LS Powered Monte Build

So I have been enjoying driving my finished 82 monte all summer and now that summer is almost over and the snow will soon come I have finally started the on the the next project. I bought the 81 monte with a 3.8 liter v6, old man driven last year for a header panel for the 82 last year. It cot me all of $100 because the guys wife wanted to put a flower garden where the car had been sitting for the past 13 years so I dragged it home. I got the parts I needed then it sat in the corner of the shop eversince. I got looking at the car and realized it was in many ways better than the 82 monte i just finished. There was hardly any rot on the outer body, mostly surface rust under ther side moldings. There was almost 1/2" of undercoating on the frame is spots and it was clean metal underneath, except for the common rear frame rail rot (this car wasnt as bad as most). The car needs a drivers side floor pan. However ther trunk floor and the rear floor around the wheel wells has no rot whats so ever unlike my 82 had. The route im planning for this car is a street/strip car with either a 383 or 406 powering it. I plan on replacing the rear rails and dropping a ford 9" in the rear for strength and reliability. I will put a 4 poit cage in (possibly a 6 point) and eliminate the back seat, door pannels and other trim pieces. My idea is to use aluminum for panels and to give the car a racing bare bones feel. the rest of the interion will go black. The exterior of the monte will be black with the lower side moldings eliminated. I am going to keep the stock front nose on the car as well. Im still thinking of ideas to make the car different for a change.


the day i dragged it home



ripping the interior out.



as i said it need a drivers side floor lol

no holes around the rear wheel wheels

ford 9" housing and extra axles



motor ready to pull

front frame under the thick undercoating


finished 82 monte

Re: New Project 81 Monte Build

Im thinking of doing a 1" frame notch in the rear with a small mini tub but havent decided. I was also thinking of removing the side marker lights. I want to keep the side glass though cause they just seem wierd without it to me.

Re: New Project 81 Monte Build

pulled the 3.8 liter out today and removed all the body mount bolts. had to drill a couple holes in the trunk because the nuts kept spinning in the body mount pockets. so i guess no the trunk has some holes in it now lol.

Re: New Project 81 Monte Build

the frame notch was an idea. i know my cousin had a 79 grand lemans wagon that was running low 12s with no notch and was street legal. after looking at the rear wheel wells they are definitley to good to cut out. i think it is more important to upgrad to a ford 9 inch in the rear and have the rear suspention set up right.

Re: New Project 81 Monte Build

Starting to black out the trim because thats the look im going for. I started out with the tail lights and figured i would give VHT Night shade a try. turned out not bad.



chrome trim removed and lenses sanded with 1500 grit


masked off ready for shade


3 light coats of VHT


painted the trim with Dupli-Color gloss black


finished tail lights



licence plate lights shaded

Re: New Project 81 Monte Build

Well the cold weather has kept me from accomplishing much this winter. Finally got back at things this weekend. successfully lifted the body off the frame using a safer method than I used on the 82 monte. I was supprised to find the frame is supprisingly good underneath the thick undercoating but haveing the body off will make replacing the rear rails easier. I plan on blasting and painting the frame after I stip it.