73 Monaco wagon

[MonacoBlue]

Well, while waiting on the interior I used some SEM paint on the D-pillar plastic panels. They were originally from a green ‘junker’ at Leon’s Salvage, I think. I like the results, but the color I chose is too white and not enough “sand/beige” to match the factory color of the other old panels. I’ll probably get another can of SEM a darker tan shade. Otherwise, pleased with the results.

 

[MonacoBlue]

Darkening up to make both closer to original. I have since painted both to look like the one on the right. These were both green originally.

First one was SEM “Super White”, 2nd color (closer to original) was “Phantom White”.

 

[Beep Beep Dave]

Dave,

What kind of 4bbl would you recommend? I see ads recommending an electronic throttle body. In discussions I have heard the 4bbl (sadly) wouldn’t add that much more power to the car, even with the dual exhaust it now has, but that a 4bbl would improve driveability. I understand the 400 would need new heads and cam along with a 4bbl, to get noteworthy power gains. Then there is the 451 stroker option, which is appealing, but I am also told a crate 5.7 would cost less and be more driveable. And the purists would probably come after me with torches and pitchforks for even thinking such thoughts. Ha ha. Right now I just want to get the car together and drive it with an interior, before winter starts. I would be happy if I could just get it to run right in stock configuration. I sure did like the extra responsiveness I felt when I took all the seats out for recovering, however!

I would like to keep it looking stock under the hood.

I am not sure what I would recommend. I would just see what I could find. There are lots of options. Its too bad you didn't have something kicking around. I wouldn't personally go to the expense of fuel injection or new heads. Just keep it simple.

Dave

 

[TxDon]

Dave,

What kind of 4bbl would you recommend? I see ads recommending an electronic throttle body. In discussions I have heard the 4bbl (sadly) wouldn’t add that much more power to the car, even with the dual exhaust it now has, but that a 4bbl would improve driveability. I understand the 400 would need new heads and cam along with a 4bbl, to get noteworthy power gains. Then there is the 451 stroker option, which is appealing, but I am also told a crate 5.7 would cost less and be more driveable. And the purists would probably come after me with torches and pitchforks for even thinking such thoughts. Ha ha. Right now I just want to get the car together and drive it with an interior, before winter starts. I would be happy if I could just get it to run right in stock configuration. I sure did like the extra responsiveness I felt when I took all the seats out for recovering, however!

I would like to keep it looking stock under the hood.

Assuming the rest of your engine is in good shape and that your fuel delivery and ignition systems are working correctly I would just use an Edelbrock 600cfm with electric choke. It worked great for me out of the box on my 383, relatively cheap and simple to install. DO NOT go with a Thermoquad.

 

[mopar440]

Assuming the rest of your engine is in good shape and that your fuel delivery and ignition systems are working correctly I would just use an Edelbrock 600cfm with electric choke. It worked great for me out of the box on my 383, relatively cheap and simple to install. DO NOT go with a Thermoquad.

I second that, got that on my wagon 413

 

[MonacoBlue]

Thanks everyone. Would I need a special “kickdown” rod for the transmission? Anything else? Obviously I’d have to get a new manifold too. Would like to keep it looking stock.

 

[Mr C]

I know a lot of folks have trouble with TQs (for some reason I never have), but they work great with today's crap fuel...that phenolic bowl DOES make a difference. I have both types of carb and Edelbrock suffers from heak soak on hot starts, whereas my TQ just fires up effortlessly.

 

[mopar440]

Thanks everyone. Would I need a special “kickdown” rod for the transmission? Anything else? Obviously I’d have to get a new manifold too. Would like to keep it looking stock.

I used the lokar cable set up, there's alot of combinations of those kickdown linkages

 

[MonacoBlue]

Got some pics from the shop. Pleased with progress on seats. Pleats, moveable armrests, piping/welting, diagonal stitching with buttons, all were a high end addition for seats, “back in the day”. I’ll post more pics when I get them.

 

[polara71]

Can i say this again?
" I can't believe this is a junkyard car"

 

[azblackhemi]

Can i say this again?
" I can't believe this is a junkyard car"

" Brought back from the dead" certainly applies here.

 

[MonacoBlue]

Thanks everyone. The interior is getting a much needed transformation. Carpet, seats, headliner. Can’t wait to see it in person. I’ll post more pics as available.

 

[TxDon]

Got some pics from the shop. Pleased with progress on seats. Pleats, moveable armrests, piping/welting, diagonal stitching with buttons, all were a high end addition for seats, “back in the day”. I’ll post more pics when I get them.

View attachment 407475

View attachment 407476

WOW. Is all of that a duplicate of stock or an upgrade? Leather or vinyl? Looks fabulous.

 

[MonacoBlue]

WOW. Is all of that a duplicate of stock or an upgrade? Leather or vinyl? Looks fabulous.

Duplicate of stock, it’s vinyl. It was hard to match, it is a high grade vinyl. They made something ‘similar but different’ on early 70’s Cutlass, but that GM spec stuff had more “shiny metal flake gold tone” to it. This material came on a roll, from SMS. There are actually two different types of vinyl in the seat. The side facings are a slightly different material, closer to pure white. I used to work in an OEM seating company, so this stuff has been kind of fun to see come together.

 

[MonacoBlue]

WOW. Is all of that a duplicate of stock or an upgrade? Leather or vinyl? Looks fabulous.

Thank you.

 

[MonacoBlue]

Back seat. Row 2.

 

[MonacoBlue]

Going to try my hand at de-din-gee-ing the door panels. They’re not in bad shape, the white panel in the upper armrest area just needs brightening up. I got some SEM paint for the job. It’s “Sailcloth 15603”. I told them I didn’t want gloss and I didn’t want flat, sort of in between.

 

[MonacoBlue]

I cleaned some of that fine Oregon loam out of the cracks. I’ve cleaned these a bunch before with Dawn-type soap and lanolin hand soap. They just refuse to brighten up, sadly. I’ll probably wipe them down with an alcohol wipe to get any residue off them.

First step is removing the “Monaco” emblem. It is staked on. It’s made of METAL. Not plastic! I just used an old pocket knife and gently pried on the washers and they fell off with a little effort.

Here is the backside of the emblem, and the stakes that secure it, along with the (2) “lock-washers”, or whatever they are called.

 

[MonacoBlue]

Removing the door lock post hole surround. Or whatever it is called. I found an old Solingen pocket knife with a broken blade in the spare drivers seat I bought from a junkyard out of a 74 Monaco. It’s the perfect tool for this job!

 

[MonacoBlue]

Passenger front door all taped off.