Another newbie

I'm Tom AKA 1cheapshot. I've been a fan of the Monte Carlo's since my first one in high school. An Aztec bronze 72. It was a beater but I liked that car. I became more fond of the 65-70 full size cars and have had a few of them over the years. I really liked the 80's SS Monte's But I have owned this old Rusty Carlo (in my avatar) since about 1988 when I sold my 65 SS Impala to buy it. It's a 74 454 Landau. Not sure if that was smart but I'm not always the sharpest tool in the shed. It cost me $850 with no carb and a bad transmission. I later joined the military and when I went over seas (1994) I had to store two cars 18ft long in a 35' storage unit. One was the Monte the other my 67 Bel Air. The bumpers and grille came off the Monte and it was put on blocks with the BelAir hood about 6" into the Monte header panel. Fast forward to 2016. I sold the Bel Air and bought a 96 Caddy with 45K. But there was the Monte still sitting, mouse infested by now, my desire to fix it at an all time low. So low I let my buddy that bought the Bel Air, know that I wanted to sell it, if he knew anyone that might be interested. A guy called, made arrangements to come look at it and he never showed. If he had, he could have offered $500, and it would have been gone. But as I got thinking about it I determined I would at least see it drive before I sold it. I found the correct carb on Ebay, and found a guy to build my trans. Jury is still out on if he did a good job or not. But it runs and drives under it's own power, first time since 1988. I have the window sticker and build sheet that say it is a real 454 car. So the plan is to get some cheap rims and tires on it. My black D-spokes showed up today, my 275-60-15's are in the mail. I want to do a NASCAR look, so a rear spoiler will have to be made and a front one. This is a low buck rat rod thing for now. And this car may be for sale next year. But I want to at least get some time behind the wheel first. I do love how easy the 454 still breaks a tire loose It has 130K+miles on it. I need to fix some things to get it road worthy. Like change all the fluids, get the brakes working 100%, right now no rear brakes. Horn is not working I hear the relay clicking. Steering wheel is gum I pulled the interior and cleaned it. trying to get the mice motel smell gone. It's ok but really needs 100% replaced. I'm in So. Utah and there are a few of these around but you don't see them on a daily basis. I did see a black Laguna S-3 a few times that was restored and had killer wheels on it. But I don't know if it stayed around or was an out of town car. I want to put it in the local car show next Spring. Rust and all.

Welcome to the G3 Group. You'll find a great bunch of fellow hobbist who are more than willing to help with any issues you may have as well as parts.

Wish you well on your 74. Bet you decide to fix er up.

Jerry

Welcome

welcome aboard

Welcome!

Got a new master cylinder today too. I need to get my buddy to come help me bleed the old fluid.

If things go ok at work I may have time to work on the rear spoiler tomorrow. Not holding my breath, but hoping.

Dont forget to bench bleed the master before you put it in.

welcome

Welcome from West Chester PA!

Looks nice and solid. What size tires?

welcome from Illinois.

Yes, what size tires and what size wheels. Thanks

Front 235 70 15 15x8
Rear 275 60 15 15x8

Thanks for posting. Those are the exact rear tires I'll be going with since the 15" selection is limited and I dont want a drag radial with my manual trans.

I think I'm going to put 235 all around on my 73. My tires are pretty old

I tested a 235 60 15 and they will contact the lower fenderwell bolts so I went with the 70's in front.

235 70s is what I'm going to go with

Like your Monte, the color is sweet. Back in 77 I want a Monte but I lived in the inner city of Chicago and it just would fit in the garage, opted for a new 77 Malibu Classic triple black, then to a 79 Z28. Held on to that one until 2000, then picked up an 81 Z in 2010 and the El


Camino in 2014.

The camaro was all stock when I picked it up. retrofitted it with corvette power seats and side mirrors. The El Camino is about 95% stock I've added the 06 vette power mirrors to it as well with a little modidication, I was able to mount the switch into the existing chrome bezel and it looks like it was always there.

Beautiful Monte! So your 73 with original 454 came with a 350 turbo tranny?

g3chevy wrote:Beautiful Monte! So your 73 with original 454 came with a 350 turbo tranny?

he pulled the 400 and replaced it with a 350.. but yes its a factory 454/400 monte..