The All About My Monte Carlo SS Thread

[TexasT]

I guess I missed what the goal here is. Are you going away from the wagon and putting the mcss back together?

[motorhead]

I guess I missed what the goal here is. Are you going away from the wagon and putting the mcss back together?

Um... goals? People have goals with project cars?

I am pretty sure I am using this as an excuse to not fix my TBSS as quickly as I could - which I suppose I could do the same with the wagon.  Truth is I really miss driving the Monte Carlo (so many memories wrapped up in that car), and I have no real affinity to the wagon (yet).  You might remember a few years ago I did this same thing with the brown Lemans (I literally robbed the sleeping MCSS of parts) just to have something to tool around in that was V8 G-body.

Also, the TBSS and wagon are too nice/clean - I want something I can care less about, and tinker with over time without feeling the need to build a complete car out of the gate - which means that I will probably enjoy it more.

So, yeah - zero goals other than distracting myself from the massive amount of other work I have going on using nostalgia.

[TexasT]

I see.
I just saw you taking things apart, and didn't really see a direction.Not that a direction is needed. Just better to have a goal in mind if real achievement is to happen.

MCSS to the rescue!

[motorhead]

Speaking of goals... I may have a cheap and complete 4.8L pullout in my hands this weekend.  If this is the case then I will be replicating this build: http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/engines-drivetrain/1505-650-hp-4-8l-ls-with-a-single-turbo-setup-mini-mouse-part-3/

The only thing I will not be doing is a really expensive set of cylinder heads, because as we all know it is cheaper to crank up the boost.  If I can get around 500 torques and 500 horsepowers to the wheels that will be plenty for my needs - especially since I plan to employ a lot of used and eBay parts.

[motorhead]

Going on the nice to have list:

http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS-Performance-Products/555/681252/10002/-1
http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS-Performance-Products/555/681283/10002/-1
http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS-Performance-Products/555/681288/10002/-1

[TexasT]

Those wheels look pretty sweet!

[motorhead]

Especially for the money.  I paid more than that to have two wheels widened...

[good2win22]

Those are nice!  So many options out there for wheels these days it's hard to choose

[motorhead]

Soooo... this finally happened.  Brought home a sad little 4.8L "LR4" out of a '99 Silverado with 200K+ kms.

The "Semi-Sloppy" plan:
- Stock Bottom End 4.8L (gap the rings (maybe) and dingle-ball the cylinders (maybe), and pin the crank);
- port and shim the stock oil pump;
- reuse the tired-ass LS2 timing chain from my TBSS with a TFS damper and the equally used LS2 lifters; and
- some sort of oil pan that fits a G-body (eBay?);
- 241 heads from our LS1 (flow more thanks to bigger valves and drops the compression to about 9:1, might even do a little porting) and some cheap MLS head gaskets (not paying LS9 prices) like taking some stock LS1 units, rob the guts, and make a DIY 7-layer setup;
- find some gently used dual valve springs and 7.4 pushrods;
- stab in the janky (and probably whiny) Comp 226/230 .605"/.608" 113+3 (LXL lobes) cam I cannot seem to sell;
- Force a set of ARP head studs into the block because they wouldn't go into our LS1 (Thanks for that, ARP!);
- 80pph Deka injectors;
- TBSS intake (for now) and some sort of rail and regulator solution (eBay?), and a 90mm Chinese DBC throttlebody (or the stock 78mm TB and an adapter);
- Walbro 450 (or two) and hotwire (aka. an overpriced relay (or two)) pushing fuel into a -10 AN line (I'll figure out something for a 3/8" return later);
- a Straub trunnion upgrade (or push my luck and run the rocker arms stock);
- truck exhaust manifold turbo setup (maybe send the downpipe out of the fender or hood?); and
- a fast spooling turbo (nope, no intercooler, methanol injection or E85 is an ideal solution).

Hopefully this thing will spin to 7000+rpm, make 500hp at the wheels, and put a smile on my face.

I am either going to back this with a 200-4R (3000 stall), and 4.56s (and a 28+ inch tire); or dump the 200-4R for a close ratio Magnum T56/TR6060 swap.

[good2win22]

Sounds like you have a plan for lots of tire roasting!

[motorhead]

On with the build - I seriously cannot sit still for five minutes without messing around with stuff. Ran to the shelf and started grabbing leftovers from other projects - nothing like hand-me-downs. You can see the stock springs, MOOG 5606s, ummm... Eibachs(?), and a set of no-name lowering springs that I chopped down years ago. Pretty easy to guess which ones I chose for this application. Dropped the front end down from 28+ inches to 25ish inches. The rear is at 30" and makes for an impressive stink-bug stance (where is my mullet?), I might keep it just to troll people.

Other than that I jammed in some KYB Gas-A-Justs in there too.

I am still trying to decide if I am going to put the 34mm hollow sway bar on the front, or leave it off because I don't plan on using one long term with this project (ie. light weight). The only reason I am even considering doing the labour for the sway bar is because I might autocross this thing with the shitty 3.8L just for giggles.

Next up the rear suspension (moar low, and more KYBs).

[Just a Six?]

Good your enjoying yourself & seeing all those parts get's the mind going 100 mph. I used to be the same way & would spend days screwing around in my little shop where I had the engine out for winter. Front covers, intakes, anything I could find to use a dremmel on! Have fun & keep us posted!   

[motorhead]

Good your enjoying yourself & seeing all those parts get's the mind going 100 mph. I used to be the same way & would spend days screwing around in my little shop where I had the engine out for winter. Front covers, intakes, anything I could find to use a dremmel on! Have fun & keep us posted! 

No problem, glad to share!

---

Yanked the front swaybar, greased the front end, pulled the cargo coils (a giant PITA to get out of the pockets) and slapped in some chopped springs (PITA to keep in the pockets). Also got the Made in the USA Gabriel Red Ryder shocks out (which were completely blown out front and rear) and replaced them with the Made in Japan KYBs (JDM baby!).  The car is now sitting 25.5" front and 27" rear.
 
 Also chopped off the rotting exhaust (actually did this first to make getting the suspension out easier) and replaced it with a 3" system cobbled together from scraps I had laying around - including a spare Pypes Violator muffler.  Why? Just because I could. Yanked the front swaybar, greased the front end, pulled the cargo coils (a giant PITA to get out of the pockets) and slapped in some chopped springs (PITA to keep in the pockets). Also got the Made in the USA Gabriel Red Ryder shocks out (which were completely blown out front and rear) and replaced them with the Made in Japan KYBs (JDM baby!).
Also chopped off the rotting exhaust (actually did this first to make getting the suspension out easier) and replaced it with a 3" system cobbled together from scraps I had laying around - including a spare Pypes Violator muffler.  Why? Just because I could.Yanked the front swaybar, greased the front end, pulled the cargo coils (a giant PITA to get out of the pockets) and slapped in some chopped springs (PITA to keep in the pockets). Also got the Made in the USA Gabriel Red Ryder shocks out (which were completely blown out front and rear) and replaced them with the Made in Japan KYBs (JDM baby!).
Also chopped off the rotting exhaust (actually did this first to make getting the suspension out easier) and replaced it with a 3" system cobbled together from scraps I had laying around - including a spare Pypes Violator muffler.  Why? Just because I could.

[motorhead]

I was bored last night (recovering from yard work and cleaning up the garage) so I decided to decode the RPOs on the Monte.  It is a bit of a weirdly optioned car.




Buick 3.8L w/2bbl, TH200, and 2.41 gears says: I am the cheapest MFer on the road.  This is the most basic drivetrain available.




Yet, it has power windows, rear defrost, 4 speaker stereo, the wide chrome exterior trim, locking wire wheel covers, landau roof, extra sound deadening, the "Z06" premium interior package (w/ 60/40 bench), and the F41 suspension package (I had a feeling the front swaybar was large when I took it off - I measured it at 1.25" diameter).  This screams I want to be moderately comfortable, look good, and like a firm ride - while being a cheap ass slow poke.




But, it doesn't have AC or cruise control.  But, does have a block heater (because Canada!).




Consequently it is hard to tell where the car was spec'd to be driven (not on city streets or in traffic due to a lack of AC) and not on the highway for long distances (no cruise).  This thing must have lived its whole life between 40 and 80km/h on paved rural roads (roll the windows down at speed and coast a few kms at a time).

[motorhead]

Tried to figure out which one is lower.

And gave the Monte a tune up, and added some ponies with a zip disc. Weird working with a timing light again.