[71 SS 454 MUST BE CRAZY]

WOW!!! You guys are not used to cars like this. Over here in the north east cars like this are normal! Yes normal. Lol not looking to anger anyone. Just saying that a North Eastern car 99% of the time looks like this. Leo certainly has a lot of work ahead and I personally thank him for saving a true numbers matching SS. All parts of the country have different issues with cars but in my opinion, right or wrong, the northern east has the worst rust issues. Good luck Leo! Please keep the pics on the progress coming.

[Trying to learn]

I went back and looked at the pics again. Clean car. I did notice the SS exhaust tips missing. No biggie but it says it has 24+ thousand miles. I believe all SS came with the oval tips and the 402 cars did not. No pic of the build sheet either. Could, and I stress that could be a 402 car with SS badges. I would want to look the build sheet over to make sure. Again, good luck!

[Trying to learn]

Hi! No "stupid" questions here. I'm no expert but from my understanding, ALL SS454 Monte Carlo came with the air ride rear suspension. You are correct about the compressors going bad and being removed. It appears in the pics that the holes for the compressor brackets are in the fenderwell. The big thing in my opinion is the build sheet. It has one and that proves that it is a SS 454 Monte. I'm sure someone with more knowledge on these cars will chime in shortly. Good luck!!

[THM2004R Trans]

I have only seen the dual bolt pattern on the 200 r4. The metric 200 was a 3 speed and engine specific. Ie- Chevy pattern OR BOP.

[THM2004R Trans]

A 200r4 will bolt right up. No worries to be had there.

[Halo top]

Having both style tops, from the factory on 2 red Monte's I prefer the full top as opposed to the halo. It is his car and his choice. When was the car built? That can/may settle the choice. Good luck!

[Crystal blue Persuasion]

Hi! I saw your car on Instagram. I like the skirts! Beautiful Monte you have there! Just remember.... It's your car, do it how you like! Thanks for the pics! Looking forward to seeing more.

[70 fender on 71 car]

Again, just put the 70 tie bar in and the headlights will be sitting where they belong. Seems easier than all the welding. I would swap the tie bar. Just bolts in. Good luck!

[70 fender on 71 car]

Hi. I would change the tie bar. The panel that the fenders bolt to and the grille. As far as the nipples/ nibs/ alignment dowels, either cut the ones that don't lign up with the bezels or punch/ hammer them into the fender or drill holes in the bezels. I feel changing the tie bar to a 70 one would be easier and quicker. Hope this helps. Good luck.

[Keith's 70 Monte build]

AMD. Recently Installed AMD quarters, outer wheelwell,trunk filler panel, rear package shelf and ends on my brothers 72. Excellent fit and quality.

[Hood spear]

The 72 covers it completely. Somewhere along the line the hood on my 70 was replaced with a 71-72. The 70 hood spear was reused. As you know the hole can be seen , slightly if you look. I have heard of people making a slightly larger gasket to cover the hole. Hope this helps.

[Hood spear]

. The 71 has a flexible ornament. The hole allows for the spring assy that allows it to be.

[Will These Gears Fit?]

Short answer---- yes I have a set of GM 3:31 in my 12 bolt with a Detroit trutrac and strange axles.

[Steel inner fenders.....what brand?]

X2!!

[Purchased a th400]

Gas pedals are the same and I believe the bracket that holds the kickdown bracket is already there. All you do is have to get a new switch, wire it up and away you go. Lol. Good luck!

[Distributor what to do.]

You are welcome. I honestly would also.

[Distributor what to do.]

I have run both the petronix and the msd distributor. Both with great success. It pretty much depends on the look you are going for. The pertronix for a more stock look. Due to using the stock distributor housing. The msd with a hidden 6AL box is almost foolproof. If you are on a budget, the petronix.

[Drive shaft question]

There are different length shafts for a th350 trans and a Th400. I don't remember correctly but I think the th400 shaft is 3/4-1" shorter. You want about 5/8-3/4" play in the yolk going into the trans. As for the u-joint , again if I remember correctly the 10 bolts had 2 different yolks. Some used the strap and bolt and the other used the u bolt type with nuts both had big caps on the u-joint as compared to the small 12 bolt caps. You may want to have the shaft you have now shortened and the trick joint installed. You should be good to go then. Or if you have a "friend" or scrapyard with allot of shafts you may get lucky and find the right length.

[Drive shaft question]

Hi Chris. What you can do is get what used to be called a "conversion" u-joint. Lakewood used to sell them. I think zoom also. It's to convert the bigger 10 bolt yolk to the smaller 12 bolt yolk. The driveshaft fitting tight is most likely how you have the rear "hanging". Example- jackstands under the frame not the rear itself. If you jack up the rear t believe the driveshaft should fit with no problem. Hope this helped and good luck.

[Welcome Home Rob and Pat]

Glad everyone is ok. Hope all can be fixed as good as new.

[Rear 1/4 panel fix]

Hi Mick. Yes, first remove both parts of the rear seat, then remove the panel with the ashtray assy, the rear window handle and then the trim panel. Good luck!

[Transmission leak/car won't shift/move]

All good. Glad it was an easy repair. No stupid questions. You will find everyone here is helpful. That's how most of us learned... By our mistakes. Lol

[Transmission leak/car won't shift/move]

Silly question time... Did you fill the transmission with the car running and in park? GM transmissions need to be in park for the pump to pump. Also like mentioned, was the new pan the same depth? It moved before you did the work and if the fluid I'd full, it should continue unless the fluid that came out was burnt, blackish and smelled funky and there was a lot of metal and friction material in the bottom of the pan. In which case the new trans fluid, which has a detergent in it cleaned all the clutches of friction material. I do not believe that is the case. I hope that is just low on fluid. How many qts did you put back in? A th350 takes usually 10qts of fluid for a brand new trans and stock converter. Usually 4-5 qts for what you did. Also, did you install the gasket between the filter and the valve body? Could be sucking air. Good luck, hoped this helped and am awaiting what you find.

[Monte 4 speed]

I would think the 4speed cars did not have the cushion cross member like you suggest but Orbit says his has the cushions. When I get a chance I'm going to go to my 71 402 4speed car and see which style it has. I would say no cushion. Lol anyone else with a factory 4speed know??

[neg. battery cable]

X2 Paul. I also ground the body to engine, engine to frame and frame to body. I call it "the triangle" never had an electrical problem after doing this.