CruizinKev's 1979 Monte Carlo Full Resto LS1 T56

[CruizinKev]

Hey guys,

I'm new here and I want to share my project - a 1979 Monte Carlo 305 that I bought in december 2002.

I'll rebuild the whole car (body, frame, interior etc) and swap in a LS1 engine & T56 manual 6-speed transmission. It'll be a "Pro-Tourer"/"Street-Rod" and this is what it should look like in the end:




back in december 2002:[/b]







here the first steps - I cleaned a little bit the engine and added some chrome parts..








09/17/2007:

started to unbolt body from frame..



09/18/2007:






09/19/2007:






yummy!!




started collecting parts:

bought a 59/60 impala dashboard..






ordered www.gsi-interiorss.com clutch pedal.

found some pretty cool door handles:




found the sheet metal to weld them in:



04/09/2010:






04/10/2010:

me @ work








04/17/2010:

finished work on the rolling body dolly.





04/24/2010:











07/31/2010:

started scratching all that underbody protection stuff off they put on here in Germany. It helps against rust in winter with all that salt and stuff on streets..



I love it - not!





08/07/2010:





08/09/2010:

my friend helped me out with his truck. brought the frame to a paint shop where I blasted it..





08/12/2010:

here we go - all clean










my friend couldn't resist and started with his torch



some more of my parts:

TNTraceshop control arm & frame braces




UMI Performance lower tubular a-arms & SC&C Stage 2 Kit uppers with Howe taller balljoints




UMI swaybar kit, UMI rear lowers & adjustable upper arms




UMI control arm / frame braces, OPGI 2" lowering springs front & rear




bilsteins, energy suspension body bushings and new body bolts





And I'll get SC&C's frame brace soon:



08/14/2010:

rewelded almost all welds









bought a LS1 T56 6-speed transmission




08/28/2010:

cut the large stock brake pedal and reworked it with the "GSI Interiors t56 clutch pedal":



test fit!



10/16/2010:

rebuilt the body dolly for better underbody work clearance



underbody







10/23/2010:




better rust than plastic LOL 59 bel air dash vs. 79 monte carlo dash



11/20/2010:

finally finished welding the frame








11/27/2010:

got the camaro hydraulic clutch cylinder in. kinda looks like came from stock





12/04/2010:

got the 59 bel air dash narrowed




I just looked around for some nice retro gauges and came to this for my 59/60 dash:



If I'll get this I'll get a KPH instead MPH speedo custom made by classicinstruments.

04/09/2011:

received the frame back in my place and started painting with POR15. coated it with POR15 "Rust Preventive Paint" and finished with POR15 "Chassis Coat Black".



04/16/2011:




04/23/2011:



05/14/2011:










05/21/2011:

sprayed the insides of the frame with some rust protector. kind of grease spray lubricate that keeps away rust and water. I put the rear back together just to see if all parts fit. I'll replace the stock rear end with a 8.5" grand national or with a ford 9".




SPC front arms and Howe tall lower balljoints




still looking to get some nice wheels



can't wait to get this in the frame



my barn



05/28/2011:

motor mounts waiting for work




I was kinda bored and "test fitted" a 295/35-18 tire.. wow I hear mini tub and wide fenders LOL





06/04/2011:

wanted to see how the tranny looks "in place"



and here I cut the knuckles for 13" C5 brakes




06/11/2011:

got all the interior & wiring out and test fitted the 59 bel air dash. still need a few more cuts & welds but you got the idea






I'd say receiving parts is progress...lol



corvette c5 calipers




....okay thats it so far!

I hope weather gets better soon so I can continue my work on the monte again. I hope I'll get the $$ this spring to get a LS1 motor. I'll keep you posted!

[twomanymontes]

Welcome Aboard Kevin, I have been following your progress over on Wicked Montes. Can't wait to see it finished.

[x]

WELCOME, Kevin! Good to see you here now, too!!!! SWEET!



Cort | 38.m.IL | pigValve + paceMaker + cowValve | 5 MCs + 1 Caprice Classic
* post-surgeryPARTY = 5:30p-10:30p, SAT, 02/11/12 | Beef Villa, 1225 W Spring St, S Elgin IL *
"Do you remember me, too?" __ Stereo Fuse __ 'Everything'

[CruizinKev]

thanks man! this year will be hard work! i want the monte carlo as my marriage car in 2013

last week I turned some wrenches again



and today I wire brushed the interior and painted it with some rust preventive paint

[twomanymontes]

Thats cool, I like the way the floor came out. Keep up the good work and she'll be ready for your day!

[CruizinKev]

thanks!!

yesterday I took off headliner and the old cardboard insulation




new carpet LOL




bye bye cardboard



lots of wire brushing, scuff and sanding and finally coated with rust preventive paint



I'll add some new butyl & aluminum insulation soon to the whole interior

[twomanymontes]

Looking good!

[CruizinKev]

thanks!

cleaned and painted some parts

[twomanymontes]

That looks great, Too bad you won't see the pedal bracket, But atleast you know it's clean and painted. The Gear box looks sweet. Is it a close ratio?

[CruizinKev]

thanks! yeah its the quick ratio from a MCSS

got some more work done - finished headliner insulation today



jeep cherokee steering shaft vs. g-body



blazer spindles, new hubs and kore3 c5 caliper brackets

[twomanymontes]

Looks good, I have done the Jeep Steering shaft swap out on My son's Monte, Still need to find one for myself. The Blazer spindles and hubs are something I should have done to his car when he first started it. I didn't think about it until after I bought the drop spindles, new cailipers, rotors and brake hoses. Maybe next time.

[CruizinKev]

thanks! you know it - a car is never done!

update again

[CruizinKev]

got some more stuff done yesterday










got the hubs on, steering link, adapter brackets. grinded the stock C5 caliper abutment brackets little bit and painted black. wire brushed and cleaned front frame braces - i'll weld another tube/brace to them like the sc&c frame brace:

[twomanymontes]

Dude, that chassis is going to look awesome!! It already makes me want to take my car apart and rebuild it! Nice job!

[CruizinKev]

thx man!

today I did some more painting parts and stuff. frame's finally back on all 4 - rolling chassis at least also got some braided fuel lines in

[twomanymontes]

Well done!

[CruizinKev]

thx

okay some pics of today. got more work done to the 59 dashboard. now it kinda fits like a glove

[twomanymontes]

Thats more work than I'd take on, but it's going to look awesome when it's done.!

[CruizinKev]

yesterday got some more work done on the 59 dash

[CruizinKev]

yesterday I grabbed all parts together that will be blasted..



found my old chilton's that I never used



because I'm still waiting for other parts I did some more interior sound deadening..

[CruizinKev]

today I got some more work done on the sound deadening. also got the quater windows out. in few weeks I'll start with the body work



and got a sweet deal on barely used (almost new) procar scat rally seats! can't wait to get them!

[CruizinKev]

interior sound deadening 2.2mm aluminum butyl - call it done.

[twomanymontes]

Cool, I'm sure it will be quiet running!

[CruizinKev]

yeah can't wait to test it

yesterday I started with bending some cunifer brake lines





tested my flaring tool and guess I bought cheap stuff or my skills just s*cks







and finally I ordered my set of wheels ;D ;D



Showwheels Streeter 20x8.5 20x10 custom black and polished lips

as soon the wheels arrive I finally can start with all body work..

[twomanymontes]

Those wheels look sweet!

And are those lines are copper? If so they are too soft for a true flare. I always use steel lines. Or since you have the body off, Inline Tube makes a killer set of stainless pre bent lines.