MGD72Monte

Yeah! I'm curious on the fit and whether the plastic is perhaps more plyable and less prone to cracking than the original. I have two sets, from junk yards, all damaged in one location or another. Very interested to get reviews.

When had the dash out, I used a Q-Tip to apply some plain bumper chrome paint and it came out nice. I just regret not having done the vents also. Allan looks really good with the white gauges. Aaron, nice classic look.

Thanks for the offer but I could probably buy myself a replacement car for the price of the drive to Texas. Today as temps were just below freezing I decided to have a closer look. I lowered the column and was able to remove the ignition switch which sits on the top of the column. I don't think it is the problem, at least not on its own. With it removed I found the ignition cylinder a bit easier but still stiff so I lubed it. Because it was no longer connected to the ignition switch I was able to rotate it several times and it seems to be some better. I'll see how I make out when the temps dip down again. If not resolved, hopefully I can at least milk this until the weather gets warmer to dive into the column. Thanks all for the input.

Thanks for the continuing info. Fortunately the column is not tilt and it is a floor console shift so less complications. I don't know when I'm going to get a chance to tackle this, it was about 5F again this AM, and winter has not even started yet.

My wheels are 15" x 7" aftermarket ralley type rims 5 x 4 3/4" bolt pattern with 4 1/4" backspacing.

Good info, makes sense. I've gotten into the Monte's steering column before for other reasons but only had to go as far as the turn signal switch assy as I recall. This would be deeper surgery. Also it can be more stressfull on your daily driver because you need it! So I will try the ignition switch first and hope that is the problem. It probably won't be until the Christmas holidays until I get in there. Hope the weather holds.

Thanks, took the mother board out (I assume it is the board with a fan stuck to it) to get the name. It is Intel Pentium III. I put it back in, and now get 6 beeps which is apparently a gate A20 failure and the instructions on the Internet are: Check for foreign objects such as screws that may ground the desktop board and make sure the screws that hold the motherboard are not too tight. Try a different keyboard. Try a different processor. I did not find any of that stuff and I don't have spares. I guess I'll have to wait until I find someone who might. Thanks again for the help I learned a few things.

That's what I thought. Now I was able to get the link but no photo. OPGI has that style mirror also. Linky About half the price but maybe half as good. If you get the ones you are looking at, I'd be curious to get your review. I have rarily found aftermarket stuff that did not have some issues.

Bob, your link doesn't work so I can't see the mirrors in question but I bought some repro mirrors from OPG a while back. Can't find them on their site anymore but it was same design as the optional remote with a similar looking one for the pax side to get a balanced look. Here are some comments: - they look good (so far) - they don't have the drain hole like the factory ones - the angle is not the same so they needed a lot of shimming with home made rubber "gaskets" I had to make to get them to be reasonably straight. I suspect they fit better on the Chevelle door. - the remote part is crap, the direction you move the lever has no bearing on where the mirror will point so you need to adjust it by hand. However, once adjusted it is OK - the pax side is not a convex mirror like modern cars to give you the visibility you would expect for lane changes so I bought a stick on 1" dia mirror at Autozone. I remember discussing this on a previous thread, if I find I will add the link. Hope this helps Hope this helps.

This is not about the Monte but my daily driver which is a mid 80s GM automatic with floor console and the set up of the ignition lock cylinder in the steering column looks the same as the Monte. After many years of service, some stiffness and slack seems to have developped when you turn the ignition lock cylinder. Most of the time its stiff but not too bad but when the temps go below freezing, it becomes very difficult to turn. The other day it was a -15C (5F) morning and I almost needed to get some plyers to get enough leverage to turn the key enough to engage the starter and colder weather will be coming Any thoughts? I hate to have to pull the steering wheel and all the guts out only to find out it can't be fixed and I need to get a new steering column. I need the car to get to work. Can this be fixed? What about lubing it from the outside? Thanks

OK, finally found the time to open the case, looked around the only thing potentially loose was a board with some lever type retaining side clips? on it. On one side the side clip was not fully engaged so I pushed the board in slightly and secured the clip. I turned the computer on and there is no change to the monitor problem but now the computer makes a series of 12 beeps with a pause (sounds like morse code). Any ideas or do I go back to option A. Thanks

Thanks for the input guys, its appreciated To clarify, the booting problem is not related to the video problem, they happened completely separately. Marc, as soon as I get a chance I will open the case and have a look. I'll let you guys know if I find anything.

I preface this with the fact that I am not a computer person. I have a spare 'old' computer, about 6 yrs old. About two years ago, it stopped properly booting up. Windows did not come up, it went into some dos mode asking to scan disk and was essentially stuck there. I tried again about a month ago, same thing, someone told me that all I needed to do was to reinstall windows so they gave me a Win XP disk CD. However, before I tried the disk, I moved (3000 miles) and when I reconnected the computer the monitor screen was blank (power button light stays amber). I disconnected the monitor from the computer and the light went green, the monitor turned on with a 'no signal' icon floating around. As soon as I reconnected the cable to the computer tower, the monitor power button light went back to yellow and the screen back to blank. It therefore seems that the problem is not the monitor but the computer. I know my options include Are there any other less destructive options that might result in this thing working? Thanks

Nice pics Aaron, thanks for all your work in organizing this. It would not have been as great of a success without you.

Awesome time, great ride there through the forest/mountains. Many thanks for everyone's hospitality. Nice to finally meet many of you in person. Great convoy on the way back Jake/Chris .

That's good mileage Aaron, I can get a little over 18, but you got to like those Canadian gallons for 22+ or should I say 12.6L/100km . Too bad they are more expensive . Anyway, on a more relevant note, I got Friday off, so I plan to be there .

I'm easy, I'd like some food too if it's not too late and the Monte is also easy, she's fine with 87 Octane . P.S. If I'm too late and had to sign up ten months ago, then, I guess I'll just have a burger from across the street .

Fresh oil and filter today and am hoping to secure next Friday off. Will find out Monday. If that works, I'm hoping to get there Friday late afternoon, find a place to camp (hopefully not in a ditch) and register at Burgerville. Hopefully I am not missing anything and don't have read the 32 pages of posts on the Western Meet to make sure . If I am missing something, maybe one of you long term meet planners can set me straight . Thanks and hope to meet new people there along with some of the great people from the the mini meet.

I was looking to save space and get away from having to use the stock jack and scratching the bumper so I picked up a compact spare, a small scissor jack and the hardware to tie it down at the local junk yard. This set up also shaved off 35lbs. Just make sure you get the right bolt pattern. Ford has a five bolt pattern that looks the same but is just a bit off.