nobody was implying that J42 was or wasn't factory-installed on Monte Carlos. But if they were, you should see J42 on the SPID to signify the aluminum drums. I've never seen any Monte Carlo with aluminum drums. But I don't follow those cars that much.

The question was how you could verify what should have came on your car in 1987. J41 and J42 weren't generally on SPIDs prior to 87. The only J RPO shown then was normally the booster, either JM5 or JM7. Which had no bearing on drum selection.

Here's an Arlington built 87 Monte SS SPID with J41 on the spid. This means the car came with disc/drum with cast iron drums in back. I've seen an 86 Aero SS with JM7, that's it. And my 87 442 and other 87 Cutlass came with J41 on the SPIDs. Of course the Olds G-cars never came with factory aluminum drums for sure.

 

[CopperNick]

I used to think that Tuna Noodle Casserole was pronounced Tuna Nuna Casserole.

I know better now.

Tuna Noodle Casserole??!!?? Bleah, Yech, Blurf, Hurf.............................................Hey, Ral-ph..................



Nick

 

[64nailhead]

Tuna Noodle Casserole??!!?? Bleah, Yech, Blurf, Hurf.............................................Hey, Ral-ph..................



Nick

I don't believe I indicated it was an enjoyable meal.

You did manage to duplicate my sentiments though.

 

[CopperNick]

No, no, truthfully you did not. Actually, it was more a case of the tuna being mentioned that generated my response. I do personally happen to like noodles but usually in some kind of chinese oriented dish that includes shrimp or crab or lobster or even snails!! Lookit that S-car-go (LOL)

Tuna and noodle in the same sentence is too reminiscent of college or university and the whole food is fuel vs food is for enjoyment shtick. The only thing worse would be if the whole tuna-noodle mess got introduced to a blender on high speed puree setting.........Yark.

 

[abbey castro]

For one, it all depends on the publish date of the dealer order guide as some options became available or deleted during the model year. Bulletins usually were the mode of choice on those types of changes. The only G-cars I know for sure that could have had aluminum drums were T-Regals (non-GN) with peg legs, exception: GNX.

J41 is for disc/drum with cast drums. If your car came from the factory with aluminum drums, you'd have J42. If the order guide doesn't specify any special package that includes aluminum drums, then J41 will be the RPO of choice by default. It's not like you could just order up J41 or J42. That's all that was being conveyed here. Nobody was implying that J42 was or wasn't factory-installed on Monte Carlos. But if they were, you should see J42 on the SPID to signify the aluminum drums. I've never seen any Monte Carlo with aluminum drums. But I don't follow those cars that much.

The question was how you could verify what should have came on your car in 1987. J41 and J42 weren't generally on SPIDs prior to 87. The only J RPO shown then was normally the booster, either JM5 or JM7. Which had no bearing on drum selection.

Here's an Arlington built 87 Monte SS SPID with J41 on the spid. This means the car came with disc/drum with cast iron drums in back. I've seen an 86 Aero SS with JM7, that's it. And my 87 442 and other 87 Cutlass came with J41 on the SPIDs. Of course the Olds G-cars never came with factory aluminum drums for sure.
View attachment 187957

My 87 built in Pontiac MI in Oct 86 doesn't have a J41 RPO on the SPID. There are several build sheets online for Arlington made cars that show the JM5 but no J41. I guess we will never know for sure.

 

[tkruger]

My Monte Carlo was built October 1987. Unfortunately it is in storage for the winter so I cannot check the codes on the trunk lid. This said I know they are aluminum since I had them off to change the shoes. Being the second owner I only know so much about the history of the car. Only changes the original owner told me they made was the 15 inch Cragar rims on it and not the original 14 inch steels it came with (I have the original wire hubcaps). Also they had the dealer install a full R134 conversion. I replaced the radio with a newer GM one with a CD (one it came with died). Any parts I replaced were with stock equivalents. Basically I like to drive it the way it is and just keep it going.

Being this was built near the end of the run for the GBodies It have just received the parts in the bins that where left. Or something may have been replaced before I received it.