I started to put my monte carlo bar in today and have a few questions? At first it starts to slide right in place but the fenders have moved a tad inward so it gets tight real fast. I got the g/f to help me today hold one side down while I beat the other into place with a rubber mallet. I got it in far enough till I could throw 2 bolts in it to hold it in place.

Questions, do the factory holes for the suspension brace on the other side ever line up nicely and you can use them? It looks like I might be able to get one hole per side if i'm lucky. If not I guess I'll have to drill new holes in places when I get it seated nicely? And also make sure I have the suspension brace in place too since Ill have to drill through it aswell, right?

Also, on the driver side the inner fender has though little "bulges" and the one is in the way of the bar, normal right? I think I can just beat the flange over the bulge and tighen it down...

Thanks...
Nic

 

Stop everything. Jack up the car from the outer pinch welds to allow the engine compartment to 'settle'. Then install the bar. There may be more in the FAQ section but there is definately more if you use the search feature.
Jim

 

I've been redoing my suspension for like a year now so they've been on jacks for along time haha. I need to only move it down about 1/2" - 3/4" more till its flush with the top part.

 

Put a floor jackin the center of the lowercross member and lift it up. Be sure to have tires installed. See if that helps spread the towers.

 

Where did you place the jackstands? If they are under the frame rails, the shock towers will not spread as much as if they are placed under the pinch weld near the front edge of the door. You want the front end to sag so do what JamesW suggests first. But I just don't like using the crossbar - too close to the oil pan.
Jim

 

I need to dothis too. My Monte Bar is too tight. I took a five pound hammer to it and still could not get it all the way in. I looks like two jack stands on the engine crossmember and let it sit over night or so. Everthing I have read suggests doing that.

 

You used to have one on there John. Isn't your AC compressor in the way?

 

A curved bar will hit the compressor but a straight bar will work. It does go right over the distributor, so I am not going to install it until I do some other work. At first fit, it looks like it will fit and not hit anything.

 

My Monte bar wouldn't fit so I cut it at both ends, reworked the flanges for a better fit (complex angles) shortened the bar, bolted on the flanges and had it rewelded for ten bucks. Then I took it off, cleaned it up and painted it. Fits perfect and lays nice and flat.