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New to site, recent 79 Monza Spyder purchase

PostPosted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 10:16 pm
by mdwracer
I just bought a 1979 Monza Spyder hatchback from the estate of the deceased original owner , white in color- with mostly original paint and all graphics, and 33,000 original miles on it. It is totally stock , except for an Autopower rollbar installation and some SCCA tracktime in showroom stock class from long ago. It is an amazing find and is very solid in my opinion from over 25 years of storage!!!
First questions:
Where do the bodies seem to rust and where do they need to me improved when restored?
Are brake upgrades common, where can you source parts?
What is done to upgrade rear Diff, what is my stock ratio ? What manual trans do I have and how strong are they?
Can I find an aftermarket rear spoiler and front spoiler in fiberglass mine are warped?
Who has reproduction taillights?
Thanks, this is the first of many questions on my project....
Mike W

Re: New to site, recent 79 Monza Spyder purchase

PostPosted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 10:53 pm
by cosworth0135
no one will respond to your questions without pictures first Mike,, just razzing you , but some pics will be liked by all , your first stop needs to be the FAQ in the library on the sites home page many of your questions will be answered there then feel free to ask any remaining questions here in the forum, and we as a group will give out the best answer possible, as far as re-pop parts for us ,, uh ,,, nope, but you can find tail lights on ebay and craigs list, rust spots , front of lower control arm in rear and drivers floor pan seem to be hot spots and on vegas under windshield someone else will put more , but welcome to the bestest hbody place on the whole internet.. TImmy

Re: New to site, recent 79 Monza Spyder purchase

PostPosted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 11:19 pm
by Kenova
mdwracer wrote:I just bought a 1979 Monza Spyder hatchback from the estate of the deceased original owner , white in color- with mostly original paint and all graphics, and 33,000 original miles on it. It is totally stock , except for an Autopower rollbar installation and some SCCA tracktime in showroom stock class from long ago. It is an amazing find and is very solid in my opinion from over 25 years of storage!!!
Mike W


It wouldn't surprise me if your Monza already has a few tricks done to it. A very carefull inspection is recommended.

Ken

Re: New to site, recent 79 Monza Spyder purchase

PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 12:39 am
by marco_1978_spyder
Hello, and welcome to the forum.

Is that spyder from NY? There recently was a white 79 for sale around here..

If yours is a 4speed its a saginaw and will take some abuse... if it's a 5 speed, it's good for daily driving, but unfortunately any serious power will render it useless...

Best of luck.

Re: New to site, recent 79 Monza Spyder purchase

PostPosted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 11:22 pm
by mahoy78spyder
Pics!... Need pics!... :lol:

Hey welcome to the club... you're in the right place.

Re: New to site, recent 79 Monza Spyder purchase

PostPosted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 10:23 pm
by mdwracer
Here is a picture to view:

Re: New to site, recent 79 Monza Spyder purchase

PostPosted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 10:31 pm
by mdwracer
Here is a second picture:
photo[3].JPG

Re: New to site, recent 79 Monza Spyder purchase

PostPosted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 10:42 pm
by mdwracer
The car is extremely solid and straight, has 33k original miles, although pretty rough in appearance. The interior is very good and mold free. The car is very original down to the exhaust converter, all engine mechanicals,seats,brakes,guages, etc. Wheels have been changed for sure, but unaware of what wheels should be. It has a bolt in Autopower rollbar (not cage), and was raced in a few SCCA showroom stock class races.
I am open to suggestions on how car should be put back on road: as race car, or as original steet car with roll bar, Thoughts...

Re: New to site, recent 79 Monza Spyder purchase

PostPosted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 10:52 pm
by cjbiagi
Looks like a decent car to start with. As to what to do with it that is really a decision you should make, it's your car. Some people like to keep them stock while others like myself prefer a more modified car, just depends on the individual. Or, you could keep its' heritage and build it as a SCCA replica for something truly different (as though these cars aren't different enough). :lol:

Re: New to site, recent 79 Monza Spyder purchase

PostPosted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 11:53 pm
by cosworth0135
can't say i have ever been sold on a bolt in roll bar, weld in a real one if your going to keep one (just my opinion),Timmy

Re: New to site, recent 79 Monza Spyder purchase

PostPosted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 3:36 am
by Nocash
Restomod!

Re: New to site, recent 79 Monza Spyder purchase

PostPosted: Mon Apr 23, 2012 8:22 am
by marco_1978_spyder
Thats a REALLY cool spyder.

I like that it's so well preserved..that is getting super scarce... I'd be hard pressed to change thet original stuff if it still functioned correctly..but thats just me. If you do change stuff, the parts might be wanted by others with lower mileage models.

I like how it's SCCA prepped too... That was my favorite thing to do with my red spyder, and I competed with it for a season or 2 in the mid 90's. Mine however didn't get the extra event stickers like yours which I think look's super cool on the car. These cars always did well in SCCA classes. If I found your car, I'd be bringing it back to nice, just as it is.

The factory wheels would have been Steel "RallyII" rims, or Aluminum "Round Hole" rims... These were called 'mirage' wheels sometimes see them here...

http://monza.homestead.com/wheels.html

Let us know if you find a buildsheet... 79's didn't use the plastic seat backing like the earlier models which hid a sheet there. Should be one (or more) under the carpet, in the foot wells, at 33k miles it could still be intact..

Re: New to site, recent 79 Monza Spyder purchase

PostPosted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 4:43 pm
by mdwracer
I am starting to look for parts to restore this car. I am going to get all the pieces for the outside, prefit, then full disassemble car and have the unibody blasted, bodywork done, primed, and repainted factory white, with all original style decals.
Here is my list list so far:
1) front and rear bumper assembly , original or a good fiberglass reproduction available? used core support for radiator mounting also needed.
2) front and rear spoilers -fiberglass available?
Mike

Re: New to site, recent 79 Monza Spyder purchase

PostPosted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 5:05 pm
by Brian
mdwracer wrote:2) front and rear spoilers -fiberglass available?


Rear spoiler on eBay.

All three pieces, primed and ready to go.

Re: New to site, recent 79 Monza Spyder purchase

PostPosted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 8:31 pm
by cjbiagi
There is really nothing available any longer in fiberglass. Dobi used to make some but they have been out of business (at least H body's) for a long, long time. All that's really available are used ones and it's not easy to find one that is in decent condition. The one I have listed is one of the nicest you are likely to find.