Way off topic

We've started tearing apart the house next door so we can build a garage, but the task is daunting. The woman who lived there left a lifetime of belongings in the house, and we are still trying to sort things out. There is a lot of history in this 1880's home.

Garage

I should have my new garage by the end of the year, so I guess I'll be doing the work myself. I'll know for sure by summer. Wish me luck.

Soon

Spring is almost here. She'll be out of the garage soon. Can't wait!

Help

If anyone is paying attention out there I could use some advice or information on tearing down this old house and building a garage. I need to keep costs down, as I am still a student with limited income. The garage will be street side so the appearance is important. I hope to get this done before next winter so my collector vehicles can be stored at home.

Score!

We got the land so by next summer we should have a new garage for the Monte and the Suburban to spend their winters in in the mean time they can park in the spare driveway. Time to do some architectural salvage on an 1800s home.

03 March

Nothing new for the car, but the property next door to mine is up for sale and it looks like I'll finally get my second garage. It's nice of my sister-in-law to store her for me, but I would like to be a bit closer. They only want $15,000 for the land, but I'll have to remove the house myself. I could probably get some architectural salvage from it, but the house itself is a total wreck. I would get three lots with the house so it's still a good deal.

The long wait

Still waiting for the go ahead to put her in the shop. The weather and the bank are not cooperating with me yet. For now I'm still driving my beater Oldsmobile every day. This wouldn't be so bad, but she'll turn over 200,000 miles by the end of next week, and its really starting to show. With the second death of the Monte Carlo nameplate it is becoming increasingly important to me that these older models be preserved. Unfortunately affordable powerful cars are a thing of the past, at least as far as GM is concerned.

February 21st

The waiting game is still on. I have to make a couple of decisions about the final setup of the drivetrain, and carb. If I don't start soon I won't be able to drive her for another year. She will never see the salt and snow of these Minnesota roads. I hope to have all the mechanicals done before summer at least, then she can spend the winter in the body shop for all I care.

Update

I should be getting her to the shop this week, I'll need to find a flatbed, or I'll have to drive her backward the whole way. I don't think the local police will appreciate that, but who knows. So the question is do I keep the Q jet, or do I upgrade?

Stopped by my friends body shop. He had a good lead on a local guy who worked for GM for 20 plus years He builds street rods now, but said he can get to her in in a month. He has a 700R4 built and ready to go. I'll change the rear end while its in the shop. If anyone has any suggestions let me know. I know there are kits to upgrade the current stock rear end, but I'm primarily a parts replacer and was just going to swap out for a later model possi rear end. If I get her in for the transmission in March I should have her back on the road with a new paint job by the end of May. I hope its warm enough to take the tops off by then.

Score!

My wife agrees that we have spent enough on her car. Now its time for mine. A new transmission by spring is in the works. It will be tops of and engine roaring by summer.

This weekend

I got to visit her this weekend. The coat of dust was depressing. Can't wait for the snow to melt.

Tax season

Looks like Uncle Sam will be good to me this year. I should have my transmission by spring. Now I just need a better carb. The old Quadra Jet is leaking air like mad. They were ok when they were new, but you can only rebuild them for so long.

I've found someone who can build me a 700R4 transmission for a reasonable price. Unfortunately I have to pull the old transmission out myself. Not impossible, but its awful cold around here without heat in the garage. I suppose if I don't do it soon, I won't have it ready for summer. There's still lots of work to do before she goes to the paint booth, but the factory paint could last another year. I only get a couple of months of good weather to take the tops off, and I don't want to miss them.

Status

She'll be sitting in my sister-in-law's garage for the winter. This car has never seen the road in the winter so I'm not about to start now. She needs a new transmission among other things so I'm trying to save up for something decent. I replaced the stock 305 with a 350 a couple of years back, and I should have done the transmission at the same time. I got her at an auction in 1999 in Fort Hood Texas. Paid three hundred dollars and drove away happy. She ran until 2005 when when the old 305 got tired. I hope to bring her back to her full glory in the next few years.

1st time here

Welcome to my blog. If you have a G body Monte Carlo or just like cars this might be the place to be. Updates will follow.