My "New" car, 79 Monza HB

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My "New" car, 79 Monza HB

Postby 77nighthawk » Thu Sep 24, 2015 10:35 pm

Ok, some months back, while on the prowl for parts for the nighthawk, I was contacted by whosonfirst, and he shot me a price for his 79 that I couldn't refuse. The car was located a couple hundred miles away, so I loaded up the truck and trailer and headed out on a rescue mission to Texas. A few hours, and a lot of flooded ditches later, I met up with him, and he took me to the car. He showed me the car, which had been stored in his garage for the last 25 years, and I had to have it. I paid him what he was asking for it, loaded it up on the trailer, shook his hand, and said thank you very much. I jumped back in my truck and headed home to Kansas. The next morning, I took these pics, before I unloaded it.

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I made a hole in the garage, unloaded the car, and tucked it in next to the nighthawk, and my tractors.

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I was going to part the car out, but after looking the car over, and no rust what-so-ever found, I decided to put it back on the road, bigger, badder, and better than ever. :D :lol:
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Re: My "New" car, 79 Monza HB

Postby johnk » Thu Sep 24, 2015 11:04 pm

:th: :lol: I like bigger and badder LOL
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Re: My "New" car, 79 Monza HB

Postby 77nighthawk » Thu Sep 24, 2015 11:22 pm

About a month ago, I had acquired enough parts to get started on the engine. The block was checked, cleaned, and bored. I degreased the block, checked it over real good, and shot my color-of-choice on it.

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Then I installed new freeze plugs and cam bearings.

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I looked online at oil pans, but didn't want to spend $300.00 on one, so I found probably the worst looking oil pan in my garage, and did the cut-and-weld option, as per the measurements on bob's site. I took the pan to work, and did the required modification. Once complete, I took it back home, where I primed and painted it.

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If it don't scare me, I don't want it.

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Re: My "New" car, 79 Monza HB

Postby 77nighthawk » Thu Sep 24, 2015 11:27 pm

more pics

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Re: My "New" car, 79 Monza HB

Postby 77nighthawk » Thu Sep 24, 2015 11:30 pm

and more pics

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Re: My "New" car, 79 Monza HB

Postby 77nighthawk » Fri Sep 25, 2015 1:28 pm

This update should bring everything up-to-date. Installed the cam, and new crankshaft. Plasti-gauged the bearings and made sure clearances were good. Installed the billet double row true roller timing chain, and cam button. Will have to degree cam in later when engine is more together. Hoping this weekend to fit the rings and install rods and pistons, install oil pump and pickup, clearance the timing cover and install, and install oil filter adapter and filter.

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And yeah, I like bigger and badder as well. :D It should make a few people look on cruise nights. :shock:
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Re: My "New" car, 79 Monza HB

Postby 77nighthawk » Sun Sep 27, 2015 7:14 pm

Well, I didn't get everything I was wanting to get done on the engine. Spent all day Saturday doing honey-do's. :( All I got done was I installed the oil filter and adaptor, and clearanced the timing cover for the cam button. Maybe this week I'll get the rods and pistons in it.

Brad
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Re: My "New" car, 79 Monza HB

Postby zeke » Tue Sep 29, 2015 3:16 pm

Looking good, nice work on the pan. 8)
Chris

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Re: My "New" car, 79 Monza HB

Postby 77nighthawk » Tue Sep 29, 2015 10:17 pm

Hey Chris, thanks for the complement. :D I'm hoping to get the engine buttoned up in 2 to 3 weeks, then I'll get started on building the tranny. I'll post pics on the tranny build as well, for those that would like to see it. I still have quite a bit to do on the engine though, have to set the heads up for the .613 lift solid roller cam, get the pushrods, flywheel, ignition system, fuel pump and regulator, make and install subframe connectors, exhaust, etc.... I'm hoping to get the car on the road by spring, but that may be wishful thinking.

Brad
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Re: My "New" car, 79 Monza HB

Postby 77nighthawk » Thu Oct 01, 2015 10:52 pm

Ok, I haven't got around to the rods and pistons yet, but I did manage to finish building the carb. I still have to cut the air cleaner stud off to length.

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I've also been mocking up the top end on another block to check everything out. Will have to start making brackets soon.

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That's it for the update for now.

Brad
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Re: My "New" car, 79 Monza HB

Postby 77nighthawk » Sat Oct 03, 2015 8:17 pm

Ok, had to work till noon today, but when I got home I got to work on filing rings, plasti-gauging bearing, and installing the rods and pistons. :D Managed to get them all installed. Still have to install oil pump and pickup to finish bottom end, maybe tomorrow, if I can find the oil pump shaft.

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If it don't scare me, I don't want it.

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1979 Monza hb
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Re: My "New" car, 79 Monza HB

Postby Monza Harry » Sat Oct 03, 2015 10:47 pm

I see those pistons and I think of Puma Pete. Harry https://ca.video.search.yahoo.com/searc ... syc_oracle Whole Lotta Lumps :lol: :roll: lmao :haha:
I'm not a hoarder I'm a preservationist 78 Monza Spyder (~Soon(ish +/- I guess) To Be 2+2 with Spoilers)
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Re: My "New" car, 79 Monza HB

Postby 77nighthawk » Sun Oct 04, 2015 4:08 pm

I remember that toon! Good one! I was originally going to build a 383 stroker, with 14:1 compression pistons, but decided to scale back so I could drive it on the street, with maybe an occasional trip to the track for fun. When to car is together, I'm going to take it to the chassis dyno, and see what she does. Anyone want to start a pool on how long the stock rearend will hold up? If so, I have dibs on leaving the garage on the maiden voyage. :lol:

After hunting around in the garage for about an hour, I finally found the oil pump drive shaft, and installed the oil pump and pickup tube. Hey Harry, if you look at the last picture, the engine looks kinda like a porcupine. :D

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As soon as I get my degree wheel back from my friend, I'll degree the cam in. Now it's on to setting the heads up for this cam.

Brad
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Re: My "New" car, 79 Monza HB

Postby 77nighthawk » Thu Oct 08, 2015 7:40 pm

Ok, went out to the garage Monday after work, and checked the install height that the heads were at. I didn't seat the locks before I took the pic, but after I seated the locks, the height checked out to be 1.8 in.

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I had already bought new retainers and locks, as per comp cams recommendations, to "match" the springs and cam, so I checked what the install height was with the new set up. It also came out to 1.8 in. pic is before seating again.

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I then went inside and called comp cams, because for some reason or another, they didn't feel the need to print the install height for their recommended springs, on the cam card. I talked to a guy, at comp cams, and informed him what my cam part number, and spring part numbers were, and asked him what my install height needed to be. After talking back and forth for a little while, he finally told me that the install height was 1.85 to 1.855 in. Knowing I had to gain about .050 in, I ordered some +.050 locks, to raise the retainers the required amount. The new locks arrived yesterday, so after work tonight, I went out to the garage and checked the install height, with the new locks. I seated the locks in this picture.

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I'm going to call this a win, the measurement is roughly 1.851 in. I know what I'm going to be doing this weekend.

Brad
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1979 Monza hb
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Re: My "New" car, 79 Monza HB

Postby 77nighthawk » Sat Oct 10, 2015 6:36 pm

Time for an update, went out and finished setting up the heads and degreeing the cam. With the help of my master technician, we were able to get the heads installed. The 4th pic is my master tech installing the washers and nuts on the head studs. We still have to get pushrods and rocker arms, and install the balancer, lifters, and such. The last pic is just everything setting on the motor so I could see how it was going to look, and the master tech was also curious. Everyone have a good weekend, Brad.

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