stangeba

Was it any help? If yes, what helped the most? Thanks, Bruce

Some pictures and a bit of description, of my 71, I hope they help: Click this link: https://1971montecarlo.wordpress.com/71-monte-carlo-headlight-switch-pictures/

A neighbor gave me two small springs that fit inside of the current springs. He had 4 small S shaped pieces of metal that attach, like a hook, to both the small springs and the inside of the stock springs. They have worked well for about 10 years now. I do also use a copper pipe at times with rubber ends to ensure safety when windy but it's a bit too short and one time the hood blew open, allowing the pipe to fall chipping the paint on the top of the fender. I need a larger pipe! (Or keep the hood shut)

Here is something you can review prior to having an alignment. This is from "MUSCLECAR REVIEW" Feb 1990. Click this link: https://1971montecarlo.wordpress.com/2023/08/30/front-end-alignment-information-2/

Welcome to the club!

Poor ground is a good thing to look for first. Do you have a test light? (good to have one) Has anyone replaced any bulbs with LED and not stock incandescent? Any wires shorted out or crushed? Has this vehicle ever had a trailer hitch? If it had one and it was not removed completely and properly, this would be a good thing to inspect. I added a tilt wheel to my 71 many years ago and I love it!!! I did have upper bearing problems causing the steering wheel to wobble. Here is a link to some pics of the repair I did. https://1971montecarlo.wordpress.com/2024/03/13/tilt-steering-wheel-wobble-repair/ When I was a mechanic in a FORD dealership in the early - mid 1970's I remember some of the wires from the T/S switch on TILT steering columns would break after years of moving the steering wheel up and down. (this also was a problem with wires in the harness for power windows from the door, opening and closing, bending the wires thousands of times) Good luck!

My all stock 71 350 4bbl with 169,000 miles, after not running for say a week, will require the starter to crank and crank and crank and crank and crank and crank and crank and then starts and runs great. I assume the gasoline in the carb evaporates and or leaks into the engine and must be refilled or it won't start. If I drove it today, it will start fine tomorrow morning. The garage smells from gasoline after I put the Monte away but is fine the next day. I did have the carb rebuilt 20+ years ago and also had the shaft bushings repaired.

I do not have the optional rear window defogger on my 71. I do have the power (electric) trunk release option on my 71. (looking for the colors) If this is any help, it is a picture of the plug that goes to my 1971 OEM Stereo.

I am interested in one white and one black please. Thank You!

Like this, or this ?

Happy 4th of July to all!!

Welcome back!

I wonder if the parking brake cable/s are rusted causing them to stick and not fully release?? To apply, we push on the parking brake pedal but to release, I don't believe the spring has as much power as the pedal and our left foot....... Good luck!!!

Welcome Craig! Great looking Monte Carlo!

Welcome Hendrik

I remember back in 1980 when my 71 wouldn't start and I would tap the starter with a hammer and it would be OK for a few starts. I had the starter rebuilt the brushes were worn out and that was the problem.

Is it now running 12 Volts and not through the resistor that stock points and condenser require?

I was wondering about that........ Well perhaps someone else reading it will remember this fragile wire and how to unhook it when they are working on their Monte Carlo.

Here is a second picture. See the blue arrow that is pointing to the area of the steering column that the shift indicator wire is attached to.

You wrote this: (I just dropped the steering column.) FYI, if it is a column shift, like my 71, there is a very small fragile wire attached to the steering column that moves the shift indicator when you move the shifter. It needs to be unhooked prior to "Dropping" the steering column or you could break the wires. Here is a picture. If you have a floor shifter I don't believe it has any of these things. 4 speed for sure doesn't have it either.

A friend of mine just sent me this link https://share.google/Tbt8lhIgwTxJiI5lR

Your Monte Carlo looks great!! Some many nice pictures of the vehicles at the show, thank you!

Welcome to the club!

My 71 is all stock, runs great and only has 168,152 miles on it, so it's like new!! 🤣 I have had cruise control for many years (30+) and it always has returned to working fine after I tore it apart, cleaned up the inside parts and put it back together. This time I didn't take it apart fully so I will work on it again and clean everything this time. It has been missing the "Air Filter" since I repaired / cleaned it several years ago. I thought the particles of the filter got sucked in and caused the last surges but it did it even without any filter now also. Thanks for the input!!!

I believe the problem may be with a moving part in the unit is sticking. I have in the past taken it apart and just cleaned the moving parts and perhaps added a bit of lube and the problem was gone for several years. I have been running without a filter (did you see the picture of that thing) and that may have added to the ? sticky movement of the area where vacuum is allowed to the diaphragm that controls the cable to the carb linkage. I just need to take it apart further and clean the moving parts. I watched two Facebook videos about this unit, that are helpful. Time to take it apart again!!!! I have had cruise control on every vehicle since my 1976 Ford Thunderbird, I miss it!! Thanks everyone.