Hello all,
new to the Forum, although I have owned 3 Monte's. As a teen, owned a 78 with a 305, then a 95 Lumina based Monte, then a 2000 SS, with upgrades from the now out of business Golden Mile motors in Toronto,
had Callaway cold air intake, lowered Eibach suspension, Callaway Super Natural exhaust and had the Eprom reprogrammed. Then got married and had a family, so it had to go.

To the point now, I have found an 88 SS with T-tops, have not looked at it yet but am planning to very shortly, I know it has been stored in winters since new I want to know what to look for as far as potential problems.
I know the T-tops seals tend to crack, rust arounf the trunk edges and door edges and frame rail rust behind the rear wheels. Anyone have anything else?

Thanks for any help and I look forward to hearing from you all.

 

Check rust near all of the windows, mainly the small back ones, it seems I got a bit there, and by the door handles. That should only be surface though but always a good place to look. Also check the lights and everything, the dash lights have a decently expensive circuit board to replace.

 

Thanks Enzo354, yes I have heard the dash lights can really fade to almost nothing over time.

 

Perfect reason to upgrade to LEDs.

I myself would be leery buying one with t-tops. Once you have a problem even with new seals there is a high chance that it won't ever be right. I would ask the owner if he could hose the top down. I am not sure if that would show a minute leak at the moment.

Good luck!

 

i would check in the rear wheel wells for rust/rot, and the floorboards over the cat for rot or holes.

 

Basically anywhere that can trap dirt or leaves can rot. So I would check all those places.

 

oh yeah the bottoms of the doors have a habit of rusting out too, and obviously be sure its a real ss. i think you can chek that through the vin.