Update 9/17/09

Have been driving her all over the place. Been to Charlotte, Winston Salem and Raleigh.  Put over 6K miles on since late fall 08.  Have done lots of tinkering on the carb and distributor.  Most major project was to pull engine in the spring and replace pan gasket witha 1 piece.  I love it! Repainted the block and engine mounts.

Last week I decided to redo most of the front suspension.  Pulled the upper/lower arms off and re-bushed all and replaced the original springs with stock aftermarkets.  no more squeak in the lowers.

Will eventually upload pics of both projects.

Plan to replace the 3.08 gear with a 3.42 before end of fall.  That should wake up the 383 stroker!!

Update 10/11/08

Finally getting somewhere.  Been fighting brake problems for about 6 weeks.  This kept me from taking it out on the road. It's finally resolved and have been going on some short trips, coming back to make adjustments etc... The only thing left  to do is to get front end aligned, re-buff paint,install the new windshield,l some more chrome, hood, and a hundred other little nagging items, tune the carb, timing etc.  Runs rough right now.

Update 3/31/08
While waiting for painter to finish I've been working on the interior. Finished upholstery, except for the drivers side head rest. Installed all the new chrome bling. Finally took the leap and painted (vinyl dyed) all the plastic pieces (ie: console, seat shells, dash, arm rest bases, kick panels, and dash pad)
Update 3/3/08
Mocked up the interior {less one completed bucket seat). She is getting there!!
Update 2/20/08
I tried my hand at upholstery and am pleased with the results. Still need to re-dye the shell and side pieces and buy the chrome trim strips and seat back button assy.
My painter was applying the epoxy primer to the body today. There is a lot of blocking required to get her ready!! I was surprised that I could actually see the metal striations from the factory. Having decided to get her painted with PPG #9935 metallic black, the black primer gives me a glimpse of the final product.
Update 2/7/08
Visited the painter today and he was working on my car!!! Before he begins blocking it, he has lightly sanded, cleaned, and applying epoxy primer as his base coat. Then will apply 2 coats of urethane primer and block. He says epoxy primer is hard to block out. See the pics, it's a black primer.
Got my driveshaft and muffler clamps back from the powdercoater today. Look awesome!!
Update 2/2/08
While patiently waiting for the painter, Here is the latest:
-Removed upper control arm bushings in rear end. Will be installing poly bushings.
-Installed new fuel, vapor, brake lines along frame
-Installed new front tires and wheels 15x8 245-60/15
-Dressed up a few engine items-new Edelbrock oil filler cap,shorty plug for #5 cylinder and insulating boot for same.
-Finished welding, straightening and mudding bottom edge of fenders. I am really pleased how well they turned out considering how dis-interested I am in body work. I know the fundamentals and have the equipment, just don't enjoy it so much.
-Called my powdercoater today and will be getting shifter brackets, 2 1/2 pipe clamps, yoke, driveshaft end of next week. Getting all of them coated in clear.
Update 1/19/08
Today is the big day!! 11 months after getting my rust free shell from Leo, she is off to the painter. She needs to be blocked out and then painted. Still have not decided what color. Either original code 48 green, pearl black or black with green to make for a very dark color with a green tint.
Update 01/06/08
Yesterday adjusted timing to 13 btdc, adjusted carb, installed Edelbrock frame stiffeners
Update 12/30/07
Today I dropped the body back onto the temporary frame after having it separated by 6x6's for the last few months. One more step toward getting her ready for paint this month. Will make the swap to the restored frame after paint.
Update 12/07/07
Ran into a great deal on a new (used) T-350 tranny. With my new 383 stroker crate motor, completely rebuilt 12 bolt with 3.73 and new Eaton Posi, the tranny was the only untouched driveline component. A friend is pulling his T-350 out of his 72 Nova to put in a 4 speed. It only has about 5-6 1/4 mile runs and a few thousand miles. It's an ATI, with a 2800 stall converter, deep alum pan, and the strongest shift kit it could come with. I expect to be able to catch 2nd and 3rd. I will post some pics soon.
Update 11/15/07
Finally installed my dynomax ultra flo's, x pipe, Hedman coated headers, and flowmaster pipes. Started her up last night. I was really surprised how quiet it is. Really does not seem much louder than old standard duals with cast exhaust manifolds. I will still need to work on timing and carb adjustments.

My Monte has been in the family since the summer of 1980. She got me through college and then I lent her for a year or so to my sister Julie while she was in High School. She was really cool with the wide tires and slotted aluminum rims (they are long since gone). She was restored in 1992 when I took a body repair class through a local comm. coll. However, without a garage (at the time) she rusted out again and got dumped into our new garage for the next 10 years. Countless vain attempts to get motivated resulted in a torn apart hunk of junk. In Oct 2006, a passing conversation with a friend while attending The Richmond Va NHRA national event (as a spectator-for now!)spurred me into reconsidering the project. As you may notice, there are 2 Monte's in some pics. After closely evaluating time and cost parameters, the old body was too far gone to save. I picked up a rust free body in Feb 2007 and I was off to the races...Here is the beginning of her re-birth. To be continued...
The 1st day of the project. Not a bolt has been turned. What am I getting myself into. You'll never begin to imagine!!