1985 Monte Carlo SS assessment

[kevm14]

I suspect Posi would be worth considering, especially if you keep the 3.73 rear axle. As an aside.. what would that give you for highway RPM's? I assume the 4l60e would be an improvement, at least, over the original tranny.

It doesn't look that rusty to me... especially compared to the donor car.

Also, this plan is waaaay better than the 454 approach. It ends up as a much more useful car. Handling mods are worth considering, rather than just optimizing it for driving 1/4 mile at a time. It could also even be made comfortable, I guess.

How much AC did you remove? Do you still have the condenser? Is the evaporator still in place? Do you still have the old fittings? Crimping tool kits for AC lines are $150 on amazon.. we should be able to mate the LT1 and Monte AC parts with that. The Caprice has an R134 compressor, and the old evaporator/condenser should work 'well enough,' I assume... Heck, I'd probably split the cost with you, as I'd save money on the first set of lines for the saab that way...

Flat black is definitely one of my favorite Monte Carlo colors... FWIW I think these cars also came in primer grey?

You available this weekend? Maybe we can get that SAAB out of the way and start freeing up space for the LT1 removal project.

This is what we refer to, in the business, as "buy-in."

[Adam]

I think these cars also came in primer grey?

That color is more common on 2nd-gen F-bodies.

[Adam]

I suspect Posi would be worth considering, especially if you keep the 3.73 rear axle. As an aside.. what would that give you for highway RPM's? I assume the 4l60e would be an improvement, at least, over the original tranny.

The Monte doesn't have Posi (G80 SPID, I think). The carrier from the Caprice is not compatible with the gears from the Monte, different ring gear sizes. The 3.73's with the 0.67:1 or whatever overdrive in the original 200-4R still resulted in over 3000rpm cruise speeds on the highway.

The 4L60E is geared like a 700R4, so first gear is more aggressive while overdrive isn't quite as "over" (0.76:1 vs. 0.67:1 or something). Plus the 4L60E is stronger and doesn't require an annoying TV cable for installation.

If the axle from the Caprice doesn't require modifications, I would put it in as-is and revisit the gear/posi question later after I got all the bugs worked out in the rest of the car. If the axle needs modifications, I may run the stock Monte axle while I figure our how to get the beefier axle in there (but w/o burnouts so it doesn't come apart).

[Adam]

How much AC did you remove? Do you still have the condenser? Is the evaporator still in place? Do you still have the old fittings? Crimping tool kits for AC lines are $150 on amazon.. we should be able to mate the LT1 and Monte AC parts with that. The Caprice has an R134 compressor, and the old evaporator/condenser should work 'well enough,' I assume... Heck, I'd probably split the cost with you, as I'd save money on the first set of lines for the saab that way...

The evaporator is still there. The connectors have been open to the atmosphere for a while so putting a new one in there isn't a bad idea. The housing should still be complete. There was a bunch of stuff on the hood, so no under-hood shots. The rest of the A/C parts are not installed, although I probably still have them. I would like to keep A/C, as I am old now.

[bill25]

I would recommend AC. I drive a Black Mazda3, and it is hot as hell in the summer without it. Actually the AC that came with it is still inadequate.

Flat black is actually a choice color on these cars. I actually like it. It has to be dark flat black though, not faded almost gray flat black.

Your interior is the same as my old one and I think that is the best possible interior for this car. You also have the vinyl up the doors which is much nicer than the seat or rug like material used in the later years. No T-Tops is a huge bonus also. I think the only difference was I had power windows and locks but it isn't like they worked well. Good luck getting the window up on the highway. These cars don't have a lot of window support from the door when they are up. Also the cross breeze made it hard to seat correctly.

You take the good with the bad. I still want one. One other thing is that I drove a Regal Limited and a Monte Carlo SS and can say, don't underestimate the suspension possibilities for these platforms. The 2 cars were night and day apart, but both really good in their own way. I would say you can absolutely make these drive nicely.

[kevm14]

The 4L60E is geared like a 700R4, so first gear is more aggressive while overdrive isn't quite as "over" (0.76:1 vs. 0.67:1 or something). Plus the 4L60E is stronger and doesn't require an annoying TV cable for installation.

4th is 0.69x which rounds to 0.70 if memory serves.

If the axle from the Caprice doesn't require modifications, I would put it in as-is and revisit the gear/posi question later after I got all the bugs worked out in the rest of the car. If the axle needs modifications, I may run the stock Monte axle while I figure our how to get the beefier axle in there (but w/o burnouts so it doesn't come apart).

Doubt you can without going with a custom backspaced rear wheel, which then could never go on the front. Let me look at the numbers again.

I think the issue with the 7.5" is one wheel burnouts, not burnouts in general. Burnouts in general with a limited slip, and no wheel hop, are really not stressful for an axle/diff. On the street, minus the one wheel burnouts (spider gears, etc.) I doubt you'll really have any issues, as long as you don't increase traction (no launches on a prepared track).

The biggest issue with the 7.5" is that it is a 3.73 with no posi. 3.08 would be pretty suitable for the car. Also, I recommend the Truetrac if you do get a posi carrier for your Caprice axle.

[kevm14]

Your interior is the same as my old one and I think that is the best possible interior for this car.

Funny thing is the RPO code for interior color decodes to Ruby Red, which is what my Caprice is.

One other thing is that I drove a Regal Limited and a Monte Carlo SS and can say, don't underestimate the suspension possibilities for these platforms. The 2 cars were night and day apart, but both really good in their own way. I would say you can absolutely make these drive nicely.

Of course. It would be like driving a civilian FE1 Caprice and concluding there's no way you could make this car perform. Only an ignoramus would think that. And plenty do. G-body and B-body suspension is identical in design, just in a different size.

[kevm14]

Kevin, you can have your fuel pressure tester back. Turns out I had one this whole time, it was just locked in the trunk of a car two states away.

Wow that looks like exactly what I have.

[kevm14]

- Dents in door might be fixable, but might not. Besides the opening issue above, it is cosmetic damage
- Flat black (or is that a pro?)
- The '85 only has an 85 MPH speedometer, how '80s...
- Manual windows so you have to reach all the way across the car to open the other window

So quite a bit of work to make it into something you'd really want to use semi-regularly, but nothing impossible. A paintless dent guy may be able to bring back the door.

85 mph Speedo really does suck. You could get a later cluster. Either way, you'll probably end up having to get that Dakota Digital Speedo driver, OR, figure out how to adapt the Speedo cable and VSS to the trans.

[kevm14]

Also, backing plate to backing place is 51.5" (1308mm), I think.

I believe it is at the axle face. It will be wider there. But at least you have that number and could measure your Caprice.

Yours is 1566mm, which is 61.65". Even adding a few inches for backing plate to axle face, I think you're still looking at an axle that is like 4" wider. And that's the narrow 91-92/9C1 axle. The B-body is a much larger car.