Hi guys, I'm brand new to this website. I am a Monte guy and a car guy. Anyways, onto the topic I would like to talk about. I have a 1998 Monte LS and I am trying to find ways to convert it to rear wheel drive. I know that there will be some cutting and welding, but I can care less about the pain. I have a patchy plan.. I was thinking of finding a junker 80s Monte to take the frame and all of that good junk. I think it's a 0.05 difference? I know it would be cheaper to just fix up the 80s junker, but for some reason I really like the 5th gen body style. Any ideas for a relatively easy swap?

 

Welcome CJ. The easiest way to do this, and I use the term easy very loosely, is to put the body on a rwd frame like you said. I like the idea of doing this I'd love to do this to my 02 but do not have the money to do so. Keep us informed on how this project goes because it's very interesting.

 

Thanks! I will try my best. I need to find an 80s junker or roller to start. I looked under the hood of my Monte and saw that there is a lot of unused space near the bumper. I could possibly move the radiator forward a little bit to squeeze a 350 in later on.

 

That would be nice. Shouldn't be too hard to find a donor frame. I'm very interested in this build. There is someone else on here doing the same thing with a 7th gen.

 

The 7th gens are pretty nice. The giant headlights of the revamped 7th gen however are a negatory heh. I think I can find a doner for relatively cheap?

 

Yea I like 6th gens the best that's what I have. I think 7th gens just got a impala front end on a 6th gen body.

 

Is that what yours looks like now in that picture?

 

Yes that's my MC as it sits. I'm not gonna do anything to it cosmetically because its the Earnhardt signature edition SS. Just take care of the minor rust and get it painted the same color scheme. Other than that I'm just planning on performance mods in the future. It sits stock right now. I haven't even had it a month yet. 132k miles on it.

 

I would post a picture of my MC but it.. Well it's not looking good.. The guy I bought it off of put an aftermarket fake convertible roof on it and I ripped the roof off.. But he used a glue that was like a rubbery substance and it left black noticable stains on my roof. And my roof has gouges on it.

 

Damn I hate to hear that. But you have big plans for it and I'm sure that once you are done it will be in great shape and be happy once again. Some people rescue dogs, we rescue cars. I hate to see any car in bad shape. Especially a Monte. Make sure you do get pics of it though for before and afters. It will be worth it to look back once you are done and say wow look at the difference.