ripleydale

In prep for paint I've been removing the trim from my 71 monte. Definitely some swearing going on but I got it all off. The previous person applied some of it with silicon that apparently does one hell of a job of sticking it on. Kind of a [censored] to remove it though. It seems to me the best way to install the lower trim is to have the clips on the moldings, and then press everything onto the car. Correct me if I got that wrong. So having said that, how do I best remove the clips that remain on the car? The big plastic things above the rocker molding can pry out, but seems like a real [censored] and you can see the metal bending around it. Those little metal spider clips that seem to be used on a lot of molding pieces seem to break when I'm trying to get them out, leaving the little end bit inside to rattle around and rust. Any tricks to getting these bits out of the car? While on the subject, and maybe to get some good answers in one post, where do you recommend getting replacement clips from?

On an unrelated quest underneath my dashboard of my 71, I've run across a few things I'm not quite sure about and hoping someone can help. One is a connector, with orange, light blue, yellow and brown. Seems like a lot of wires. Could this be rear defrost? I know I don't have that connected. Second issues around connector on steering column. Someone has done a butcher job of sorts. Not sure if the connector stopped working on a couple of points and he wanted to bypass or what. The two on the end, the green and light blue mess that's still connected, and the white to black that is pulled apart right now. Looking at the service manual, it would lead me to believe it's related to the hazards or signal lights. It all still seems to work, so not sure what the broken white to black does. I'm not sure why he would leave the wires in the connector but still bypass the connector. Am I missing something? I'm thinking I just reconnect them and skip the connector. Any thoughts?

Keep the nice hood spear and trunk bezel for the real SS. Remove from the tribute. I like the lower fender SS emblems and would do the tail panel if I could find the sticks. Might do the SS on the back even if I can't find the sticks. Centrelines have to stay. Sorry brother.

I thought I'd resurrect this thread since Minni Monte is getting a paint job and I'm thinking of doing a tribute SS the way I'd do it. I have some trim install questions but I'll make a separate thread. Reasonably painless to remove. I was pleasantly surprised that the back window I assumed was rusted out, is in fact solid. It always held water and was spongy underneath. Turns out it was a thin layer of silicone underneath the vinyl. Have you ever put away something valuable in a "safe" place and it was so safe you couldn't find it? I had a bullet mirror from a first gen that fell in that category. Seeing all the posts on them was killing me, especially as the time for paint closes in. Found it today after looking off and on for a year. Feeling grateful.

Great work as always Aaron!

There we go. Thanks!

Bruce you seem to have the identical system to mine. Describe where the wires from inside the trunk make it into the trunk lid. Any grommets or fasteners? Thanks for your help.

This is a good post, thanks to Darren and Bruce. How does the power get to the trunk lid? Any pics of how factory runs it? Assuming trunk release only gets power when switch activated. How was power run to trunk light?

Go Wheel 2 Go!

Nope.

Nice work Aaron.

Looking good Darren!

Looking sweet Darren. Nice work!

Went and found my valve and some pictures from the deconstruction. Thanks for the photos Darren and Dan. I'd like a better picture of Dan's where it splits in two. Almost looks like two ports. At least I can see how I can do mine now. What is the little black rubber hose hanging down off the valve?

I was talking to some guys at the western meet who have seen their share of SS cars and they all suggested there was a splitter at the back for the air shock lines. When I pulled apart my 71 I found some very old shocks but the split was in one of the shocks. I reached out to the original owner and he said he never replaced the shocks (45K mile car) but oddly enough remembered a splitter somewhere. The shocks actually have what to me resembles a GM part number, but couldn't find it when I searched on Google. The single fitting shock has 3186384 and the double fitting has 3186385. Has anyone else encountered these shocks when pulling apart an SS? For those who think it had a splitter somewhere at the back, can you show me a picture since I'll be restoring mine with single fitting shocks.

Congrats. Enjoy driving it.

That's the one although it looks like they changed the part number (mine was 12496968 when purchased in 2005). Looks like they've gained 3 hp. It really was a turn key motor when I installed it and I liked that some engineer matched the parts (camshaft, carb, distributor) for a solid motor. The motor really spins and you have to be careful not to over rev it because it seems to want to climb forever. I have a 5 speed in the Camaro so an automatic might not have the same issue. I would bet that you can find the same long block without the intake, carb and some of the other bits.

Nothing wrong with rebuilding the original, that's for sure. I do love that 330 hp crate 350 from GM with the vortex heads. You can buy it very complete. I put one in my Camaro and it is a blast.

That's them.

I found some shots in my deconstruction of the pieces I was talking about. Much larger than I remembered.

Thanks boys. Heading to OPGI next week to see what I can bring back in a suitcase.

Thanks for the responses. I think 420 Ponies is talking about the right things. They do remind me of elephant ears. They were kind of the consistency of a thin mud flap.

Sorry, not near my car. I think they are towards the bottom of the fender and are supposed to keep crap out of the pocket behind the wheel towards the door. I have to believe Jared, Vaughn, Darren must know what I'm referring to. I seem to remember they are maybe about 4x6 inches and kind of slip over some edge. They aren't bolted on or anything.

Does anyone know what they call those little seals towards the bottom of the fenders and if they are reproduced?

I notice the intake for the 454 on my 71 is really low. I have an intake from 69 that has more plenum below the carb but assume I would have hood closure problems with the stock air cleaner. Does anyone have any experience with this?