Maybe someone here can tell me what I cut up yesterday. It was an early Monza (round headlights). It had a Buick V-6 hooked to a TH350 hooked to the rear via a channel bolted to both. The rear had bosses cast into punkin to do this. The rear was also a coil spring job with panhard rod. the fuel line ran up the passenger side fender well to the top and was connected to a huge Stuart Warner fuel pump. Everything looked like it came from the factory that way. This car was rotting into the ground and I was told to cut it up. Wish I had my camera. I don't know much, but I know they didn't all come that way. Any takers?

Such a loss.

Yup it’s a spider, they also came with a V8.

I had one back in the late 70’s that had the V8 in it.

Shame you cut it all up. You could have dropped a V8 in it. Mine would pass anything, made the trip to work one day in under 10 min, 26 miles from Worcester to Framingham, Mass. Course I was younger and dumber.

edit to add

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Monza

Steve

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Technology is great when it works,
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't.
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 05-14-2009).]

quote Originally posted by 84fiero123: Yup it’s a spider, they also came with a V8. I had one back in the late 70’s that had the V8 in it. Shame you cut it all up. You could have dropped a V8 in it. Mine would pass anything, made the trip to work one day in under 10 min, 26 miles from Worcester to Framingham, Mass. Course I was younger and dumber. edit to add http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Monza Steve

I thought all spiders came with a V8?

My dad had a few Monza V8s, he still wants to build another one someday.

its the late 70's offspring of the old Vega Cosworths
the unibody was weak, and prone to cracking
but, yes - another of the way fun small car/big motor combos
GMs answer to the Mustang ][

Reminds me of the Alfa Montreal.



Nick

[This message has been edited by fierofetish (edited 05-14-2009).]

I haven't thought about my old Monza Spyder in years!

I owned a '80 Spyder like this one:



305 V8 with a 4 speed manual trans.
The thing made more noise than horsepower.
If I recall correctly, I swapped out the 2 bbl rochester carb for a 4 bbl Holley and an Edelbrock manifold which gave it better performance.

I do remember a Car & Driver article at the time saying that the 4 spd manual trans "is like stirring an iron rod in a bucket full of boulders"...they were right.
Bought mine new, (ordered), and I also remember A/C not being an option with the 305 V8 as there was no room for it.
The Monza Spyder was basically a factory V8 Vega.
Before I got rid of it I had installed the full IMSA bodywork, (add on panels and air dam).
Very cool car at the time. Earned me more than a few speeding tickets back then too!

[This message has been edited by randye (edited 05-14-2009).]

Yup. I had a 1979 Monza Spyer with V8 (changed up to a 350) and 4-speed Muncie transmission. The Chevy Monzas were available with V8s. The Buick and Pontiac versions only had 4's and V6's.

Another one of GMs "5-year cars". Somewhat of a small "cult" following http://h-body.org/index.html





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World of Wheels Winners
My 3.4L S/C 87 GT
& My SD4 Indy

[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 05-14-2009).]

Old girlfriend had a 1980 town coupe with a duke and a 4 speed. Dropped the 265 V8 from a wrecked 75 Monza coupe in there and had a blast.

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1986 SE 350 V8

looks like an old cavilier crossed with a chevette or somethin..

quote Originally posted by AJ7: looks like an old cavilier crossed with a chevette or somethin..

The Monza was based on the Vega chassis and was to have GMs version of the Wankel rotary. The rotary didn't meet emissions or mileage requirements (not sure which) and so was released with a 2300 4-cylinder - and later the Iron Duke (seems to be GMs usual "solution" to mileage). They later also had V6's while the Monza Spyder could also be had with a small block Chev V8 - first a 265 cu. in. and later a 305 cu. in. Both were based on a destroked/detuned 350 block, making a "real" 350 swap a simple R&R (remove and replace) job.

[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 05-14-2009).]

Hmmm...
Actually, the small Small Block was a 262. Not a 265.
IIRC, it had the 3.48 stroke of a 305 and 350, with a little tiny bore.
It made all the right V8 noises, but wouldn't pull a greasy string out of a cat's butt, at least in stock form.
The one that I had, had a 500 CFM Carter AFB, that helped. A little.
Mine was a 4 speed car that also had air conditioning.
I don't understand why A/C wasn't available with the 305 (which was made available in late '76.)

But I wan't satisfied with the 262, even with the AFB.
I ended up swapping in a 350/300 that came from a 70 Impala. That really woke it up.
I had a lot of fun embarrasing '84 Corvettes and the first year ('85) IROCs.

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 05-14-2009).]

quote Originally posted by Raydar: Mine was a 4 speed car that also had air conditioning. I don't understand why A/C wasn't available with the 305 (which was made available in late '76.)

That's interesting.
I specifically remember wanting A/C on my 80 Spyder and being told by the dealer I ordered from that it wasn't avaiable with the 305 V8
That car was the first new car I had ever ordered and not taken from dealer stock, (they didn't have the blue color I wanted).
This thread has had me poking around all over the web today, looking at Monzas!
I even tied a search for Monzas for sale in the Tampa Bay area and came up ZERO
Haven't tried Craigslist yet.
Should I really get interested in Monzas again along with this damn Fiero thing??!!

I had one for a few months around 96 or so. It was silver with the big spider on the hood. 1978 with a chevy 350. It was pretty well built up and would plaster you to the back of the seat. I loved that little car. But I loved the money I made off it when I sold it even more!

quote Originally posted by Raydar: It made all the right V8 noises, but wouldn't pull a greasy string out of a cat's butt...

I can honestly say that I have NEVER heard that expression before!

quote Originally posted by Patrick: I can honestly say that I have NEVER heard that expression before!

PRetty common phrase in TN As I remember, in my childhood, it was usually in reference to Chevy trucks

quote Originally posted by 8Ball: Pretty common phrase in TN

Makes you kinda wonder what the origin of the expression would've been.

quote Originally posted by Patrick: I can honestly say that I have NEVER heard that expression before!

The really disturbing part is trying to figure out how the string got in there...

quote Originally posted by Khw: The really disturbing part is trying to figure out how the string got in there...

I would imagine the string would've gone in the other end... hopefully.

quote Originally posted by Khw: The really disturbing part is trying to figure out how the string got in there...

Well, if that cat is anything like our stoopid cat It ATE it!
I have this fear of coming home one day to see yarn hanging out both ends of my cat.

I had a '78 Olds Starfire with the 3.8 Liter, a '77 Sunbird with a 3.8 liter odd fire. (look that one up) a '78 Sunbird 3.8 liter, 79 Sunbird 3.8 liter, '80 Monza with the Duke and a '76 Astre with the dreaded Vega 2.4 liter. I did put a 350 in a '78 Monza for a buddy. Loved them all, the Starfire and the Monza were 4 spds the rest autos. These are all the same car with different skins. The 79 Sunbird was traded for my '85 Fiero in 1989. All bodies were in very good condition when I got rid of them except for the Starfire. The front left lower control arm almost rotted of before I stripped it.

Rich

quote Originally posted by silver 85 sc: I had a '78 Olds Starfire with the 3.8 Liter, a '77 Sunbird with a 3.8 liter odd fire. (look that one up) a '78 Sunbird 3.8 liter, 79 Sunbird 3.8 liter, '80 Monza with the Duke and a '76 Astre with the dreaded Vega 2.4 liter. I did put a 350 in a '78 Monza for a buddy. Loved them all, the Starfire and the Monza were 4 spds the rest autos. These are all the same car with different skins. The 79 Sunbird was traded for my '85 Fiero in 1989. All bodies were in very good condition when I got rid of them except for the Starfire. The front left lower control arm almost rotted of before I stripped it.

So Rich, what has this got to do with a greasy string hanging out of a cat's butt?

You know, I wish people would just stay on topic.

quote Originally posted by Patrick: I can honestly say that I have NEVER heard that expression before!

Hey... We're here for ya'!

Randye - wasn't the small chevy V8 at the time a 267, rather than a 262?

quote Originally posted by olejoedad: Randye - wasn't the small chevy V8 at the time a 267, rather than a 262?

I know you said Randye, but I hope you don't mind if I jump in.

The 262 was available in the Monza (and Nova?) in 75 and early 76. The RPO was LV1. (I mis-spoke earlier. The 262 did NOT have the same stroke as the 350. That was the 267. The 262 had a different bore and stroke from everything else.)
The 267 came along in 79 or so, and was installed in larger Chevys. Seem to remember seeing one in the "downsized" square body Impala.

Go here... http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...t_Small-Block_engine

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 05-15-2009).]

quote Originally posted by randye: This thread has had me poking around all over the web today, looking at Monzas! I even tied a search for Monzas for sale in the Tampa Bay area and came up ZERO

Monza Mirage in AZ http://browse.autotradercla...conversationId=56218

V8 Monza website http://www.v8monza.com/

More pics http://images.google.com/im...-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi

My dad had a v8 and it was a nightmare to work on. He was always complaining that the smallest job took forever because there was just no room to work under the hood.

quote Originally posted by silver 85 sc: I had a '78 Olds Starfire with the 3.8 Liter, a '77 Sunbird with a 3.8 liter odd fire. (look that one up) a '78 Sunbird 3.8 liter, 79 Sunbird 3.8 liter, '80 Monza with the Duke and a '76 Astre with the dreaded Vega 2.4 liter. I did put a 350 in a '78 Monza for a buddy. Loved them all, the Starfire and the Monza were 4 spds the rest autos. These are all the same car with different skins. The 79 Sunbird was traded for my '85 Fiero in 1989. All bodies were in very good condition when I got rid of them except for the Starfire. The front left lower control arm almost rotted of before I stripped it. Rich

Were any / all your 3.8's set up like this one. Most importantly, I thought they were leaf sprung cars. This coupe predates any spider and is a shame it rotted into the ground over the last 10 or so years.

had a 77 spyder in 79. in calif. the 262 wasn't smog legal so they had 350's but the cylinder heads had smaller valves and a tiny cam. they were rated at 125hp. in 77 305 came out(140hp in spyder) and it replaced the other v-8s. i went to the dealer back then 1979, and ordered new v-8 5.7 litre emblems that were on the front fenders of the cars then, to replace my 5.0 litre emblems. in mich. no one had ever seen them before then, of course i had to improve the power to match the emblem. those cars were a lot of fun, but the chassis was not very strong. the 4 spd v-8 cars were the worst with lots of front end problems. i still think about getting another but it is hard to find one that is in good shape. the chevy power book back then used to road racing body panels for a monza that looked so cool, but was expensive. try looking up dekon monza, they had one on speed tv at the moterey histric races and it kicked butt, but those announcers didn't talk much about it as they all like the foreign cars. it was cool to see that walk past all the best that the world had to offer at the time with a little old small block chevy and good old american ingenuity.

Other than mine being overall metallic blue, I found this pic that looks pretty much the way I had my Monza Spyder decked out with the IMSA body kit just before I got rid of it. I had clear plexi covers over the headlights and a got another Spyder hood decal that went on the tunnel ram.



If I could find another V8 Spyder in decent shape for the right price, I think I'd be very very tempted to have another project car

[This message has been edited by randye (edited 05-15-2009).]

My sister's first husband had one when they were dating. It was a V8 4-speed. You had to pull the engine to change the spark plugs. (or so I was told)

quote Originally posted by Formula88: My sister's first husband had one when they were dating. It was a V8 4-speed. You had to pull the engine to change the spark plugs. (or so I was told)

Almost....
I remember having to take the motor mount loose on the drivers side and jacking the motor up slightly to clear the steering shaft in order to change plugs...
Thats when you fully realize that you have a V8 stuffed into a Vega chassis!