I have a 1971 monte carlo and i really need to know if its a SS or not. It has a 12 bolt but im bit sure

 

Hi there and welcome to the forum. Here is some information about the 71 Monte and the link where this came from.
1971
The 1971 model saw only modest styling changes. Inside, the SS model got new "European symbol *****", and a four-spoke steering wheel became optional. The 1971 Monte Carlo also saw the addition of a stand-up hood ornament. Mechanically it was largely unchanged, although the small-block Turbo-Fire 400 two-barrel engine was dropped. Other engines had compression ratios lowered to allow the use of regular leaded, low-lead, or unleaded gasoline, per a GM corporate edict. Engine ratings fell to 245 hp (183 kW) for the base Turbo-Fire 350 CID (5.7 L) two-barrel, 270 hp (201 kW) for the Turbo-Fire 350-4V, and 300 hp (224 kW) for the Turbo-Jet 400. The SS 454 engine was actually raised to a nominal 365 gross hp (272 kW) despite the reduction in compression ratio. This increase in horsepower was a result of the 454 engine using the more aggressive camshaft from the 390 hp 454 used in the 1970 Chevrolet Corvette and full-sized sedans.

Chevrolet listed both gross and SAE net horsepower figures in 1971 with the impending change to SAE net ratings in 1972. The ratings compared as follows:

Engine Carburetor Gross hp Net hp
Turbo-Fire 350 CID V8 2-bbl 245 hp 165 hp
Turbo-Fire 350 CID V8 4-bbl 270 hp 175 hp
Turbo-Jet 400 CID V8 4-bbl 300 hp 260 hp
Turbo-Jet 454 CID V8 4-bbl 365 hp 285 hp
There has been no documented case of a 1971 Monte Carlo SS car with the 425 hp (317 kW) LS-6 version of the 454, with solid valve lifters and a longer-duration camshaft, previously found in the 1970 Chevelle SS 454 (where it was rated at 450 hp (336 kW)); however, they did come with an LS5 454. The Turbo Hydramatic officially remained the only transmission for the SS, but a heavy-duty clutch option on the order form suggests that it may have been possible to special-order a 454 LS-6 with a four-speed manual transmission (the four-speed wasn't listed officially as an "SS" option but was available as an RPO in regular Monte Carlos with the 350 and 400 engines). The exact number of such combinations, if any, is unknown since they were not officially listed as factory options but possibly assembled through Chevrolet's "Central Office Production Order" (COPO) process that had previously made possible model/engine combinations not officially available. However, there has never been a documented case of such a combination. Chevrolet records indicate that the factory only installed the LS-6 installations in Corvettes that year.

The SS 454 package would be discontinued after this year following production of only 1,919 units, but the 454 CID V8 engine would remain optional in Monte Carlos through 1975. The reason given for discontinuing the SS was that the Monte Carlo was marketed as a luxury vehicle instead of a muscle car. The SS nameplate would be resurrected 12 years later. Yet, at the same time that the Monte Carlo SS was judged a failure in the marketplace and discontinued, the Monte's reputation as a performance car on the race track was gaining strength because Ford and Chrysler were ending their factory-backed racing support due to declining muscle car sales and the need to divert dollars to meet costly Federal safety and emission regulations (General Motors' official policy had prohibited factory racing efforts since 1963). As factory support ended at Ford and Chrysler, the stock-car racing mantle switched to independent teams and sponsors, who overwhelmingly chose Chevrolets over Ford and Chrysler products due to Chevy's much greater availability and affordability of over-the-counter racing parts through the Chevy dealer network. And the Monte Carlo was considered the best suited Chevrolet model for stock car racing by most NASCAR teams due to its 116 in (2,900 mm) wheelbase (only one inch above NASCAR's minimum requirements at that time, the Chevelle 2-doors had a shorter 112-inch wheelbase) and long-hood design which placed the engine further back in the chassis than most other vehicles for better weight traction. Thus the Monte Carlo became Chevy's standard-bearer for NASCAR from 1971 to 1989.

Like its 1970 predecessor, production of the 1971 Monte Carlo also got off to a slow start due to a labor strike, this time a 67-day corporate-wide walkout that coincided with the introduction of the 1971 models in September, 1970, leaving dealerships with only a small shipment of 1971 models (built before the strike) in stock until the strike was settled in mid-November, 1970 and then slow-going in reaching normal production levels until around January 1, 1971. Model-year production ended at 128,600 including the 1,919 SS models. AM/FM stereo radios with 8-track tape players were optional.

Chevrolet Monte Carlo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The following link and information I found elsewhere may help also.
click--> https://montecarloforum.com/forum/ne...arlo-ss-27853/

The 1970 Monte Carlo brochure reads as follows for the SS454 model:

“Monte Carlo SS454 includes a 360-hp Turbo-Jet 454 V8, Automatic Level Control, G70 x 15 wide-oval white stripe tires with 7”-wide rim wheels, heavy duty chassis components and SS exterior identification.”

This page is to provide information about the First Generation Monte Carlo SS.

The Monte Carlo SS454 was only made in 1970 and 1971. The 1970 SS could be distinguished from a non-SS Monte Carlo by the emblems on the lower fenders of each side.


In 1971 the SS added additional markings on the rear of the car. This included having the "BY CHEVROLET" tag replaced by "SS", chrome strips added to the top of the rear panel below the trunk, the rear panel painted black and a rubber bumper pad.

These emblems are the only way to tell an SS Monte Carlo from the outside.

The best way to check to see if a car is a real SS is the build sheet. The build sheet will have the Z20 option listed - Monte Carlo SS. There is no indication of the SS option in the VIN or data plates on U.S. built Monte Carlos. Canadian built 1970 and 1971 SS454 Monte Carlos will have the Z20 code on the cowl tag.

All SS Monte Carlos in '70 and '71 were 454s and all 454s in '70 and '71 were SS cars. So, if there is a numbers matching 454 in the car, that is a good indication it is a real SS. The VIN should match the serial number on the engine. The engine serial number is usually found on the machined surface of the block just forward of the right cylinder head. It may also be found on a pad on hte side of the block near the oil filter. The serial number will start with "CRN" for '70 and "CPD" for '71.

All SS’s definitely have:

1. Automatic Level Control

G67 - Automatic Level Control – compressor under the hood, leveling valve mounted on rear, air shocks and air shock protector plates on rear.

The compressor is mounted on the inside of the left inner fender.


The leveling valve in mounted on the body and attaches to the left rearend control arm.


The shock protector plates are bolted to the rear just inboard of the lower shock mounts.


Also look for the black plastic air line along the left frame rail. The line was held in place with clips on the brake lines.

2. Rims and Wheel Covers

Either the PH1 - 7” x 15” rims with wheel covers (1970 only) or the ZJ7– 7" x 15" Rally wheels (1971 standard 1970 optional).


3. 454 Engine

LS5 - 454 V8 – 360hp (no proof of the LS-6 450 hp cars – but we’re hoping…)


4. Turbo Hydromatic 400 Transmission

M40 – TH400 automatic transmission

5. White Stripe Tires

P90 – G70 x 15 white stripe tires

6. Heavy Duty Battery

T60 – HD battery

7. Front and Rear Sway Bars

F41 - Front and Rear anti-sway bars - the front sway bar is 1-1/8" diameter (standard is 15/16" diameter). There is also a plate welded to the bottom of the rear control arms ("boxed" control arms).

8. Dual Exhaust

N10 – dual exhaust - same tips as SS Chevelle



No SS’s have:

1. Fender Skirts

T58 - fender skirts (due to the 7” wide rims)

2. Manual Transmission

M20 – 4 speed transmission – (no proof yet of any in existence, show us your build sheet)

3. LS6 Engine

LS6- 450 hp 454 – please prove me wrong, until then…

4. Convertible Top

Convertible roof – again, no documented proof, lots of tales though…



An SS may have:

1. Rally Wheels

ZJ7 - Rally Wheels - 7” x 15” (again, standard in '71, optional in '70)

2. Center Console

D55 - console - NOT part of the SS package, if it is present it should have the burlwood top that matches the dash.

3. Bucket Seats

A51 - Bucket Seats - NOT part of SS package, some SS454 cars were built with bench seats.

4. Positraction Rear End

G80 - 12 bolt positraction rear – 2.56 was the standard ratio for the 70 SS and the 3.31 was the standard ratio for the 71.

5. Special Gage Package

U14 - Gage Package - NOT part of the SS package, SS cars may have warning lights instead.

6. Power Steering

N40 - Power Steering - not all SS cars had it.