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"Re-inspired"

733 views 9 replies 7 participants last post by  tfeverfred 
#1 ·
I think my "automotive blues" are beginning to fade away. A guy at work expressed interest in buying my '76 Monte so I was showing him the pictures and the idea that I didn't REALLY want to sell it started creeping into my head then another co-worker walked up and commented how you never see those anymore and that he really liked mine. We got to talking about it and by the time we were done he had me 99% convinced I should keep it.


It will never be a show piece, fast or even a "cool" ride to most people but I no longer feel a need to meet any of those criteria, I just want a clean old car to take out and cruise on a warm summer night or a bright fall day. There are very few left around here and at least it's V-8 RWD, it has cold AC, T-tops and EVERYTHING still works. The floor pans are gone from the T-tops leaking over the years but otherwise it isn't terribly rusty and I did score a pair of NOS GM full 1/4's and a set of NOS T-tops. The trunk is solid as a rock and the bumpers are near mint.

I'll just freshen up the 350 and add some minor tweaks, swap in a 200-4R and 3.73 posi, cherry out the body and interior to as near to factory fresh as I can and then enjoy it. :cool: The truck I was going to do will remain "just" a truck.........

 
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#2 ·
I'll always like the 76-77 Monte's because we had one when I was a teenager. It was a real dog, but I liked it anyway.

It had a 305 with 12X,XXX miles, and was almost never maintained while we had it.(7-10 months between oil changes was normal) But it started almost everyday. The only time it didn't start in the morning, it was -25F. (and I don't even want to know what the wind chill was.) The body was gone, (there was a hole in the rear quarter, behind the drivers door big enough to stick my head into) the doors sagged, and the power steering didn't work when you had to make sharp turns. :pain: I miss that car. :)
 
#3 ·
Talked to my tranny guy tonight and told him to get started on the 200-4R, he's trying to talk me into running 4.11's instead of 3.73's. With the 0.67 OD in the 200-4R the 4.11's would be nearly identical to my current 2.73. I'm going to run fairly tall tires, about 29", so it might not be too bad an idea, if I find a smokin' deal like I did on the 3.73's I probably will.
 
#4 ·
3:73 Gears

Stick with the 3:73's,keep in mind the OD trannys have a much steeper first gear than the 350 has when you are in overdrive you are cruisin' and using less fuel.The elections are over and gas prices will start up(about 12 cents the last 2 weeks) at cruise the difference between 3:73 and 4:11's is about 350-400RPM.I know this for fact "been there,done that"
 
#5 ·
I know but the old girl weighs in at a hair over 2 tons empty and has the aerodynamics of a two story house, mileage isn't going to be one of it's high points. Especially when you pop out the T-tops. :eek: I doubt I'll find a new set of 4.11's for what I paid for my 3.73's anyway. Thanks for the input though I'll keep it in mind. :thumbup:
 
#6 ·
Friend had a 76 right out of highschool. Air shocks gave it the right stance. With a 305 it was not any speed demon, but fit him ( a big guy) better then the comet he drove through highschool. Even though it wasn't fast, a decent stereo blaring skid row "youth gone wild" made it fun to cruise in. It was bright orange and we gave it the title "the great pumpkin" It met an untimely demise when he lent it to another friend who was known to get into trouble. Believe he was heading to oklahoma with it, when it blew out a freeze plug in MO and he toasted the engine. Have fun with that monte. Will look a lot nicer then all the minivans, suv's, and bubble butt cars you see on the road today.
 
#9 ·
Thanks guys!

'kenseth17' I had my own "Great Pumpkin" back in the day, wish I still had it....... :(



BUT.... I don't, I have the Monte and I'll do the best I can with what I have. The plan is to have the floor pans replaced and the drivetrain done in 2007 then do the rest of the body as resources allow with the interior last. I can live with a "cosmetically challenged" vehicle as long as the mechanicals are all A-1.
 
#10 · (Edited)
Good going!

I have posted thoughts about things like this before. It was thinking that I had to have a ton of chrome and a "Easter egg" paint job to have a nice hot rod, that kept me from building one. As soon as I figured out that I have to build it to please myself, my mind was clear and the thoughts and ideas began to take over. Good luck with your project and drive the hell out of it! People not involved in the hobby or scared to be, need to know it can be done on a budget and still be fun.
 
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