502ci

Took my Monte up to a local cruise in...it was in the 90's with bad humidity. Typically at the time I arrived it would be packed but there were only like 15 cars there. I turned around and just went for a drive...

I had the Torker 2-0 "Angled Carb Model" on my 402 for many years...I still have it in the basement, I have been thinking of hanging it on the wall in the garage but never got around to it... I have since moved on up to a 502 and it has an air gap intake on it. It is the stock one that came on the crate motor, not sure of the exact height though. I ran a 4" Moroso air cleaner with a drop base and it cleared my stock hood. I did not have hood insulation but it did not hit the hood. I remember it was close though. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/mor-65920 I have since changed to a cowl hood and run a 6" air filter.

I had an awesome time and more importantly I was surprised my girlfriend Christine loved it...she liked the show so much she kept asking to watch the drag racing and then look at more cars and then back to the drag racing. All day we walked 10 1/2 miles the first day and 8 1/2 miles the second day according to my app on my phone. Walking to where Mike Herno was parked in the pits seemed like a 2 mile walk by itself, lol.

For starters you need a better shroud and fan set-up...a 1/4th of your radiator is not properly in the shroud. I know you mentioned that but you should do it. Also you should try a fan directly mounted to your tranny cooler...mine runs all the time with no thermostat.

Good points. Turning the heat on full blast was a trick I used to do at the track just after a run to drop the temperature before I improved my cooling.

Robert is correct on the stock non rally wheel...even the stock Monte rally wheel was only 7" wide. If you see a set of 8" wide rallys on a Monte they are either from a corvette or aftermarket.

Your fan blades should be half in the shroud and half out for maximum cooling...looks like they don't protrude at all. I think you should try a shorter extension for the blades so it comes closer to the engine.

Replaced my ignition box switch (anti theft switch) and took my Monte on it's first cruise this year...better late then never...

I have had my Monte since I was 18 and it came with a bench. I will say with drive-in movies that were common back then it sure came in handy . Years later I converted it to aftermarket buckets and floor shifter...more practical when my Monte saw its racing days. I sometimes think about switching it back to a bench but probably never will. Hard cornering and bench seats really don't mix and I like to take those highway on and off ramps pretty fast.

Finally got around to messing with my Monte...got it fired up and running . Just need to rework my switch so I can shut the car back off now, lol.

You did measure it with the full weight on the suspension right?

We all know the smell of gas but if you open your cap and it has an odd smell to it you will know it has gone bad...hard to describe the smell but once you do ever smell bad gas it will forever stay in your memory, lol. If it smells fine I personally still might siphon out as much as I could and use it in a lawn mower or something of that sort. Then fill the tank with some fresh gas and run it.

Have you driven it with the heat shield yet? I tried the same thing on my car and the brakes were horrible immediately after I did it. I tried adjusting the shield but I swear it would not get better. I took the shield off completely and my brakes went back to how they were before. Turns out as close as the valve to the header it would rather have full airflow than a shield...I have since moved it up onto the frame rail and the improvement of the brakes performance is as good as it is gonna get now.

Sure would be nice to have a set of those American Racing Headers. i just priced a set out with options and it was $1395.

Went to finally take my Monte out and it won't fire up. More MSD ignition box problems...ugh!!!

When figuring on tire and rim fitment for the rear always examine the ones you have on there already...measure the distance from the lip to the tire (assuming it has not been altered...trimmed/rolled), on BOTH sides of the car. Sometimes people only check one side and order rims only to find out their cars rearend is not centered and the rim/tire might fit the one side they originally examined but it does not fit the other side

Are you going to be driving it 5 to 7 days a week? I am not sure if it would be okay as I have not driven my car that much...but I will say I installed the u-joints roughly 14 years ago and they are fine.

That is pretty cool... Don't let them run and slide across your hood...I seen that in a series somewhere...

I have a TH400 and a gear vendors so the length won't help you I imagine but I am running a 3 1/2" diameter driveshaft. I also have the 1350 series u-joints...not sure how heavy duty you want to make your drivetrain but I used nongreasable u-joints which means there is no drilled hole for the fitting which then in turn means you have a stronger u-joint.

Ohhh, I forgot to mention that is one awesome cage, looks very professional.

I am pretty sure the the ones at the front of the door each qualify as two points.

My computer crashes in minutes of turning it on anymore...I had some links for you but lost them when it shut off on me just now. Do an advanced search typing in Gear Vendors and put 502ci in as the author and just hit search. A bunch of threads came up, you just got to scroll through them and look for my posts. I am using my cell phone right now and typing on it is brutal for me, lol.

At first I was thinking this is a prelude to an April Fools Day joke but I guess not. Take some time off from the hobby or whatever is taking up too much of your time and spend it on the important things like you mentioned. My car has been in a limbo restoration for years...I decided not to spend anymore money on it and just drive it. Years ago I was dumping thousands into it without thinking twice...now the money is spent more wisely on my house . Hope you are not leaving the site entirely .

I can not remember what my 4.11 with a 28" tall tire turns at 70 but at 60 I think it is around 3200/3300 with a non lock up converter. I have a gearvendors overdrive on the back of my TH400 so it has been awhile since I turned it off to see what it would be.

I will be following along.