Has anyone seen a 1978 Monza wagon U/S(or u/say)

[Greg Reimer 7376]

I worked in various Chevy dealers from summer 1975 to late spring 1980. Never could find that many that you wanted to work for, although the last one,Allen Gwynn Chevrolet was a good store with an excellent service manager. I left them for a job with the County fixing sheriffs cars. Benefits, paid days off and a retirement package were a novel concept for me back then. In 1975, the Chevy Monza came along, and the out of state Monzas had an optional 262 V8 with a 4 speed. The California only Monzas were a 350 with a Turbo 350 and a stronger rear end. That was the car that took a few special tactics to change some of the spark plugs on the left bank. Also, the 1975 HEI ignition specified a spark plug gap of around .060" or something like that. It was easy to gas foul the plugs and then the car wouldn't clean them off, you had to replace them.The only Monza body styles I ever remembered was a fastback coupe with a hatchback, and a two door sedan with a separate trunk. It seemed to me that the only two engine choices were a 4 cylinder OHC unit that had definite block issues, or the 2 barrel V-8. Pontiac had a version of the Vega called the Astre, and I think Buick had a version of it as well.Don't quote me on that, however. The cars weren't that durable, I don't think a V-8 version of one of these would hold up as a stocker since you couldn't add enough stiffness to the unit body with just a roll bar or cage to make it work. As it was, when the 350 Vega swaps got popular, those cars soon got to where the doors didn't open and close very well, front fenders didn't line up, and they had very serious rust issues. Not a good place to start.

[Dwight Southerland]

The NHRA class guide does show a 1978 and 1979 Pontiac Sunbird 2 dr station wagon available with a 305 V8. However, in both cases, the station wagon is lighter than either the 2dr coupe or hatchback. Both are also lighter than Monza or Oldsmobile Starfire models with the 305 V8. With that info, I would not get excited about trying to find that rare body.

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by Dwight Southerland

The NHRA class guide does show a 1978 and 1979 Pontiac Sunbird 2 dr station wagon available with a 305 V8. However, in both cases, the station wagon is lighter than either the 2dr coupe or hatchback. Both are also lighter than Monza or Oldsmobile Starfire models with the 305 V8. With that info, I would not get excited about trying to find that rare body.

Huh..I didn't even notice that earlier. Most likely lighter because it was a Vega in disguise.

[ALMACK]

In 1981 I bought a 1978 Monza Wagon with the 231 Buick even fire V-6 and 4 speed manual.

One of the greatest car I ever owned

[GTX JOHN]

Double Post

[GTX JOHN]

Mark is that the hot 302 / 2 Barrel in 1992 Mustang GT (Marine Cam)@157
engine. I would not think so as that engine was FAST. That engine was prop
rated in a boat (Not Flywhellt

Mine ran 14's at OCIR on the rock hard P Metric Tires - Bone Stock
and 80,000 Miles straight from Dealers Auction

2835 R/S according to Guide.

WOW :That is enough to turn me into a Ford Racer again!

I used to build and sell boats back then = That engine was rated
200 HP AT THE PROP not the Flywheel and it would out run a 305 Chev.
rated at 230 easily.

[ALMACK]

Originally Posted by GTX JOHN

Mark is that the hot 302 / 2 Barrel in 1992 Mustang GT (Marine Cam)@157
engine. I would not think so as that engine was FAST.

Mine ran 14's at OCIR on the rock hard P Metric Tires - Bone Stock
and 80,000 Miles straight from Dealers Auction

2835 R/S according to Guide.

WOW :That is enough to turn me into a Ford Racer again!

I remember when the 1982 Mustang GT came out. Made good torque even with a 2 bbl. carb.

Car magazine editors loved that car because it was the 1st factory hot rod since the 455 Super Duty Trans Ams.
Weak by today's standards, but low 15's back in '82 was quick

[Mark Yacavone]

Originally Posted by GTX JOHN

Mark is that the hot 302 / 2 Barrel in 1992 Mustang GT (Marine Cam)@157
engine. I would not think so as that engine was FAST. That engine was prop
rated in a boat (Not Flywhellt

Mine ran 14's at OCIR on the rock hard P Metric Tires - Bone Stock
and 80,000 Miles straight from Dealers Auction

2835 R/S according to Guide.

WOW :That is enough to turn me into a Ford Racer again!

I used to build and sell boats back then = That engine was rated
200 HP AT THE PROP not the Flywheel and it would out run a 305 Chev.
rated at 230 easily.

Yes (82) About the only carbed car I would build. I don't know where all the Fox bodies went to but they're not in Phx area anymore..Been watching for 5 years.
Various state police agencies used those as pursuit cars when they were new.

[joe huestis]

Originally Posted by Greg Reimer 7376

The cars weren't that durable, I don't think a V-8 version of one of these would hold up as a stocker since you couldn't add enough stiffness to the unit body with just a roll bar or cage to make it work.

Greg, I beg to differ on that statement. Took several years to build while raising a family of 5 children and getting them all through college, I took on the venture of doing a 1975-76 Monza stocker during the 80s and 90s. Raced that car for over 30 years until it puked a rod in 2014. Initially ran brackets with it and finally was able to complete it as a legal stocker around ‘99. Installed Alston frame connectors and 6 pt. Roll bar. Tied them all together. That car would print time slips, very consistent. Ran both the 262 and 350 combos at one time or another. Made more money with that car going rounds than any other car I have raced. Some CCRA racers who post on here can attest to that. Also, don’t forget Briane Philbrick’s Monza out of Canada who I believe is the current National Record Holder in R/SA. His car was built by Don Quinn in the early 80s, painted white at the time and called “Plain Vanilla”. By no means is a Monza V8 stocker a dime rocket though. I was bracket racing my Monza back in ‘83 at Island Dragway in N.J. And this guy comes up to me and says “that car would make a nice stocker “ and I replied that was my eventual intention. That guy was bracket racing a ‘67 Camaro that day. That guy - Billy Nees.

[Lyn Smith]

How tough is it to get a 9" radial under the back of one of these H bodies?