I started with a basically stock, low mileage, leaky and dirty underneath but solid body with decent paint and fantastic interior 1985 Burgundy \ Burgundy Monte Carlo and this thread will chronicle how I turned it in to the Monte I always wanted.

This first thread shows detailed pictures of what I started off with and the complete under body restoration cleaning it all up, repainting everything on the chassis and even installing the Crate 383 under the hood.


First winter project recap

This thread shows everything I had to modify or change to switch all of my stock engine components and accessories over to my new Vortec headed crate engine.
Moving Stock engine parts to Crate engine with Vortec heads

This thread shows me pulling everything out of the interior except the dash to check on the floorpans, Rust encapsulating the perfect floor pans, then sound deadening the entire interior before installing new carpet and putting it all back together again.


Interior Floor Restoration

Lance , I’ve told you before what a great car you have . I did mine the same way but I was 18 inches off the ground , love that hoist .

My most favorite mod yet...installing 2005 GTO seats in my car.


Late model GTO Seat install

My latest upgrade, Quick Performance 9" axle install


9" Axle Swap Thread

Lowering the car and adding a Sanden style Air compressor getting her ready for summer.


Working on the Stance and the AC

New Wheels and tires!!!!


Installing a set of Billet Specialties Rally Wheels and Nitto Rubber

that's a sharp car.nice wheels.

wow! what an ss you have there. very nice!

you did and outstanding job man. A++ work

Lance you still have my favorite car on the site.

Thanks everyone... I was disappointed when I noticed that I only put about 1200 miles on it this year. I plan on driving it a bunch more next year.

I've got a few ideas about solving the vibration problem it has that I'll work on this winter and maybe put some electric fans on it. Then after some new wheel locks, maybe I'll be more interested in driving it more.

For now though, she's put up for the winter.

When I did the underside of the car and rear suspension restore 3 years ago, I got wore out and wanted to drive it so I stopped at the front of the front doors. The underhood area just got pressure washed and a quick coat of paint. Now it's time to give the front of the car the same treatment the rest of it got back then.

What started out as an electric fan install and under hood wire cleanup has morphed into a complete doghouse restoration.

I've disassembled all the way down to the frame minus the front suspension (am thinking about going ahead and pulling the A arms while I'm at it (why not, right?)

Here is some pics of this and last weekend's work.

















Now comes the fun part, cleaning and painting the frame and all of the loose parts before the re-installation can begin.

Keep it up!! looks good

Hurry up Lance - I'll drop mine off when you're done

It was a fan Lance ! What happened !!! …………… As always , looks great !!

WOW!!!!! that's what i call a fan install job... what happened you drop all the parts to the fan and had to go looking for them? lol
looks great by the way. mike

Looking good Lance!

Just pull the body and get it all over with Lance!

That's funny Jason, you remind me of all of my friends that kept telling me to have kids...so I could enjoy all of the same kind of fun that they were having raising theirs...

That's a good one Lance...... keep up the great work!