1970 Monte Carlo SS restoration

[LDG3]

When I was 16, I was showing one of my cars at a show in Springfield Ohio. Next to my car was a Shadow Gray 1970 SS Monte Carlo. I thought it was one of the coolest cars I had ever seen. I put it on my list of cars I would own. Fast forward 30 years and I found this 1970 SS 454 in late 2015 in Phoenix, AZ and purchased it. It was built in Van Nuys in December 1969 and sold new from Welch Brother’s Chevrolet in Texas City, TX near Houston. Welch Brother’s was dissolved in December 1988. At some point in its life, it ended up in southern California. You would be amazed at the amount of sand I found in the car.

About a year ago the Monte was next in queue and I started the restoration. I will post more pictures as I go, but here are some pictures of the car as I received it.

[1970mcss]

Looks like a great project, good luck and keep the pictures coming

[Dtret]

Good looking starting point. Hopefully the sand didn’t hold the moisture and create rust issues. I’m kinda in the same boat ( see “topic suggestion “ in the general section). I hope you’re starting point is better then mine. Lol. 

[cny first gen 71]

Good luck with it, we up here in the north east world would call that an almost rust free car. And yes we love progress pictures. 

[overdrive]

Great find!  What's the original color?  The interior color is like mine was.  

Dan

[MC1of80]

The proverbial "all there but needs everything". I love it! Good luck with the resto and like others have said, keep the pics coming! 

Just some fyi just in case, the steering wheel center is not correct for a 70 Monte, SS or not, used the std Monte ctr. Obviously, the optional 3 spoke wheel it wouldn't fit. Lol It's from a 70-72 Chevelle standard wheel. 

[willie]

Dan what a great starting point!!!!    Now we will have 2, 1970 "SS"s being rebuilt!!!  I love it!!!       Sorry Dennis i had to!!!  

Keep it up guys!!!

[Dtret]

9 hours ago, willie said:

Dan what a great starting point!!!!    Now we will have 2, 1970 "SS"s being rebuilt!!!  I love it!!!       Sorry Dennis i had to!!!  

Keep it up guys!!!

And we are both in Ohio. Lol. 

[LDG3]

Unfortunately, the sand and dust found its way into everything. The trunk drop downs, lower quarters and lower fenders had rust issues from moisture. The roof and upper quarters had rust damage from the vinyl top. The interior and trunk floors are nearly spotless. I live in central Ohio, so it is "almost" rust free to me too.

Original colors are Champaign gold with gold vinyl top and saddle bucket interior.

[Dtret]

2 minutes ago, LDG3 said:

Unfortunately, the sand and dust found its way into everything. The trunk drop downs, lower quarters and lower fenders had rust issues from moisture. The roof and upper quarters had rust damage from the vinyl top. The interior and trunk floors are nearly spotless. I live in central Ohio, so it us "almost" rust free to me too.

Original colors are Champaign gold with gold vinyl top and saddle bucket interior.

Dang we’re not only close in proximity but really close in cars too. Mine is champagne gold, black vinyl top and saddle interior. That’s funny. 

[714024SPEED]

Good luck and keep the pictures coming 

[LDG3]

Here are a few pictures on the inner roof structure repair.

As I said, the vinyl top did a number on the roof as far as rust goes. One of the previous owners must have owned stock in silicone caulk because it was everywhere. The driver's side was not nearly as bad. I had to replace the rain gutter on the passenger side. I was able to make it from two Chevelle rain gutters. I also bought a hole punch and flare tool to make the holes in the inner structure correctly.

[MC1of80]

Nice fabricating skills. Keep up the great work! Keep the pics coming! 

[Dtret]

Looks good. Beyond my current skill set but I may be learning that stuff soon. Or I’ll flatten the whole thing with my battery truck. I E speedbump. 

[Glen]

Here’s some motivation, Dan.  Keep the pix coming. 

[Montemedic]

Nice job and progress !!!

[Dtret]

9 hours ago, Glen said:

Here’s some motivation, Dan.  Keep the pix coming. 

Nice looking car. Too bad it’s a clone. lol 😂 

[Scott S.]

I've often wondered....... No matter how old or what shape we find these cars in, the back seat is almost always in great condition. 

Why is that ???? 

[Michael Boyte]

That's because most of the back seat action also caused some excessive intermittent horn blowing !!! 😂 That's my guess.

[Dtret]

Or the lack of. ????

[Glen]

3 hours ago, Dtret said:

Nice looking car. Too bad it’s a clone. lol 😂 

 

[Dtret]

Sorry just kidding. But you know that. 

[Glen]

6 hours ago, Dtret said:

Sorry just kidding. But you know that. 

I’m responding 6 hours after you posted this as the tears have finally stopped flowing and I can again see clearly enough to read and type. Only I’m too emotionally distraught to compose my response. Your apology and explanation ring hollow.  I don’t know how you sleep at night.  

[Dtret]

6 hours ago, Glen said:

I’m responding 6 hours after you posted this as the tears have finally stopped flowing and I can again see clearly enough to read and type. Only I’m too emotionally distraught to compose my response. Your apology and explanation ring hollow.  I don’t know how you sleep at night.  

A warm bed, fluffy pillow and a cat. No problem on my end. 

[Dtret]

Dan I can imagine the looks of your neighbors when you pulled up with that. We see potential, they see what’s in front of them. I know the area pretty well, it makes me chuckle because I did the same thing here several times. The car is coming along great. Keep up the good work and the pictures coming.