86 Monte Carlo SS Truck Arm Build LOTS of pics!!!!
 

I finally decided to actually start a build thread. I started this project over 10 years ago, but that was before becoming a homeowner, a husband, and a Dad. Now I am trying to get back to working on the car regularly. Hopefully I can get it driveable before my kids get to involved in school/ sports. My oldest will be 5 this December. So the clock is ticking.

This is an 86 Monte Carlo SS. Here is the original plans:

Body:
mini-tubbed 3"
spare tire well delete
rear floor board mod to clear suspension
stripped car to bare steel and epoxy primed
cut tunnel for t56 shifter clearance

Frame:
2x4 rect tubing from firewall to rear horns
truck arm rear suspension
screw jack rear spring perches
custom fabbed full floating 9in
truck arm x-member bracing
adjustable phb

Additional Plans:
SC&C AFX stage 2 kit
Bonspeed Delta wheels (18x9f, 18x10r)
315 rear 275 front tires
Approx. 550hp 383sbc or 600hp 434sbc
Viper t56 (already have)
Glass cowl hood (already have)
Complete original pattern leather interior w/ modified front seat foam (bigger bolsters)

Basic plans are still the same as I started with. That being something that I can daily drive if I choose, but yet still be able to tear up an autocross, or road course as needed. So please follow along and I will listen to any comments/ suggestions. Hopefully between 3 different forums I will be able to get the motivation to work on it.

Disassembly (I even got the "girlfriend/ wife now" to help):

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I did a mini-tub by drilling out the spot welds and cutting along the inner/ outer wheel house seam, and dropping the entire piece above the axle out. Then I cut 3" out of the center, welded it back together, and re-welded it into the car. By doing this I was able to retain the #5 body bushing. While I was back there, I removed the spare tire well, and did some rust repair on the trunk flange.

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I then took it to work, put it on the rotisserie, sandblasted it inside and out, and then epoxy primed the entire body.

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While I had the car at work, I started on the frame at home. Disassembled down to the bare frame. Had to have some sort of "flat" surface to build off of so I had my Uncle bring his laser level over and we build a surface by shimming 4x4's and screwing down some 3/4" plywood.

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I got the frame on the new surface, and started by welding up the factory split channel frame. Then had to build some sort of support for the rear frame horns.

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I welded bracing between the rails, then started cutting out the middle of the frame.

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I put the "old lady" to work again, this time with a plama torch. I had here cutting out backing plates for the axle kick-ups.

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Here are the kick-ups tacked together.

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Kick-ups welded up, and remaining frame mocked up.

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Here is the transition from the new rails to the existing rear rails.

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Body back on for positioning/ mounting truck arms and cross member.

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There is also a peak at some of the bracing for the cross member.

Cool build! This is old school NASCAR stuff. Good luck.

I originally had planned to use SC&C's stage 2 kit with the afx spindle, but with more companies now offering front suspension setups I am trying to decide what to go with. I still have to do some more research, so let me know what everyone's thoughts/ opinions are in that area. Looking for pros/ cons of each. Plus I am open to any, and all suggestions on any other part of my build.

With that, more updates:

Had to modify the rear foot wells for the arms and braces.

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Built transmission cross-member.

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My "helper" hard at work!

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Just some pictures of the frame while I had it upside down for welding. Some good shots of the "x" bracing for the truck arm cross-member.

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Put some round tubes in the frame rails for the #3 body mounts.

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Ended up cutting out the axle kick-ups because I didn't like what little room I had for suspension compression. So I cut them out and welded a piece of 2x3x0.125 tube across the top. I know an inch isn't much, but it's better than what I had.

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Welded a 2x2x0.125 tube across between the axle kick-ups as support for the spring perches, and for upper shock mounts. I also cut out the original spring perches from the removed frame section, and welded them to the new rails/ cross-member. I wanted to keep the #5 body bushing, therefore I reused them. They are welded to the frame and cross-member, and have a 1/2" dom tube for support on the front inside corners. I modified the perches by welding a screw jack plate so that the rear height will be adjustable.

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Welded on the pan-hard bar(phb) mount to the end of the driver's side truck arm and the other to the frame. I don't have a very good picture but I welded some 1/4" plate on either side of the frame mount for added strength. The phb is made out of 1x0.056 dom, with screw in hiem joints. Left hand thread on one end, and right hand on the other.

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Built my own rearend. Had my brother machine me up a narrowing setup. Used Grand National rear axle tubes, and hubs from Stock Car Products.

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Very cool build,I will be watching this one for sure.Thats a lot of incredible hard work so far,great job.