Bad Ideas are Ideas, Too

"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
05/03/2018 at 10:31 • Filed to: None

So I got that Monte Carlo a week ago, and I’ve been thinking about what, exactly, to do with it. Ultimately I want to do an 80s NASCAR thing with it, with a 350 and a stick, but for the moment it has a perfectly good 305 and 200R4...what of them?

I had bought this last week, a Jeg’s Stage Control line lock kit and an open element air cleaner. Sweet Trav gave me some sage advice on the computer conrtrolled q-jet I’ve got on the car now (which wasn’t what I wanted to hear at the time, but he was 100% right, so thanks Sweet Trav), basically that the open element air cleaner would be too much for the computer to figure out and I’d lose power. Nobody likes losing power.

So, what I’ve decided to do is completely remove the smog system and computer control from the car. I’d be doing that when I go to a 350 anyway, so I may as well start now. So I’ll pick up a cheap carb and intake manifold (preferably a carb that needs to be rebuilt, I’ve always wanted to rebuild a carb), some headers, and get all the computer control stuff out of there.

“But the 305 still won’t make any power.” Yes, completely true, so...

The great thing about the 305 is that I don’t care about it. The best thing that it could do is make a few passes and then blow up spectacularly. And that kit would bolt right onto whatever motor I replace the 305 with, so that just makes sense to me.

Besides that, I’m thinking drop spindles in the front with stock springs and a 1 or 2 inch drop in the back. Then I’d like an old school stock car exhaust, duals that exit ahead of the RR tire. And for wheels...

Aw yeah. See, my car is black with a red stripe down the side, and when I think of that in terms of NASCAR, what comes to mind is this:

A Lumina, sure, but probably the best looking movie race car I know of. So silver wheels with big ol fat white letter tires is what the Monte Carlo will get.

Anyway, that’s the plan for the Monte Carlo. Abuse it until the 305 or 200R4 bites the dust (or doesn’t!), then get started on the actual good stuff.

DISCUSSION (18)

crowmolly > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
05/03/2018 at 11:06

For the price of the nitrous kit and a 10 lb fill you could probably get a junkyard Vortec 350. Pretty easy to get to 375-400hp. Get a cam, Air gap intake, square bore carb, and go. It’s stupid easy. Hell, it’s already a roller block.

But honestly that’s as far as I’d go these days with a Gen I build (unless it was a drag motor). Once you start sinking too much into a Gen I it’s a better idea to go LS.

BeaterGT > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
05/03/2018 at 11:12

Hmmm nitrous. You have a place you can get it filled?

Future next gen S2000 owner > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
05/03/2018 at 11:12

Might I recommend an LS7 as your next motor of choice.

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
05/03/2018 at 12:06

I can’t remember if Bassett makes DOT legal rims. Yup they do, https://www.bassettwheel.com/dot.html

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > crowmolly
05/03/2018 at 12:08

You have to be careful with the cam specs on a Vortec equipped motor. Too much lift causes problems. You have to get the spring seat cut down to run a higher lift cam.

crowmolly > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!
05/03/2018 at 12:12

True. But Comp offers beehive springs that help with that issue with no machining required.

Back in the day anything over .450 was a gamble due to retainer to guide clearance.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!
05/03/2018 at 12:31

Yeah, they look the same but they’re about 4lbs heavier because thicker steel. I’m sure the non-DOT ones are plenty strong, but the price is the same so I’ll go DOT.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > crowmolly
05/03/2018 at 12:33

If I wanted to go to the trouble I could pull a 5.3 LS out of a Yukon at my local junkyard for less than $300, which is bananas. I’m planning to do an engine build with my dad over the winter, so right now I’m just seeing how I can have fun with the 305 through the summer.

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
05/03/2018 at 12:42

Better safe then sorry. Also, you may have to upgrade your stud size. I remember from when I used to help a friend with his Street Stock dirt track car, the studs were much bigger than stock ones. He was running these, https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Oversize-5-8-Inch-Coarse-Wheel-Stud-Short-Knurl,17472.html

Bassett wheels says right on the page I linked earlier that your stock lug nuts won’t work. Not sure about stud size, that isn’t mentioned on the page.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!
05/03/2018 at 12:44

Good call, these wheels are lug centric so you don’t want to skimp on studs.

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > crowmolly
05/03/2018 at 12:47

Oh, didn’t know that they were able to solve that issue. Thanks for the info.

Sovande > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
05/03/2018 at 13:17

Where do you live? I want a $300 LS in my El Camino.

Sovande > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
05/03/2018 at 13:18

I have an Edelbrock 1406 with electric choke I’ll sell you. It was recently rebuilt, but that doesn’t mean you couldn’t rebuild it again!

Sovande > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
05/03/2018 at 13:20

It’s interesting. My g body has a 350 and a carb and no computers and all I want is fuel injection and a computer so it’s easy to tune.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Sovande
05/03/2018 at 18:52

Rhode Island. Pick N Pull price for a fuel injected engine, complete with accessories, is $180 plus core...which I want to say is $50 or $70. The place is crawling with 03-04 Tahoes/Yukons/Suburbans...last time I was there there were at least four complete motors, three of them were 5.3s, one a 4.8.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Sovande
05/03/2018 at 18:53

Ha, its true, I could always go back through it. I’ve got a bid on one on eBay ending tonight for $15 plus shipping...thats cheap enough that I don’t mind ruining it, haha.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > BeaterGT
05/03/2018 at 18:53

Yeah, theres plenty of places around here...oddly there’s a Pep Boys in Seekonk that does it, which seems weird to me because its Pep Boys.

Sovande > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
05/03/2018 at 20:13

That’s cheaper than I would sell mine for! Good luck! My 7 year old son and I rebuilt mine this winter, it’s a breeze, really. I had never done it before and it went back together with no issues and fired right up. I ended up getting a Holley Street Demon 625 in its place. I have a crate 350/290 with an Edelbrock intake, headers and a 2.5" exhaust. Only problem I am chasing is an intake gasket leak (I think) that is fouling the #1 plug.

I keep thinking about heads and a different cam, but by the time the parts are all bought it would almost be cheaper to go with a different engine.

I lived in RI for a few years and loved it, by the way. Beautiful place.

Have fun!