Page 1 of 3

1980 Monza Town Coupe

PostPosted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 2:51 pm
by Diesel Dan
Started working on my 1980 Monza T/C, slowly....

Engine/trans is out.
Have a donor car for a powertrain but that doesn't mean I'm gonna use it, plans always change.

Told the wife someday I'd like to do a rotisserie build but for now I'll just clean things as I go and hopefully drive it this summer.
m1.jpg


Removed the battery tray and cleaning up the metal under it while I'm here.
m3.jpg

Re: 1980 Monza Town Coupe

PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 10:56 am
by Diesel Dan
Engine compartment cleaned and coated with satin black chassis paint.
Image

Working on the underbody right now. So far all the metal is solid and just surface scale. Going to coat with some rust encapsulator paint.

Image

Re: 1980 Monza Town Coupe

PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 2:11 pm
by zeke
Engine bay looks good Dan. :th:

Re: 1980 Monza Town Coupe

PostPosted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 12:00 am
by Diesel Dan
zeke wrote:Engine bay looks good Dan. :th:

Thanks, while not show quality at least it will be presentable now.

Thinking about a plastic battery tray from a newer style car.
Something that bolts into place and can be easily removed for cleaning.

Re: 1980 Monza Town Coupe

PostPosted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 9:52 pm
by gerbsinmd
I have a battery tray from a 2002 GMC pickup that bolt in pretty well.

Re: 1980 Monza Town Coupe

PostPosted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 12:06 am
by Diesel Dan
Project came to some what of a halt.
Ended up selling the donor car, 1998 Camaro with 3800/4L60E.
It was truly rust free and too nice to cut up.

Currently looking at some other "unusual" powertrains.

Re: 1980 Monza Town Coupe

PostPosted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 10:49 pm
by Diesel Dan
Back to working on the car some more.
Sale of the Camaro fell through so dismantling proceeds.
camaro.jpg

Re: 1980 Monza Town Coupe

PostPosted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 12:06 am
by ponchonuty
Now that's a good use for a Camaro! LOL Looking good!

Re: 1980 Monza Town Coupe

PostPosted: Fri Mar 06, 2015 12:54 pm
by Diesel Dan
Test fitting to see what fits and what hits.
What F-body parts don't fit:
-motor mounts
-exhaust manifolds
-a/c compressor and mounts
0306151140-01.jpg


Making new motor mounts.
Used some 3/8" CR flat stock for the base and some dorman 722-006 spring shackles for a rubber mount in shear.
0306151140-00.jpg

Re: 1980 Monza Town Coupe

PostPosted: Sat Mar 07, 2015 6:47 pm
by vegastre
Good Job

It will fit, just takes a whole lot of measuring and a bit of fab work.

Keep us updated =)

Re: 1980 Monza Town Coupe

PostPosted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 11:10 am
by NixVegaGT
Holy clean car! Nice find. I like the idea of using that v6. That's a solid choice. Only 392lbs fully dressed, and short in both directions. 205 hp naturally aspirated. Cool.

Re: 1980 Monza Town Coupe

PostPosted: Thu Mar 12, 2015 11:42 am
by Diesel Dan
Decided to open up the 4L60E and freshen it up since the fluid was burned.
No major failures, couple of mildly dark clutches and probably a smoked T/C.
Going to replace the sun shell while I'm there too.
trans.jpg


Bonus is I will be able to use an empty trans case for mock up which will be much lighter.
Down side is more time.

Re: 1980 Monza Town Coupe

PostPosted: Tue Mar 17, 2015 12:29 pm
by Diesel Dan
transtunnel.jpeg

Re: 1980 Monza Town Coupe

PostPosted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 12:29 pm
by Diesel Dan
Motor mounts are burned into place.
Was able to reuse the factory frame plates so I had to shorten the shackle mounts, rubber bushings pressed in/out very easy.
engine3.jpeg


Pic of the RH mount:
rh mount.jpeg


Pic of LH mount:
LH mount.jpeg


Have only 3.5" of clearance to radiator for air inlet to the throttle body.
This is where a '99-02 3800 with drive by wire would give several more inches of clearance.
TB.jpeg


Still have a little clean up on the welds and brackets before paint.
Next off to the trans mount so the power train can sit on its own while I make some exhaust manifolds.

Re: 1980 Monza Town Coupe

PostPosted: Thu Apr 23, 2015 1:27 pm
by Diesel Dan
Shipment of parts for the exhaust manifolds came in today.
Flanges for 1.5" primaries, 180* tight radius u-bends and 1.5-2.0" reducers. Thanks to west coast Fiero.
headers.jpeg




Going to (try) and make some "log" style manifolds with a 2.0" main.
Something along the lines of this LH manifold but with a 45* turndown for a crossover.
turbo_3800_left_500.jpg


Progress slowing down, everything else getting in the way right now.