I'm looking to get a 1970 Monte Carlo fixed up. What I really want is just to get it working again. The interior is fine, the seats are still nice and everything. However it needs a new coat of paint and there is a rust patch that needs to be taken care of. Also, the transmission needs to be repaired and it needs a new engine. The engine was taken out and put into a Firebird, then that Firebird was sold. The Firebird's engine is still in the garage, but it too is broken. So to get the pain redone, and get the transmission fixed and engine fixed and put in, about how much money will this all cost?
Bonus Q: Is it possible to find a more fuel friendly V8 to put in to get better mileage?
Alan Clark2013-10-14T19:44:13Z
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since no one could answer you question i will. Paint and body repair will run a minimum of 5000, tranny repair at least a 800.a new 350 crate motor. and this is the smallest your going to want to go with the wieght of this car.5000, the motor you want is listed below new chevy engine.you need to up grade the breaks if your going to make it into a daily driver add 1500 so all in all you have,about 11,000 into it, and thats cheap. a complete restore which is what this car needs at least 35,000,so putting 11 grand in is not bad.What did you thing 2 or 3 grand,silly boy.if you look around you can probly find a rebuilt 350 for 2 grand .
In your position the best idea would be to buy another Monte Carlo which is complete (or at least has what you current one lacks). Just to get a block is expensive and even when you have the engine there are still acccessories etc a long way to get it running. If you do, try to ascertain the rebuildability of the engine.
Those ars were made befroe they cared much about FUEL ECONOMY! A REBUILT 350 with HOLLEYS on it is a good bet, with better CAMS and INTKATES and a HIGH ENERGY IGNTION! he distribotrs in those old crates was RUINED for emissions controls and wasted FUEL and cost POWER readily! You have LOTS of ggod choices here, and even thgouh a new GN IV CHEVY is the real thing, a good gen I engien, a 350 FOUR BOLT MAIN enigne is the choice of CHAMPIONS! IT is RIDICULOUS to oput in a REAL FUEL INJECTED gen IV 350 in there! Those old frames may NOT be able to handle all the power! DRIVE SHAFTS were WEAK< and so were the REAR AXLES ont hose old beasts! There are LOTS of UPGRADES for the orignal 350 engine! The 305 was a TRASH ENGINE made for better mileage but a FAILURE in mass production. Nearly ALL of them had SOFT CAMS and retarded CAN TIMING! ! HAPPY HUNTING! Seen lots of old 350 cars BLOW UP and dump their AXLES and DRIVE SHAFTS at the strip! GOOD LUCK!