The journey of Bob’s Monte Carlo goes back many years just like most people. After a divorce and other personal issues he realized while out in Vegas with friends that he needed to get back to who he was and do something for him. Being broke and struggling to get by he knew it would be a challenge but it was what he needed to do for himself. Bob has a long list of cars he would love to own just like all of us. While searching on craigslist as far as PA there came across a 1979 Monte Carlo. The ad was over a month old but he figured what the hell and sent an email inquiring about it. After a few days there was no response. So he moved on and picked up a 1985 S-10 that he wanted to do a SBC swap in. 2 days after purchasing the s-10 he got a response about the Monte Carlo , stating it was still available and he had been away on vacation. So Bob headed out Long Pond, PA right passed the Pocono race way to take a look at the car. Having no money but this being the car he has always wanted to build, with a $1800 cash advance on his credit card he headed out.
His first impression as he walked up the drive way and saw it was “This is it”. He negotiated and got it for $1500 leaving him just enough money to put insurance on it and drive it back to long island. His brother took him out to PA for go pick it up and was amazed at the condition and how well it ran. With only some minor rust issues it was clean, straight and solid floor pans. The car had the original 305 with a rebuilt th350 trans and highway gears in the rear. Black with the white vinyl interior, working radio, and the car didn’t need much other than a new windshield.
Bob drove the car around for a month until a bearing in the transmission blew a leak and that’s where it all started. In his spare time he was flipping, scraping and parting out cars with his brother for some extra money. One car they picked up as a late 80s suburban with a 350 motor for $300. Bob took that motor and pulled out the tranny out with it. Doing the normal cam, intake and carb swap and fixing the trans while he was at it. He scrapped the suburban for $450 making a nice profit and getting a better motor while he was at it. The next step was to change the heads, the motor had been dying at 4500 rpm and needed to be changed. The set of heads for the motor fell in his lap, or should we say on his foot. His brother owned him some money so in exchange he got a set of trick flow heads, the same heads that had fallen on his foot breaking a bone.
The car was just supposed to be a budget build to cruise around with, do some burn outs and enjoy. The beginning of what the car is now started with a tax refund, the first real money he would put into the car. Bob bought an 8.5 rear and drive shaft for the car and bought new upper and lower control arms from UMI. Still continuing to do side work with his brother he picked up a 010 bare block and complete long block for $200. Bob was able to flip the motor for $900 after putting in a cam and lifters. Having a few extra bucks and a good strong bare block, his friend’s engine builder just so happen to have a 383 stroker kit from a previous customer. A motor that was the top choice he wanted and so the build began.
This is about where most of us met Bob and his infamous build thread started and brings us to what it is today. It’s a 383 pump gas powered small block chevy with a th350 transmission and a ford 9” with 4.56 gears. The 10 point roll cage and anti roll bar were done by Thrift-way Auto in Hempstead . There are many plans for the car, New transmission, take more weight out of the car, frame notch and mini tub, and eventually some nitrous.
To speak to Bob today, go to our Members Section - Bob. Or you can just find Bob floating around our website, as he is a Moderator. Great, super smart funny car guy. Trust us when we say, he drives his Monte Carlo a lot on the street as well as the track.
