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Good morning - I missed this question, and still am learning the nuances of posting and replying - I've primarily just lurked in the past. The engine was the primary focus on this build. I've been looking for one since I fist read about it in a parts magazine in 81' (same year as I saw a picture of the SS 454 monte carlo and knew I would have one some day). I just love old factory muscle (all brands), all of the advertising and claims that went with them, and the whole vibe of that scene. The cammers, super dutys and ram airs, the ardun conversions for the flat heads, etc... Once the engine was acquired, then the search for the right vehicle to put it into went into motion. What I really wanted was kind of a day 2 look. I wanted original paint and interior, and for the car to look like someone had bought a car new, and swapped engines the same year. Tasteful, period correct mods, manual trans, etc. After looking daily for 18 months nation wide, I just was beginning to realize I could not afford what I wanted, and low and behold this 1970 car came up for sale 2 miles from the house. Its been repainted, but is severely faded, and pretty straight and original. It was a 350/250hp / turbo 350 / 10 bot car. Engine and trans out of it, and the guy was doing an LS swap. He wanted 8k. I bought it for 6k, and let him keep the LS, but I took the original drivetrain. Sold the entire drive train to a buddy that's looking for the right body. I decided to go with a 9" rear vs the 12 bolt simply out of cost, and ease of gear changes down the road. Its the only main deviation from the original plan. Its a Quick performance unit with 4.11's, trutrac, 35 spline axles, 1350 yoke and upgraded center section. Disc brakes were added when it became apparent that the drums they provided would have necessitated cutting off brackets and rewelding...then it would have to be re powder coated (well it should anyway). I've replaced the passenger floor pan, replaced all of the body bushings, converted to manual brakes (did not want to run a vacuum pump or reservoir), new wheels and tires, built all new brake lines, removed the AC, converted the pedal assemblies to manual, and am presently going through the column replacing the ignition switch/turn signal switch, etc... I'm maintaining the original interior (cloth bench). Yhe front will have a blanket on it due to wear and deterioration, the rear looks great, just faded. Carpet is waiting to go in, once I get the tunnel cut and hump installed. The transmission is a M23. its an upgraded version of the original M22 purchased through https://midwestmuncie.com/ . presently I am still waiting on this unit, having ordered it in November. They are waiting on the main case from https://www.autogear.net/motorsports/ . The engine is dyno'd and tuned. and ready to drop in, now that I finally have the headers as well. Hopefully the engine will go in, in the next week or 3. the car is just going to be a fun weekend burnout toy, and romp around machine. It runs off of $10/gallon 100 octane I can get at the pump here, so its no highway cruiser. My blue SS454 car is my other weekend cruiser, so will be fun to change it up. Thats where Im at.

Hey everyone. I'm building a factory numbers matching 454 1972 monte carlo. I plan to build like restromod. That I can drive anywhere

Radiator support, upper tie bar, grille, headlight bezels, bumper, bumper brackets, fenders, hood are all different from 70 to 72. 71 and 72s are more closely interchangeable than 70 is to 71/72.

Both cars are in this thread. Lot of pics, and a lot of side tracking, but that tends to happen here a lot. I have a bunch of actual photographs of the engines as they came from the crate (back in the late 80's, complete with the black paint, 'Special Parts Notice' sticker on the valve cover, the XAA engine code, and the installations. I haven't converted those pics to digital yet, on the long list of things to do before I die. https://www.firstgenmc.com/forums/index.php?/topic/19368-new-guy-here/#comments

Looks good, thanks for sharing the info! I bought 2 of the crate LS-6, part# 366250 engines back in the day. One is in my current '72 Custom, the other highly modified one now lives in my 69 Z/28.

Steve, I think this is what you need? https://www.ss396.com/chevelle/JCS-5075.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiA6LyfBhC3ARIsAG4gkF_3cwdywgNDmmUHAGPb8FXLcAJKYWuFwaq2cClSLDGTxDS5cGAZY-UaAlFIEALw_wcB

Mid 70s 454 LS-7 bought in the original crate a few years back. There are very few videos or information regarding these 50 year old engines. Those that have them, traditionally seem to add roller cams, aluminum after market heads and other internal speed parts. This engine was the successor to the LS-6 found in Chevelle's and Corvettes, and was slated to go into the Corvette. GM killed it due to emissions regulations. Subsequently, these were sold over the parts counter as a Off highway use only engine. GM rated the LS-6 at 450 HP, and the LS-7 at 465. The engine was only offered as a long block, no manifolds, carbs, distributor. This particular engine was located in 2020 still in the factory crate. It was purchased and shipped directly to my engine builder in las Vegas where it was disassembled, cleaned, and checked. We only replaced the following parts as a precaution, and maintained stock level parts for a true representation. Gaskets, rod and main bearings, Valve springs and seals, and rings. The engine received a light hone, but maintains its standard bore, and a light valve job as the valves were exposed for 50 plus years. This engine uses the same solid flat tappet cam as the 427 ZL-1, and was a step above what the 427 L88 had in terms of lift and duration. Parts added to this specific build to complete it were twin Holley 660 center squinters, Offenhauser tunnel ram, MSD E curve distributor, poly locks for the stock rocker arms, and the Edelbrock valve covers. Rated at 465 HP, this engine made 582 hp at 6000 rpm with no air cleaners, and 2 1/4" dyno headers. Installing my 1 7/8 American racing chassis headers (1970 Monte Carlo), and twin velocity stack air cleaners brought the power down to 570 at 6000 rpm. While I realize that this engine was never offered in a passenger car, its unique enough for those that are interested in the Big Block Chevy. Link to the video can be found here:

Welcome!!

Yup that does look like them thanks. I'll see if the ones ordered are correct if not I'll order them. It does say seal on cowl, I guess I'll have to call to see it they are the same. It also doesn't say how many come in kit have to check that too.

If you look at the Monte from the front you will see that the Headlights are more centered in the 70 Fender Extensions where the 71-72 were moved more outboard in the fender extensions. Because of this, that is why the core support is different because the headlights mount into the core support. The fender extensions have a hole in them where a pin from the fender positions them onto the fender. That is one reason the fenders are different, the other reason the fenders are different is in the area where the fender attaches to the core support. On the 70 fenders the area at the top of the fender is flat where the 71-72 fenders have a stepdown and step up in the area where the bolt passes through to attach to the core support at the top.. That said, the 70 and 71 grills are pretty much interchangeable but the 72 grill is not because of the turn signals were moved and became part of the 72 grill. This is why the 70, 71 and 72 fender extensions were all different. rob

Hi TJ. This may help. https://www.firstgenmc.com/forums/index.php?/resources/differences/

Thomas is correct most everything is different but it also depends on how they did the changeover. They could have used the 70 parts and did a force fit change. A lot of modification would have been involved. Post pictures of where the fenders bolt to the core support. That will give us an idea of how they did it. Most likely they changed the whole front clip ( cowl forward) in that case you would have to do the same.

Registration is available for Peachland World of Wheels. https://www.peachlandcarshow.com/register

I know of a few monte carlos that still have usable parts on them in my local junkyards close to warsaw mo. I do have the number for the junkyards if anyone close by needs parts.

John at 816-507-4811. He has two Montes and then kreisler auto at 660-547-3816.

Welcome Jerry!!! Maybe you should put the phone numbers up anyway. Just in case someone needs something . If you have them handy.

Red here also. On everything in the fleet.

I use the valvoine red also, used on the Monte and my trailer also.

Great job promoting this meet Aaron and thank you for all the work you have put into planning and running EVERY Western Meet!!! rob

We've added a member from Texas! We now have 8 states and 2 provinces that will be represented.

Here's what the factory did (I picked '72, but they should be the same?):

2007 Drake attends his very first FGMCC meet at the age of 2. Seen riding his cozy coupe around the parking lot of the hotel. Also seen asking Jared to share his fries.....Jared also a baby himself 15 years ago! Fast forward 3 years to 2010 when Drake brings his monte and chair to our meet and becomes an official dues paying member at age 5. He is still a dues paying member and looks forward to attending a future meet. He did inherit his dads love for loud hot rods and favors the early 70's. He was all psyched to come with us to the 2020 Carlisle meet but we had to back out due to the whole covid thing. 2022 all grown up at 6'1" age 17 and is a graduating senior. Some of you will see a grad party invite for this July as you have seen him grow up! FGMCC always a family.

Time flies. Is he still as good at drawing? 😄

Yes, time does fly. It is very hard to believe how fast these years have flown by. We have seen a lot of these youngsters grow up through our meets and mini-meets. rob