Monte Carlo Masterpiece

we realize this story is about a Monte Carlo. Nonetheless, we thought you'd enjoy this story, because not only is it a Chevrolet, it's one heck of a ride. By FUEL, Issue 3, Chevrolet Performancebr Arrival of warm weather means one thing: getting ready for cruise nights and show season. Over at Chevrolet Performance, its no different. Program manager Gary Mulder and his team are in the middle of dropping an LS376525 Connect amp; Cruise system into an 88 Monte Carlo SS for the 2014 Hot Rod Power Tour in June. So, just like you, theyve been hard at work under the hood of their car. a href"mediawp-contentclassicchevyuploads201405FUEL-lead-shot.jpg"img class"alignnone size-full wp-image-1125" src"mediawp-contentclassicchevyuploads201405FUEL-lead-shot.jpg" alt"FUEL-lead-shot" "650" height"269" aMulder is no stranger to digging through used-car ads and negotiating a like the rest of us, but as it happened, the Monte Carlo in question was only about 6 miles down the road from his own home. His initial intentions for the car were fairly straightforward: We were looking for a full frame vehicle to build up the chassis and the in. As it turned out, the would be used as a SEMA display and ultimately serve as a test bed for the first-ever Chevrolet Performance Crate Powertrain System with a manual transmission. strongOUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEWstrongbr In recent years, LS engines have found their way into more and more classic vehicles. Helping the cause is the Chevrolet Performance Crate Powertrain Systems which include a complete of and offer everything builders are looking for. The Monte Carlo featured here will serve as a to help showcase our latest: the LS376525 engine with a T-56 manual transmission. Stock, this Monte Carlos 180-hp and 4-speed automatic was, to it lightly, anemic at best and was down on from the start. Mulder and his team wanted to give the Monte Carlo the it deserved and bring the rest of the and chassis into the modern age. Mulder tells us, Im amazed to see the levels were able to achieve with the LS engines while even cleaner emissions. Fuel injection and the modern ECM of the Connect amp; Cruise LS376525 and 6-speed manual T56 Super Magnum not only added the desired but also an economic boost in mpg. a href"mediawp-contentclassicchevyuploads2014052014-fuel-article3-ct-well-1-648x364-01.jpg"img class"alignnone size-full wp-image-1130" src"mediawp-contentclassicchevyuploads2014052014-fuel-article3-ct-well-1-648x364-01.jpg" alt"2014-fuel-article3-ct-well-1-648x364-01" "648" height"364" aOther than just a of custom motor mounts fitted to the Monte Carlo to match the LS3 mounting the two seamlessly. Fitting a 6-speed T56 Super Magnum manual transmission into the tunnel where a 4-speed automatic used to live required a bit more lovin. Standard for automatic-to-manual conversion is taking a blade to the tunnel to reposition the shifter linkage But the Chevrolet Performance team wanted to keep the cutting to a minimum and the interior looking as clean and stock as Instead, a custom shifter was fitted one that keeps the stock shifter location but connects to the T56s shifter further back down the tunnel. The LS376525 and T56 Connect amp; Cruises clutch system hooked up nicely and all they needed now was a clutch which was sourced from a 1986 Chevrolet Malibu. strongPUTTING REIGNS ON THE HORSESstrongbr When a 525-horsepower engine into a classic Chevrolet, the Chevrolet Performance team always upgrades the other vehicle systems to ensure a well-rounded, safe car. To help keep any car shiny-side up, modern high-performance brakes and suspension are the best bet. To compensate for the increase in and difference in weight with the new LS376525 and T56 Connect amp; Cruise setup, suspension upgrades and disc brakes were fitted at each corner. A custom-built shaft and 12-bolt rear axle assembly were also installed to handle the increased levels. With the addition of these upgrades, the Monte Carlo should have no keeping up with todays sports cars. strongKEEPING YOUR COOLstrongbr At cruise nights, the lack of constant airflow can choke the engine. So, when increasing your horsepower, increasing the engine cooling capacity should be a to keep the engine temperature healthy. Its important to install a high-performance cooling system, and you might as well do it the first time around rather than having the green from your wallet (and your engine) down the line. stronga href"mediawp-contentclassicchevyuploads2014052014-fuel-article3-ct-well-1-648x364-05.jpg"img class"alignnone size-full wp-image-1131" src"mediawp-contentclassicchevyuploads2014052014-fuel-article3-ct-well-1-648x364-05.jpg" alt"2014-fuel-article3-ct-well-1-648x364-05" "648" height"364" aCUSTOM TOUCHES INSIDE AND OUTstrongbr In a bid to match the coming from under the hood, the Chevrolet Performance team also went hard to work on the interior. Welded to the original G-Body frame is a black roll bar to help cope with the epic amount of torque coming from the LS376525. To help keep the driver in and out of the lap in hard turns, Recaro sport seats were fitted up front. A common hurdle found on or resto-mod builds is fitting wider tires under the wheel arches, in this case Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric2 27530ZR19 front and 29535ZR19 rear tires. To work around this (quite literally) crescents were cut out of the wheel arches and then outwards. A spacer was then TIG-welded in the gap and smoothed out. This relatively simple trick keeps the original contours and, most importantly, keeps the wheel arches looking stock. Another jewel in this Monte Carlos crown is the custom grille. The honeycomb design was milled from a single block of billet aluminum and then to match the rest of the cars one-off shade of blue. The Bowtie was fashioned much the same way and TIG-welded onto the custom grille. The team then the Gold Bowtie cover from a Chevrolet Sonic to upgrade it from the bare silver. Other custom include 3-inch stainless-steel exhaust tubing bent as needed to make its way the upgraded suspension, drivetrain, and out under the rear of the car. The Chevrolet Performance team went so far as to attach a special charcoal filter system to the exhaust so the LS376525 could be enjoyed inside convention halls without the drawbacks of smelling gasoline fumes from a vented fuel tank. stronga href"mediawp-contentclassicchevyuploads2014052014-fuel-article3-ct-well-1-648x364-06.jpg"img class"alignnone size-full wp-image-1128" src"mediawp-contentclassicchevyuploads2014052014-fuel-article3-ct-well-1-648x364-06.jpg" alt"2014-fuel-article3-ct-well-1-648x364-06" "648" height"364" aTHE FACTORY AT YOUR FINGER TIPSstrongbr Fitting this 88 Monte Carlo SS with the LS376525 Connect amp; Cruise is a realistic build for any dedicated hot-rodder. With the right tools and skills, the techs at Chevrolet Performance were able to add a few one-off touches that made for one truly unique Monte Carlo. For the most though, the Chevrolet Performance team aims to complete builds that average do-it-yourselfers can tackle in their own garages. Although the car was found through an online ad, all the ECM, and electrical systems are available directly through the Chevrolet Performance catalog. a href"mediawp-contentclassicchevyuploads2014052014-fuel-article3-ct-well-1-648x364-07.jpg"img class"alignnone size-full wp-image-1127" src"mediawp-contentclassicchevyuploads2014052014-fuel-article3-ct-well-1-648x364-07.jpg" alt"2014-fuel-article3-ct-well-1-648x364-07" "648" height"364" aWant to get an up-close look at this reborn 80s icon? Catch the Monte Carlo SS LS3 during the a href"http:www.hotrod.compowertourpowertour2014registrationislive"2014 Hot Rod Power Toura this summer. a href"https:www.chevrolet.comperformancefuel-newsletter.html"https:www.chevrolet.comperformancefuel-newsletter.htmlabr