MCfan

Thanks, Bryan! So good to see that the USPS did not drive a truck over it as they sometimes apparently do! Also, good to know the clutch fan was not damaged as that was my main objective. You may not believe the condition of packages (Amazon, eBay and OEMs) that get delivered to our fairly remote summer home in MN. Crushed, ripped open, taped up boxes with damaged or missing contents are common across all three major carriers. 😬

Hi, Rich, I just sent you the detailed conversion instructions for a '70 via email. There are sight variations in the '72 and possibly '71 fuse panels but most of the instructions will work for all years. I know some members have installed that kit in '72s so maybe they will chime in if that is what you need.

Congratulations, Tom!! Six Saturdays in every week from now on! Enjoy!

Great! You're welcome!

The '70 Monte Carlo Assembly Manual shows power coming from the ACC port on the fuse panel and going through the switch and back to the blower. I can't tell from the '70 Wiring Diagram Manual if the power wire runs independently for that RPO C50 or if it is included in any cabin or rear lighting harness.

Hey, Mike, As you have already learned, the Z-bar frame bracket is unique to the Monte. Here is a link to an older thread on 4-speed conversions that confirms that fact: https://www.firstgenmc.com/forums/index.php?/topic/13767-my-4-speed-conversion/ Unfortunately, I don't believe that thread identifies a source for the correct Monte bracket but maybe you can take a closer look. I would guess that a search for an original bracket might be long and difficult as so few manual transmissions were installed in first gen Montes. Good luck.

Ditto

The https://tiresize.com/ site has outstanding online tools for comparing tire sizes and calculating wheel offsets. If you scroll down a couple of pages in their excellent Wheel Offset Calculator tool, you will find a very useful chart that gives you a backspace figure for any given wheel width and offset. To find the backspace for any wheel at zero offset simply add 1 to the wheel width and divide the sum by 2. Next you add the desired offset (usually given in millimeters to avoid confusion with backspace which is given in inches). Positive offset moves the wheel inboard. Negative offset moves the wheel outboard. Lots of trial and error experience with wheel/tire combos on first gen Montes shows that the best wheel offsets (independent of wheel width) are +6 mm for the front and +12 mm for the rear. Those offsets will keep any wheel/tire combo centered within the available wheelwell space. If you want to use the same wheel width on all four, a good compromise is an offset of +8mm (or .30") which is exactly what the factory spec is for the 15 x7 rally wheels. So, for a 15x8 wheel, zero offset is at 4.5" backspace (8+1)/2 = 4.5 and then adding a +12 mm offset (or +1/2") increases the required backspace to 5". For most wider tires, having more backspace (i.e. 5.5" on an 8" wide wheel) is better than having too little if you want to maintain clearance between the sidewall and the wheelwell lip of your quarter panel. However, too much backspace can also get you in trouble with rubbing on tight turns when used on the front. If you are planning to mount a 275x60-15 or larger tire on the rear using a 15x8 wheel with only 4.5" backspace, you will have little, if any, outboard sidewall clearance (unless you don't mind trimming the wheelwell lip). I believe that's why others have already advised using a 5" backspace on a 15x8" wheel.

Hi, Richard, Someone may have done exactly what you want to do and will chime in. In the meantime, several of us have simply converted our "idiot light" dashes to the optional stock full gauge dash with a tach replacing the fuel gauge to the left of the speedo. The clock is retained in its original position and the fuel gauge joins the other smaller gauges for amps and temperature. Oil pressure is still indicated with a red warning light in this configuration. There is a guy on eBay (sonnie24) that sells a complete kit for this conversion. I did this conversion on my '70 Monte several years ago with good success. I also took that opportunity to upgrade all of the dash lighting to LEDs. If you are interested in that approach, I can send you a detailed instruction set to follow. Below are a couple of Before and After photos of my dash.

Welcome to the club and forums, Peter! You have a classic black beauty there! Love the old school touches of Cragar SS style wheels and what appears to be a shorty lakes pipe or exhaust cutout. Bet she moves as good as she looks with that stroker motivation! Always happy to see and learn more about your ride. Enjoy the club!

Love that exterior and interior color combo - exactly like the new '70 I bought right out of college! Mine was a 402/TH400 - I wasn't even aware of the SS option, nor did I know a 4-speed could be ordered with the 402. I've owned and greatly enjoyed both since but still have fond memories of my first gold/white/gold '70.

No, Kevin, I'll be at my summer home in MN by then but if anyone is going from SW FL, I might be able to get it to them if they have room to bring it to you. If not, I could check into shipping options.

This is probably a long shot … but you never know. I am ready to get rid of the original spare tire and wheel that came with my ’70 402 4-speed car. On the Build Sheet it was RPO PU8 G78x15 Dual Stripe White Wall on a 15x6 black steel wheel. It was definitely used at one time. Tread wear is even and remaining tread depth is .20”. It has retained air pressure after all these years and the wheel is in good shape, also, but I’m sure it has little to no functional use as the rubber is far too old to trust on the road. Before I throw it out, I was wondering if anyone had any interest in it for display or other sentimental purpose? Or maybe someone might want it for the original 15x6 steel wheel? I would be happy to gift it to any FGMCC dues-paying member that wants to pick it up in SW FL or pay shipping. The combo weighs 47.5 pounds. I have more detailed photos if needed. Shoot me a PM if you are interested or have questions. Thanks.

If this statement is true (and it may be), our Technical Info article "Is it a real SS?" needs to be corrected in at least two places. "The 1970 Monte Carlo brochure reads as follows for the SS454 model: Monte Carlo SS454 includes a 360-hp Turbo-Jet 454 V8, Automatic Level Control, G70 x 15 wide-oval white stripe tires with 7”-wide rim wheels, heavy duty chassis components and SS exterior identification." and ... 2. 15X7 Rims In 1970 the PH1 - 15" x 7" rims with wheel covers were standard with the SS454 package. Other wheel covers and rally wheels were optional. In 1971 the ZJ7 - 7" x 15" Rally wheels were part of the SS454 package. The Build Sheet for the '70 SS I owned shows the standard PH1 (15x7) wheels with PA3 Special Wheel Covers. Another Build Sheet for a '70 SS that I have seen shows the optional RPO ZJ7 15x7 Rally Wheels which is also consistent with our current article above. If there is factory documentation to the contrary, we should probably consider updating our article.

For 1970 15 x 6" wheels were standard but RPO PH1 15 X 7" could be ordered (included in RPO Z20 SS package)

Shocking news ... so sorry to hear it, Steve! Will be thinking of you in this time of loss and sorrow.

Dave, thanks for coming forward with all of that interesting historical information on this unusual Monte! Rob has confirmed that the one just sold by BJ is the same one you owned previously. Assuming you can believe its prior owner to you, the source of the black tail panel and SS rear bumper was apparently neither the factory nor an original dealer installation. My observation from many descriptions of finds of "rare/unusual" Montes on this site is that they often have a history of multiple owners who incorporated their personal preferences, just as you did - a completely natural thing to do. I plead ignorance to what a GM.9 Executive Order was or how radically it could be configured. About four years ago, one of our members bought a gold/white '70 SS that was allegedly built for a GM executive and it had nearly every option available (at that time) from the factory, but claims of non-standard configurations coming from the factory are highly suspect, IMO. Even the only known '70 SS with an LS6 (currently owned by Tim Pestinger) was a Dick Harrell conversion, not a factory exception. In any case, I certainly agree with you on the enjoyment of driving a 402/4 speed first gen Monte. I get to drive mine at least 3 times a week while I am in SW FL during the winter months. It's not for sale ... 🙂

Forget the inconsiderate woman ... now's your chance to own it, Rob! Good luck!

Dan, unless your BB Monte has a manual transmission, I wonder if those spare headers are for use with automatics only? The #7 tube must exit straight out (or slightly forward) and down to clear the Z-bar that operates the clutch. I searched high and low for a pair of full length headers for my BB 4-speed Monte about four years ago. Finding none, I went with Patriot shorty headers. If those particular ARH headers will work with a manual transmission, they might be very attractive indeed.

Rob. I did notice the name and figured it was your father. I purchased my first Monte at Pappas Chevrolet in KC, MO in July of 1970 and sold it in 1974 to get a bigger car for my small but growing family. I have searched in vain for any original documentation of my first Monte or even a good photo - nothing so far.

Great find, Rob! Very cool! Hang on to it at least as long as you own the car.

So, did anyone help him? We collectively have done that numerous times. Maybe he should become a member (assuming he isn't already)?

Cool find, Aaron! It was apparently one of the 839 small blocks shipped with a 4-speed in '70. Guess no one knows how many of those were the 400 ci engine. While it was a fairly low optioned car, it was a rather nice looking (cranberry red with black vinyl top), fun/sporty configuration with black vinyl buckets/console, 400 small block, 4-speed. 3:31 rear gear and G70s with rally wheels. It apparently wasn't optimized for performance as the 300 hp 350 or 330 hp 402 would have been a better choices, as well as, posi-traction, dual exhaust and the full gauge instrument cluster. No power options but at least it had power steering (which my 402 4-speed was built without). I can't imagine any dealer would order that configuration for inventory so someone must have had some specific objectives and/or budget restrictions. It would be a great starting point for a very fun first gen if it could be found today in reasonable condition.

Selling off that extra vinyl top might bring the net purchase price down into the reasonable range. They go for around $10K, right? 😄

Great looking '70 SS - a twin to the one I owned for eight years! The window sticker lists the "Automatic Seat Back Latch" and the power cord going up into the seat back is visible on the passenger's folded-forward seat back. That seems to be an extremely rare option on first gen Montes. There is no Build Sheet on a Flint assembled car but I believe that was RPO AQ5 in '70. Wonder if anyone has seen that option on other first gens? I installed the after market power seat back latch release kit from Klassic Keyless on my SS and really enjoyed it. For a fairly heavily optioned car, I'm surprised it does not have power windows. I know prices are rising on first gens (and SS models in particular), but for $48K+ I would expect enough attention to detail to have the correct exhaust tips and the (allegedly) available compressor installed and that ratty looking trunk freshened up. It simply does not take that much effort or money to make it look a whole lot better. Been there, done that.