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Hello, I just purchased my first Monte last week. Most recent project was a 1970 Camaro (pictures below). It took five years, a lot of metal work, finding parts (the '70 is a one year car for many parts). The Monte is a MUCH better starting point. Looking forward to learning from here like I was able to from NastyZ28.com. I live in NW Washington after growing up in Alaska. Thanks in advance!

The roof and the doors were the only original sheet metal left from 1970. I did NOT do this work, I had a friend doing it. My contribution was mostly parts runner and labor! All of the assembly (except headliner and windshield) was 100% me.

Welcome! It's nice to have another 'Joe' here with a Monte & a Z/28 (mine's a year older though). You've found the best place in the world for first gen Montes, without a doubt. Everyone here is always willing to help, offer good ideas & suggestions, accurate technical info (unlike some of the other places out there), and no drama/attitudes either. Keep the pictures coming as well, we love them here. Also, thank you for becoming a dues-paying member! Guys like you help keep this place running, much appreciated!

I couldn’t find my original post but I thought you all would find this somewhat humorous. So I did a bunch of work on a friend’s 55 and I told him before thanksgiving it was done and needed to go or it was going outside. I’ve been paid and all that good stuff but he won’t get the car. So it’s been outside since before thanksgiving. Well Friday we were expecting massive wind 70-80 mph gusts so I decided to move all the cars to the front of the house ( no trees) on Thursday. When I got home from work Friday this tree branch was lying right where the 55 was setting. Not a big branch by any means but dang close and probably would have caused some major damage to roof and hood. Good thing I moved it. I sent the owner pictures.

All the talk on the Air Cleaner page got me thinking back in 1983 when I replaced many of my decals on my 71 350 4BBL engine. I was looking around my closet and I found a large envelope from Jim Osborn Reproductions in Atlanta, Ga. from 1983 with these stickers inside. Then I remembered they didn't have the sticker that is on the Rad top support with timing info and such and they asked me what shape mine was in. I think I scanned it at work and sent it to them where they duplicated it and sent me several of them for free. Here is a scan of them and I have one for the trunk also. I didn't use the tire pressure one because it was wrong for my G70x15 tires.

Some day, that would be fun!

I will keep posting as I go. The body and paint are a solid 8.5 so my starting point is fantastic. First thing up is suspension, brakes wheels/tires, rear end, and stance. Once those parts are from this century this is a car that I will feel comfortable driving anywhere. The interior will be the follow-on work; the bucket seats are due for new upholstery but I can live with them as they are. The engine and trans are great but when the time comes I will address that too (unsure of BBC or LS, or what).

Welcome! Great looking Monte and Camaro. The only place better than this forum to get some info and camaraderie is attending a Western Meet. This year’s meet is in Logan, UT with members coming from 7 states and 2 provinces. My wife and I will be driving from BC and meeting with other members from the Northwest for the drive. You are welcome to join. 🙂

Not sure if you’re referencing the air cleaner or the radiator, so I’ve attached pix of both. Box #91 on my ‘70 SS is for wheel covers. Box #91 on the ‘71 SS is also ‘AU’. See attached pix.

Welcome Joe, Camaro and Monte are very nice. Lots of great people here with a lot of knowledge. We do love pictures too!

Welcome Joseph! Nice job on the Camaro! Congratulations on the purchase of another 70 Chevy! More pics! Lolol

Just picked up a 71 402/TH400 column shift car today! Needs some work but runs great!

* This is NOT a plug for ss396.com * Got an email from ss396 earlier and it included this link which some may find useful… https://www.ss396.com/cars/1970-monte-carlo/

https://youtu.be/PZBrYBc14jU. Does this SS belong to any FGMCC member? Says suburbs of Chicago?

I think Jim retired a few years ago. Think he is still selling his stock, i tried to get some a while ago but he didnt have the air cleaner sticker.

Jim Osborne is still in use. Most of the decals you see at the big vendors are from there. But not the AU code air cleaner decal.

Thank you all for the warm welcome!

Welcome to another Green Monte, very nice. Also very nice split bumper 👍

Man, I feel for all you "original" guys. I knew mine wasn't correct but outta curiosity I pulled it off the shelf. This was on mine https://www.ss396.com/monte-carlo/HOJ-476.html

Both very sharp cars and welcome to the Club !!

Maybe he wants you to have the car, tri 5s are bringing pretty good money enough to finish the pos monte lol

Welcome! Great looking cars you have!

Welcome. As said, very nice.

Welcome !!! Nice job with the Camaro and good luck with your new Monte

Beautiful cars and welcome! That garage looks awesome, too.

Here's the next project. Swapping the open dif for a Yukon posi and some 3.42s.

It is 70 SS, still running 454 and turbo 400

The code on my built sheet is CN. Box 55

Welcome aboard as our newest dues paying member. The cars are beautiful. If the Camaro needed as much work as you say you did an amazing job. rob

Paul, Ron and Dennis I do believe that Darren did make a mention that they were in a different numbered box. I was asking him at the time i was building the 72 Custom. I think Darren told me his was in a different box. I just checked my build sheet on the 72 Custom, and two of my 71 SSs. They are all in box 91. However the 71s have "AU" and the 72 has "LX". Not sure how that relates to the 70 SSs, someone else has to help us with that, i don't have a 70. 🙁 sorry.

Welcome Jow!!! Camaro is sharp! Nice job!!!

Very nice setup indeed . Absolutely love the 70 Camaro , Very good friend had 3 of the 70 1/2 Z Those cars would fly !!! Always kept an eye out for the short spoiler !

The radiator plate decal came from the parts place, can’t remember the air cleaner but I remember cutting the decal because the other one wouldn’t come off

First off, Welcome to the Club! Hat's off to all the Engineers in the Fleet of Trains throughout the Nation! I'm doing a "clone" Custom of my '72 . Just got all of the stuff to fill my 12 Bolt, ( Thank you Steve). BBC 427 / Turbo 400 ( low 1st gear), 3:73 posi-traction (Yukon), Excel Gears, Moser Street Axles. Adding Rear Disc Brakes. 28" Nitto Drag Radials for now. Should be right around 2,500 rpm's at 65 mph. Motor has been balanced, should run just fine. Like to hear what you're combo is. Before the latest upgrade,355cu.inch,420 HP, 2004R ,3:42 10 Bolt posi-traction, with same tires. It was fun, but I always wanted a 427 in it ! in it !

Went from the original 2.56 open to same Yukon 3.42 you are putting in, like a different car, love it. Just have to add a few bucks to the tire and fuel budget!

There was no SS steering wheel that was part of the SS package. If you ordered an SS in 71 you still got the standard Monte wheel unless you also ordered the 4-spoke sport wheel. Note that no steering wheel said SS on it in a Monte.

There you go Willie and Ron. I wonder if 70 is the same AU code? Please advise. Thanks

Nobody wants your knobs, Joe. 😝😂

Had my 8 yr old grandson helping this past weekend and he learned to pack wheel bearings! He can't be here for everthing and I can't always wait for him to be here, but I think the time spent on a project will help keep him intrested and learning. They are smarter at that age than they get credit for. Anyway, we did get the front end back together! Couldn't have got it all done without him!

Our granddaughter, from the day she was born, I said I was going to turn her into a wrench wintch. While she doesn't get dirty working on the Monte, she loves the old cars. Every year after Carlisle she starts a countdown timer to the next year's GM Nationals.

He's not doing it right if he's not getting dirty!! Looks like he did a good job. Did he help with any of the assembly? My Grandson likes to see what I'm working on and I think he is going to get the bug.He likes to sit in the Monte, just gotta get it done. He has his own tool box and " fixes" my truck in the driveway.

Shed the gloves :). That’s what pants and shirts are for.

Gloves??? Who needs stinking gloves. Feel the gunk under the nails, good stuff.

When my oldest grandson comes to help, first thing he goes for is the gloves! Yes we have to teach them and keep them involved in the hobby!! Nice job guys!!!

That's great, we need the younger generation interested in the hobby for sure. I'm not sure I'd recommend it to do for a living but definitely a hobby. I'm starting my grandson out with models were doing his first one now.

Thanks Canuck, I’m honored! MC1of80 thanks pal! I feel like I graduated from freshman to sophomore lol!

Quarter panel clearance is the obvious consideration. Maybe some member here will have experience with that exact wheel and can get you in the ball park, but I can give you a comparison to my known rear tire/wheel combo using tiresize.com. I have 275/60-15s mounted on 15x8 rims with 5.5" backspace (+25 mm offset) with right at .6" clearance between the sidewall and untrimmed wheel well lip. A 275/45-18 is the same width and only .3" shorter, BUT when it is mounted on a 18x9.5 rim with only 5.25" backspace (which is zero offset) the tire comparison and wheel offset calculator say the sidewall will be .98" further outboard than my current setup. Clearly, that tire/rim combo would NOT work with my untrimmed wheel well opening because I only have .6" clearance. Maybe that combo will work with your trimmed wheel well opening but I am certain a 18x9.5 with greater backspace (positive offset) would be a better/safer fit. There is lots of room inboard for wider tires and rims on the rear of our first gen Montes, but very little extra room outboard. That means to get fat tires on wider rims to fit safely we need to move the combo inboard by using rims with positive offset - the wider the combo, the more offset is required. Every 6mm of positive offset increase the backspace dimension by 1/4".

That's not very nice.