overdrive

Quote: Boy do I want this car. I'll bet! Yes, the build sheet layout is a little different after 70. I have a copy of Capri's 71 SS454 sheet and it matches yours, and the book shows CF was only used behind a 454 for 71 and 72.

Quote: my 72 has the 400 w/ CD code and is a 402. That matches what the book shows. It shows CD for all 3 years w/a 402. Andy, this book doesn't have any info for a TH350. Robert, I have a 70 sheet that is in great shape and from a dark saddle car. What information do you need?

Another post got me digging into trans codes again. I've seen that some build sheets have the trans code near the bottom on the right side. It should also be in box 28, near the top of the sheet on the left side. Does anyone here have a build sheet for a 70 Monte with a 402 and automatic? If so, please tell us what the code for the trans is. CR, CD, or something else? Thanks for any help on this.

The book I have shows the first 2 characters before the letters on the tag are the year. Yours has 3 characters in that place. If I use the 72, the trans decodes as 350 V8, 400 V8 Chevrolet. In this case the "Chevrolet" is for full size car, Caprice, etc. The # of prongs on the wire connector on the driver side gives a clue as to what years it could be. Also the # of dimples in the pan will help. Can you post a pic of the tag?

Hi Mike. Here's a link to some good help. Welcome to the site! We'd like to hear more about your car and hopefully you will post some pics. We love pictures. Dan.

You can check ebay to get an idea.

That's the one! Thanks guys.

Not too long ago, someone posted how they modified their auto/console shifter to not go too far forward as they manually shifted. I can't remember who did it and I can't find it. Please help me locate it. Thanks!

I've read that the big block cars had round rear, lower control arm bushings and the small block cars had an oval one there. Each time I've checked this out, it has held true. Lyle Groves told me that he wasn't sure this is always the case. He may very well be right. The members here may be able to shed some more light on this. Lyle also told me that the big block cars have a bolt on the steering shaft, near the rag joint, that the small block equipped cars didn't have.

If we can simply look at the codes, as Mike has done, on 70 Montes with 402s and TH400s and SS cars that have original transmissions, we can have absolute proof as to what the codes actually are, not what someones papers or books show. I'm not too interested in build sheet proof for my car. I know what it is and don't have any intentions of selling it. I'm just interested in finding out if the GM restoration packet is correct or maybe it's the GM provided chart reprinted in the rebuild book that's correct. So far, it looks like the book is accurate. The tag has the year and the trans code both on it. The tag that Robert shows also has the year.

That looks like CP, not CR. Mikes code shows there are different trans codes for 402s and 454s in the 70 Monte. His is the original trans and so is mine. Mine has CR and his has CD.

Thanks Mike! That's one code that my book shows for a 402. I would think all of the other 70 Montes with 402s had the same code as yours. The other codes listed in the book under 402 will probably be for the other Chevy models. The book is out in the garage right now and it's bedtime. Anybody else?

The book I have shows that GM made the 400 available to other manufacturers. They were used by AM General, Avanti, Excalibur, Holden, Jaguar, Jeep, Revcon Motor Home, Rolls-Royce and Volvo Truck as well as by every GM division. This book has all of the codes and there are more than 5 pages. It shows that in 70, the 400 had 5 different codes when used behind 454s depending on the HP rating and/or the Model of the car it was installed in. CB, CR, CG, CS & CY. The 402 cars had different trans codes than these. To get some more information, would some of you that have 70 Montes w/402s that still have the original trans please check the code on it? We need to know if it is CR or not. This could be interesting. Please help!

Quote: it would be a great addition to our tech page here It's all in my book. It's called How to Work with and Modify the Turbo Hydramatic 400 transmission. It has the codes for all GM makes and models. I can send the information to someone, after I finish this rebuild.

I've not found a build sheet yet for my 70 SS, and the car has a 71 454 engine, so I can't prove that it's an original SS by those 2 methods. I've always been sure it's an SS, since the car has the correct unrestored suspension parts for an SS and the Level Ride system lines and control valve are still in place and in unrestored condition. It's obvious they have been there since new and are undisturbed. To get to my point of this post, I'm rebuilding the TH400 trans and it has an ID tag riveted to the pass side that IDs the trans as built in 70 and it has the code CR. The drvr side of trans has the serial # stamped on it and it matches the VIN, so the trans is definitely the original. I got a book today to help me to do this rebuild, by Ron Sessions, and he included pages listing the codes on the tags for all of the TH400s. These pages and codes identify what kind of car the trans was originally installed in and the size of the motor that it was bolted to at the factory. The CR on mine was only used behind 454s. All 454 Montes in 70 and 71 were Super Sports and since my trans serial # matches the VIN, I have some more proof that it's a true SS and without a build sheet, so far. I just thought some of you here would be interested in this info. I haven't ever read anywhere before that so much info was available about the origin of a trans.

My trans in the SS454 slips bad in the forward gears. The car has 120k miles and the trans has never been rebuilt, as far as I know. I've never rebuilt an automatic, but I've been into 3 spds and 4 spds 4 or 5 times. I want to do the rebuild on this one. I have a neighbor that has done quite a few auto. rebuilds and I can hire him to help me, if I need to. It's not likely I'll ever take the car to a strip, but I know I'll have to pretend I'm in a burnout box. What kind of rebuild kit should I buy? I see Summit has several listed. Hughes, TCI, Summit, B&M. What do you guys suggest? I'd like a firmer shift than stock. Does anyone know of a good book that I can use for the rebuild? Thanks! Dan.

A couple years ago, I peeled the fuzzy part off and turned it end for end so the lower, unused part was at the top and reglued it. That horrible sound vanished.

I just realized I hadn't updated. I bought 2 brass fittings at Carquest that let me use the original valve and the new air lines to the shocks. They work fine. The adapter kit mentioned above isn't what's needed.

There are 2 pieces on the qtr. 1 in front of the tire and another behind it. Are you talking about the one at the rear? The rear pc. uses 3 clips that screw to the qtr. and the top lip of the trim slips over them and then there are screws that hold the bottom lip, also. I can get you some pics, if that's the part you're asking about.

Thanks Jim. I finally took the time to upload the scans to my picturetrail site so I can post them. I've been working on the 70. I can't get all of the info to show on 1 pic. It would be too small. If anyone needs this info, I can forward it. Tim Gronli had sent me pics and the pages he wrote about rebuilding the compressor and the control valve, a few months ago, but my computer won't open them. Dan

Welcome and it looks like you a have some nice projects./ We always like to see a Monte being saved. We'd like to see pics, no matter what condition the cars are in. Many of us have cars that aren't show quality, yet.

According to the packaging that came with the hose kit and shocks, I need #141248- adapter kit for vehicles equipped w/GM self leveling shocks. I found this: adapter kit. I want to reuse the original tubing and not cut the original ends off. I can't tell how this kit is supposed to work. The instructions are folded up. It looks like maybe this kit eliminates the control valve. I can't do that. I was hoping to get a brass fitting to go on each shock to allow me to connect the air lines. I don't see 2 like fittings in the pic. Has anyone here used these shocks and the original air lines? Thanks. Dan.

I took the old shocks off today and found the fittings on the new ones aren't the same as the originals. I'll have to come up with an adapter for the original lines that are still in place.

Thanks Lyle. I had an old camper that I scrapped out and I had saved some of the seat cushions. I used the foam rubber from that, but you can buy different densities of foam at a craft store. I have a sheet of 1" thick, dense insulation for large industrial tanks that I cut pieces from to use for seat cushions in my deer stands. I shaved the surface layer from some of that for the top. I think a pc. of innertube would work better, I'll try that on the next one. I used some spray adhesive, but it's already failing. I need to use the good 3M stuff for vinyl tops, I think. I just held the base down over the foam rubber and cut it close to the base with a knife. Do the same for the thin top material. Glue the pcs. together and then trim with scissors and finally sand with a small pneumatic sander to get the final shape. Just be careful to not sand the base. To protect it, you can wrap it with a few layers of tape. I now have an original 1970 chassis manual that has good information on this system. Dan.

I've exchanged messages with him before. I don't think I need another compressor at this time. When I get time to test this system out, I may find out differently. Here are the pics of the filter I made using the original base, foam rubber from an old seat cushion and a piece of black industrial closed cell pipe insulation. Not exactly a K&N quality part, but it'll work.