MrLPeezy

Yes, CMJ was on the pad behind the alternator, no vin next to the engine ID. I appreciate everyone’s feedback!

Well, I found that it was a 3970010 block and just when you think you know everything that you need to know about a car… here comes the wrench in the story! It’s a warranty replacement block from what I can find online. Cast # 3970010, Block was cast 06/10/75, the engine ID shows it was built out of Flint, on 06/25/75 and the last three are CMJ. I don’t know what else this means other than… do I paint the engine blue or orange??? Stock would be blue… but does it matter at this point???

I hope I’m posting this in the correct space. A friend and I are currently restoring my 1972 Monte Carlo Custom. It has the 350 w/ 4bbl, built out of Van Nuys, CA. My Aunt and Uncle bought it new 72. That I have been told, nothing major has been replaced, such as the engine block or transmission… but… why is the engine block painted blue? Shouldn’t it be Chevy Orange? Am I just trippin’? I want the final product to look as stock as can be. So did these come off the line with a blue engine block? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

I noticed I had a similar problem as well. At first I thought it was the battery, battery checked out. Then we thought it was the wires so I bought new ones... same things, only clicks. Charged the battery, almost turned over. Bought a new battery, intermittently turned over, then nothing. Then we changed the starter and it turned over! Eureka! Until a week later it didn’t turn over or even click... then Dad says, try starting it in neutral... in the end... it was the neutral safety switch and a weak battery... But I learned a lot!

Finally got around to replacing the shocks and springs on my Monte these last couple days. I have no idea if they’d ever been swapped. My Uncle did minor repairs to it over the years he had it, but my Dad always said my Uncle never liked to get under the car. First time for me doing any work like this so I had my dad supervise. Lifted her up and found more work to be done, but she rides so much better now. I just went with OESpectrum shocks and Moog Springs all around. I’m not really good at taking pictures while I’m working, since I’m so new to this my “one-track mind” takes over. Also put new pads up front and dived head first into swapping out the Drum shoes in the back... I wanna stay as stock as possible, but discs for the back seems so much easier going forward. We’ll see. After, I took it for a spin and lived to write this update... I’ll take the WIN!

I want to thank everyone for getting back to me. I got the new starter installed, no shims needed, no grinding of the flywheel... just needed to secure the connections to the battery and added a ground strap to the frame. Now its running great. Thanks again everyone!

Well when I turned the car over all I got was a repeated clicking sound. I’m thinking the gear is not engaging the flywheel. Could anybody confirm what that would sound like? That is, the gear not engaging the flywheel sound? Maybe just a “whirring” sound? Thanks all!

Hello Everyone! So I’m not mechanically inclined, but I want to be. My starter on my Monte went out and I replaced it with a newer one. My concern is that there is a slight gap where the starter mounts into the flywheel housing. I’ve attached a photo, as best as I could take it. Any feedback on whether that looks correct or if I’m going to run into a problem would be greatly appreciated!