# My 1978 Monte Carlo build... **URL:** \ **Category:** Builds\ **Created:** [July 17, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-1978-monte-carlo-build/231819 "2013-07-17T19:12:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SxFxZ](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/sxfxz/32/6255_2.png) [@SxFxZ](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/SxFxZ)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-1978-monte-carlo-build/231819/1 "2013-07-17T19:12:18Z")
I bought this car in September of 2011 after getting into an accident with my old import from a coworker. He said it ran mid 11’s all day with a 388 SBC/TH400/Ford 9” so I was game. Always kind of been a muscle fan but for some reason always liked the imports. I gave it a shot and I remember the first time I launched the car I nearly crapped myself. I did not expect it to accelerate that hard…it was fun and all…refreshed the motor (New bearings/rings/gaskets) over the winter of 2011/2012 and beat the living hell out of the car all last year. Ran between 11.33-11.67 all year long in race form and I put it on the streets with pump gas and mufflers and all that jazz and it went 11.8’s. Car held up great…nothing broke or got worn out all year with…how could you go wrong? ![http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/0343b309.jpg](http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/0343b309.jpg) ![http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/7FD3E98F-1342-48FC-91DA-3FC2E1C90D9A-426-0000002822DF30F2.jpg](http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/7FD3E98F-1342-48FC-91DA-3FC2E1C90D9A-426-0000002822DF30F2.jpg) 1/4 mile pass last year: [video][http://youtu.be/6-F65jqnY4U[/video]](http://youtu.be/6-F65jqnY4U%5B/video%5D) But then the go-fast in me wanted more…so after careful consideration and talking to an engine shop…I decided to drop the hammer and do something new…I decided I wanted to go with a 496 big block. My goal is 10.2 so we figured out that I would have to make 700HP on an engine dyno. Test fitting a big block in the car and mocking up front and mid plates: ![http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/ECF97027-B8A6-4D4B-8E83-A9F3DCF2EA2B-426-000000283E4F8D91.jpg](http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/ECF97027-B8A6-4D4B-8E83-A9F3DCF2EA2B-426-000000283E4F8D91.jpg) Decided to get rid of the brake booster: ![http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/365B74AA-72CF-41B0-B521-4E0F62D48403-426-0000002867445D57.jpg](http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/365B74AA-72CF-41B0-B521-4E0F62D48403-426-0000002867445D57.jpg) Motor goodies: ![http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/5B1D2C47-6B65-4BD5-9F5A-E17352CDAD7C-426-000000417540817C.jpg](http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/5B1D2C47-6B65-4BD5-9F5A-E17352CDAD7C-426-000000417540817C.jpg) ![http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/79D61F5E-2374-4B6C-A07E-108E836A3D6D-426-000000285F0F3AE6.jpg](http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/79D61F5E-2374-4B6C-A07E-108E836A3D6D-426-000000285F0F3AE6.jpg) ![http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/6BBBF923-B786-40A7-8005-4885F0FE0C2C-426-000000284E90F8DC.jpg](http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/6BBBF923-B786-40A7-8005-4885F0FE0C2C-426-000000284E90F8DC.jpg) Pro-Systems SV1: ![http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/C806B412-D963-44DC-B811-8FFE41045502-386-0000001500E67168.jpg](http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/C806B412-D963-44DC-B811-8FFE41045502-386-0000001500E67168.jpg) Custom headers: ![http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/0A9E3A51-A7B7-43E8-A6FD-9DB35EF8D3D9-1753-0000007CA4760169.jpg](http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/0A9E3A51-A7B7-43E8-A6FD-9DB35EF8D3D9-1753-0000007CA4760169.jpg) Added a window net: ![http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/A63D3586-FE25-4642-B005-3A5DB36FD98F-864-0000003AA7F86C70.jpg](http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/A63D3586-FE25-4642-B005-3A5DB36FD98F-864-0000003AA7F86C70.jpg) Waiting for the motor to be dyno’d (Trimmed up the K-Member to set the motor in the car lower): ![http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/A502AF55-E6C9-42EC-8173-1114264B0321-1753-0000007CA8F30867.jpg](http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/A502AF55-E6C9-42EC-8173-1114264B0321-1753-0000007CA8F30867.jpg) Repainted the bumpers (Props to Auto Finishers in Rochester for their paint matching!) ![http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/2CB3126D-3B0E-4F8F-A740-92BEA2355354-1041-0000004DA541AE81.jpg](http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/2CB3126D-3B0E-4F8F-A740-92BEA2355354-1041-0000004DA541AE81.jpg) ![http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/0F185122-9F13-4B16-BB40-74A97008F536-1543-000000738B2347A0.jpg](http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/0F185122-9F13-4B16-BB40-74A97008F536-1543-000000738B2347A0.jpg) ![http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/A87DF870-37A7-4C1B-83C8-8312BFF044FF-474-0000001AB901C4CE.jpg](http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/A87DF870-37A7-4C1B-83C8-8312BFF044FF-474-0000001AB901C4CE.jpg) ![http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/FAA8D05B-FA89-41E6-9EB9-3D3D5562D866-1543-0000007381F846BA.jpg](http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/FAA8D05B-FA89-41E6-9EB9-3D3D5562D866-1543-0000007381F846BA.jpg) Finally it was dyno time…1st pull put down 735HP but it kept falling on it’s face…2nd pull resulted in 785HP@6800, and tried a pull with the air filter and it put down 779@6800…damn air filter. Lol My distributor was on it’s way out…but since we way over exceeded my goal…that was good enough for me. ![http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/FB91BD25-AE13-4DFD-AA46-62A26D6B9127-1543-00000071947BB226.jpg](http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/FB91BD25-AE13-4DFD-AA46-62A26D6B9127-1543-00000071947BB226.jpg) Dyno Pull: [video][http://youtu.be/GxAcm-I2HL4[/video]](http://youtu.be/GxAcm-I2HL4%5B/video%5D) Finally got the motor in: ![http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/29E18A6C-CDCA-4A80-B791-1CE01E42B231-268-0000000D70765511.jpg](http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/29E18A6C-CDCA-4A80-B791-1CE01E42B231-268-0000000D70765511.jpg) Had to cut a hole in the hood to make it fit. Lol: ![http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/E808FCA0-A6F1-409B-863E-86A2C2A03FEE-285-0000000F721D8044.jpg](http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/E808FCA0-A6F1-409B-863E-86A2C2A03FEE-285-0000000F721D8044.jpg) Old steering didn’t clear the motor…so rack and pinion it is… ![http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/2482DB39-6B8F-401D-9979-2D0852D520B2-285-0000000F79D798E5.jpg](http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/2482DB39-6B8F-401D-9979-2D0852D520B2-285-0000000F79D798E5.jpg) Once having the motor in…I was experiencing wiring woes with the stock wiring harness…tried finding what was causing it…and that resulted in deciding to just rewire the whole damn car… As good of a time as any to reorganize the dash board…old placements: ![http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/5FAFB836-C0C7-4A2B-91D3-15DCA1FA2C25-1104-000000591133E128.jpg](http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/5FAFB836-C0C7-4A2B-91D3-15DCA1FA2C25-1104-000000591133E128.jpg) New layout…ditched the whole wiring harness…life is much easier now that the fuses aren’t under the dash up on the firewall…I’m not a contortionist. Lol ![http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/11486BCC-3437-405F-8A4B-78F5E0134844-176-00000004CF90777A.jpg](http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/11486BCC-3437-405F-8A4B-78F5E0134844-176-00000004CF90777A.jpg) Finished engine bay minus breather tubes and catch cans…still planning on tucking wires on wheel well cover to inside the fender… ![http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/50D9583E-2097-468B-A8D2-20383F80B64B-176-00000004D29A2B2E.jpg](http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/50D9583E-2097-468B-A8D2-20383F80B64B-176-00000004D29A2B2E.jpg) Video of her running: [video][http://youtu.be/gY5Ji2WwWtQ[/video]](http://youtu.be/gY5Ji2WwWtQ%5B/video%5D) I have some minor things to finish up including making a new transmission tunnel to clear the flexplate and transmission shields…oh joys…but hopefully I should be at the track in a few weeks to start shaking her down…It’d be nice if she hooked and went strait and made good passes…but I highly doubt that since building this car went from “oh I’m going to just put a bigger motor in the car.” To completely practically rebuilding the car. lol Car is still stock location suspension…10.5”x28” tire in the back and 4.5” wide tires in the front…I’m expecting traction to be a huge issue…I would like to hear what others have to suggest on getting traction next to flat out tubbing the car… ---
**Author:** ![Onyx\_Z32](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/onyx_z32/32/7581_2.png) [@Onyx\_Z32](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Onyx_Z32)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 8:23pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-1978-monte-carlo-build/231819/2 "2013-07-17T20:23:54Z")
785, that’s a good amount of jam :tup: ---
**Author:** ![L8APEX1](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/l8apex1/32/7276_2.png) [@L8APEX1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/L8APEX1)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-1978-monte-carlo-build/231819/3 "2013-07-17T20:39:45Z")
not my exact choice in car but :tup: for the work you did. ---
**Author:** ![2TurboZ](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/2turboz/32/7577_2.png) [@2TurboZ](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/2TurboZ)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-1978-monte-carlo-build/231819/4 "2013-07-17T20:43:09Z")
sleeper for sure…its so ugly its cool. ---
**Author:** ![GV1390](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/gv1390/32/5432_2.png) [@GV1390](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/GV1390)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2013, 10:55pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-1978-monte-carlo-build/231819/5 "2013-07-17T22:55:45Z")
Sweet :tup: ---
**Author:** ![Wahoo](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/wahoo/32/8265_2.png) [@Wahoo](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Wahoo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 3:55am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-1978-monte-carlo-build/231819/6 "2013-07-18T03:55:04Z")
I like it, nice build! ---
**Author:** ![joelster](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/joelster/32/7258_2.png) [@joelster](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/joelster)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 4:26am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-1978-monte-carlo-build/231819/7 "2013-07-18T04:26:36Z")
It’s going to go faster than 10.2’s lol. That’s one hell of an engine for 496 cubes. ---
**Author:** ![SxFxZ](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/sxfxz/32/6255_2.png) [@SxFxZ](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/SxFxZ)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 4:38am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-1978-monte-carlo-build/231819/8 "2013-07-18T04:38:08Z")
Thanks everyone. I’m sure it’ll be fun, I just hope I can get her to hook up. lol ---
**Author:** ![blk78malibu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/13edae/32.png) [@blk78malibu](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/blk78malibu)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 4:58am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-1978-monte-carlo-build/231819/9 "2013-07-18T04:58:16Z")
gotta love 78 G bodies!! you dont see these very often ---
**Author:** ![BREETIME](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/breetime/32/5214_2.png) [@BREETIME](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BREETIME)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:01am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-1978-monte-carlo-build/231819/10 "2013-07-18T05:01:44Z")
Holy shit. That’s a lot on motor. Should be legit on the streets. ---
**Author:** ![Norb\_O](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/norb_o/32/5189_2.png) [@Norb\_O](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Norb_O)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:50am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-1978-monte-carlo-build/231819/11 "2013-07-18T05:50:39Z")
Hard as fuck! ![http://s3.amazonaws.com/rapgenius/post-24563-1100763465.jpg](http://s3.amazonaws.com/rapgenius/post-24563-1100763465.jpg) so unassuming, no BS, love it. ---
**Author:** ![BOBBYGRV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BOBBYGRV](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BOBBYGRV)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 5:53am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-1978-monte-carlo-build/231819/12 "2013-07-18T05:53:27Z")
I love coming into a thread like and being totally surprised. Keep up the awesome work! :tup: ---
**Author:** ![SxFxZ](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/sxfxz/32/6255_2.png) [@SxFxZ](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/SxFxZ)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 6:16am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-1978-monte-carlo-build/231819/13 "2013-07-18T06:16:17Z")
> [@96V6Bird](#): > > Hard as fuck! > > ![http://s3.amazonaws.com/rapgenius/post-24563-1100763465.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/5/c/5c5a04febfa0b8151ce01c6cfab94d2686d301ad.jpeg) > > so unassuming, no BS, love it. “You’re in the office baby. Going up.” lol If anybody knows a fiberglass front clip for this thing, please let me know. ---
**Author:** ![jay\_g](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jay_g/32/111288_2.png) [@jay\_g](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jay_g)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 6:42am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-1978-monte-carlo-build/231819/14 "2013-07-18T06:42:51Z")
I love it. Sounds pissed of, bad ass motor. What about trq numbers? ---
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 6:51am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-1978-monte-carlo-build/231819/15 "2013-07-18T06:51:50Z")
This thing is soo sweet, great work!! ---
**Author:** ![Shifty](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/shifty/32/4959_2.png) [@Shifty](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Shifty)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 6:59am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-1978-monte-carlo-build/231819/16 "2013-07-18T06:59:10Z")
> [@Onyx Z32](#): > > 785, that’s a good amount of jam :tup: That’s about 655 whp. Nice work on the gauges and wire tuck! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 7:20am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-1978-monte-carlo-build/231819/17 "2013-07-18T07:20:54Z")
> [@2TurboZ](#): > > sleeper for sure…its so ugly its cool. … so ugly it’s cool. Couldn’t have said it better myself. Fucking right dude! ---
**Author:** ![travisn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/travisn/32/5046_2.png) [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 8:12am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-1978-monte-carlo-build/231819/18 "2013-07-18T08:12:35Z")
getting rid of the booster on a 800hp car? Figured you would want more of the brakes, not less ---
**Author:** ![XwalkerX](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/xwalkerx/32/7598_2.png) [@XwalkerX](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/XwalkerX)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 8:37am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-1978-monte-carlo-build/231819/19 "2013-07-18T08:37:46Z")
not really feeling the air filter/hood hole choice but other than that its pretty awesome. ---
**Author:** ![1sik\_bmw](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/1sik_bmw/32/7341_2.png) [@1sik\_bmw](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/1sik_bmw)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2013, 8:54am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-1978-monte-carlo-build/231819/20 "2013-07-18T08:54:34Z")
> [@maxwell](#): > > … so ugly it’s cool. Couldn’t have said it better myself. Fucking right dude! point [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-1978-monte-carlo-build/231819.md?page=2)