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The Fixer · 01-07-2012, 05:08 PM

My Monte Carlo addiction started before I got my license in November of 1990 - my first car was a rusty 1976 Monte Carlo that I bought in August of '90 to drive while I was on my permit. I bought my first SS in December of 1991; it was a high-mileage white/gray 1985 SS that ran well but had a lot of mechanical issues. I wound up selling it in December of 1993, and then buying it back in the spring of 1997. My friends and I did a TPI conversion on that car in 2000, a 12" front brake swap in 2002, and converted it to 5-speed in 2003. We discovered some serious floor rot and body mount issues while doing that work, so I set out to find another Monte to swap the drivetrain.

My wife wound up buying this '88 SS for me in November 2003 as a gift for my 30th birthday. The previous owner was going to turn it into a big-block drag car, but lost interest with the project so we bought it as a roller. We swapped all of the mechanicals from my rusty '85 SS into this car and then parted out what was left from the old '85.

I drove it for several more years, and sold it February 28, 2011. I have no idea what the new owner has done with it since then, and I honestly don't want to know either. Hopefully it's in good hands and being taken care of.

Mods List

Engine and engine management:

- 355 ci. 2-bolt main 1-piece RMS. stock crank turned and polished, ZZ4 8" balancer, resized rods with ARP bolts and SpeedPro hypereutectic pistons, double-row timing chain, ZZ4 cam, World Products 58cc heads with 1.94/1.50 valves, aluminum roller rockers
- stock TPI baseplate with SLP runners and ported upper plenum (all ceramic coated), 52mm throttlebody, and LT1 injectors
- polished aluminum tall centerbolt valve covers
- 4.3L Monte Carlo gas tank and sending unit with TPI pump
- factory '87 F-body TPI harness with '165 MAF ECM
- F-body dual electric fans
- F-body serpentine brackets
- F-body aluminum radiator
- Ceramic coated Edelbrock TES headers
- 2.5" Hooker cat-back exhaust with GN style tailpipes

Drivetrain:

- 1984 F-body V8 bellhousing, 1981 G-body clutch/brake pedals, SpeedDirect upper/lower adjustable pushrods
- Rebuilt 1988 World Class T5
- factory nodular iron 16lb. flywheel, Ram clutch, Hurst short shifter
- Overhauled 7 5/8" rear with factory 3.73s and Powertrax No-Slip unit, TA Performance diff. cover
- Factory driveshaft shortened 3" and rebalanced

Suspension and Brakes:

- F-body lower front A-arms with 1LE bushings
- Howe Racing tall lower balljoints
- UB Machine front upper control arms
- B-body front disc brake swap with Powerslot rotors and Hawk HPS pads
- 34mm F-body hollow front swaybar
- F-body power steering cooler
- Eibach springs front/rear
- Bilstein shocks front/rear
- Moog tie-rods, centerlink, idler arm
- Jeep steering shaft
- Edelbrock adjustable upper rear arms, BMR tubular lowers
- G-body straight rear swaybar
- 17x8 Coys C55s with Continental 245/45 ZR 17s

Exterior:

- bright white base/clear paint
- Chevy Celebrity headlight conversion
- 2007 Monte Carlo SS badges

Interior:

- stock burgundy interior
- PUI upper door panels and headliner
- window switches relocated to lower door panels
- C5 Corvette shifter boot, Hurst leather shift knob, custom cupholder in the OEM center console trim
- custom 3-point rear seat belts

Here's a few pics of how it looked when I sold it -

Here's a few pics of the interior mods -

Doorpanels with relocated window switch -

C5 shifter boot with Hurst leather knob and cupholder -

Rear 3-point seat belts -

01-07-2012, 05:08 PM	#1
The Fixer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: North Jersey Posts: 3,047 iTrader: (5)	My Former '88 Monte Carlo SS My Monte Carlo addiction started before I got my license in November of 1990 - my first car was a rusty 1976 Monte Carlo that I bought in August of '90 to drive while I was on my permit. I bought my first SS in December of 1991; it was a high-mileage white/gray 1985 SS that ran well but had a lot of mechanical issues. I wound up selling it in December of 1993, and then buying it back in the spring of 1997. My friends and I did a TPI conversion on that car in 2000, a 12" front brake swap in 2002, and converted it to 5-speed in 2003. We discovered some serious floor rot and body mount issues while doing that work, so I set out to find another Monte to swap the drivetrain. My wife wound up buying this '88 SS for me in November 2003 as a gift for my 30th birthday. The previous owner was going to turn it into a big-block drag car, but lost interest with the project so we bought it as a roller. We swapped all of the mechanicals from my rusty '85 SS into this car and then parted out what was left from the old '85. I drove it for several more years, and sold it February 28, 2011. I have no idea what the new owner has done with it since then, and I honestly don't want to know either. Hopefully it's in good hands and being taken care of. Mods List Engine and engine management: - 355 ci. 2-bolt main 1-piece RMS. stock crank turned and polished, ZZ4 8" balancer, resized rods with ARP bolts and SpeedPro hypereutectic pistons, double-row timing chain, ZZ4 cam, World Products 58cc heads with 1.94/1.50 valves, aluminum roller rockers - stock TPI baseplate with SLP runners and ported upper plenum (all ceramic coated), 52mm throttlebody, and LT1 injectors - polished aluminum tall centerbolt valve covers - 4.3L Monte Carlo gas tank and sending unit with TPI pump - factory '87 F-body TPI harness with '165 MAF ECM - F-body dual electric fans - F-body serpentine brackets - F-body aluminum radiator - Ceramic coated Edelbrock TES headers - 2.5" Hooker cat-back exhaust with GN style tailpipes Drivetrain: - 1984 F-body V8 bellhousing, 1981 G-body clutch/brake pedals, SpeedDirect upper/lower adjustable pushrods - Rebuilt 1988 World Class T5 - factory nodular iron 16lb. flywheel, Ram clutch, Hurst short shifter - Overhauled 7 5/8" rear with factory 3.73s and Powertrax No-Slip unit, TA Performance diff. cover - Factory driveshaft shortened 3" and rebalanced Suspension and Brakes: - F-body lower front A-arms with 1LE bushings - Howe Racing tall lower balljoints - UB Machine front upper control arms - B-body front disc brake swap with Powerslot rotors and Hawk HPS pads - 34mm F-body hollow front swaybar - F-body power steering cooler - Eibach springs front/rear - Bilstein shocks front/rear - Moog tie-rods, centerlink, idler arm - Jeep steering shaft - Edelbrock adjustable upper rear arms, BMR tubular lowers - G-body straight rear swaybar - 17x8 Coys C55s with Continental 245/45 ZR 17s Exterior: - bright white base/clear paint - Chevy Celebrity headlight conversion - 2007 Monte Carlo SS badges Interior: - stock burgundy interior - PUI upper door panels and headliner - window switches relocated to lower door panels - C5 Corvette shifter boot, Hurst leather shift knob, custom cupholder in the OEM center console trim - custom 3-point rear seat belts Here's a few pics of how it looked when I sold it - Here's a few pics of the interior mods - Doorpanels with relocated window switch - C5 shifter boot with Hurst leather knob and cupholder - Rear 3-point seat belts - __________________ Seeya, Steve R. in North Jersey '16 Go-Mango Dodge Charger R/T. It's so good to be back in a V8-powered, RWD car! Former Toy - '88 Monte SS - had lots of mods... Last edited by The Fixer; 01-07-2012 at 05:29 PM.