Nate's 1987 Monte Carlo SS - Fine Tuning Phase 3

Nate's 1987 Monte Carlo SS

Purchased 9-24-2008

Pictures from the first day home Engine compartment and overall 1st inspection Pictures 10/14/08
Restoration Log - Phase 1 Restoration Log - Phase 2 Fine Tuning - Phase 3

Fine Tuning Phase 3
Here is the running account of work continued 2/12/2009

Now working on the stereo. The back speakers are in. the Front ones, shown here, were installed by piercing the center bars of the grilles, in order to let the speakers fir without too much pressure on the tweeter assembly, and also because the profile was to high to secure, or install, without doing this modification.

3/17/09
I used some Sea Foam top end cleaner to get rid of some carbon build up on the engine.
I also put on the Moroso chrome air cleaner from the El Camino. I finally got rid of the short fat air cleaner on there.

A shot from the other side. I had to shorten a stock air cleaner riser from the parts car by 1/2" to get this to sit right.

There was also an oil leak at the firewall side of both valve covers. I tightened them down for the first time since installing the engine, back when it was really cold out!!!

5/12/09
Time to get down to some of the real work since I have been sliced and diced during back surgery March 6th. I made it through this procedure with flying colors. I was careful though.

Pictured is the new fuse block (Thanks to Mike Huber) to replace the fuseable link arrangement that these G-Bodies were born with.
The Positive cable goes in on the right side in this picture, and passes through the solid block to the starter. Instead of the mains to the dash, ignition, and heater jumping off the cable at the starter to the fuseable links, these fuses handle it where they can be reached if there is trouble. There is one open tap left for the amp that will eventually end up in the trunk.

This was my physical therapy for the day. Thank God I can toss a wheel without pain. Miraculous really. I am very careful with lifting though.

I was washing off the dirt from 6 years of being parked, and one year of sitting on the mud on the side of the house, before taking them up to the school, and using the tire machine to take the rubber off.

They look OK from a distance. After taking the rubber off, I spun them on the machine, and they were all very straight. Good news.
The bad news, is that they need to be refinished. I am looking in to a couple options for that.
This is the project supervisor, soaking up some shade.
Here is the inside window 'felts'. Hard and cracked, and painful when you're trying to be cool with your elbow out the window.
Here is the new inner felts, purchased for the El Camino in 1998, but never installed. They were a perfect fit, and identical to the ones that were on it. They were stapled on from the factory with hardened staples. I ground one side off, but it took too long. I used an awl to open the back side of the other side staples and bent them so I could pull them out.
Looks much better installed.
This is the finished nice soft rubber inside.

9-27-09

Now for the outside felts and door seals. I bought Metro seal from Rock Auto, and the window felts from Dixie Monte Carlo. Random, I know, but I didn't have too much time for research.

These are the ends on the new seals.
Compare to the old seals.

The bottom of the door has been repaired. There was some Bondo chunks on the inside of the door at the bottom. They must have patched up the outside. There is some rust through at the inside bottom. I took the shop vac to the inside, a wire brush on the drill to get rid of the surface rust, and used some spray undercoat to seal it up. All the drain holes are clear, but they won't get the water they did last year.

The seals fit OK for repo's. The door shuts tight, and isn't near as noisy

Electric choke kit.

This was installed mid October 2009. There is no substitute! I hated the manual choke. It worked OK, but the installation by the previous owner left a lot to be desired, and it was hard on my back just to reach it. Besides that, if I forgot to shut it off, it was a waste of gas. This way, it pretty much takes care of itself. Worth every penny of the $60. This is an Edelbrock 1405 carb.

That sure is a sweet looking washable air filter! Thanks to Chris Lindh at PartsForSpeed.com for a great deal.

Ready for Winter now!

November 2009

I bought about $200 in brake parts, pads, rotors, bearings, seals, rear shoes, wheel cylinders, and hardware, and turned the Monte over to the Saint Charles East High School auto shop. My friend Tom Straiker is the teacher there, and my neighbor. They did a great job, for what they had to work with. They were unable to get one of the front calipers cracked open to bleed, and the master cylinder was full of sludge. It's much better than it was, with warped and cracked front rotors, and leaking wheel cylinders, but it's a little spongy.

This prompted me to spend another $100 for Calipers, front hoses, and a master Cylinder. This project I hope to tackle Thanksgiving Weekend.

Thanksgiving Weekend 2009

I only broke one brake line taking off the Calipers and front rubber hoses. It was the short one from the left front to the brake proportioning valve. Only problem was, the valve body cast iron broke at the fitting when I tightened it with very little effort. It must have been cracked for a long time, or from day 1. I still got both calipers on and the new master cylinder. As you can see to the left, the calipers were tired.
The new calipers look great! Don't have time or money to paint them though.
This is where the doughnut of cast iron came from that was on my brake line.
Original cast, and aftermarket brass proportioning valve.

It was on a Monte Carlo SS the same year. If someone knows how to run the numbers, it may be handy for finding a replacement if it is ever needed one day.

All the lines came off, and went back on the valve without incident. The system is buttoned up, and ready to bleed with Tom's help after work 12/2/09. It might take a few beers, but I think it will be operational after that.

Pictures from the first day home Engine compartment and overall 1st inspection Pictures 10/14/08
Restoration Log - Phase 1 Restoration Log - Phase 2 Fine Tuning - Phase 3

	Now working on the stereo. The back speakers are in. the Front ones, shown here, were installed by piercing the center bars of the grilles, in order to let the speakers fir without too much pressure on the tweeter assembly, and also because the profile was to high to secure, or install, without doing this modification.
	3/17/09 I used some Sea Foam top end cleaner to get rid of some carbon build up on the engine. I also put on the Moroso chrome air cleaner from the El Camino. I finally got rid of the short fat air cleaner on there.
	A shot from the other side. I had to shorten a stock air cleaner riser from the parts car by 1/2" to get this to sit right. There was also an oil leak at the firewall side of both valve covers. I tightened them down for the first time since installing the engine, back when it was really cold out!!!
	5/12/09 Time to get down to some of the real work since I have been sliced and diced during back surgery March 6th. I made it through this procedure with flying colors. I was careful though. Pictured is the new fuse block (Thanks to Mike Huber) to replace the fuseable link arrangement that these G-Bodies were born with.
	The Positive cable goes in on the right side in this picture, and passes through the solid block to the starter. Instead of the mains to the dash, ignition, and heater jumping off the cable at the starter to the fuseable links, these fuses handle it where they can be reached if there is trouble. There is one open tap left for the amp that will eventually end up in the trunk.
	This was my physical therapy for the day. Thank God I can toss a wheel without pain. Miraculous really. I am very careful with lifting though. I was washing off the dirt from 6 years of being parked, and one year of sitting on the mud on the side of the house, before taking them up to the school, and using the tire machine to take the rubber off.
	They look OK from a distance. After taking the rubber off, I spun them on the machine, and they were all very straight. Good news.
	The bad news, is that they need to be refinished. I am looking in to a couple options for that.
	This is the project supervisor, soaking up some shade.
	Here is the inside window 'felts'. Hard and cracked, and painful when you're trying to be cool with your elbow out the window.
	Here is the new inner felts, purchased for the El Camino in 1998, but never installed. They were a perfect fit, and identical to the ones that were on it. They were stapled on from the factory with hardened staples. I ground one side off, but it took too long. I used an awl to open the back side of the other side staples and bent them so I could pull them out.
	Looks much better installed.
	This is the finished nice soft rubber inside.
	9-27-09 Now for the outside felts and door seals. I bought Metro seal from Rock Auto, and the window felts from Dixie Monte Carlo. Random, I know, but I didn't have too much time for research.
	These are the ends on the new seals.
	Compare to the old seals.
	The bottom of the door has been repaired. There was some Bondo chunks on the inside of the door at the bottom. They must have patched up the outside. There is some rust through at the inside bottom. I took the shop vac to the inside, a wire brush on the drill to get rid of the surface rust, and used some spray undercoat to seal it up. All the drain holes are clear, but they won't get the water they did last year. The seals fit OK for repo's. The door shuts tight, and isn't near as noisy
	Electric choke kit. This was installed mid October 2009. There is no substitute! I hated the manual choke. It worked OK, but the installation by the previous owner left a lot to be desired, and it was hard on my back just to reach it. Besides that, if I forgot to shut it off, it was a waste of gas. This way, it pretty much takes care of itself. Worth every penny of the $60. This is an Edelbrock 1405 carb. That sure is a sweet looking washable air filter! Thanks to Chris Lindh at PartsForSpeed.com for a great deal. Ready for Winter now!
	November 2009 I bought about $200 in brake parts, pads, rotors, bearings, seals, rear shoes, wheel cylinders, and hardware, and turned the Monte over to the Saint Charles East High School auto shop. My friend Tom Straiker is the teacher there, and my neighbor. They did a great job, for what they had to work with. They were unable to get one of the front calipers cracked open to bleed, and the master cylinder was full of sludge. It's much better than it was, with warped and cracked front rotors, and leaking wheel cylinders, but it's a little spongy. This prompted me to spend another $100 for Calipers, front hoses, and a master Cylinder. This project I hope to tackle Thanksgiving Weekend.
	Thanksgiving Weekend 2009 I only broke one brake line taking off the Calipers and front rubber hoses. It was the short one from the left front to the brake proportioning valve. Only problem was, the valve body cast iron broke at the fitting when I tightened it with very little effort. It must have been cracked for a long time, or from day 1. I still got both calipers on and the new master cylinder. As you can see to the left, the calipers were tired.
	The new calipers look great! Don't have time or money to paint them though.
	This is where the doughnut of cast iron came from that was on my brake line.
	Original cast, and aftermarket brass proportioning valve.
	It was on a Monte Carlo SS the same year. If someone knows how to run the numbers, it may be handy for finding a replacement if it is ever needed one day. All the lines came off, and went back on the valve without incident. The system is buttoned up, and ready to bleed with Tom's help after work 12/2/09. It might take a few beers, but I think it will be operational after that.