71SSclone

I overpaid for my Buick, and will end up being upside down in the Monte also. But it doesn't really bother me. The Buick is an original sheet metal car, and almost every panel will be new in the Monte. Both will be extremely rust free with big blocks. I think it's well worth it spend a little more and get what you want. Lord knows I've bought lots of things that needed work, or weren't exactly what I wanted.

Doug, Thats great. Do you want to sell it? And is it for a 70 or 71? Actually, is there any difference between 70-71? lol Thanks, John

That would be great. Thanks Dennis

I have time for sure. If you want to look around and get back to me, feel free.

Thought about that, but then I would have to change the rest of the gauges. I don't want to go down that road at this time. C'mon Dennis. Don't you have one "in stock"? lol

Does anyone have a generator warning light assembly they would like to sell. Mine is a little rusty, and I’m thinking I should replace it while I’m working on the cluster. Thanks

Welcome to the club! My Monte has been on a 2.5 year restoration so far, and shows no signs of being done yet. Just gotta keep plugging away at it. Good Luck!

I'm with you on that one, Dennis!! Usually something 80 proof or higher!!!

Also installed the Vintage Air assembly that goes behind the dash, and installed the CVF serpentine belts system.

A little update on my Monte. Went up north for a few weeks so I could work on my car. First thing I was going to do was install the UMI rear suspension. Wait, only 1 box? Thats no good. They only sent a box with a rear sway bar in it. All the other pieces were not shipped. After being on the phone and texting, Summit Racing agreeded that someone screwed up. They will send the rest of the parts in a few days. Next job, install Moser aluminum rear end cover. Open up the rear, and the limited slip unit is junk. Needs rebuilt. Also, perfect time to replace the 2.73 gears in it. Install the stock rear end cover and order a complete rebuilt kit w/ 3.42 gears. Next job, replace leaking transmission pan with B&M deep sump aluminum transmission pan. Finally, a job that went smooth. After I was finished, I forgot to install the Lokar transmission dip stick assembly. Off comes the pan, so I can install the dip stick assembly. Seems like this car is in it's 1 step forwards, 2 steps backwards phase. I was able to install the polished aluminum valve covers, and mock up the air cleaner assembly on the of the fuel injected throttle body. I also got to inspect the stainless headers from ARH for my car. They are ging to look great. The following week I was able to install the rear suspension. Hopefully I can get back up there in a few weeks and continue the progress. Pics to follow.

Nice car Keith. Thats what mine will look like when it gets out of bodyshop jail. The more we work on it, the more we find wrong. John

The pinion seal can be tricky (Disclaimer....Ive never done one on a Chevy, but use to be a Ford master tech and have done bunches of Fords) You have to get the pinion preload correct. Once we had a tech sell a pinion seal job (he was 1 step above a quick lube tech) I walked by and he already had it apart, I asked "did you mark the pinion nut and flange to the pinion threads?" He looked at me like i had 3 heads. "Nope" He just hammered it together with an impact. Guess what came back on a wrecker 3 days later? Now it needs a rear end overhaul, at the shop's expense.

Im going to do this upgrade also, have UMI rear suspension kit and a Moser rear end cover just waiting to be installed. Yours looks very clean underneath. Good job!

Can someone tell me what the numbers mean on the engine? Or point me in the right direction to decode the casting numbers on my 454. I figured it was just a standard 454 with rectangular exhaust ports, but it has HI-PER PASS cast in the back of the block on the passenger side, so now I’m curious.

Pics