Back halfing my Monza

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Back halfing my Monza

Postby gm_fan » Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:49 pm

I have a super nice 1977 Monza that [even though I know no one believes it, including me till I got the car ] only has about 6500 actual miles on it..I have a fairly strong 355 sbc at around 400 horse in it and I am bored driving it on the street.What will it cost to have someone backhalf this car ? or would I be better off buying one and trying to get rid of this one..I have had it painted and restored it totally, and even has the factory a/c working. It seems a shame to cut up such a nice totally rust free car to play on the drag strip with. Or can I put enough tire under the car without casterating the body? I have been going to Music City Raceway in Nashville ,Tn . recently and have actually been watching a monza [actually 2 of them] running there. One is a 8.30 dial in and the other is a all out race car running in the mid 6 range. On an eighth mile track. I just was thinking what would be the best way to go, and even wanting to get an idea what My car would run with the engine and trans I currently have , and again trying to decide which way to go on the rear end set up,, any advise would be greatly appreciated..gm_fan
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Re: Back halfing my Monza

Postby Rickracer » Tue Sep 06, 2011 12:29 am

With the power you have, 7s are easily possible with bolt on goodies. If you really feel the need to backhalf and go wild, you can probably buy already done for a lot less than it will cost you to have yours done. You might even be able to trade yours (up or down, depending), for a nice back-halfed roller, 8)
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ASE Master Auto Technician, 36+ years
'76 Vega Notchback, Twin Turbo 355/TH350 (soon to be a Powerglide w/Brake), 4 link, Koni Coilovers, 3.50 geared 9" w/Spool & Moser Axles, drag only, best all motor 1/8 mile pass to date, 6.90@99mph, 6.57@107.0 on a 60 shot, Best 1/4, 9.66@139.78, still tuning...
Project Album: http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i4/Ri ... 20Begins/'
93 S10 RCSB, Hyd. Roller Vortec head 363 ci SBC, 2800stall lockup 700R4, LS Front Brakes, Narrowed F*rd Exploder 8.8 disc brake 3.73 posi rear, 8.0s@89 mph, (all motor, haven't sprayed it yet...)and tows the Vega to the track too
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Re: Back halfing my Monza

Postby Fasterthansome » Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:27 am

Deep in the 5's is possible on stock susupension and uncut. There is really no reason to back half a car with todays tire and suspension technology unless its a Pro Mod or just going for the Pro street look of the 80's
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Re: Back halfing my Monza

Postby gm_fan » Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:10 am

So How much tire can be installed under a stock suspension monza? The rear end is totally stock under my car .Including the four lug wheels and Its amazing I have not already hulled it because of the fairly large cam and the 2800 stall and some really soft street tires,it doesnt spin a bad as I thought it would,however it does hook up and pull fairly hard.I have a built 350 turbo [I do transmission work for a living] which is original to the car,thanks. Mark
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Re: Back halfing my Monza

Postby Kenova » Tue Sep 06, 2011 10:34 am

The automatic transmission with a 2800 stall is relatively gentle on the rear end. If you wanted to strengthen the rear end you could do so using 28 spline S10 parts. The torque arm suspension should give you plenty of traction with some good tires and spring and shock tuning.

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Re: Back halfing my Monza

Postby megavega » Tue Sep 06, 2011 10:58 am

gm_fan wrote:So How much tire can be installed under a stock suspension monza? The rear end is totally stock under my car .Including the four lug wheels and Its amazing I have not already hulled it because of the fairly large cam and the 2800 stall and some really soft street tires,it doesnt spin a bad as I thought it would,however it does hook up and pull fairly hard.I have a built 350 turbo [I do transmission work for a living] which is original to the car,thanks. Mark


Mark, check out the tire wheel thread in the suspension/steering/brakes section, (top thread) and see if theres any monzas in there with the tire size you want to have. Some have pics of the cars,theres quite a bit of information in it. Just remember A monza is NOT the same as a vega for tire fitment due to the qtr panels being shaped differntly. You wont have a problem getting a "tire/rim" to fit to get into the 6's in the 1/8th although, if you want to get into lower 6's youll likely need alot more motor.
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Re: Back halfing my Monza

Postby overkillrc » Tue Sep 06, 2011 11:59 pm

i'm no purist by any means but that seem like a pretty nice car to backhalf. i would bet you could get plenty of tire under it a 26 X 8.5 slick or 28 X 10.5 it plenty of tire to the 6's in the 8th. i know where there is a monza racecar project the could be bought if interested.

to answer your question about backhalf cost. prices very alot from area to area but here is what i charge to backhalf a car.

$2500 + parts to install the backhalf which includes cutting out the old floor and installing the new backhalf.
$2000-2500 for sheetmetal
$1750 for an 8.50 certable mild steel cage

so your looking at a few months and $6250-6750 plus the backhalf kit to backhalf a car. it's not hard to spend 10,000+ to get a car in backhalf roller form

no doubt their are some that will do it cheaper (and some reading this that think that is rediculous....do a backhalf once and then tell me that)
Last edited by overkillrc on Wed Sep 07, 2011 11:34 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Back halfing my Monza

Postby gm_fan » Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:04 am

I think I am going to try as much tire as I can get under the car and go from there...LIke I said, the car doesnt want to spin all that bad with a set of 60 series soft tires and the cam and convertor kind of kill off some of the bottom end torque..The track has a test and tune night so I can check it out there..Pretty much what I thought about back halfing my car versus buying one,,It would be much smarter to buy one already done. thanks for the help,,I really appreciate it,,,Mark
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Re: Back halfing my Monza

Postby Rickracer » Wed Sep 07, 2011 6:54 pm

overkillrc wrote:... some reading this that think that is rediculous....do a backhalf once and then tell me that)

Last one I did for a customer was probably 15 years ago, 68 Camaro, total was about $5000, with the customer supplying the ladder bars, coilovers, fuel cell, AN hose and fittings, roll cage kit, buying the raw sheet metal, battery cable, ends, etc. I did the frame rails myself. But it was running, and ready to race when I was done. It went like 6.82 (1/8th mile) right off the trailer, pulling both front tires about 6", 8) :th:
So I think your prices are quite reasonable Justin, your work is definitely a little nicer than mine was, (TIG vs. MIG etc. ) 8)
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ASE Master Auto Technician, 36+ years
'76 Vega Notchback, Twin Turbo 355/TH350 (soon to be a Powerglide w/Brake), 4 link, Koni Coilovers, 3.50 geared 9" w/Spool & Moser Axles, drag only, best all motor 1/8 mile pass to date, 6.90@99mph, 6.57@107.0 on a 60 shot, Best 1/4, 9.66@139.78, still tuning...
Project Album: http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i4/Ri ... 20Begins/'
93 S10 RCSB, Hyd. Roller Vortec head 363 ci SBC, 2800stall lockup 700R4, LS Front Brakes, Narrowed F*rd Exploder 8.8 disc brake 3.73 posi rear, 8.0s@89 mph, (all motor, haven't sprayed it yet...)and tows the Vega to the track too
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Re: Back halfing my Monza

Postby gm_fan » Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:18 pm

How fast can you go without a roll cage? I have not raced in years. The last time I raced it was a 69 camaro running E/Modified Production..That was 1979 .. Boy does that make me feel old!! Anyway can anyone bring me up to speed on whats what?? thanks Mark
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Re: Back halfing my Monza

Postby Rickracer » Thu Sep 08, 2011 8:00 am

If you're serious about racing, first thing I'd do is grab a new rule book for the organization you plan to race with. The NHRA and IHRA rule books are very similar on the basic stuff, and either one should get you legal on most tracks. 8)
Rickracer
ASE Master Auto Technician, 36+ years
'76 Vega Notchback, Twin Turbo 355/TH350 (soon to be a Powerglide w/Brake), 4 link, Koni Coilovers, 3.50 geared 9" w/Spool & Moser Axles, drag only, best all motor 1/8 mile pass to date, 6.90@99mph, 6.57@107.0 on a 60 shot, Best 1/4, 9.66@139.78, still tuning...
Project Album: http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i4/Ri ... 20Begins/'
93 S10 RCSB, Hyd. Roller Vortec head 363 ci SBC, 2800stall lockup 700R4, LS Front Brakes, Narrowed F*rd Exploder 8.8 disc brake 3.73 posi rear, 8.0s@89 mph, (all motor, haven't sprayed it yet...)and tows the Vega to the track too
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Re: Back halfing my Monza

Postby bill1978v8 » Thu Sep 08, 2011 12:51 pm

I'll have to say that you could buy a whole car already done for less than it would take to do it right. You could just start with some 235/60-15 drag radials and a driveshaft loop for safety and see what it does. 11.50 is where you'll need a roll bar. My Monza went 11.55 with the 7.5 posi, drag radials and a loop. Some guys have gone a lot faster with just a little more and small tires so it can be done. By the way, your car is too nice to cut up :th:
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Re: Back halfing my Monza

Postby gm_fan » Thu Sep 08, 2011 10:05 pm

I know that they allow a 7.50 without a rollcage in the eighth mile , because I seen a Late model GTO, like an 2004[looked like a street car to me\ with nitrousthat was running in a heads up class thats 7.50 which they have at Music City Raceway..They also run a 6.50 heads up class every other week I think..I really am not into a rollcage in my car right now, so thats why I was asking how fast is allow in the eighth mile without one.. I belive my car will do the 7.50 class fairly easy..of course I could be dreaming also..thanks Mark
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Re: Back halfing my Monza

Postby cosworth0135 » Mon Sep 19, 2011 10:56 pm

even if you are dreaming, its nice to know where they draw the line, and always remember "a legitimate 12.00 street car is a fast street car". test and tune nights will show you that just go and watch.Timmy
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Re: Back halfing my Monza

Postby overkillrc » Sun Oct 02, 2011 10:54 am

if your not wanting a cage or a roll bar i definitely wouldn't back-half it. it needs the bar or cage for support.
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