Your ideal Chevy Lineup...

[Sixty8]

Originally Posted by knightfan26917

He he he....I know about losing out on cars...and having them haunt you by being around your area. Ah, well....you still could buy an "old school" Monte Carlo...they are available .

I'm gald we are usually on the same frequency about RWD, old school muscle and pushrods.

There's a 1971 black on black numbers matching 454 M/C up in Salisbury Beach (N.H.) it used to have a for sale sign on it but the guy wanted $11,000 for it and there's some major cancer under the rockers and rear quarters. I've peeked at the undercarrige and frame. The years of Saltwater air was NOT kind on to car. I still drool everytime I drive by it though.

*sigh* someday....

This Burgundy 1970 SS454 is pretty sweet too!

[montecarlolsus]

Its too bad they didnt know about rust preventive stuff the way they do now. But thats how it goes. I like the old school stuff too. I wouldnt have the Bonneville if I didnt , Always liked my old B-bodies. But I also like the new stuff. And I am not bothered by FWD. Sure it is different than RWD but I got used to it rather quickly. If I had to get an older Monte Carlo I would look for a 1978-80. Sure the engine choices werent tops in those years but you can easily replace whats there with a nice 350 or a 400 small block. In fact I almost did get one but then an Impala came along with low miles and of course my B-body liking took over.

[knightfan26917]

Originally Posted by Sixty8

I'm gald we are usually on the same frequency about RWD, old school muscle and pushrods.

Me, too!

Originally Posted by Sixty8

There's a 1971 black on black numbers matching 454 M/C up in Salisbury Beach (N.H.) it used to have a for sale sign on it but the guy wanted $11,000 for it and there's some major cancer under the rockers and rear quarters.

$11K with major cancer? Good night shirt tail. Course, it is a numbers matching...and since it has the 454, that'd be an SS. But, still....

Originally Posted by Sixty8

This Burgundy 1970 SS454 is pretty sweet too!

Oh hecka yes .

Originally Posted by montecarlolsus

If I had to get an older Monte Carlo I would look for a 1978-80. Sure the engine choices werent tops in those years but you can easily replace whats there with a nice 350 or a 400 small block.

Absolutely! In fact, my '79 has a 350 in it...replaced the original 267 V7, er 8 .

[montecarlolsus]

My Dad did that with a 1978 Impala when the camshaft wore down on the 305. Found a 350 and what a difference it made for performance. And it didnt use any more gas. The 305 wasnt GM's best. I am kind of glad my Bonneville has the Olds 307 even though it isnt as performance friendly. The 305 in Dads 1985 Caprice is better though it has bad valve seals which every 305 that we ever owned had that issue. My Dad treats that Caprice the same way Knightfan treats his Monte Carlo's. Perfectly clean inside and out not a speck of dirt on the inside. Heck other than a few little nicks it looks practiclly brand new.

[knightfan26917]

Originally Posted by montecarlolsus

My Dad treats that Caprice the same way Knightfan treats his Monte Carlo's. Perfectly clean inside and out not a spexk of dirt on the inside. Heck other than a few little nicks it looks practiclly brand new.

LOL! That's awesome!

Tho, I must confess that my '87 MC LS (the best of the bunch) is a wee bit dirty with the snow/salt "issues" right now. But, that should be remedied later this week when the temps get above freezing for a bit .

As for the '79's 350...as I eluded to, the original 267 was actually a V7....the #1 cylinder was not compression. It was that way for 4 years before I had the engine replaced when I was in Nashville TN in 1996.... Had I not driven it down there amongst the "hillier" terrain, it might've lasted a while longer since the only time it felt "off" was at idle. Otherwise, highway speeds were just fine .

[montecarlolsus]

Oh well. The 350 is better than the 267 or 305 ever could be. You are way better off replacing the 267 with the 350. Although it costs quite a bit for a good engine (Or transmission in the Bonneville) these days. I just washed the Monte Carlo Saturday too because I couldnt look at it anymore. I have to do the inside so the mats are black instead of white. Not much freetime though with the overtime at work. I shouls send you some pics of Dads Caprice. Inside and out. He also replaced the transmission on his. The underhood of his Caprice is the same way your 87 Monte Carlo is. The air cleaner shines and all the origional engine paint is still there. But him too he likes his new Impala for the winter months.

[montecarlolsus]

Almost forgot. And even the 1978 Impala yes the rust was starting on the outside but the inside of that too was showroom when he sold it. My dad and I are VERY big on interior shape. We can handle a nick or two outside but the interior should look as close to new as possible. And it should be capable of a long road trip.

[member12]

Aveo- as is, with more fuel efficient engine. 9999-12500

Cobalt- as is, with more power and fuel efficiency from base 2.2L. $13000-19000

Malibu- redesign front, change cloth seats to something that looks better. 2.4L 180hp, 3.5L 211hp. Set it up to go up directly with camry. 6 speed auto $15000-23000

Impala (chase down avalon buyers) I think the new one is a good car, but I hope that Chevrolet does move evenually to RWD and a 6 speed auto. I would suggest:3.9L V-6 240hp, 325 hp 5.3L V8. $22000-29000

Monte Carlo- zeta based with at least a 325hp V8 available priced up against the Mustang. Optional 400 hp engine. 6 speed manual, 6 speed auto. Put in the same engine as in the Suburban, there are huge modification options for that engine. $20000-25000

Equinox- not bad, but keep the quality problems down, and add the 3.5L from the Malibu/Impala along with the new 6 speed auto. Position the base Equinox to be the only AWD vehicle under 20000. Add an optional 3rd row. $19000-24000

Trailblazer- great engine, add 6 speed manual and a 6 speed auto to it. Give it some ground clearance, and market it as an off roader to go up directly against the 4runner. And please do something about the problems with this car. $24000-32000

Siverado/Tahoe/Suburban- GM usually does a great job with these. The new redesign should bring better off road capabilities, better on road handling, and more powerful engines with a 6 speed auto. Dont forget to put in a good interior. Lower the price slightly on the Tahoe/Suburban, to reduce the incentives. Make sure your quality is best in class. GM can't afford to have another bad launch on their cash cows, with newer competition from the Japanese.

Colorado- Good truck, but it should be able to haul at least as much as the Honda Ridgeline. Why the hell did GM develop the I-5? Damit, do this truck justice and drop in either a V-8 or the 4.2L 275hp Six.Perhaps a lower price is necessary to outsell the Taco. I am thinking of a starting price as is, but a fully loaded, maxed out crew cab to be no more than $27000. I think people who look at the colorado get sticker shock. (30k for a small truck??)

Uplander- built on the same platform as the Nox, but with a better exterior, best in class crash test, and a more powerful engine. I think a seating arrangement similar to Chrysler's would be a bonus. Gotta love that interior.

Corvette: As is.


That would leave GM with the following mainstream platforms:
1.Aveo: Aveo, Aveo hatchback(FWD)
2.Delta: Cobalt, Cobalt coupe(FWD)
3.Epsilon: Malibu, Malibu Maxx (FWD)
4.Theta: Nox, Uplander (FWD, AWD)
5.zeta: Monte Carlo, Impala (RWD)
6.GM 355: Colorado, Trailblazer (RWD, 4WD)
7.GM 900: Full sized SUVs, and Trucks (RWD, 4WD,)

copared to Toyota: (Celica and Spyder have been dropped)

1.Echo
2.Corrola, Rav 4
3.Camry, Highlander, Avalon
4. Sienna
5. Taco, 4runner
6. Tundra, Seq.

Wow, GM sure has a lot of confusing platforms. I think the easiest way to bring back the RWD Monte would be to build it on the Impala platform. Let the Impala be a powerful cruiser, such as the 300c, and let the Monte be the Muslecar.

[knightfan26917]

Originally Posted by montecarlolsus

I shouls send you some pics of Dads Caprice. Inside and out. He also replaced the transmission on his. The underhood of his Caprice is the same way your 87 Monte Carlo is. The air cleaner shines and all the origional engine paint is still there.

*nods*

Yes, you should . Just warn me before you do....or, throw 'em up on a website so I can view 'em from there .

*waits patiently*

[montecarlolsus]

You should have some of them.

[knightfan26917]

I did receive them...thank you . And, that Caprice does look great!

[montecarlolsus]

Dad does have the benefit of having a better paint job than mine. All origional too except the right front fender. Only thing he would like to do is find a different radio for it. That if you look at the pic has the combined radio/climate control system. The radio doesnt work very well anymore. My radio was much easier to replace being the fact mine was just by itself. He also could never get the A/C to work quite right on it. It is adequte but thats all. My Bonneville will freeze you out. The same person works on both as they need repairing. I will tell him you liked them. He likes to hear good comments about it. He takes a huge about of pride in it.

[knightfan26917]

...as well he should take a lot of pride in that car .

I am surprised about the A/C issues.... My '87 MC LS blows COLD...heh.

[montecarlolsus]

Its ok as long as you dont let it sit out in the sun for too long if it is really hot. That dark blue interior is a killer if you let it sit out too long in the sun. He uses the Impala if its really hot. Like I said, my Bonneville will freeze you out even after the conversion to R-134 after the new compressor was put in last year. Yes the origion R4 compressor in the 1981 Bonneville lasted until last spring. The guy has tried everything on his though it is better since he lubed the water valve. We think that may have been sticking open letting hot antifreeze in the heater core even with the temp control in cold. Since then it has been much better. Like I said my thing with the Bonneville was getting the f-----g carburetor to work properly. But it finally does.

[knightfan26917]

That's one thing several people have suggested I do...get the '87's AC converted. Maybe someday soon .

As for the dark blue interior...it is not as bad as black . And, I have a sunvisor for the windshield to help keep it cooler....