Hi guys!
Awhile ago I bought a Monte Carlo bar for my '65 GT. Needless to say, the fit is really tight and doubt the holes line up exactly. Forcing it in to place will seriously scarf my engine bay paint job. Any suggestions? Or has anyone else dealt with installing a Monte Carlo bar? I have thought about jacking the front end up, that the distance across the inner fenders might open a tad, but I doubt it with the Export brace installed. Open to any thoughts on installing the damn thing...

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the problem your having is that the engine compartment has began to cave in just a tad due to the weight of the engine. You have to relize these cars are 40+ years old, and over time the engine bay will begin to sag, and in doing so, makes it extremely hard to install an export brace or a monte carlo bar. What you will more than likely have to do is take you car down to an alignment shop, and they have special machines that can actually pull the engine bay panels out to where there were and to where there supposed to be. As far as the chipping of the paint, you may be SOL because you will need to modify where the shock towers are set, and it will/ can chip paint. Unfortunatly this is true for many of our old ponies, and it sucks, bu nonetheless if you want the added strength, you need to do some mods.

 

Thanks for the reply gta289. I do want the added strength. The front inner fenders and radiator support were replaced during the restoration of this vehicle last year. I had them remove the original couplings for the braces at the shock towers and installed an Export brace, it dropped right into place with little trouble. Undoubtedly a 40+ year old car experiences some changes in dimensions, can't argue with that. I just got the motor in the car a few months ago and had the front end aligned as I had replaced just about everything on the front suspension. They did a marvelous job and it tracks perfectly.

Anyway, I am seriously considering cutting the Monte Carlo bar at the falnge, fitting it and re-welding the flange to the bar to make it fit. The width of a hacksaw blade and perhaps a little filing should give me the fit I require. Just a thought...

 

hell yeah way easier to do, i always assume that a lot of those among us dont have a welder let alone know how to weld, but do it to it man, once you paint it no one will even notice and will still keep that front end tight under load

 

i remember hearing to jack the front up. It actually says to right near the monte carlo bars in a catalogue i have.


maybe you could loosen the export brace a bit if that dosent work.

 

I had some problems with mine but Hutchamatic pointed out the fact I had a bar from a 67 not a 65. Once I got the right bar I put plastic sheeting behind the flanges and drove it right into place with a rubber mallet. It did scratch it some but nothing a little touchup paint couldnt cure

 

Jack her up and let the front end sag for about a week. If that doesn't do it, then a bottle jack between two 2X4s will put the shock towers back to factory specs. You can always sand and repaint.

 

i have a question about the carlo bar will it still fit with the stock air filter or do u need to have the performance intake?

 

Jack the car up by the cross member bolted under the engine and let it hang a while like Soaring said. Depending how bad it is this may do the trick.

 

Yes it will fit a stock car.