Thread: 2002 Monte Carlo SS Dragster?

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I'm not looking for a 10-second car or anything but I can get my hands on a well-babied 2002 Monte Carlo SS for cheap (plus I love it's looks) and I don't have MUCH money but I'll be able to put about $20k overall into the car. Is it possible to lighten this car up and give it enough HP (and grip) at the *front* wheels? Any advice would be appreciated.

(i'm no mechanic so if i make a stupid suggestion or if the suggestion of this sounds stupid... yah... just lemme know some alternatives)

Main Alternative: Wait 4 years and buy a used '05 GTO and make minor performance upgrades (or if the '06/7 is b*tchin maby that) instead. Just curious about the Monte cause of it's sleeper potential.

Follow-up:
I know the idea might be dumb - lemme know if i'm just waisting my time.
(and if this set-up won't work & why)

I think i'm going to go with the 350 GM Block, supercharged with dual quad carbs, headers, full exhaust repipe (bigger & better) from front to back, lighten the car any way i can w/out getting too risky (suggestions welcomed), and sway bars, etc to keep from too much traction loss on the front wheels on takeoff. Any and all suggestions welcomed. Thx.

Well, I guess I'm the king of stupid stuff on this forum. I think if I were gonna do this, I'd use a Cadillac Eldorado or Olds Toronado front-drive unit in the Monte. At least the TH425 and the diff would be strong enough to handle a pretty good load of hp. You might even change your mind about the SBC and decide to use a 500 cid Caddy with upgrades to the valvetrain.

I would cut it up and stretch the body over a rear wheel tube chassis. I'm the 1 track minded 1. HEHEHE

The Pontiac Grand Prix (same car) with the 3.8L supercharged engine can get into the 11's with the front drive set up. One guy did build rear drive Grand Prix and I think he used an GM Gen III engine. The car was nice, but he had over 100K invested in it.

yah... I don't have anywhere NEAR that kinda cash. Anyone know what would be a good engine under $5k that would fit into the Monte'? It's got a HEUGE engine compartment (should fit dam near a big block lol... ok not quite). Suggestions would be welcome... could I get it doing low 13's for under $11K? Plz remember: I only have cheap access to the Monte' not the GP

Originally posted by GTOLover
yah... I don't have anywhere NEAR that kinda cash. Anyone know what would be a good engine under $5k that would fit into the Monte'? It's got a HEUGE engine compartment (should fit dam near a big block lol... ok not quite). Suggestions would be welcome... could I get it doing low 13's for under $11K? Plz remember: I only have cheap access to the Monte' not the GP

The Monte Carlo and Grand Prix are the same car. They have the same engines and transmissions. You need a 3.8L supercharged engine and a 4T65E transaxle. Check out The L67 Swap Forum.

if you are planing on keeping it front wheel drive you can get lots of good parts for the 3.8 suppercarged engine from intense racing

gto gto gto. my sister loves hers 2005 with a stick in it. you may find one that needs some work .and it is rear wheel drive and the ls type small block in them this is a very awesome small block. i work on a zo6 recam air box hedders and ex and some head work. this small block. i was very impressed

Here you go... This is an AWESOME car...

Built by these guys...
http://www.w2wpowertrain.com/

Wow, $100k. That's pretty sad. and it's only running 11s? lol.

Geez, i got a friend with a 3800 SC citation and it's running 11s...and he doesn't have much done to it at all.

GTOLOVER, here's your goal

Get the car to about 3000lbs.

Check the aftermarket (lots of parts for the SC 3800)
It's rated (series 2, you have the series 3, same engine, different "pretty" cover) at 240hp, 260ftlbs at the wheels.

Not bad for a 3.8L v6.

Get an underdrive pulley for the supercharger, boost it to about 14lbs, port and polish it, port and polish the intake, cold air intake, polish/bore the Throttle body, get the computer chipped by a good programmer (not diablo or superchips, but an inhouse little shop mechanic who will really unleash the power) that alone will get you into the 350hp range..that's enough to take a 2500lb citation into high 11s.

Now, you could go NOS, but that's kinda ..well..i hate NOS. lol. but it's up to you Now get you a camshaft, pnp the heads, mill em', larger valves, valve job, new rocker arms and valve springs.

But you can go alot further, have the block punched out to 4.1L, get a lightened crankshaft, and get a higher stall converter, some slicks, gut the interior, ditch the power steering, A/C and anything else that's not used (if it's only a drag car, if it's daily driver keep it all, keep the interior in tact and you can expect mid-low 11s)

Lighter rims. Draglites or something, You'll need the JA2 (5x115mm bolt pattern with FWD offset)

Also, you could get old school weight-redux (what does a 21yr old kid know about that?) by drilling random holes (1/2" -1") in the frame and engine cradle. Be sure not to compromise the integritiy and rigidity of the car, that'd be bad!

There ya go, you should have 10s on about $6-$10k. And if you can do the work yourself (porting/polishing) you'll spend alot less.

My friend had his citation in the 11s with like $3k into it. but that was a 2500lb car


YOUR OTHER OPTIONS

A supercharged NORTHSTAR (it'll fit.) or a 4.9L PFI caddy engine.
The 4.9L caddy is rated (by gm) to be 200 hp and 300 ftlbs, and the northstar is rated higher, but truth be told, tests and reviews have been done and the 4.9L is actually quite a bit more powerful than what GM said, and makes more power than a northstar. Or so i've heard from some reliable sources.

You could go all out, get a 4.9L from a good upull it, a custom ecm,
Snag the wiring harness, ecm, engine, trans, a oil filter relocation kit, and get some custom solid mounts made. Then do a twin turbo setup. heh..that'd be a bad ass motor.

The engine/trans should set you back $500 at a good you pull it.
DON'T GET A 4.1L..lol gutless.
then the comp flashing..$200-300, mounts will vary.

Or with a northstar, i'll have to check in on all the requirements on swapping it in.

It's been done on a few fieros and some gm abodys (citations, celebritys, pontiac 6000s, buick centurys, etc)

There are 3800lb GTPs that are running mid 14s with just a few hundred dollars in bolt ons...so 10 seconds isn't going to be too hard.

And if you were to drop a RWD V8 in it.. you'll need to cut the whole center of the floorpan because it'll need a transmission/driveshaft hump, plus a custom rear end /mounting points, it'll require some cutting of the firewall too. Custom exhaust to clear the steering rack, alot of work really.

OR IF YOU REALLY wanted a V8..get a FIERO archie V8 swap kit. It makes the 440t (or whatever trann you got now) bolt up to a 350small block, LT1 , LS1 , your choice really. But realize you'll need some really custom mounts because the engine cradle is different on the monte than the fiero, you'll need custom radiator hoses, some custom wiring, dual electric fans (pullers and pushers to be safe..big engine) plus you'll have to worry about the extra length of the V8 vs the V6 (the extra cylinders, larger crankshaft pulleys, need a short water pump etc)

It can be done, but you MAY have to cut some of the strut tower housing and slide your struts over 1-2 inches. Not as easy as you'd think.

Dallas


Just my $1.02 cents

if you want to go as fast as you can, the best bang for the buck. i bought a 225 wheelbase rear engine dragster for 11,500 it ran 8.40 @ 165 mph right off the trailer. you talk about a rush. i went from a 12.90 camaro to that, what a difference. you can buy them all day for that. better have a long garage.

Start with somthing that is fast to begin with.

I am biased toward fords but my little bro went 11.5s with 5k invested in a 92 5.0 notch. And that includes the price of the car