1985 Monte Carlo SS

**pajeff02** · 04-18-2011, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by Smittro

Did you break it? Or did I miss somethin?

Back to the Future -- 88 mph.

**Smittro** · 04-18-2011, 08:25 AM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

Back to the Future -- 88 mph.

LOL, I actually thought you broke the Monte..

**pajeff02** · 04-18-2011, 08:29 AM

Originally Posted by Smittro

LOL, I actually thought you broke the Monte..

Not yet. I have actually been fairly fortunate through the years and have had very little automotive carnage.

**Aetos** · 04-18-2011, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

Unfortunately, the flux capacitor quit fluxing.

**Hot head** · 04-18-2011, 09:21 AM

he is looking for 88.7 mph

**pajeff02** · 09-28-2011, 04:01 AM

We were able to run the Monte at a Test & Tune a few weeks ago. Fairly decent conditions, but not the nice cool dry air I was hoping for. After running a few high 16's, I had one of my friends drive the car. He laid down a 16.3 second pass, which was the best of the day. I asked him what he did different to drop the time by so much, and he said, "I removed the floor mat." Apparently, the mat was keeping the throttle from making it all the way to the floor. Never thought that a mod like that could gain four-tenths at the track.

We'll be trying again this Sunday. Since the weather will be quite a bit cooler, I would like to try to get the car into the high 15's. The car pretty much runs just as was discussed above in this thread, the 3.73's really get it off the line feeling good, but somewhere past half track it kind of falls on its face. Here are some pics of our day at the track:

Also, this is a pic (of a pic) that the track photographer took of Dawn and her brother making a pass which is now hanging on our garage wall:

**Smittro** · 09-28-2011, 05:07 AM

Put an LQ1 in it..

The Z34 which replaced the Monte SS, weighs about as much and is a high mid 15 second car stock..

**pajeff02** · 09-28-2011, 08:29 AM

I'll stick with what's in it for now. The transmission really could use a shift kit to tighten things up. I would really like to try a rebuild sometime on my own... what's the worst that could happen?

**Firebirdjones** · 09-28-2011, 09:21 AM

Tweak on it Jeff. There's more in it.
Those old computer controlled quadrajets are tough to tinker with since the front meter rods are solenoid controlled, but they are lean from the factory, and the distributors factory curve is lazy too.

**Smittro** · 09-28-2011, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

I'll stick with what's in it for now. The transmission really could use a shift kit to tighten things up. I would really like to try a rebuild sometime on my own... what's the worst that could happen?

Yeah, I was just messin' witcha..

I was going to do an FWD auto once myself..

Then the rebuild kit arrived..

OMG! That was a lot of shtuff!

**Too Fast** · 09-30-2011, 04:03 PM

Lookin' good Jeff, now get that at least .6 out of her! I've always loved the way these SSs looked. (and it's RWD, Smittro. J/K!)

**Smittro** · 10-01-2011, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by Too Fast

Lookin' good Jeff, now get that at least .6 out of her! I've always loved the way these SSs looked. (and it's RWD, Smittro. J/K!)

Haha I know I was refering to trying an FWD rebuild myself once..lmao never got off the bench, way above my pay grade..

**1fastcamarosss11** · 10-03-2011, 05:33 AM

i told you my best was 15.8 at 87 in my 87 monte aero ss. had a 2400 stall and a straight pipe in place of cats. like you said the car jumps out of the whole then just dies. it pulls pulls then drags.

good luck and have fun with it. if you want some headers let me know.

good for a tenth or 2 i'm sure.

**2ManySS's** · 10-03-2011, 03:07 PM

Jeff, Very nice car you have there.
Just reading through the post and did you ever buy a center console cover?? Didn't see the answer to it because I do have a repro one in Maroon I believe in the garage I could do for shipping.

By the way we also have one we were going to stay stock on but after seeing how many are in stock trim and the amount of very low miles one, well.

**pajeff02** · 10-03-2011, 04:18 PM

^^ Very sharp!

I found Mike's Montes at Fall Carlisle and purchased a center console lid and hood insulation for our car. The replacement lids do not have a provision for a spring and are a solid material rather than the foam filled vinyl. Still looks better than the curled up stock cover, so I can live with it.

**pajeff02** · 10-23-2011, 06:19 PM

Monte ran a new best of 16.1 this weekend at the track.

**Firebirdjones** · 10-23-2011, 07:07 PM

It's got a 15 in it

Don't give up.

**pajeff02** · 06-14-2012, 06:45 PM

Been driving the Monte a bit on weekends lately. Being hot and muggy, the lack of functional AC is a minor issue that I may take a look at. What all is involved in swapping stuff out to run R134A in place of R12?

**Firebirdjones** · 06-14-2012, 06:59 PM

Since we are talking 84 it's a piece of cake. This should be the more desirable accumulator/dryer setup with a pressure switch.

I completely flush the AC components to make sure to remove all the old mineral oil (not 134 compatable). While I have the components apart I replace all the old 0-rings with new neoprine (I think they are called) 134 compatable 0-rings.

I also replace the accumulator/dryer setup with a new one for a couple reasons. You can't flush it, and once the system has been opened it's been introduced to atmosphere (moisture) so I'm told. Cheap to replace so I just do it. Install your new quick disconnect R134 fittings and then you are ready.

Suck it down with a vacuum pump for about 45 minutes and then shoot the proper amount of PAG 134 oil in along with the proper amount of 134 freon.

I also like to by a bottle of PAG oil that I can poor, and poor a little into the compressor (after it's been sitting overnight to drain) and I poor a little into the evap as well.

For flushing I use non chlorinated brake cleaner and compressed air to force all the oil out of the nooks and crannies. Especially that evap since it's a pain to remove (I flush it while it's still in the car) and hook hoses to it to direct the oil somewhere so it doesn't make a mess

You can do the condensor the same way so you don't have to remove that either. All the other stuff is easily removed.

**Smittro** · 06-14-2012, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by Firebirdjones

It's got a 15 in it

Don't give up.

Only if it magicly turned into a gen-1 Z34..

The car is just too heavy and it's 305 v8 is about 60hp crank down from alittle 207cid LQ1 which replaced it.

It would also never survive spin ups to 7000 rpm stock either like the LQ1 can all day..lol

Toss a 3800 in it and you'd get down to high 14's low 15's..

The 305 was inadequite for just about everything it ever got put into.. imho