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Hi folks, I'd love to get a mid 80s Monte Carlo SS. What are the common problems on this car? When buying one, what should I look for? What's a good price for this car? (Roughly, of course) Thank you!!
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# ? Oct 7, 2014 08:23 |
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# ? Apr 28, 2024 04:06 |
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G bodies are a pretty solid cars in all flavors. If you're worried about restoration to a factory condition, look for rust anywhere and everywhere from knee high down, the t-tops tended to leak when neglected, so look for signs of mold and mildew. The leaky t-tops generally led to rotted floor pans and seat mounts so check under the seats. Beyond that, its gonna be general red flag items for 30 year old cars. Bad bondo, shoddy body work, "upgrades, etc. Engine wiring is straightforward and easy clear of gremlins, and if there has been an aftermarket electronic anything, make sure the wiring at the fuse panel is intact. Its more than likely you're going to be looking at replacing all your suspension bushings and ball joints if they haven't been done already, so hope the PO has made use of the factory zerk fittings. One of the cool things about getting a Monte, or any G body, is that everything on the front suspension is a direct match for 2wd S10 hardware, meaning all those inexpensive aftermarket mini truck suspension parts are available to use.
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# ? Oct 7, 2014 11:34 |
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If you are going to do it, do it right and find a fastback. You can't be 80's cool without it son.
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# ? Oct 7, 2014 15:00 |
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The majority of them were 305s as well, so expect a whopping 145 HP from that beast.
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# ? Oct 8, 2014 02:47 |
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Mighty Horse posted:The majority of them were 305s as well, so expect a whopping 145 HP from that beast. That problem has a known solution, though.
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# ? Oct 8, 2014 03:01 |
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Is there any reason to buy the SS version if you are going to engine swap? Maybe I should rephrase that, is there any reason to buy the SS if you are not going to engine swap?
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# ? Oct 8, 2014 16:40 |
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Elephanthead posted:If you are going to do it, do it right and find a fastback. You can't be 80's cool without it son. I assume you're referring to the AeroCoupe?
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# ? Oct 8, 2014 23:24 |
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Mister Kingdom posted:I assume you're referring to the AeroCoupe? Europe isn't the only place that has homologation specials.
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# ? Oct 8, 2014 23:26 |
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Elephanthead posted:Is there any reason to buy the SS version if you are going to engine swap? Maybe I should rephrase that, is there any reason to buy the SS if you are not going to engine swap? The strip package is the only reason you need.
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# ? Oct 9, 2014 02:08 |
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Mister Kingdom posted:I assume you're referring to the AeroCoupe? Every time I see a picture of that car, I want one more and more
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# ? Oct 9, 2014 02:53 |
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Raluek posted:That problem has a known solution, though. Yeah. Buy a GN. Seriously though, if you are in the rust belt, look at the rear frame rails since by the g-body design, road salt will get all over them and turn them into Swiss cheese. Parts availability is pretty decent. Don't expect anything resembling good handling or braking, as they are truly 80s GM products.
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# ? Oct 9, 2014 03:11 |
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I had a 1985 SS about 8 years ago. It looked and sounded cool(one owner, super clean, low miles), could haul a ton of people around, but was really slow. It had crappy tires, so I could still do burnouts, as you are required to do in a 1985 Monte Carlo SS. I bought mine for like $4,200 and sold it for $5,000. I haven't really followed car values in a long time, but even then, I thought both the cost I paid and the price I got for it were low considering the quality of the car. Of course, the real reason someone buys a Monte Carlo is because they can't find a decent Grand National.
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# ? Oct 9, 2014 03:21 |
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I will still someday build my chimaera g-body consisting of a Monte SS, powered by GN guts, with the Hurst Olds lightning rod shifter
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# ? Oct 9, 2014 03:35 |
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WashinMyGoat posted:Of course, the real reason someone buys a Monte Carlo is because they can't find a decent Grand National. TPB-AI edition.
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# ? Oct 9, 2014 03:52 |
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Make sure to buy some cool Ray Bans™ to go with your Monte Carlo!Mister Kingdom posted:I assume you're referring to the AeroCoupe? The Grand Prix Aerocoupe looked cooler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bklh6M5qSk8 KennyLoggins fucked around with this message at 03:59 on Oct 9, 2014 |
# ? Oct 9, 2014 03:52 |
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Guy at Atco race way about 10 years ago would run 9s in his street-driven Monte. With a baby seat in the back for his grandkid. No joke.... drove to the track, turned 9s, drove home. 70-some year old guy.
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# ? Oct 9, 2014 08:26 |
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Dr.Smasher posted:I will still someday build my chimaera g-body consisting of a Monte SS, powered by GN guts, with the Hurst Olds lightning rod shifter 80-81 The Turbo 3.8 was a factory option. rare as all loving motherfucking gently caress.
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# ? Oct 9, 2014 15:25 |
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Mighty Horse posted:80-81 The Turbo 3.8 was a factory option. With a fearsome 180hp. The carbureted 3.8 turbos were total garbage, the non-intercooled EFI ones were better but not at all as good as the proper 270hp ones from the GN/T-type/GNX.
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# ? Oct 9, 2014 16:35 |
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Mighty Horse posted:The majority of them were 305s as well, so expect a whopping 145 HP from that beast. I think all the SSs had the HO which was 190. My buddy had an 84 and it moved ok for an 80s emissions wheezer.
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# ? Oct 9, 2014 21:25 |
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DJ Commie posted:With a fearsome 180hp. The carbureted 3.8 turbos were total garbage, the non-intercooled EFI ones were better but not at all as good as the proper 270hp ones from the GN/T-type/GNX. Oh I didn't say a GOOD factory option, but it was one. The hood bulge and vent looks kinda cool.
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# ? Oct 9, 2014 21:29 |
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Drop in one of those new chevy 5.whatthefuckevers and put a turbo on it. Back it with a 6 speed and find out how fast it will go.
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# ? Oct 9, 2014 21:52 |
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Can't you coax 300 hp out of one of these with an exhaust and some cheap heads? (And some 454 injectors for your kicking rad TBI) Granted that is no LS swap but probably the best you can do without destroying the lowest cost engineered rear. Best G body though is the 1980 Buick Century fastback coupe. http://muncie.craigslist.org/cto/4643363441.html Here is an Aerocoup near me for sale not even that terrible. Elephanthead fucked around with this message at 22:00 on Oct 9, 2014 |
# ? Oct 9, 2014 21:55 |
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Elephanthead posted:
FTFY
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# ? Oct 9, 2014 23:59 |
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Noeland posted:G bodies are a pretty solid cars in all flavors. If you're worried about restoration to a factory condition, look for rust anywhere and everywhere from knee high down, the t-tops tended to leak when neglected, so look for signs of mold and mildew. The leaky t-tops generally led to rotted floor pans and seat mounts so check under the seats. Beyond that, its gonna be general red flag items for 30 year old cars. Bad bondo, shoddy body work, "upgrades, etc. Engine wiring is straightforward and easy clear of gremlins, and if there has been an aftermarket electronic anything, make sure the wiring at the fuse panel is intact. Its more than likely you're going to be looking at replacing all your suspension bushings and ball joints if they haven't been done already, so hope the PO has made use of the factory zerk fittings. One of the cool things about getting a Monte, or any G body, is that everything on the front suspension is a direct match for 2wd S10 hardware, meaning all those inexpensive aftermarket mini truck suspension parts are available to use. Thank you! I'll be sure to look closely at the items you mentioned. Good to know about the suspension as well!
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# ? Oct 10, 2014 01:15 |
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Elephanthead posted:Can't you coax 300 hp out of one of these with an exhaust and some cheap heads? (And some 454 injectors for your kicking rad TBI) Granted that is no LS swap but probably the best you can do without destroying the lowest cost engineered rear. Yes. Longtube headers, a basic performance carb and intake, and a cheap set of vortec heads will run about $1200-1500 and probably get you 60HP at least. That said, you can get a junk truck 4.8/5.3 motor for $500 or so.
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# ? Oct 10, 2014 13:28 |
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Best thing for the 305 cars is a 5-0 swap. Swap the 5 and the 0 by putting a 350 in it.
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# ? Oct 10, 2014 15:59 |
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Elephanthead posted:Is there any reason to buy the SS version if you are going to engine swap? Maybe I should rephrase that, is there any reason to buy the SS if you are not going to engine swap? How hard is it to convert an auto monte carlo to a manual transmission?
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# ? Oct 11, 2014 02:31 |
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fakeaccount posted:How hard is it to convert an auto monte carlo to a manual transmission? Not too terribly difficult. I had an 83 Malibu wagon that was converted to manual by the PO. He said the hardest part was mounting the clutch pedal to the firewall.
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# ? Oct 11, 2014 02:37 |
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Fucknag posted:Best thing for the 305 cars is a 5-0 swap. Swap the 5 and the 0 by putting a 350 in it. You're better off doing a 0 delete. Requires swapping the 3 and the 5. (LM7)
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# ? Oct 11, 2014 17:16 |
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Even an L20 would be a vast improvement over a 305 of any stripe.
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# ? Oct 11, 2014 18:52 |
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fakeaccount posted:How hard is it to convert an auto monte carlo to a manual transmission? This guy documented the build of his http://www.montecarloss.com/ls1montecarloss/
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# ? Oct 12, 2014 16:57 |
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Don't hold out for one with a stick. GM never bothered to make one. I drove a 85 non SS for years. Still miss it sometimes.
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# ? Oct 13, 2014 03:39 |
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FatCow posted:Don't hold out for one with a stick. GM never bothered to make one. Ever see the Hurst Lightning Rod Triple Shifter? I think it was only available in the Olds Cutlass Supreme. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZmGZnmvSCM
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# ? Oct 13, 2014 03:46 |
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Mister Kingdom posted:Ever see the Hurst Lightning Rod Triple Shifter? I think it was only available in the Olds Cutlass Supreme. Yep. Only in the '84 H/O. It wasn't all that wonderful, though. You had basically this: code:
West SAAB Story fucked around with this message at 04:03 on Oct 13, 2014 |
# ? Oct 13, 2014 04:00 |
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I don't know what your price range is, but this just popped up on my local CL and I thought of this thread: http://longisland.craigslist.org/cto/4711823467.html Actually seems pretty solid, and appears to have had some money put into it.
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# ? Oct 13, 2014 04:43 |
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Viggen posted:
And entirely pointless because ratchet shifters were already around by the '80s. I mean clutch pedal or die, but if you absolutely must use a complicated device to quickly trigger a single gear change on a slushbox you can't beat a good ratchet shifter.
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# ? Oct 13, 2014 08:27 |
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Tommychu posted:And entirely pointless because ratchet shifters were already around by the '80s. Yeah, but otherwise it wouldn't be a 442. I'd still take one (for free), but I remember a time back in the 90s when I was actively looking for one. Hoy boy that 9 VIN with the 180hp!
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# ? Oct 13, 2014 16:40 |
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FatCow posted:Don't hold out for one with a stick. GM never bothered to make one. They actually did offer it with a stick in Mexico.
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# ? Oct 13, 2014 16:46 |
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Viggen posted:Yeah, but otherwise it wouldn't be a Hurst/Olds.
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# ? Oct 13, 2014 17:40 |
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# ? Apr 28, 2024 04:06 |
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I meant to type H/O 442.
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# ? Oct 13, 2014 18:04 |