NavyCPO

Well I'm hesitant because it has been bone stock it's entire life, and if I start modifying it, where do I stop? If I put a hot engine in it, then I need to modify the tranny and probably the 8.2" rear end and gearing, whereas if I get another car (that may already have an upgraded tranny and a posi rearend) that I can put a much hotter motor in, then I could have the best of both worlds. I don't plan on selling this car, but you never know, I don't think we plan on selling our toys but sometimes we get wild hairs and do stupid things that we regret later, at least I have. I wish I had my '68 Camaro back now as well as my '71 Nova. Both which were really nice cars. I still don't know how far I may go with this ol' girl but the feedback I've received here makes me at least not feel so bad if I give her some breathing room with a 4BBL and a cam. I'll have to pull the engine out anyway because it needs the heads worked to put hardened seats in as I don't think they've ever been off of the car, and while I'm doing that I'll replace all the gaskets and seals and would be a good time to drop in a cam and switch to the 4BBL intake and HEI, (I'll also look at the cost of the Petronix 3 that Jared suggested).

I appreciate all of the valuable input I received from everyone. I didn't respond to everyone, but I have read your comments and am taking it all in. Thanks again for the great participation from everyone in this fantastic Monte Carlo Club!

So I've been going back and forth about modifying my 1970 Monte. My car is a true survivor currently all original 2bbl 350 car with factory points distributor, single exhaust and 2 bbl carb that was originally purchased right off of the factory assy line in Van Nuys, CA by a man that worked there and never saw a dealers showroom. He owned it and kept in in a garage its whole life until he passed. The wife kept it until she passed then the daughter ended up with it and sold it to me immediately after her mothers passing, so essentially a one owner or at least one family car. I was going to drop a 383 that I have on a stand in her but decided not to do that. I keep going back and forth on how much I want to modify this car since it has a unique history and a true survivor w/ only 69k miles on it. I have decided that I am going to go ahead and do dual exhaust and an HEI Distributor at least (I'll keep the points distributor in case I ever decide to sell the car). My dilemma is do I want to go ahead a upgrade it to a 4bbl intake and carb or leave it with the stock 2 bbl and just rebuild the old Rochester. If I do go with a 4bbl intake and carb, then I will most likely go with a mild camshaft like a Comp Cams 262 or 268. I am going to pull the motor for a re-gasket/re-seal in the not too distant future. I like hot rods and would love to make this car my own, but out of respect for the history of this car and it's excellent condition I'm really hesitant to modify it much. I've decided to save my pennies and buy another car (hopefully soon, as I ain't no spring chicken...LOL) that I can go crazy on and build my hot rod from that platform, maybe an ElCo, Nova, Chevelle, Camaro or even another Monte. So I am curious as to what some of your thoughts are about not molesting this car more than dual exhaust and an HEI Distributor, or would a 4bbl intake/Carb and a mild cam be taboo for a car like mine and too much modification from it's original condition? Your Thoughts...................

That's a buttload of useful information Jason. Thank you. So it sounds to me like him keeping his TBI is actually just a waste of time. Sounds like he'd be much better off going carbureted. I thought they ran a much higher psi fuel pressure like 30-40 psi or so. Isn't that about how much the TPI and Direct injection systems use? I didn't think of just using a regulator to control the fuel pressure with the stock in tank pump. As far as the fuel pump push rod, that wouldn't matter because I've picked him up a good Gen 1 block we were going to try to build when he gets ready. Thanks very much for the helpful info. Cheers!

That's what I recall too, pulley removal was a booger. Don't remember how I used to do it but somehow got it done.

So I plan to build a 350 for my sons 90 Chevy Truck which currently has TBI heads and TBI intake and throttle body. I told him to buy a set of Vortec Heads that I found cheap and they'd flow better for him. That was before I realized that the TBI intake would not work with the Vortec Heads. Shame on me. The TBI to Vortec head intake from GM is like $650 you guys pointed me to and with shipping I figure a $700 Bill. So now I'm wondering just how good are the stock TBI heads? Did the TBI heads get and upgrade from the low intake volume of the stock Gen 1 SBC Heads (I think they only run about 160-170cc of intake runners and with 1.94/1.5 valves flow OK but not great. Anyone have knowledge about the TBI Heads? Should I just stick with his TBI heads and a good valve job or garage porting/gasket matching maybe? I know the Vortec heads are much superior to the Gen I heads but how are the TBI heads? I"m tempted to just switch him over to carbureted and use the Vortec heads but kind of like to keep his Stock TBI Fuel Injection setup so he can keep his stock fuel tank fuel pump etc. Another thing I am curious about is the TBI only has like a 2bbl setup but I'm assuming because it's fuel injected it would get as much fuel as a 4 bbl carburetor would send because of the big injectors. (and of course he could get larger injectors for his TB I assume if we needed to and it all still goes into the plenum chambers) Did I make any sense there? You guys following me? Original question is TBI vs Gen1 Stock vs Vortec, then I babbled a bit...............LOL

This all sounds like way to much work on the operator. Don't they have a setup where the converter just locks up when it's supposed to? Do you have to use a LOCK UP COnverter? T350 and T400's didn't have lock up converters and we used those for years. Is a lock up converter mandatory when you go to an overdrive tranny?

Thanks for your replies Gentlemen!

Good Point Jason. It won't hurt to drill them. I guess I could use them on a 350 build and they shouldn't leak? I'd hope.

There's not really much to these alternators. If the bearings are still good, you used to be able to get a brush kit and a regulator kit and they're easy to rebuild. When I was young and REALLY POOR, LOL I'd clean up the armature, put new brushes and a regulator kit and reassemble and ready to rock n roll. Worked great, last long time. But I get it, for the money these days a new alternator with fresh bearings, brushes and regulator and a shiny new case it's probably worth it and easier just to replace it. Just sayin''''''''''''''''

Looks Sweet, Sounds Sweet! But probably pretty NASTY!!!! LOL

Looks Sweet, Sounds Sweet! But probably pretty NASTY!!!! LOL

Couldn't see them. Maybe an admin needs to approve the link?

Thanks Steve!

So another question for you engine guru's out there. I just picked up a virgin early model SBC 400 long block. I have heard that you can just plug off the steam holes and run these blocks all day long and they are really not that important. My Heads do not have steam holes in them. If I just plug up the steam holes what is the best way to do that? Just slab some JB weld into them? Buy some screw in inserts? Don't do anything and just hope they don't cause issues with the Head Gaskets? What does your experience with 400 sbc and steam holes tell you?

These are good points and I take note.

CC507 says they are for Pontiac Grand Prix. Will they also fit 1st Gen Montes as well?

I put air shocks on it. Still looks crooked to me. Perhaps springs are in the budget this year. I like the raised stance in the back for my taste.

Well I'm just a poor country boy, I think I have TRW Forged Pistons in my shortblock but it's just an old stock ext. balanced cast stock 400 crank with stock 5.7 chevy I beam rods, chinese aluminum 200cc 2.02 int/1.6 exh valves, nothing fancy (my BBC 540 in my old' '68 Camaro I had the good stuff AFR fully CNC Ported Race Ready 335cc BBC Heads World Products 540 block, Lunati all forged PROMOD rotating assembly, TM2R Intake, Demon 850, N20 Big Shot System, MSD 7AL, MSD billet Distributor, Griffin Aluminum Radiator, TCI Reverse pattern Manual Valve Body T400, etc. etc) oh back to my 383 valve train 1.5 I think they're ProForm Roller Rockers aluminum, haven't decided on pushrods yet, 3/8" screw in studs and guide plates, Crane Stud Girdle (to add strength to the 3/8" studs), may go with some thicker walled .080 or maybe .120" 5/16 push rods, Edelbrock 800CFM 1413, Torker II single plane intake and either a Edelbrock Performer RPM, but I'm leaning towards the Comp Cams XE284H flat tappet camshaft. Again I'm a poor boy right now and ROller setups are just getting ridiculously priced, maybe later, but I'm also considering a Comp Big Muthr Thumpr that I just saw on Marketplace for $150. With machine work and all I'm on a shoestring budget right now. Now having said all that, I've talked to guys that have built some killer motors with so called JUNK Parts that make really good power and will run up and down the drag strip all day long. Just sayin'.................. And by the way, I haven't actually started on the build yet, the 383 is sitting on the stand waiting to get put back together, it was running when I pulled it, but needed cam bearings for a low oil pressure at idle issue. Just need to get the snout threads repaired on the crank, maybe get it polished, hone the block from sitting, going back with the same pistons and new rings/bearings/gaskets then adding the new heads/intake and carb and HEI distributor but I am about to get started on it real soon. Still gathering parts and making a plan right now. I'm still undecided if I'm actually going to put it in my Monte or not. My '70 Monte is a True Survivor with only 69k miles on it, never went through a showroom as the original owner worked at the GM plant in Van Nuys, CA and purchased it right off of the assy line and has been garage kept it's entire life. They moved back to OKlahoma, He died, wife had it, She died passed it to the daughter who immediately put it up for sale, now I have it. If I do put it in the Monte, I'm taking the original motor getting the heads reworked with hardened seats, resealing and regasketing the entire motor and will preserve it and store it on an engine stand in case I want to sell the car someday. I'm thinking about getting another car now to play with instead (I like Nova's, Chevelle's esp 66 and 67's, El Camino's and maybe even another Monte that is not so Original that I would feel better about playing with and that might actually have a 12 bolt in it with a SBC 400)and if I do that then my '70 Monte might only get a mild cam, dual exhaust and I'll switch to a 4bbl intake as unfortunately my Monte is a 350 2bbl, but she is a sweety.

So if I went with the 3:31 I might be expecting 2500-2800 maybe? Good Guess? I like the sound of that 396 small block, how'd you get that? I just picked up a virgin 400 block today and I've always wanted to build a 427 small block, might do that someday. May do a 400 again is I can stay with the standard bore, maybe a 406 if I have to bore, but I think it'd be so cool to put a 4" stroker crank in it with standard bore and build a true 427 sbc. But what I'm finding so far on Desktop Dyno is that I don't really gain that much horsepower over a 383 build, but it does make signigicantly more TQ. Only showing about 20HP gains over 383 but that's sticking with same 200cc heads, cam, 800cfm carb etc. May have to play with the other goodies to get the real gains from those extra cubic inches and maybe that's just too much for a small block with those BBC heads. Things that make you go hmmmmmmm..........................

Ok, now I've been out of it for a while, but here's my extent of transmission knowledge, I know there is a Powerglide, TH350, TH400, 700R4, 4l60, 4l80 full stop. Never heard of a 2004R and transmissions ain't my thang, "there's ALIEN STUFF IN THERE" way beyond my comprehension. I leave those to the experts, pressures, transmission data are all greek to me. $3k for a transmission build is out of my league, $1k for a transmission rebuild is about as much as I want to pay for a bench rebuild where I bring you the tranny, you rebuild it and I pick it up and reinstall it. For $3k I expect to get a ………..a beer and a shot at his wife, DOH!! LOL But seems the general consensus is that the 2004R is STRONGER than the 700R4 if I want to go with an OD Tranny, But a 700R4 is not ALL THAT BAD. I won't be taking it to the strip, not doing a 4 link, ladder bars or none of that, just want to be able to spin the tires readily, maybe hook a reasonable amount for some Saturday night fun. I feel like I'm still a kid when it comes to cars.

Thank you for all the helpful info Scott and for taking the time to upload photo's too. Did I tell you guys the story about my '68 Camaro with a 540 cid BBC with full Lunati Pro Mod Rotating Assy, @ 740 HP motor alone and a BIG SHOT N2O system jetted at 225 HP and my 8.2" Richmond Geared, Moser 28 spline axeled, c-clipped rearend without a stud girdle? I never had a problem with that Rearend despite the huge HP BBC in the car. Granted, I only had slapper bars and could never really hook-up and truly Launch, but I used to burn the crap out of those tires all the time and that lil 8.2" held up fine. Personally, I think they are under-rated. LOL

Thank You!

I think I may stick with my TH350 tranny.

Ok so I'm building a 383 for my monte and I'm going to pull the original 350 2bbl, have hardened seats and a valve job on the original heads, re-seal and completely re-gasket the original motor then preserve it and put it on a stand in case I ever sell the car I can let the buyer have his choice of all original or my version of the monte. So back to my 383 build, I can do the engine no problem, but it's going to be a pretty healthy 383, I'm estimating 450-500 HP. I bought a 2500 stall converter and I also bought a 700R4 complete core and was going to have it rebuilt and put it in the Monte for the overdrive, but when I talked to the guy at the local transmission shop he said that the 700R4's are not a very strong transmission, and you have to set them up to run without the electrical stuff and I hear folks constantly battling the TV cable etc. etc. so now I'm leaning towards just keeping my 3 speed Turbo 350 tranny and just put a shift kit in it. My Monte only has about 70k original miles on it (a true survivor) and I thought about rebuilding it with HP clutches and shift kit, but I'm thinking maybe I'll just have a shift kit in it and use up whatever remaining life the stock clutches have left in them. Tranny rebuild with HP clutches will be 1-1.2k even just on the bench, me pull and carry home, but shift kit I figure maybe $300? Been a while since I messed with this stuff. But then I'm going to have to also do something with my I'm assuming 2.73 1 legged rearend. So I've been thinking about getting a posi and putting some gears in it since the cam wants gears too. I have the 8.2" 10 bolt and I am thinking of going with 3.55 or maybe 3.31 gears. Any recommendations on which way to go here? And when I change the gears I'll have to change the plastic gear in the tail shaft of the tranny to match the new gears because I want my factory speedometer to be right. Does anyone know where I can find a link or a list of the correct color code gear to use with these gear ratios? I know they are color coded for different gear ratios but I wouldn't know where to find that info or where to find the part either. I do know how to change it though! LOL I also have a T400 tranny sitting on the floor of my shop that I believe to be a good one that may have already been built a bit, my tranny guy said the 350 is just as good as the T400. If I go with the T400 or the 700R4 I'd have to find a driveshaft shop and shorten the drive shaft and on the 400 go with bigger Yoke and probably those special U-joints (I forget what you call them, short on one side and bigger on the other side), so I think I'll just stay with my T350 for now and may consider a tranny swap later depending on the feedback I get about both of those other tranny's. So blah blah blah, what I'm looking for is...... 1. Feedback on the 700R4 vs the T350/T400. What do you think of you 700R4's? 2. Link or info about which speedometer gear to get when I change my differential gear ratio and help on where I can get it from. 3. Opinions on 3.31 or 3.55 gear ratio. I thought about 3.73 to but I'm not going to Race the car and I think I'd be revving too high to get 70-80mph highway speeds these days. And with a 3 speed tranny even the 3.55 might be a stretch but I want a good hole shot and be able to turn the tires easily and have a good 1/4 mile time.