71SSclone

Anyone live near Clearwater Fl? We are going to settle on a house next month and plan on being moved in by June. (Fingers crossed) John

Looks great Dennis. I can't wait for mine to be that complete!! John

Headed to Koniks tomorrow morning to get sheet metal needed to get this project rolling.

Great looking car. Talk about a mirror finish!!! Fantastic!! John

Sure!

My body shop guy said 6 months. It goes in the beginning of December. I think I'm already short on time. Looks like I'm pulling alot of hours at the shop the next 6 months. Which is good, my wife says I need to get out of the house more. lol

So, this has been a snowballing project set to drain the bank account and them some. Ordered and received trunk filler panel and outer wheel houses. Need to order full 1/4 panels, roof skin, trunk floor and trunk drop down panels. Gutted the interior today, found holes in the floor (small ones, easy patch) and found that the drivers power bucket seat was not mounted correctly. Apparently, there is a special bracket for drivers power bucket seat. Mine was just bolted through the floor, spaced with a couple of large nuts for the outer seat track, and a homemade adapter bracket for the inner seat track. Thinking of just ditching the factory seats, they are uncomfortable and need to be redone. Was looking into aftermarket seats, they looks much more comfortable and cheaper than redoing my factory buckets. I'll lose the power seat feature but that doesn't really bother me. I want this car to be a comfortable driver. So, instead of a little body repair, it has now become quest to make her as rust free as possible, plus a complete re-do of the interior. Hope to finished by the east coast meet next July. What have I put myself up against!?!?!?!?!

Now I gotta run out and look at mine. Lol

What is a "3 bolt small radiator support"?

Good to hear!!

Looks nice , Tom. Great starting point

Thats what I first thought about mine. lol

Lots of places are out of stock and can not guarantee a shipping date

Has anyone used these pieces from OPGI? Just wondering on fit and finish https://www.opgi.com/sheet-metal-body-panels/quarter-panels/1970-72-steel-outer-rear-wheelhouse/wheelhouse-1970-72-monte-carlo-rear-outer-pair-m240188-pr.html https://www.opgi.com/sheet-metal-body-panels/trunk-panels/steel-panel-between-trunk-rear-window3/panel-rr-window-to-trunk-1968-72-chevelle-70-72-monte-69-70-gp-usa-made-cam7624.html

Thanks Dennis, I'll try this and see what happens

I believe the sleeves are centered in between each set of tie rods. But i'll double check next time Im under it just to make sure.

Welcome to the site!! Great looking Monte!! There is a bunch of help on here if you need it!

Dennis, I didn't really mind replacing the center link, idler and pitman arms. They looked original, and with them being 50 years old, new parts certainly didnt hurt. My problem is that Im almost out of adjustment (2-3 turns) on the right side and I have 4-5 threads showing on the left side. I need to bring the right side in as much as possible, (tires are pointed to the right) and extend the left side out an equal amount. To me, that just doesn't seem right. Next time its aligned, I'm going to be underneath to see whats going on.

Honestly, it wont be me doing the work. My garage is full and have no space for bodywork shenanigans at my house. A friend owns a shop and agreed to take this project on during the winter. I'll probably go down there and help as much as I can. He has been trying to hire me part time since I retired, but until my hip and ankles are healed, there is no way I'm going to work even a part time schedule. Next thing to do is gut the interior, then I'll take it to the shop. Still waiting on the deck lid filler panel, then I should have all the pieces to get the body work started.

James, I'd love to see a pic. Post it. But I think Thomas is correct that it might be a tie rod issue. I have aligned the new box, aligned the steering column, and positioned the steering wheel at the right place on the column. I have even now replaced the center link, pitman arm and idler arm. It is still off center. I'll get it aligned again, and see just exactly how far off the tie rods are between each side.

Great pictures Bruce. Thanks for sharing.

Bruce, Im going for the same look as your car. Black with no vinyl top!!

Thomas, What 1/4 panels did you use? Gm or aftermarket? I bought everything from Belden, but my c pillars need work. Im really trying not to go with a full replacement 1/4s because I know what that would lead into. Lol John

Looks like I have some rust repair to get done this winter.

Congratulations Steve!! Best of luck to you and Lisa.