Re: 1975 Monte Carlo

by JB2wheeler Sat Jun 25, 2011 6:32 pm

Keep up the good work, you WILL get finished sooner or later. JB

by Fishgrinder Mon Jul 18, 2011 4:39 pm

Since last time:

1975 Monte Carlo - Page 5 DSCF3244

Finally got the front breaks completed, and bled.

1975 Monte Carlo - Page 5 DSCF3233

I decided to try to restore the side marker lights. Picture is from before I started. What I basically did, was to
use the same procedure as 3M's headlight restoration kit. That is sanding with 500 dry, and then the following steps wet; 800-1000-1200-1500-2000-3000. In the end I simply put some plain turtle wax on them and wiped it off.

1975 Monte Carlo - Page 5 DSCF3248

And this is after. Maybe it doesn't show that well in the picture, but I really think they got the "fresh look" in real life.

1975 Monte Carlo - Page 5 DSCF3256

Then i started putting the bezels together

1975 Monte Carlo - Page 5 DSCF3258

And the front. I found out there are two brackets supporting the bezels and center piece, which I wasn't aware of before. Fortunately I found them in the parts heap. This made aligning everything a hell lot easier lol

1975 Monte Carlo - Page 5 DSCF3257

Starting to look quite complete now

1975 Monte Carlo - Page 5 DSCF3259

Here I've put on butyl tape to seal between chrome trim and gasket rail. Almost got the driver side together before I had to quit.

by 74MonteCarlo Mon Jul 18, 2011 4:45 pm

I've never been a fan of the 75's...but I gotta say...that thing is bitchin. I love it! What a color.

I'm freaky for blue.

by Limey SE Mon Jul 18, 2011 6:12 pm

looks real good Fish coming along nicely

by ant7377 Mon Jul 18, 2011 9:25 pm

Excellent !! Another one back on the road soon !

by Fishgrinder Tue Jul 19, 2011 7:56 am

Thanks guys!

I've been trying to find the power rating of my 430 export engine for a long time without much luck. But today I stumbled over this amazing site which lists specs for cars built for the European market (and the North American).

http://www.automobile-catalog.com/

I've compared both engines here:

1975 Monte Carlo - Page 5 430

Very cool if this is correct!

by JB2wheeler Tue Jul 19, 2011 12:14 pm

Thanks for the link. JB

by 1973montec Tue Jul 19, 2011 9:15 pm

lookin good dude

by Fishgrinder Tue Jul 26, 2011 4:15 pm

Right now I'm going over the rear, replacing all bushings, springs and shocks.

Spent like 5 hours TRYING to remove the bushing in the passenger side ear of the rear axle, but the thing is stuck. I'm about to go insane, but will make a new attempt tomorrow.

Just a quick question:

The old rear springs are taller than then new ones. Is this compensated by the new design and higher springrate? Not good if the car sags in the rear.

1975 Monte Carlo - Page 5 DSCF3297

Specs:
Summit Racing Part Number MOG-CC507
Spring Rate (lbs/in) 158 lbs./in.
Progressive Rate Spring Yes
Spring Finish Black vinyl coated

by 1973 454 MONTE Tue Jul 26, 2011 4:23 pm

looks to me like,they gave you cargo coils. did you use my # and they crossed referenced them,or did they just look them up for the car. mine nor chris' look nothing like those. scratch

by Limey SE Tue Jul 26, 2011 4:36 pm

yes sir them coils you have are cargo coils even per there site with that part number you supplied Fishgrinder

Springs, Rear Coil, Cargo Control, Buick, Chevy, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Pair

by Fishgrinder Tue Jul 26, 2011 4:59 pm

I wasn't able to use NAPA 1973 454 Monte, as they didn't accept foreign billing adresses. So I used Summit and picked the first and best rear spring I saw.. doh!

So this will lower the car as hell in the rear? If that's the case I have to get the "right" ones.

by bigredlaguna Tue Jul 26, 2011 8:59 pm

According to the rates I looked up, your new springs have a higher spring rate at load height than either the regular or heavy duty single rate springs for the Monte Carlo. Since they are progressive rate, they will have a compression rate that is higher than the 158 lbs/in. when squeezed shorter than the load height, and less than that rate if your car isn't heavy enough to squeeze it down to its rated load.

I bet you will be satisfied with these springs, and if not- at least they are easy to change out.

by 1973 454 MONTE Tue Jul 26, 2011 9:18 pm

Limey wrote:yes sir them coils you have are cargo coils even per there site with that part number you supplied Fishgrinder

Springs, Rear Coil, Cargo Control, Buick, Chevy, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Pair

i gave him the NAPA # that i used. even chris got regular springs.

but seeing that the # was not crossed into something he could get. he went with what the dealer thought would fit. Crying or Very sad

by Fishgrinder Thu Jul 28, 2011 3:03 pm

I'll just try them, and at least they are easy to replace as Bigred says.

However the springs are not my main concern now.

I got that damn differential bushing out yesterday, and put the new ones in the freezer over night. Today I started with the driver side one, and was able to drive it in after 1 1/2 hours with constant hammering. After that I spent like 4 hours hammering on the passenger side, but it still is 1/4 inch from setting against the flange. Seems like it is not moving at all.

I'm seriously about to go insane. This ridiculous thing has set me back 2 days already Sad

Any tips? Maybe a freezing spray will help.

by bigredlaguna Fri Jul 29, 2011 12:01 am

Try heating the ear with a propane torch.

by 74Malibu383 Fri Jul 29, 2011 12:13 pm

I would stop hammering and use some sort of press. You can build one out of some all-thread, a couple nuts, big washers (or some sort of plate), and a large socket. Just make sure you lube the threads as you're tightening.

FYI - I have a set of almost new stock rear springs (1,500 miles on them). I replaced them when I put the coil-over's in. PM if interested.

by ant7377 Fri Jul 29, 2011 11:09 pm

Those cargo coils are going to make it sit lower . Try a set from a b-body sedan if you want to lift it up. They might be more readily available . The spring mfg's dont make as many as they used too.They just lump all the numbers together now.

by Fishgrinder Sun Jul 31, 2011 5:42 pm

Ok, here's this weeks work. Scroll to bottom if you want to see the outcome of the cargo springs.

1975 Monte Carlo - Page 5 DSCF3285

First I got the car up on support jacks

1975 Monte Carlo - Page 5 DSCF3288

Then I snapped bolts on both sides for the sway bar. I should have loosened the bracket itself instead as
the bolts for it turned around very easily. But of course I didn't think that far..

1975 Monte Carlo - Page 5 DSCF3291

Shocks and control arms out

1975 Monte Carlo - Page 5 DSCF3309

Pressed in new bushings and painted them

Then I ran in to the issue with the stuck ear bushing which is posted above. Got help here, and it was
pressed in. We then assembled the whole rear again.

1975 Monte Carlo - Page 5 DSCF3341

Painted the tail lights black. I actually decided on this the day I bought the car hehe.

1975 Monte Carlo - Page 5 DSCF3336

Same with the drums

1975 Monte Carlo - Page 5 DSCF3311

I thought the electric fuel pump was broken, and bought a mechanical pump

1975 Monte Carlo - Page 5 DSCF3312

However, I found out a connection had fallen out under the hood, and the pump actually worked lol. But
I prefer a mechanical pump for less noise and power consumption

1975 Monte Carlo - Page 5 DSCF3314

Spent some time routing new fuel hoses for the pump. Have to find a more permanent solution next time

1975 Monte Carlo - Page 5 DSCF3332

Put the Lokar kickdown in. Waiting for a bracket to connect it to the carburetor

1975 Monte Carlo - Page 5 DSCF3329

Any Idea what this leak could be? Very slow dripping

1975 Monte Carlo - Page 5 DSCF3342

Glued in the trunk gasket. Struggled a little here to find out how it should sit in the rail

1975 Monte Carlo - Page 5 DSCF3345

Then it was all set for a startup, the first one in two years. With aid from some Start Spray it fired almost immediately. I had also put fresh oil in it prior to this.

Pictures from the (second) test drive

1975 Monte Carlo - Page 5 DSCF3347

I dont think the rear looks too low actually, rather the front. Maybe the 275's will change the look a little.

What do you think?

by Limey SE Sun Jul 31, 2011 6:37 pm

dude I like that alot looks right at home there with cargo's

by 74MonteCarlo Sun Jul 31, 2011 7:12 pm

Nice.

by bigredlaguna Mon Aug 01, 2011 1:40 am

That leak could just be a bad O-ring. You'll see it when you take out the speedo gear.

I like the stance. The advantage with these springs is you can load up the car with some friends (and a couple of kegs in the trunk!) and you won't be scraping frame on any speed bumps.

by JiMi_DRiX Sun Aug 07, 2011 1:18 am

Can you take a couple more pics of the trunk weather strip? It looks like a different style than what I have, I just wanted to check it out Smile

by 77mali Sun Aug 07, 2011 11:30 am

Very nice indeed...I bet you were glad to get behind the wheel! Congrats!

by Fishgrinder Mon Aug 08, 2011 2:13 am

JiMi_DRiX wrote:Can you take a couple more pics of the trunk weather strip? It looks like a different style than what I have, I just wanted to check it out

Sure!

There was trying and failing before we found out how it should be installed. No instructions came with the kit, and the old gasket went to the garbage dump 2 years ago. At least we think the way it is no is the correct way lol

Kit is Metro Supersoft RKB1900-111

by Sponsored content