1971 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Project

Description

• I put in a new driver floor pan, quarter panel patch, and trunk floor, but as you can see from the pics they need some finishing work. I stripped the underside, primed it, then coated it with schutz undercoating (the closest I could find to original). One rust spot remains next to the driver A pillar--I have an exact replacement piece for it. Firewall was stripped and painted black with high-temp paint.
• I stripped and painted the chassis and suspension parts. New suspension bushings, fasteners, shocks, and springs (2" lowering springs). I rebuilt the front disc and rear drum brakes--new rotors for the disks and new springs and slave cylinders for the drums.
• I rebuilt the engine: crank machined by a shop in Chicago, new bearings, cap bolts, piston heads and rings, and gaskets. Cam in good shape so reinstalled as is. The engine had a head gasket leak, so I cleaned the heads, cleaned and replaced rods and lifters in their original order, re-seated the valves by hand and installed new valve stem seals. I stripped the block and painted it with black high-temp engine paint. I honed the cylinders smooth. Reinstalled the heads with new gaskets. Cleaned and painted the oil pan, reinstalled with a new gasket. Cleaned and reinstalled oil pump. Starter cleaned and reinstalled. New oil filter. I have not attempted to start the engine yet, as I don't have the electricals or vacuum installed. Crank spins freely.
  
• New engine mounts and trans crossmember mount.
• New headers, h-pipe exhaust (2.5"), and mufflers installed. New exhaust hangers
• Transmission ran great so I didn't touch it except to clean it and paint the oil pan. New transmission cooling lines installed.
  
• Drive shaft stripped and painted. Rear diff drained, stripped, and painted, and gear oil replaced (probably needs topping up).
• I installed new steel fuel and brake lines. I refurbished the fuel tank (no interior rust) and straps. All are installed on the car but not connected.

• Hood ornament
  
• A/C system (this was an A/C car, but it wasn't installed when I bought it. I inherited a compressor that I think is correct for the car, but haven't tested it).
  
• Connecting decorative stripes between front and rear side moldings.
  
• Head liner

• Upholstery. I kept the original seat upholstery and accessories to use for patterns, but I would not reuse it. Seat springs (bench front seat) and cushions are still good, the springs just need some surface rust removal.
  
• Wiring. I planned to replace it, so I wasn't careful during removal. You might be able to use the fuse boxes.
  
• Rubber. I kept all rubber body seals and the engine belts, but I'd replace them all. Engine vacuum hoses may still be good.
  
• Tires. Good enough for sitting in place only.
  

• Heater box was torn in half during removal. I was planning on to repair it with fiberglass.
  
• Moldings and trim. All the metal trim needs some TLC, but some more than others. Drip rail trim was bent during removal.
  
• Dash pad. Small tear that should be easy to repair.
  
• Steering wheel. Several large cracks. I was going to try to repair it with epoxy.
  
• Wheels. They're Cragars, and they need to be refurbished, but they work fine.