Author Topic: 1975 Chevy Monza 2+2, Turbocharged 350 LT1, 5 spd, Ford 9" rear.  (Read 32384 times)

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Offline Boostedballs

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I have the bug big time and I want to get this car on the salt in 2009!

I bought this thing 12 years ago and I have had a lot of fun upgrading it and generally, beating on it from time to time. It started as a 262 V8 with Saginaw 4spd. I dropped in a 327 and really had fun, until the transmission and related components experienced catastrophic failure (CF). I decided not to drive this car on the road anymore. The reasons are many: It handles like a shopping cart and at 135mph I couldn't keep it in one lane. It's loud and I get more attention from the pigs than I do the chicks. Until recently, it's cost me more in tickets than in go-fast parts. Oh yeah, I picked up a chick in it once and she said "why would you soup up a Pinto?" No taste

I'll get some photos posted so you guys can see what kind of trouble I'm getting into and maybe point me in the direction as far as:

-What class to run, tires wheels, alternator or no alternator, safety gear, etc

I'm shooting for something like:
-Slammed chassis, carbon or aluminum dam with a splitter, carbon or aluminum side skirts, lexan windows, 1 5/8 DOM 12 point cage, turbocharged LT1 350 with Iron heads, Garrett T4 turbo .70cold/1.00 divided hot side, exhaust pipe exits right front fender, water-to-air intercooler, water injection, wet sump, Ford 9" rear with 2.50:1 gears, T5 from Z28, Stock 3-link rear suspension,

-On a budget of course...




Offline oz

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Re: 1975 Chevy Monza 2+2, Turbocharged 350 LT1, 5 spd, Ford 9" rear.
« Reply #1 on: November 26, 2008, 05:35:02 AM »
Welcome to the forum dude,I reckon your first priority is to sort out the handling its over a year since I was at Bonneville but as far as i can remember its a pretty straight line as things go but seriously good luck.
Oz
Newcastle born and bred a City built on Coal and Steel and a people built of stronger stuff

Offline SteveM

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Re: 1975 Chevy Monza 2+2, Turbocharged 350 LT1, 5 spd, Ford 9" rear.
« Reply #2 on: November 26, 2008, 03:08:40 PM »
The single most important thing you'll need is a RULEBOOK.  Figure out down to the gnat's behind how the car will work within the rules.  Decide which class you'll build the car for, then keep the rulebook with you all the time, constantly checking details.

Then go out and set a record.

SteveM.
1/2 of the Rampage Brothers

Offline Pat Kinne / Salt201

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Re: 1975 Chevy Monza 2+2, Turbocharged 350 LT1, 5 spd, Ford 9" rear.
« Reply #3 on: November 26, 2008, 05:45:46 PM »
Welcome to the world of making a car made from beer cans go fast and straigt(er). First off read the rule book like they say. Then put a front to rear full cage it it so you have something to tie things together with, forget the "frame" itself. Next swap the right front spindal with the left front to get some caster in the thing.  The first year (1988) my brother and I ran ours, we had a degree or two POSITIVE caster on one side and maybe a couple of negative on the other. Ran 199.836 that year and didn't know any better - Tuned up the the front end and set a record a couple of years later -  Good luck with yours we sure had fun with our Skylark/Monza - Pat Kinne

Offline Boostedballs

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Re: 1975 Chevy Monza 2+2, Turbocharged 350 LT1, 5 spd, Ford 9" rear.
« Reply #4 on: November 26, 2008, 08:52:03 PM »
Thanks for the replies guys!

I plan on knowing the rulebook by memory. I wish I could have a PDF or something of it though. As far as class- I'm sorta trying to decide what I'm gunna do. I want to go as fast as I can as a personal record; that's great if I happen to break a standing record for a given class. Bonus. One of the main reasons I am getting into this is because it allows for creativity and originality, unlike certain other racing sanctions.

Pat, congrats on the fast H-body! As far as spindles go, I have a pair of S-10 spindles with a 2" drop and I was planning on making some adjustable upper A arms so I can align it 'dead nuts'.
What rear end, trans, wheels and tires did you run?

Offline Glen

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Re: 1975 Chevy Monza 2+2, Turbocharged 350 LT1, 5 spd, Ford 9" rear.
« Reply #5 on: November 26, 2008, 09:04:09 PM »
It is not SCTA policy to put the rule book on line. It is part of our income to help with operating costs. Some associations give them free. Join SCTA or BNI and you get one with your membership. We don't charge for spectators except for the daily or weekly pit pass. I am sure someone near you might have  a 2008 you can borrow. The rule changes are on the SCTA web site. Enjoy your build. :-)
Glen
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South West, Utah

dwarner

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Re: 1975 Chevy Monza 2+2, Turbocharged 350 LT1, 5 spd, Ford 9" rear.
« Reply #6 on: November 26, 2008, 11:42:58 PM »
Pat,

If you swap the spindles left/right wont the wheels turn backwards?

DW

Offline Pat Kinne / Salt201

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Re: 1975 Chevy Monza 2+2, Turbocharged 350 LT1, 5 spd, Ford 9" rear.
« Reply #7 on: November 27, 2008, 11:42:53 AM »
Balls and Dan -
                     Nobody said it was easy - with the power Roy gave us, just carried the front wheels down track about 4 inchs - Worked for our Dragster. You believe that, I have more good info for you.
                     As I mentioned, we didn't know any better - we ran the stock Saginaw(?) 4 speed and stock rear end with beefed up trailing links.  In my opinion the rear end is fine but the transmission was a bit sketchy at best - no problems but ---. As to tires we ran Goodyear Front runners - tallest we could get. 
                     First year on the Salt the "pros" told me the Monza tends to turn around on you at about 190 or so due to lift. Shows you you can't believe the "pros".  Our car ran straight as arrow most of the time - even after putting the big block in it (whole new front end too).  I almost forgot to mention the other cheerleaders that told me as I was strapping in that the Saginaw transmission will seize up on you due to lube problems if you put to much power through it - great for the mind set on your rookie speed week adventure!!! - Have fun - Pat
« Last Edit: November 27, 2008, 12:29:35 PM by Pat Kinne / Salt201 »

#31

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Re: 1975 Chevy Monza 2+2, Turbocharged 350 LT1, 5 spd, Ford 9" rear.
« Reply #8 on: November 27, 2008, 01:13:34 PM »
Thats kinda wierd i am also starting to build a 75 monza to run on the salt. might have to compare ideas.
here check it out

Offline RichFox

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Re: 1975 Chevy Monza 2+2, Turbocharged 350 LT1, 5 spd, Ford 9" rear.
« Reply #9 on: November 27, 2008, 05:43:34 PM »
Building a Monza can't be much different than building a Vega. Just start and keep going. My buddy Gary Williams ran a 302 SBC Monza for a while Pretty much stock except for the motor and top loader four speed. Cage and other safety stuff. Had the El Mirage D/Pro record for a while. Then he put in a LS7 454 with Hilborn fuel injection Vertex and some roller cam. Still had the top loader and Monza rear end. Thing went about 188 I think at Bonneville. Never broke anything. He never complained about how it handled.

Offline RayTheRat

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Re: 1975 Chevy Monza 2+2, Turbocharged 350 LT1, 5 spd, Ford 9" rear.
« Reply #10 on: November 28, 2008, 12:57:24 PM »
Just a quick note here...the T-5, even those in Z-28s aren't much stronger than a Saginaw.  This is from experience, having destroyed both of 'em.  There are a couple of versions of T-5s...the stronger version is called the "World Class" or WC (our friends from the UK should love that.)  Although the WC version is a bit stronger, it won't take a lot of punishment, especially when used in a drag- or street-racing setting.  Not that I'd ever race on the street. No.

However, for going in a straight line on the salt, it'd be ok for most smallblock applications, although I don't think I'd put it behind a blown motor.  You might end up with a blown transmission.  If I was gonna run a 5-speed, I'd run a Tremec 3550 or whatever they're called now.  There are several racing transmissions you could use also, like a Jerico. 

RtR

Offline Milwaukee Midget

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Re: 1975 Chevy Monza 2+2, Turbocharged 350 LT1, 5 spd, Ford 9" rear.
« Reply #11 on: November 28, 2008, 01:28:50 PM »
Alway thought the Monza was a pretty slick body style for its day, and they competed well in IMSA.  I recall some factory aero devices - chin spoiler, rear deck, and, I think, a ground effects package - they might be more for show than go, but if you're still determining class, check out all your options.

You could do a lot worse as far as a body is concerned.  Wheelbase is a tad short - could get twitchy at speed, but that will keep you on your toes. :-D

Best of luck to you with this project.

Chris
"Problems are almost always a sign of progress."  Harold Bettes
Well, I guess we're making a LOT of progress . . .  :roll:

Offline Boostedballs

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Re: 1975 Chevy Monza 2+2, Turbocharged 350 LT1, 5 spd, Ford 9" rear.
« Reply #12 on: November 29, 2008, 02:04:07 AM »
It is not SCTA policy to put the rule book on line. It is part of our income to help with operating costs. Some associations give them free. Join SCTA or BNI and you get one with your membership. We don't charge for spectators except for the daily or weekly pit pass. I am sure someone near you might have  a 2008 you can borrow. The rule changes are on the SCTA web site. Enjoy your build. :-)

I actually do have a rule book but I wish I could open it electronically on my phone and do quick searches and stuff like that. I'm one of those techy guys...


Offline Boostedballs

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Re: 1975 Chevy Monza 2+2, Turbocharged 350 LT1, 5 spd, Ford 9" rear.
« Reply #13 on: November 29, 2008, 02:32:14 AM »
<a href="http://s536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/boostedballs/?action=view&current=DSC_05843.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff327/boostedballs/DSC_05843.jpg" border="0" alt="from the front">[/url]

Here's my project, I guess I could have blown the thing off with compressed air before taking the photo.

I got about halfway through building the adjustable lower trailing arms today. Once they are done, I will be able to check the rear end fitment. And build a torque arm that will go from the rear end housing to the trans mount.

I'm hoping the T5 can do the job. I wonder if I should beef up the housing and gears?

A couple questions:
Should I run an alternator or just the battery?
Should I run cooling fans on the radiator?

« Last Edit: November 29, 2008, 02:39:33 AM by Boostedballs »

Offline RichFox

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Re: 1975 Chevy Monza 2+2, Turbocharged 350 LT1, 5 spd, Ford 9" rear.
« Reply #14 on: November 29, 2008, 10:27:10 AM »
As long as you are soliciting opinions . Yes run an alternator.  No you do not need a fan.