I've had this thing since 1988. Paid $850 at the time no carb, bad trans. I haven't done anything with it in that time frame. Always some other project more important, family etc. Well I was to the point of letting it go. I told a friend it was for sale. He even had a guy call me that might be interested in it. I was ready to sell it for 5 bills if he showed up. He didn't. Then I got thinking, just get the thing to running, and then fix the trans. After all these years you might as well at least get it so you can drive it, then decide if I should hang onto it a little more, or sell it. So I got on eBay and found a proper carb for it. I bought the cheaper one and it was almost a loss, had water get in the fuel bowl, but I managed to get it apart and rebuilt. And installed it. Well after about 15 years since the last time I tried to start it it fired right up. Dust and mouse turds flying all over and mouse nests out the tail pipe. It's ALIVE! It isn't a pristine car, 100+K on the clock original. Some rust but not to bad. So now it's time to do the transmission. I have got it removed now. The fellow that is going to build it says it may take him a couple of weeks before he can get to it. So it may be a month or so before she gets back together. Once that is done I have to bleed the brakes and make sure they are OK. Then the plan is to take it outside and wash 16 years of dust off it, pull the seats and carpet and give them a bath to get the mouse pee out of them. Some time in there get the bumpers back on and the trunk open. The key seems to have been misplaced. Possible safe thread on that one. The only thing I know that is in the trunk, is a dutch oven. I really don't have a clue what else I may have put in there back in 94 when I got shipped to Germany. I'll see if I can post some links to the progress now and then. Once it is up and running the plan is to get some NASCAR style black wheels/new tires on it, and just let it be a rat rod.

I always thought the mid 70's cars would eventually take off, but they never really have. I would like to see some of them. The mid size GM cars of that era, Laguna Chevelles, Monte Carlos, Grand Prix, Cutlass 442's etc. Now that my generation is getting older and we are kicking the kids out, maybe there might be a little more interest in them. Who knows?

Cool. Any plans to wake up the BB?

Not at the moment. Right now just getting it mobile is the priority. A 502 would wake it up though.

The 73+ A bodies havent become popular because they were proceeded by the pinnacle era of A bodies (68-72).  Certain ones kinda have a following like the 73 GTO and 442 but that's about it.  I will say of all of them the Monte does have the best looks to it and is something you don't see at every car show.  You rarely see a 70-72 Monte and never see a 73-77.  I had a 72 that I stupidly sold back in the late 90s.  the 70-72 Montes are starting to gain popularity now that every single Chevelle/Cutlass/Lemans is being turned into a SS/442/GTO.  Problem is your rust, that's the killer as panels and other stuff for 73+ don't exist yet.  I'd get it running with minimal expense then look to sell it.  Be warned though that you may get a lot of people calling you wanting to turn it into a Dub machine.

Low gears and a correspondent overdrive trans will wake it up more than anything vs the 3 speed and 2.xx malaise era gears

I don't know a lot about it except they were severely detuned in that era, like 235 hp. There has to be an easy 100 hp in that motor dying to get out.

I had a friend who had a 73 or 74 Monte years ago. I don't remember many specifics but he had a local builder do a performance rebuild on the 454, ran a proper exhaust system and 4:11 gears. I think he got somewhere into the 12's with that setup. I wish I could remember more.

This was before the LS swap and turbocharge everything movements. I thought it moved pretty well for a big street car.

That engine is really easy to wake up . a mild torque cam , headers and an intake and it will impress you. My quick search says they are bringing pretty good money with a 454

What was the compression in that engine, a bit over 8 to 1 or so? Smog dogs.

Trailering package, 3.42 gears.

Shave a couple thou off the heads, deck the block a couple more....

3.73  axle gearing,  aluminum intake manifold, and a camshaft with  duration  around  228 to 230 degrees @ .050" valve springs to match, and some decent  tube exhaust headers will REALLY uncork that 454.

 
You'll have  just near 500  LbFt from 2000  thru 6000 rpm

Not low enough for a 29 to 30 inch ish tire.

3.73 to 4.10 with overdrive and a low 1st is where the action is

Here's a short vid after the initial fire up.
https://www.facebook.com/tom.hunt.798/videos/1108228525911669/

We'll see if it works.

And an up date photo.
https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13876490_1129137810487407_2007573840369272131_n.jpg?oh=bd9b94ad2b9cc968a65c7ab66ebbe14e&oe=582AA976
Sorry I'm an old guy that hasn't figured out how to post pics.

Trans is out. Now I have to get it to the guy for the rebuild. Then the fun of getting it back in.

Here's your picture.

Good luck with the project.
I am one of those weird people that loves that era of Monte Carlo.

Thanks! So is there a quick way to do that? Or do I need a photo bucket type site?
I do want to put more stuff up as things go along. I have the window sticker photo I hope to have up by tomorrow.

Looks to be in good shape, I would drive it!. I always thought that body style looked like a tarantula. I am a big fan of the 70 - 71 Monte myself.

For the engine, get the compression up, better cam, intake, exhaust. I don't know jack about GM motors but look into the heads as well. Chrysler put smog heads on their motors as well as lean burn distributors, both of which rob power. Easy to swap out though.

More pics!!!!!!!

The original window sticker.
https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/r90/13873226_1130332200367968_1052542330055825935_n.jpg?oh=eb3bdc72b9fd573ffb758eb816b0a68c&oe=581532C9
Note how much extra the 454 was and the moon roof price.

I had a 72 in high school. It was about three different colors before it was mostly primer brown. Pull the fan shroud and you had your own personal work space under the hood.
350 with a Corvette cam. Ran decent but most of my buddies could beat me drag racing.

The build sheet.
https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/r270/13620085_1130346600366528_2644043666987508549_n.jpg?oh=6c743e1aefbfc89ad0c99d0534dc4a21&oe=585BC7F6

Though it had an am radio I think the dealer installed an 8 track. That is what's in it now. It has the paperwork for the radio. I haven't tried to see if it works yet, I have 1, 8 track tape. not sure if I dare put it in and eat the tape or not.

Trans rebuild kit got here. My guy doing the build has a neighbors project to finish first though. So hopefully by the end of the month. I guess I better open it up and make sure it's the right one.

Im 27 and have a 75 laguna.  An a body facebook shows its not just old guys that like the forgotten a bodies.

So what was on the rear? L60-15's? I don't think this body style does well with the Pro-street look. I always liked the Monte and Laguna's in NASCAR. I'll get some D-spokes for the Monte if it seems to run out ok. Maybe a rear spoiler?

I saw a red '77 in town Monday. Nevada plates though, so I still may be one of few that will have one on the road here. There is a guy that has a stock '75 in town that I see on the road now and then. Other than that I haven't seen many of these cars around.

Transmission guy is telling me he should have the trans done by the 10th. Yeah I could have got it done faster at a shop, but a friend recommended him. I hope it's worth the wait. Hopefully I can roll it out of the garage by October.

Trans is done. There is still some things to be had though. I need to get some carb cleaner and flush my lines/cooler out. I need to get my converter. Of course trans fluid too. Not going stall converter, I'm not setting it up for drag racing. I did get an Energy suspension trans mount. I got a stock one from NAPA. It was not even up to stock replacement in my opinion. I'll be returning that one. The metal was thinner by 1/3 than the stock part. The center stud was 3/8" instead of 7/16" . I thought NAPA would have had better stuff than some of the other chains.

This payday is my bigger necessity bills payday, so I'll have to wait to get some of the stuff. But I also need to find some time too. Pretty sure I can get it in before the end of Sept.

I have always liked the look of those Montes. Cool car hurry up and get it on the road.

My uncle had given his old one of that body style to my grandma and my sister who lived with her.  I wouldn't mind having it now but my wife would care for it.

Lot of em down here got cut up for dirt track cars.

Or demolition cars.

I got the converter. Blew a couple cans of brake clean through the lines and cooler. Might do 1 more. Maybe Saturday I can at least get it bolted back in.

Sounds like it needs twin turbos.

454, no turbo required!

Well I got it in today!  The actual bolting it up went smooth. Then when I ran it to get the fluid in it, i noticed fuel leaks. So I had to run to town for some hose and clamps. Dropped the tank and changed the lines then changed the ones up front. Then I went to lower the car. Things went well until the front. The Car is higher than the jack by using blocks. When I was letting the car down to the single wheel height the block split and the jack rolled out. The jack caught the oil pan and put a nice dent in it. Not sure what I'm going to do with that. It still runs and has oil pressure. Take it to a body shop and have them try to pull it with welded pegs or look at pulling the pan. Not sure if I can pull the pan without pulling the engine. Or just roll with it for now, which is what I'll do.

My kid was home but went and hung out with his buddy so it was hard to get the front end pulled to the center of the shop to pull it out. When my Son was there he did help me bleed the brakes. There is some kind of issue with the back brakes. I couldn't get any fluid out of them. So after some Manuel labor to get the jack to roll it enough I could drive it out. So I got it out of the garage. Then I rinsed off 16 years of dust. I forgot how bad the paint really was. GM cracked lacquer/patina. Then I went to drive it around the block. My wife actually wanted to ride in it!! Well the old car still has a little frolic in her. I took it over to the gas station(the only pavement in 5 miles besides the road to town. Anyways she did a one tire burn out pretty easily. To the wife"s slight disdain didn't think they would like the smoke at the store. Still need to get the bumpers back on.

I got a couple of pics to post tomorrow. And maybe next week a what's in the trunk safe kind of thread. Since the key doesn't work. I was poor years ago, so I know nothing of real value is in there but a dutch oven. (maybe...)

Some pics
https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14237545_1166293150105206_5678393558132134297_n.jpg?oh=6d5cc78d59ece613e17f09b92f720c4e&oe=5845504D
https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14264877_1166295726771615_996020914505028911_n.jpg?oh=1e48412700e8932a6312131401d8973e&oe=58424C11
https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14333128_1166297293438125_2172872118496262913_n.jpg?oh=f831f5c411daf7ec24820db4d49cd210&oe=5878FEDE
https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14291814_1166297386771449_5206720523666184550_n.jpg?oh=5199a525959aec86767b454285691001&oe=587964E8
After a rinse off.
https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14238108_1166687463399108_1700034778520570859_n.jpg?oh=48185830dc4e29371cacf1f79ef72396&oe=583DB287
https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14264047_1166687853399069_8849216721541403236_n.jpg?oh=8381ae12ae945cf56d75b16b214196d5&oe=587D4BC0
I forgot how bad the paint really is.
Now I'll get the bumpers back on and it should look like a car again. This week I hope.

So when I put this in storage to go to Germany I have not been in the trunk since then. So today is the day i decided to drill the lock.
https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14333219_1168064166594771_4369784454315218316_n.jpg?oh=d2f5b9b990fa451e840e183b766bfaed&oe=5871546B
Out comes the drill.
https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14222251_1168064413261413_8388654376044144852_n.jpg?oh=bd45dae9cb12616da7c816664b169ed9&oe=5872ECAC
And what do we have here......
https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14233045_1168066253261229_8187891452414828167_n.jpg?oh=b0a10e20d274ef3aa21e05e034794616&oe=58761246
Well not what I was hoping for but at least the factory jack and spare are still there. There was also some door panel parts, a piece of headliner trim. The original opera window interior panels. A radiator from a 65-70 Impala. And anyone here need a bumper jack for their 1970 Impala wagon??  Lots of mouse turds. 1 dead mouse, a couple of nests.

I did have one of my buddies come over and give me a hand putting the bumpers back on. Holy cow they had metal in them back in the day. Probably 50-75 pounds. Not real easy for a one man install. Will post some pics later. Now it is time to get serious about cleaning it out best I can. Changing all the fluids and getting the brakes back to 100% Right now the rear ones don't work.  And I drove ot over to a neighbors last night. Got dark by the time I got done talking. It's been a while since I drove a car that had the floor operated High Beams.

I love big cars. A Monte is on my list for sure, would love to have one and do it up as a nice, clean street car. Some day. This used to be mine, sold it last year.



That 460 had some torque. Car rode like a boat, floated over everything.
Oh, and 28 years old here. Not all of the young guys have forgotten about the big cars.

Fixed the pics

 

 

I'm not sure how to. I copy the location from my FB account. It will link some and not others. Not sure why. Old guy...

Those are some awesome land yachts. Never got a ride in one though. I thought if you had one of those in Texas, you had to have longhorns on the front.

I had a 76 Cutlass Brougham, bought from the dealer as it was a demo.... 455 engine and T tops, every option available, 1 of about 15 with the T tops and the 455...like a fool I traded it after a year as I was tired of the payments...I had 1 yr left of 124 a month....one of life's biggest regrets

The reality of it is, you would have had to not drive it, and keep it in the garage for it to be nice today. Or you would be spending more than it's worth to restore it. I'm glad there are people that can afford to put cars in garages and not drive them. It's cool to see an unrestored low miles original. But there aren't many folks who can. Some of us can put old cars in barns so rich guys can restore them some day.