Hello,

I live in central PA and just bought a 1980 T-Tops Monte Carlo with a broken turbo charger. The transmission was out but the body and frame have very little rust.

I'm about to undertake the long expensive road to restoration. This will need new tires, exhaust, springs, shocks, interior work, transmission and engine. I'm thinking the 350 HO turn key.

On the bright side, the T-Tops are in great shape, although I'll have to replace the seals. I plan to paint the car black at some point.

I'm sure I'll be popping in the forum with all sorts of stupid questions. Like, can I swap out the automatic with manual transmission, replacing the auto shifter with a stick? Or is that a monstrously stupid idea and not cost effective? [&:]

 

Here's a picture of my new puppy at the start.

[IMG]local://upfiles/4010/20E37FEEB60F46F6ACA78EC326A864A1.jpg[/IMG]

 

nice and its expensive...at least in the newer montes it is, im not sure in the older montes

 

Hey, cool... welcome!

 

T-Tops!!

If I could have anything on my monte it'd be t-tops.

She looks to be in decent shape. Keep us updated on your restorations, we'd love to see how it comes along.

 

ok well to answer some of your questions here.

Yes you can make it a stick shift car. But why would you want to?
here is why i say this.
As a third gen previous owner of 8 total. here is the deal .
I have been trying to for years to find a 78 with the T-Top option on it. But to find one in that shape with the turbo and a T-Top. that is a rare car for the most part Cant say it is nonexsitant becuse they are out there but they are not as easy to find as like the landu version with the 305HO.

If i had that car personally i would take th etime to restor the drive line to close to ORG.
Now this dont mean i would not upgrade it all the way threw it with a bigger better cam etc.... punch it out etc...

But it would look like the stock motor if the block was abel to be i would be useing it.
As faras the tranny most of the had the 350 Turbos in them or the Metric or even the 350 Lock ups. are a option to.
I always liked the 350 Turbo with it built for hig preformance kit in it and a shift kit . So there was a bit of punch to it when it shifter it could snap you in to the seats.

The other things to look at . is this the intereior on mos tof the third ges are almost dust any more. I had a guy i know that had took a full set and made a cast of it in plaster paris. then took some plastic and made his this way and they turned out sharp but were alot of work.

But his brother did a camaro that had the same issue in them . you cna cover it with fiber glass and make them look great

Those cars were one of the best to have for a kid. they would ahve better resale then the cutlass of the same yaer and to me have more style to them.
and with some nice wheels and a set of good tires and some tint can look really sharp cleaned up .

Any way Good luck and hope tha tyou enjoy it no matter how you chose to go. remeber this is your car but this is just what i have found ove rthe years.

I will continue to look for the 78 monte carlo with the T-Tops option and on the floor in it.

Also if yours has the councial in it guard it with your life!! a ORG. is hard to find bu i hear they are starting to repop them but i havent seen them yet. (havent loked for parts for those years for a while)

 

Wow Mickey, you're a wealth of knowledge. I really appreciate your advice. I had a long thought about it today and I think I'll leave it automatic and put in a new 350 transmission. I'd still like to replace the motor to V8 350 HO, because the turbo charger broke and pieces of it went down into the engine. I don't think I want to deal with that headache. I'd rather have the umpf and sound of a v8 without the hesitation in power that the turbo charger gives.

But if you're looking for that perfect T-Tops 78 Monte, there's one on Ebay right now:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...ksid=p3907.m29