Monte SS = No Power

[b4black]

It's a hell of a lot easier making a Turbo Regal handle like a Monte SS than it is making a Monte SS faster than a Turbo Regal.

I used to equate my '83 Turbo Regal to a Monte SS performance wise. But with some easy bolt ons, it's much faster and handles as well, if not better.

 

[88 CuttyClassic]

Jeez you guys complain a lot. the L69 is way better than the vin 9 307, what a joke. I own an 85 MCSS (stock) and smoked a few hot air TR's. I know i can't compete with a 86/87 TR but i have one bad A$$ looking daily driver thats better than most peoples weekend cruiser. compared to a regular g-body the mcss is a nice little car. I mean i don't know if have your standards to high cause you own TR's but don't knock the SS so much. The SS didn't need the big rear end. The 305 although a notorious smoker is in destructible. The QUADRAJET is a very good carb if tuned right and is not junk at all like stated above. I really think that they are more reliable than a TR that has all those sensors and electronics. I'm about to add a TR to my collection and i'll definetly love the performance over my SS and hurst but i just think the SS isn't nearly as bad as you guys make it out to be. By the way i ran a 15.8 with a bone stock heavily optioned SS, spare tire, stereo system, non posi, 140k on the engine and 93 ocatane. Thats better than stock POS civics and neons. Also didn't the wonderful 94-96 impala ss only run in the 15's with an LT1? Just remember why TR's are fast, they are TURBOCHARGED!!!!!!!!!

 

[WakkoSS]

Originally posted by b4black
It's a hell of a lot easier making a Turbo Regal handle like a Monte SS than it is making a Monte SS faster than a Turbo Regal.

I used to equate my '83 Turbo Regal to a Monte SS performance wise. But with some easy bolt ons, it's much faster and handles as well, if not better.

That's for sure. I simply like the overall look and style of the SS. It's not as elegant or comfortable as the Regal, but it screams muscle car (well, whines it until you put a REAL engine in there).

 

[b4black]

Originally posted by 88 CuttyClassic
I own an 85 MCSS (stock) and smoked a few hot air TR's....... By the way i ran a 15.8 with a bone stock heavily optioned SS,

Those two statements contradict each other. An 84/85 Hot Air with any kinda decent tune and driver is a low 15 second car.

I owned a MCSS, so I've seen both sides of the fence.

 

[88 CuttyClassic]

from what i heard about them, they aren't the best running cars racing on the street isn't the same as the track anyway.

 

[b4black]

Same can be said for the MCSS. Any ECM car will run like **** if not maintained. There's no reason for a 84/85 to run bad if taken care of.

 

[Shane]

Thanks Pronto, I'll have to give him a ring.

 

[Little6pack]

Originally posted by Shane
Thanks Pronto, I'll have to give him a ring.

Better call him early before he is drunk! Come to think of it call him when he is dead drunk offer $2-

 

[jayG]

Yeah I'd like to keep my SS. It'd be nice to have both the SS and TR but the TR was an impulse buy so I'm gonna sell the SS to offset the purchase. I hope to come out ahead since I'm only giving $2500 for the TR. Its a great driving car but it has dealer installed T-Tops(Cars & Concepts) and you cant get replacement parts anymore. Atleast I havent been able to find any. I had no idea the T-tops werent factory or I would not have bought the car. The Orginal owner didnt even know as he had bought all new factory weather strip($400) and he couldnt figure out why it would fit?

 

[myclone]

Originally posted by jayG
Its a great driving car but it has dealer installed T-Tops(Cars & Concepts) and you cant get replacement parts anymore.

Yikes!!! Aftermarket T tops are 10000 times worse than factory ones (if that was even possible). I think Id find a hard top donor car and do a roof swap (not as hard to do as you think).

 

[jayG]

Originally posted by myclone
Yikes!!! Aftermarket T tops are 10000 times worse than factory ones (if that was even possible). I think Id find a hard top donor car and do a roof swap (not as hard to do as you think).

I considered that but since Im selling the car Im not gonna put anymore money in it. But if I were to keep it and do the swap I'd use a factory t-top donor.

 

[mark b]

Back to the original thread: yes, Yes, YES!

I had an 85 MCSS that I got real, real cheap and used as a winter car. That was a real good deal and smart move because it kept me in the G-Body family and got my GN off the road for the winter.

It was a decent car, and I got 2-3 years out of it, but.... I blew the tranny and decided, OK, let's upgrade this whole thing.
So I put in the Chevy ZZ4 motor, GN TH2004R tranny, Edelbrock TES headers, etc. But I had to keep the thing smog legal, so all that stuff stayed.

When I got it all together and running I couldn't wait to go around the block. What a disappointment! The damn thing was STILL slow. I know without the ECM and $300 replacement smog carb and stuff it could probably do something. But I kicked myself 100 times since then. I wish I had bought a t-type for $5K instead of spending the $ on the drivetrain.

I pulled the drivetrain last year and sold the car for $50.

To top it off, I kept the like-new radiator, driveshaft fully balanced with new u-joints and the $300 carb to sell. One year later, I still have not been able to sell them for anything "reasonable". These cars and parts must be a dime a dozen.

When I blew that tranny I should have just got it fixed, walked away completely or like I said BUY A T-TYPE!
AAGGHH!

 

[88 CuttyClassic]

Originally posted by mark b


When I blew that tranny I should have just got it fixed, walked away completely or like I said BUY A T-TYPE!
AAGGHH!

you should have said f___ the emissions and took that crap off for good. Yeah i know its like a $10,000 fine or something but how many guys here are running open dumps? That isn't exactly legal is it? hehe. But you say your car was slow, slow compared to what? I know plenty of people with Chevy crate 350's in their SS's running good times.

Personally if i swap out my 305 i'm not going carbed 350 but maybe a 396 or LT1/LT4. Regardless thou, i'm still proud of my SS, it gets looks all day long and no one ever asks me if its GN. I don't knock the car, i knock chevy for dropping the ball. If you think the SS is so slow go drive a stock rice burner before the mods. 17 seconds? 18 seconds?

 

[mark b]

Just compared to my GN.....

I think my 69 Cougar unmodified 351W was faster than the stock MCSS.

I didn't say I didn't like the car - I did.

Don't worry, I won't buy a ricer!

 

[Vendor Defendor]

it would have been cool if the MCSS could of had the engine option that came in the IROC's and GTA's. the TPI 305 or TPI 350.

how much horsepower did those have anyways? it would be cool if they came as an option for the MCSS

 

[d0n_3d]

Originally posted by 88 CuttyClassic
Jeez you guys complain a lot. the L69 is way better than the vin 9 307, what a joke. I own an 85 MCSS (stock) and smoked a few hot air TR's. I know i can't compete with a 86/87 TR but i have one bad A$$ looking daily driver thats better than most peoples weekend cruiser. compared to a regular g-body the mcss is a nice little car. I mean i don't know if have your standards to high cause you own TR's but don't knock the SS so much. The SS didn't need the big rear end. The 305 although a notorious smoker is in destructible. The QUADRAJET is a very good carb if tuned right and is not junk at all like stated above. I really think that they are more reliable than a TR that has all those sensors and electronics. I'm about to add a TR to my collection and i'll definetly love the performance over my SS and hurst but i just think the SS isn't nearly as bad as you guys make it out to be. By the way i ran a 15.8 with a bone stock heavily optioned SS, spare tire, stereo system, non posi, 140k on the engine and 93 ocatane. Thats better than stock POS civics and neons. Also didn't the wonderful 94-96 impala ss only run in the 15's with an LT1? Just remember why TR's are fast, they are TURBOCHARGED!!!!!!!!!

you are not supposed to beat a hotair with a MCSS...stock for stock the 84-85 GN is 3 tenths faster in the 1/4 and 0-60's a little better too...now the 307 is a DOG!

http://panthers.pnc.edu/dmudri00/GN/85GNspecs.jpg

 

[mark b]

I have to admit that the carb on my 85 MCSS ran really decent and when I bought a full rebuild with all new solenoids, etc. I didn't want to let it go for free. Still have the thing...

But the one thing that kept me from really staying with the MCSS was cost to move up to fuel injection. I think if it was like the IROC, you could do more with less expense.

I envied the people who did not have to go through emissions and more importantly, emissions inspection. I could have put a Holley Street Avenger on my ZZ4 and got some real HP. If I had some type of fuel injection from the factory, I think I could have gotten more power with little tweaking. Maybe I'm wrong.
But I didn't like the idea of spending a lot of $ to go FI on the MCSS.

 

[88 CuttyClassic]

the TPI swap from my understanding isn't worth the hassel. Putting in an LT1 is a much easier task. I found a wrecked roadmaster and I am thiking about yanking the LT1 for my SS.

 

[PaulBZ65]

The TPI swap is not that hard if you are mechanically inclined. A good used complete TPI setup is pretty damn cheap. I'm very happy with mine...love EFI and the performance over the carb, then again I put on good headers/catback exhaust, and a roller cam and now better gears . 305 is fine for me as its a daily driver spring through fall. Enough grunt to get into 2nd while still burning rubber.

I love Turbo Regals but the SS just has it in looks, and like some said its much easier to make a TR handle like an SS than an SS run as fast as a TR....you cant make the TR look like an SS but you can make it faster . Looks are all opinion but thats my take and many others as well...besides, who leaves a car stock anyways? It always is a kick that people assume an SS they see is stock and don't realize a motor swap is pretty darn simple.

I can't wait for my 383 in my SS next spring/summer, hopefully some folks still think its a *305 dog* that just looks nice. Hopefully I'll add a TR(86' WH1 perhaps) along with my Montes and a 84' Hurst Olds too for a g-body collection .

 

[marc86mcss]

I've been in both worlds too and I gotta say I like the TurboBuick world much better! Don't get me wrong I loved my SS, but the 305 is VERY SLOW(180hp stock) and I dont think there's much potential for a 305. But who keeps the 305 in for long The SS did handle great though and the gauges were nice...looks are good too. I kinda miss my Monte. I was plannin on swapping a LC2 or a LS1 into my monte until I totaled it. Either of those would of been pretty sweet.