MGD72Monte Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 I've been working on a rear end overhaul since April, trying to find time here and there. No progress on the differential yet because I have been busy refurbishing the undercarriage. Thought I would share some of the small results. Here is one end of the transmission crossmember with brackets and mounts after removal. The mounts had signs of rot and were full of corroded metal chunks from the crossmember. If you look closely you can even see shades of salt on the end of the crossmember even though the car has hardly seen even rain for over 20 years (the old girl had a tough life before that). One of the bolts was so rusted I had to cut it off. Here are the same brackets and crossmember after sandblasting and painting. The hardware is new grade 8, the mounts are from two separate donor junk yard cars that had a less salty life. One of them is mint, the other is pretty good. Both are much better than the originals. This is the area above the differential. Lots of rust, and the emission system lines are in bad shape, the one going to the charcoal cannister was rotted through. The long rubber line was a temp repair for the main fuel line which was rotted out. Here is the same area after wire brushing and painting with all new lines. I also removed the emissions "separator ASM" (sits behind the rear seat) and sandblasted the tubing ends. The lines are the new armour type which come as a coil and are pre-painted green. I decided to replace the emission lines as I still have the charcoal cannister installed even though the system is not hooked up to the engine. The lines are 5/16" and 3/8". Each one is bent by hand, cut to fit and flared, which I found to be challenging especially for the 3/8" line which has a tendancy to kink if you are not gentle with the curves. Plus the fact that for some of them you are working in a confined area with the coil which is a bit of a pain. Here are the upper control arms after removal. Bolts rusted but not as bad as I thought. The bushings were also not as bad as the car's front lower control arms. These are the arms after sandblasting, painting, replacement of the bushings with stock type rubber and with new hardware. That's it for now. Yeah I know this is not huge progress but it is nice to see some stuff ready and going back on the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slaman Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 Nice progress! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCfan Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 Nice work, MG! Salt is nasty stuff, but looks like you arrested its work, reclaimed what was still functional and replaced the rest. Good feeling to know it's done even if it isn't visible to everyone every day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70mcarlo Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 Nice work!! Really neat job on that gerbil's nest of emission/fuel lines. Must have been fun wirebrushing up there in the differential area - brings back memories. Suddenly, I've got the urge to go wash my hair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7tonemonte Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 Looks great!! Nice work on the lines as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallaby Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 When I first opened up this topic I saw the picture and thought "Wow those brake pads are toast!" LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Jim Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 Lots of hard work but it will be worth it in the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monte7071 Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 Wallaby I thought the same thing lol. Not sure if these guys still carry the metal bracket part but they did when I ordered mine. link They carry Pontiac parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddiddle Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 Nice work there. Are you on a lift, or on jack stands? Or cement blocks? I just ask because, dang, that's even more impressive if you accomplished all that lying on your back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stangeba Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 Nice! How many spots in the steel fuel / vapor lines were rusted out? Mine are all OEM, guess I should crawl under mine and check. I remember doing some of the same things about 22 years ago. I left the upper arms in after removing the axle. I think they were too hard to get at or I just got too tired. Keep up the good work! Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo's70MCs Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 Nice work! Though I'm shocked at the amount of corrosion in the undercarriage; owning Cali cars we're not exposed to that much rust. There's less divots/craters on the moon surface, than some of that metal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigscaht Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 man thats some good work..any progress is good progress... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MGD72Monte Posted September 10, 2011 Author Share Posted September 10, 2011 Thanks a lot for all the encouraging comments guys, To answer some of the questions: Daryl, I am on jack stands, lots of laying on my back ... but not restful . This is the set up. Bob, yeah, lots of "fun" laying in a rust dust storm during the wire brushing with my arms killing me. Before going in for a shower after a day of this, I would rince my self off outside with a garden hose and use some dish soap to get the first layer off . Bruce, although heavily corroded, the short steel vapour lines above the differential area were not corroded through, the long line that goes to the charcoal cannister was essentially corroded through at the metal clips in the area you can see above the coil spring. Also, about three years ago I replaced a portion of the fuel line which had gotten very thin and had some indetectable corrosion pin holes which resulted in air getting sucked into the fuel line (and then carb) causing poor drivability. I would recommend you at least check the condition of that line. The vapour lines don't really affect anything. Rod, I think you misread my location. I am not in California, I am in Canada, land of ice and salt. This is where my car spent most of it's early life, hence the moon like heavy corrosion craters . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo's70MCs Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 Didn't mean to sound obnoxious, it's just that encountering that much corrosion can be discouraging. I guess that forty year old car has held-up well. It's just that the "angel of darkness" is been brutal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 Where in Ontario do you live? I'm in Corunna, about an hour west of London. That's a good looking Monte you got there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonteNH Posted September 10, 2011 Share Posted September 10, 2011 Very nice , congrats on the great work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigscaht Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 what are you getting done to the rear end since its out???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MGD72Monte Posted September 11, 2011 Author Share Posted September 11, 2011 Rod, no worries, I was also just poking fun. Road salt is a terrible thing and as you can tell, takes a heavy toll. I lived on the West coast for a few years where they don't use salt and found Montes in the junk yards there with less rust on the frame than mine had 20+ years ago. How's that for accelerating aging!!! It has been discouraging at times and it will never be a show car, but I've owned it so long, it's family now. Jason, thanks, I'm about an hour from Kingston. Phil, thanks! Scott, I picked up a book to educate myself on differentials before I decide exactly what I will be doing. I know I want to detail it, and get new bushings, beyond that I'm not 100% sure, but I'm keeping the same gear ratio. I will likely overhaul over the winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cny first gen 71 Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Let me just say this MGD what you have there is a show car! It may never be a trailer queen but would you really want that? I know I dont. That is a very nice monte you have there and would be a hit at any car show. Just wanted to throw that out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MGD72Monte Posted September 12, 2011 Author Share Posted September 12, 2011 Steve, thanks for the kind words, means a lot coming from a fellow Monte enthusiast, but I know all her flaws. You're right though, I do not want a trailer queen, well maybe if I could have numerous Montes, I'd have a trailer queen or two . Actually I've been delaying repainting the 20+ year old paint (it is rough and the body needs smoothing) because I might start considering it too nice too drive. After I'm done this latest phase, it will still be a nice old car with character . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikstudie Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 The small stuff is the hard stuff and the hardest to make progress on. Anybody can paint a car or drop a motor and bamm instant progress but the little stuff is the time consuming stuff..Looks awsome,keep up the nice work.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MGD72Monte Posted September 13, 2011 Author Share Posted September 13, 2011 Thanks, never really thought about it that way . I can certainly vouch for having consumed a lot of time on small stuff over the years . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cny first gen 71 Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 The small stuff is the hard stuff and the hardest to make progress on. Anybody can paint a car or drop a motor and bamm instant progress but the little stuff is the time consuming stuff..Looks awsome,keep up the nice work.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
overdrive Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Lookin' good! Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monte7071 Posted September 13, 2011 Share Posted September 13, 2011 Looking good. As long as you enjoy it is the only thing that matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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