It hardly seems possible the summer had came and gone already.

Most people I talk with say they too feel we really didn't have much of a summer. Way too cool weather wise.
(must be that global warming and all)

We attended as many car shows and cruise-ins a possible.

Along with the area car events we also attended the Monte Carlo mini-meet held in conjunction with the Muddy River Run in Ft. Wayne, IN the first weekend in august. Lots of nice cars and trucks at this event I've never seen before.

I was able to get some new pics of my '57s.

With winter coming I'm getting the itch to drive my '57s as much as possible. While we still have decent weather on hand.

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We own four Monte Carlos.

A 1981 LC Monte. Bought this from the original owner's son in the fall of 1996.

A 1986 LS Monte. The guy I got the car from claimed his dad bought it new. I found out the car sat at a Chevy dealer on Woodward Ave in Detroit. So how it got to the Dayton, OH area if it was still new is beyond me? I got it in december, 1996 with lots of miles and abuse. I've tried my best to make it a nice car again.

A 2003 SS Pace car replica Monte. We got this car in may, 2008. The original owner bought the car new at a Chevy dealer in Greenville, OH. It was traded in to a Pontica dealer in Greenville, OH. A net friend located the car for me and we bought it.

A 2006 LTZ Monte. I got this car in october, 2006. I am the first private owner of the car. It had 10,xxx miles on the odometer when purchased. Right now it has 14,540 miles on it.

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Dang, I think I forgot to post on here I had the missing Pace car decals installed on the '03 Monte. This was april 24th. The graphics shop did a real good job installing the decals for me.

Right after the decals were installed I think the car got 10 times the stares it got before hand?

I think a lot of people were trying to figure out, "Is that a REAL Pace car?"

We took the car to a recent show in Watervliet, MI at a place called Lane Automotive. It got it's share of admirers. There were so many nice cars and trucks at this show.

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I've been having so much trouble with this car recently. The battery keeps going dead. And the car is still under the factory warranty.

On friday Oct, 24 the battery was dead. I charged it for almost 4 hours. Moved the car like needed and that was that.
On saturday Oct, 25th tried to start the car but the battery was dead again. Only charged it for like 20 minutes which I knew wasn't enough.
So of course on sunday the battery was dead again .

On wednesday Oct, 29th I called the Chevy dealer and asked them to look at the car. (which made about the 4th time they'd looked at the car for this problem since I bought it).

They kept all day wednesday, said they "FULLY" charged the battery and the car was fine. I picked the car up on thursday (found it'd been setting out all night, that's another story) took it home and parked it.

On friday Oct 31st I got in the car at midnight....... HUH? the batteries dead again!!!

I even called the dealer and left a message who I was, what I calling about and how UN-happy I was.

Monday called the dealer, called Chevy to complain, called the roadside assistance people cause I thought I'm paying for the warranty, I might as well use it.

So here it is wednesday, they've had the car two full days now and no word from them or the Chevy manager who called me monday evening at 7pm explaining he would get this resolved for me.

This dead battery problem has been an issue with the car ever since I bought it. Infact at least 5 - 6 times I just went ahead and charged the battery myself.

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Took the 2003 Pace car Monte to a car show on Oct, 4th that I always attend.

At the awards the first number the called was our car. (KEWL!)

Before we even got back to the car with the trophy, they called out over the loud speaker for us to bring it back. It wasn't our's.

Pretty embarressing having the return a trophy infront of 200 people. They said they'd called out number 378, not our number 387. But other pepple heard them call out our number as well.

So gave the trophy back and we left. I didn't care at that point whether the car won anything or not.

The following thursday at a local cruise-in a buddy who was also at this previous car show walked up and handed me TWO awards he picked up for us at this show. (guess they were feeling guilty for making us return the first trophy?)

Anyways, it was a very nice surprise.

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Been working on cleaning, detailing the '03 Monte Pace car.

This thing cleaned up real nice with a little TLC and some wax.

If you have never clay barred your ride before, you won't believe the results. Mequiars and Mothers both sell quality clay bar kits.
But if you drive your ride daily, or it sets outdoors imperfections attach to the paint surface. The clay bar helps to smooth the paint giving great results.

In july I had the driver seat repaired at a upholstery shop. The PO slid in against the seat and damaged the first panel. So the upholstery shop replaced that panel plus the one directly above it for me. And he added new foam. All for $125.

I'm trying to get the missing decals for the car. I think once added, they will really dress the car up more.


09/05/08
Drove the car to a large swap meet yesterday. We had a bit of rain in the morning and I was concerned about mud in the parking field. Old woman taking money at the gate said there was no mud. "RIGHT!"
Had to stop by a car wash on the way home and wash the car.
You just can't trust some people.

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This is a picture of my latest toy ('57 #6)

I bought a few parts off ebay for it recently. Just waiting on some decent weather to work on the car.
(no heat in the garage)

A little history on this car.
It hasn't seen the road in 30 years. A guy from this town got the car in 1975 as his very first car. From what I can tell, he only drove the car one year. The rest of the time it sat in someone's back yard with no engine.

It's a wonder it didn't get parted out in those 30 years?

January, 2004 I spotted the car at a body shop one block away. I asked if I could look it over? The shop said they were going to do a frame off for the owner. In spet, 2004 I got rearended on my way to work. After I got out of the hospital I took my damaged car to this body shop for repairs. I noticed the '57 setting at the street instead of behind the building so I asked the owner's son, "Is it up for grabs?"
He said "Yes. $350."
I walked home, told the g/f I do not need another toy but for $350 it was stupid to let this '57 get away.
We walked back to the body shop and this time talked with the owner's other son who said, "No, the car isn't $350. It's $300 and we'll deliver to you anyplace you want."

I couldn't get the $300 out of my pocket fast enough.

That night after the shop closed, they delivered the '57 to me.

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The 50 degree temps we had last sunday made it tough to go back to the single digit temps all this week.

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Just waiting on warmer weather so I can get out to some car shows.

PS. This is not a photo of a car show. It's my backyard.

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The '57s are all nestled in the barn waiting on warmer, dryer weather to come.

Do I have cabin fever. (ugh)

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At this point (february) plans are to attend the '08 Montes@MIS and the Monte Nationals.

Not sure if either Monte is going to the Nats but the '06 will definately be at Montes@MIS.

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Recently I've noticed a strange, oily puddle under the pass front of the '06. I let it go for a time cause I thought it was just from the snow we'd had? That snow had melted off my daily driver and ran under the '06 Monte? But days later it was still there and evaporating any? So I called the Chevy on the morning of jan 31 and asked if I could bring the car in? It was nice of them to get the car that same day.

So a drive to the dealership, they put the car on a hoist to have a look/see. But nothing? Not even any spot that looked like it once was wet? They even walked me back to the service area so have a look for myself. Nothing?

The mechanic said he suspected the A/C drain on the firewall? But I hadn't driven the car in weeks. How could that be?

I did get a nice compliment from the mechanic on how clean the underside of my Monte is. He said he wished all cars he wered on were that clean.

So back home the car came and back in the barn under it's car cover.

Some members of Monte Carlo Forums suggested to check the A/C to see if it still has a charge? That the refrigerant didn't leak out? Or the power steering for a possible source of the mystery leak?

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Finally got my rally stripe kit in october, 2007. I hired a local graphix shop to install them for me. Most places wanted $100-$150 to do the install. This shop said $50 and they'd stand behind their work.

They did a great job on the install. Just we both read the instructions wrong and so the stripes got installed wrong. So it's either live with them or buy a new kit.

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Had to have the Tire monitor system repaired a little while back. I was on the state of Michigan and got a message the tire monitor system needed serviced.

While the dealer had the car I let them repair they scratches they left in console when they replaced the CD player. They said they weren't sure if they were suppose to charge me for this or not? I was sure!!!
And they did not charge me for repairing scratches they made.

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06/08/07

Still trying to get the Onstar backup battery replaced in the '06 LTZ Monte. The dealer s bragging their feet on this.

The battery went dead in the car a couple more times but the dealer says they can't find anything wrong? So?

Working on the '86 LS. Trying to get it ready for the Monte Nats at the end of this month. Sure wish the PO had taken better care of the car instead of abusing it.

I purchased a few new parts for the car like new carpet from Mike @ Mike's Montes. Now to get it installed.

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04/2007

We attended the Montes @ MIS event in Michigan.
It was so cool being able to take the car around a Nascar track.
Sure hope we get to do this again in '08.

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As of december, 2006 CJ has got towels to cover the leather seats and front floor mats.

I also purchased a king size blanket from Sears ($19) to cover the car for now.

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