My names Nick, I’m 17 n' live in New Jersey. I’m currently building my 1st ever project car n' here she is... my 1986 Chevy Monte Carlo LS/SS. I’m starting out with the LG4 (low output 305ci). Came completely stock but with 416 heads (1.84/1.50 valves). The motor is backed by a 2004R trans. following through to a stock non-posi 7.5 rear with 2.41 gears n’ looks like 2-1/4 single exhaust (stock mufflers n’ cats).
I have a little bit of body work to do but nothing too big (2 door skins n' some new weather stripping should do the trick). Under the hood I have a few questions on some random wiring layin around, that just needs a good clean up.
Car runs like hell but what’s to expect from a 22 year old car that has been sitting for the past 2 years. First order of business is to get her running right. We spent hours changing all gaskets, fluids, valve covers, n’ replaced the stock 450cfm manual coke carb n' the old heavy intake with an Edelbrock RPM Air-Gap Intake n’ 650cfm electric choke Edelbrock carb. Car goes to get the exhaust system done soon as well. Plan is put the full length Dynomax headers I bought from summit, leading back to 2-1/2” exhaust with an X-pipe in the middle then series 40’s by Flowmasters, my cousin suggested I get an 18mm bung welded in after the X-pipe so that is on my list too.
Aug. 7th : Went to the track for the first time ever, I ran a 16.38 @ 83mph. Gonna go back eventually b/c ever since i started working there i don't get to go for fun. i will be updating w/ hopefully a time in the mid 15's.
Got the car back the other day… seems Larry n’ Bill the mechanics over at A-1 in West Berlin, NJ don’t know how to measure or weld. What I’m stuck w/ is 2-1/4” with shorty f-body headers, shitty welds n’ no bung. My G-BODY headers he couldn’t get in for some reason.
Nov. 21st : so went to the track n' at 1st having a really hard time hooking n' ending up w/ passes in the 16, 17, even 18 second range. After trying different things here n' there my cousin n' I got her running an impressive 15.57 @ 92mph!!! Could not have done it w/o em. We froze our asses off all night n' just when i was about to call it quits he kept me goin n' made it happen. Left that night crushing our previous track times by almost a 10mph increase n' dropping 81 hundredths of a second. i could not be any more satisfied w/ the out come. Not bad for having a 2.41 open rear
Note- bogging on the line was a problem
-Update- Somewhere in between these dates: bogging on the line was a problem last time we were at the track so we swapped out the sock fuel pump n' replaced it with a Carter mechanical fuel pump. Worked pretty well on the street so we'll see how it holds up at the track.
Dec. 28th : Got new rear tires for Christmas n' they look great on her. Went to NTB where Tom set me up w/ some beautiful BF Goodrich 235/60R15 Radial T/A's. Haven’t smoked em up yet but waiting for my posi (winter project goal). Tomorrow after helping out my pop-pop paint his garage I’m gonna head over to pep boys with my gift cards n' get a tach.
April 19th: went up to Englishtown for a swap meet n' saw a lotta good stuff. Was aiming for a rear and/or mini starter. At the end of the day i couldn't find 1 in my price range but Mike n' Andrew didn't give up on me. we went to a near by library and hit up craigslist... called a few people up n' arranged to meet up. 300bucks later i was sittin on a pretty built up rear. As close to new as possible... Richmond 3.73 gears, rebuild kit, n' new pinion seal. Carrier is in very good shape same as the bushings. We threw it all in that day n' even had time to break em in a little too.
May 31st: I went up to the track the other night looking to make at least 1 pass but lanes had been closed early. Made it my goal to run the car next Friday (the 5th). it's been over 6 months now since I last raced the car n' it's long over due. I've continued my build by adding a tach, fuel pump, posi rear w/ 3.73's, roller rockers, ignition timing issue resolved, n' BF Goodrich Radial's. I really hope to make my way into the 14's. 14.7 would be nice w/ all the goodies we've thrown in. Updates will be on as soon as i get home on Friday so be ready!
-Update- June 2nd: timeslips for the night weren't exactly what i wanted em to be but did get to tune the car up a bit. Best time of the night was a 15.45 @ 88.62mph. i did have a little valve spring float going into 3rd at 5200rpm so that definitely set me back a whole lot. But off the line i had my best 60' of 2.247. i think if i would have shifted it right i would have made at least a 15.2 pass.
-Update- June 17th: got rid of those old springs n' threw in COMP Cams 981-16 springs. Took it for a spin n' man do they make a huge difference. Shifted at 5200 n' they didn't even flinch. While everything was being pulled we noticed some of the valve seals weren't in the best shape but I’ll take care of it.
-Update- July 10th: Spent my 18th b-day w/ Mike n' Andrew replacing all my valve stem seals. Knocked out a lot of the random wiring that was just floating around.
-Update- July 11th: ok so most of you don't know the encounter i had w/ the exhaust guy who ruined my system but anyway... Mike n' I took out the mid-length f-body headers he put in n' replaced em w/ full length Dynomax G-BODY headers. Joe was a great help by letting us use his lift at his house n' getting in there when we really needed em.
NEW CAM is finally in. i went w/ the Lunati Voodoo 60102LK (lifters included) Hydraulic flat tappet. 219/227 duration @ .050, Valve Lift: .468/.489. 112 LSA. while everything was out the stock timing set was swapped w/ a Zoom double roller chain n' Lunati pushrods were also added in. front tires needed to be tossed so i went w/ a set of Goodyear 205/65/15 Eagle GT's from Tire Rack. - - Plan on getting a new water pump too so that'll be coming soon
-Update- July 14th : made it to the track for a few passes. ran a best 60 foot of 2.19 n' a 1/4mile of 15.274! Needs more tuning n' the usual summer time DA didn't help out much but it was still alright (1375) for being July.
-Update- put in a mini starter unaware it had to be shimmed. costly mistake. had to replace the starter n' flexplate so while we were in there diggin it out the old torque converter joined the pile. just went with a higher stall rated TC 22-2400.
-Update- Oct. 20th : did a little racin today, ran a best ever 14.92 @ 91.5 mph. surprised b/c I was having a bad misfire so I know if I take care of that I’ll be running much better.
Went out today. Picked up new Accel plugs n’ wires. Hopefully this puts an end to my little problem
Nov. 8th : went back to the track. Plugs n’ wires helped on the street but for some reason the car feels funny on quick accelerations. Ran a 15.11 for the night. Came home disappointed.
Dec 10th : put in new Accel distributor. Really liked how it ran but car is knocking now. Tried a few things n’ gave it a listen under the oil pan… sounds like the source of my knock. Come to the conclusion I have spun a bearing. Not happy about this at all but look at it as a chance to upgrade! Mike, Andy n’ I made a few phone calls. Go tomorrow to check out a 350
Just got back from checkin out the 350. looks good, 993 heads (1.94/1.50), dish pistons in pretty good shape, 010 chevy block, came with a few miss. parts too. Grabbed it up for 300bucks.
