Monte´s "Garage"

[rixtrix1]

Midwest snips

I just got a set of these snips last year! They work great! Only German tools I have are from Knipex and they far surpass any other brands for a similar design. Having an El Camino in Europe has to be a rarity! No German cars for me to work on, but my wife's new Buick EncoreST is on an Opel designed platform. My ancestors are from near Jossgrund, Hesse. I wish I could afford more German tools, but I already have $$$$$ of Snap-on.

 

[Monte]

I just got a set of these snips last year! They work great! Only German tools I have are from Knipex and they far surpass any other brands for a similar design. Having an El Camino in Europe has to be a rarity! No German cars for me to work on, but my wife's new Buick EncoreST is on an Opel designed platform. My ancestors are from near Jossgrund, Hesse. I wish I could afford more German tools, but I already have $$$$$ of Snap-on.

Knipex is very nice ! Can´t go wrong wit them Not many Elco´s were built unfortunately, but american cars are generally scarce over here. On the other hand there is a annually El Camino meeting in Holland !!!: https://www.elcaminomeetingmeijel.com/en/
Buick Encore = Opel Mokka. But now Opel is french...Do you or anybody from your family still speak german ? Don´t worry Snp-On is good too....






more decoration material:

Proto Made in USA spinner handle:

and a new shirt:

 

[rixtrix1]

I speak a little, but I learned it in high school. My dad was fluent. My niece does very well, but again high school and living 14 monthsin Spangdahlem when her partner was stationed at the Air Force base there helped. A brother-in-law n Chicago is fluent as most of his family( aunts, uncles and cousins) still reside near Cologne and he handles all their money issues. If you don't use it you lose it for sure. I wouldn't go hungry in Germany but most people there would probably tell me to stop butchering their language and speak English.

 

[Monte]

@rixtrix1
interesting to hear that there are still people who speak german. It seems there are many people in Pennsylvania who still speak some kind of german and i also learned about Texan germans... Would be interesting to visit these places...Hopefully they won´t tell me to stop butchering their german language and speak english








some things i added: pliers, grease and cheap parts washer:

 

[drivesitfar]

MONTE: WELCOME BACK and good to have you posting up some good old made in USA tools (along with the ones made close to you).

hopefully you are healthy and doing ok during these crazy times?

 

[Monte]

MONTE: WELCOME BACK and good to have you posting up some good old made in USA tools (along with the ones made close to you).

hopefully you are healthy and doing ok during these crazy times?

Thanks Hadn´t much time for posting but i´m back now
Yes everything is ok, hope you´re doing well too and that your plans and new year´s resolutions will be fulfilled !








Since my vehicle lift only came with a power outlet on one column (air + 2 phase) i wanted to make my own power outlets for both sides with an added 3 phase outlet.

So i made these steel plates:


drilled and tapped some holes...


...so the outlet fits and can be attached:


...to be mounted here:


drilled some more holes:


test fit:




Painting:


attached:


stripping the wires:


Finished !

 

[Krokodil]

Great job Monte!

Did you cut the hole in the post or was it already there for some other purpose?

 

[drivesitfar]

All good here and thanks for asking.

just curious did you somehow rivet that plate to your lift or are my old eyes tricking me?

nice work in any case!

I'm guessing the new part is working as you intended it to?

 

[Monte]

Great job Monte!

Did you cut the hole in the post or was it already there for some other purpose?

Thanks Krokodil !
The hole is original. The lift came with a "energy unit" on one column like in the pic below:

The other column comes with a hole too but there is just a cap/cover on top:
(you can order another "energy unit")

I wanted additional power outlets for 380 volts for my welder so i build these new units. They don´t offer something like that from the factoy.












L.C. King pants made in USA

some brochures for my brochure collection:

and some tools: Snappy deep 1/2" metric sockets

 

[Monte]

All good here and thanks for asking.

just curious did you somehow rivet that plate to your lift or are my old eyes tricking me?

nice work in any case!

I'm guessing the new part is working as you intended it to?

It´s difficult to see, but they´re tiny (i think M4) hex head countersink screws:

Thank you very much !

of course ! Made in Germany ! so it works...








and some more tools

Snap On carbon scraper set:

 

[Monte]

@Krokodil:
here is a pic of a garage buddies Nussbaum lift:


@drivesitfar:

This is the control unit of the lift:


it´s attached with countersink screws:


That´s why i copied the look.
(i have to get the paint right though...)












More garage decoration: Chevy metal sign:

 

[Monte]

a shirt i got from my tool pusherman for free:

and a new drill (not for free )

and a winter pic

 

[Monte]

Since i store my battery chargers in a cabinet so they don´t get dusty i had to build a holder for my Snap-On charger so i can attach it to the door but also can remove it quickly....
The construction:

 

[drivesitfar]

nice fabrication work Monte!!

your El Camino looks lonely in the driveway. do you drive it much during your winter months? my guess if you do you probably put 1000 pounds or so of gym weights or steel in the back to give it a little grip on the snow and ice? OR maybe you like doing donuts (circles) in it on the ice when the back wheels spin.

cheers!!

 

[Monte]

nice fabrication work Monte!!

your El Camino looks lonely in the driveway. do you drive it much during your winter months? my guess if you do you probably put 1000 pounds or so of gym weights or steel in the back to give it a little grip on the snow and ice? OR maybe you like doing donuts (circles) in it on the ice when the back wheels spin.

cheers!!

Thanks drives !

It´s my daily driver. I usually drive 7 days a week.
Unfortunately/luckily the snow is already gone Sometimes i carry loads, no gym weights though (but good idea ) The main streets and highways were already de-iced in the night. The small streets are dangerous though...braking is no fun in the winter... Didn´t try donuts this year so far. Maybe by the end of the year But it would be better if donuts would work without snow too (but more expensive though )

a new shirt

NOS Wagner flasher relais

new shop decoration (Chevy neon clock)

more brochures: "Oldsmobile/Buick...Eine andere Welt" ("a different world")

and some tools: hose removal tools:

 

[drivesitfar]

great to see more pics of the El Camino.

since gym weights are maybe a bit spendy in your part of the world too with a lot of the steel factories still shut down putting cement blocks in back of your El C for more traction might help. or studded tires. things to think about for next year when you want to do some controlled donuts in the snow.

have a great weekend

 

[Monte]

great to see more pics of the El Camino.

since gym weights are maybe a bit spendy in your part of the world too with a lot of the steel factories still shut down putting cement blocks in back of your El C for more traction might help. or studded tires. things to think about for next year when you want to do some controlled donuts in the snow.

have a great weekend

I tried christmas trees instead of gym weights



Studded tires or screws in tires should work well !

Unfortunately not allowed anymore....only chains...
Thanks !


new tools:
(3/8" impact extension set)



and my "new" car:
(not the white one )

 

[Monte]

Some more pics of my new ride. It´s a 1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442

 

[harley jim]

Re: Monte´s "Garage"

Nice car, Always liked that body style I had an 85 Monte Carlo LS

Sent from my SM-A102U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Monte]

Re: Monte´s "Garage"

Nice car, Always liked that body style I had an 85 Montie Carlo LS

Thanks ! Good taste The G-Bodies, but also the B-body coupes have a certain style which i like very much. A simple classic 3 box design....how cars should look like

Here´s my 1988 Monte LS.....still a couple of things to do....

 

[Matt XYZ]

Re: Monte´s "Garage"

Monte,
Great collection of G Bodies, especially for Deutschland! The Cutlass 442 looks really sharp and it looks like major rebuild on the Monte. My 78 Malibu hasn't left the garage since fall. Probably a few more weeks until I'll start driving it again. It's not worth switching to snow tires and dealing with all of the salt.

I'll don't have any good Germany pictures yet This is the from the day it arrived at the Zoll office.

 

[Matt XYZ]

Monte,
Do you have pictures of converting the rear brake lights and turn signals to TUV specs on Monte Carlo and Olds 442? The Olds looks like it will be a challenge with the single vertical tail light. I'm reluctant to cut out the red turn signal plastic lenses to replace with clear/yellow. How is the El Camino modification holding up?

Sorry to hijack your thread.

 

[drivesitfar]

looks like you found another good old MADE IN USA car!!

I like the Christmas trees in the back of your EL Camino, but do tell were you buying up trees for the neighborhood or ??

so the 88 MONTE needs just a little more work?

 

[Monte]

Re: Monte´s "Garage"

Monte,
Great collection of G Bodies, especially for Deutschland! The Cutlass 442 looks really sharp and it looks like major rebuild on the Monte. My 78 Malibu hasn't left the garage since fall. Probably a few more weeks until I'll start driving it again. It's not worth switching to snow tires and dealing with all of the salt.

I'll don't have any good Germany pictures yet This is the from the day it arrived at the Zoll office.

Thanks !! I always wanted to own a brand new car. Why not a Monte Carlo
Very nice looking Malibu ! Looks like new ! At least it was freshly painted ? btw. Nice exhaust ! Which tire/wheel size do you have installed ?

Monte,
Do you have pictures of converting the rear brake lights and turn signals to TUV specs on Monte Carlo and Olds 442? The Olds looks like it will be a challenge with the single vertical tail light. I'm reluctant to cut out the red turn signal plastic lenses to replace with clear/yellow. How is the El Camino modification holding up?

I´ll wait for the olds electrical troubleshooting manual so i have the wiring diagrams. I´ll use the back up lights as flasher. (Back up lights are mandatory for cars from 1987 and newer) I will rewire everything after the TUV anyway.... The El Camino lights are back to original.... No problems so far. (btw. yellow lights to the front are illegal too...)

Sorry to hijack your thread.

no problem.

looks like you found another good old MADE IN USA car!!

I like the Christmas trees in the back of your EL Camino, but do tell were you buying up trees for the neighborhood or ??

so the 88 MONTE needs just a little more work?

yes This time a real american car The El Camino is hecho en mexico....

Yes i got them for a good price so i sold them to neighbours etc. .... "the money is laying on the street" is a german saying....Most ppl still wants a tree every year....

yeah just a bit ....maybe a new screw here and there..... but i think i can start driving next week





Some new headlights for the Olds:

new muffler and clamps for the El Camino:

and a new screwdriver and matching bits:

 

[Monte]

Some more pics:

one grille was attached with screws from the outside, so i plugged the holes with epoxy so i can attach the grille again from the inside:

one headlight bezel had a broken hole so i used epoxy to restore it:

I´ll paint the parts with mat black later.

I also polished the taillights just for fun

before:

after:

new work light:

new 1/4" ratchets:

 

[drivesitfar]

looks like you are pretty busy. nice work too on the growing collection of your daily or once in a while drivers.

do you wear a hat? i've seen some amazing CLIP ON lights that might help you when you are working around or under your cars you might look into cause sometimes it's easier to point your head where you are looking instead of trying to place a light. I don't know what's available to you over there, but it seems like you are able to get more USA products than most if you can't find them locally.

keep up the great work and thanks for sharing the pics and progress.

 

[Monte]

@drivesitfar:
Thanks

I have this "neck light" which i like very much. You can wear it on your head or around your neck. You can adjust the angle of the lights too. Headlamps cause headaches for me. A light for a cap is a nice idea but i usually don´t wear one, and if it´s cold i wear a beanie so it wouldn´t work. If you can try one of the neck lights (doesn´t have to be this brand EZ Red has them too e.g.)







Removing the interior to install a new carpet, clean everything and to repair the drivers power seat:

 

[Matt XYZ]

Re: Monte´s "Garage"

Thanks !! I always wanted to own a brand new car. Why not a Monte Carlo
Very nice looking Malibu ! Looks like new ! At least it was freshly painted ? btw. Nice exhaust ! Which tire/wheel size do you have installed ?


I´ll wait for the olds electrical troubleshooting manual so i have the wiring diagrams. I´ll use the back up lights as flasher. (Back up lights are mandatory for cars from 1987 and newer) I will rewire everything after the TUV anyway.... The El Camino lights are back to original.... No problems so far. (btw. yellow lights to the front are illegal too...)

Thanks Monte. I had the car repainted about two years ago to refresh the 20 year old paint job that was faded. The exhaust dumped to the sides right behind the rear tires. I know this is verboten here so I had the pipes run to the rear before shipping it over. I want to try to tuck them in a bit more so they don't hang completely below the body.

The turn signals are still a concern for me in the future. I still have to figure out what to do. Luckily the TUV on the military base is not so strict and we can have pure US spec cars.

For the wheels and tires- I'm running 235 70R15s on the rear and 215 70R15 on the front. I will have to look up the wheel specs if you need them. They just fit width wise without rubbing the frame or the fender since it overhangs the top of the tire. They do occasionally brush on the rear the frame during hard driving but there is no rub marks on the tires.

The picture shows the old exhaust before I shipped it over. I prefer this to the long pipes under the bumper.

 

[Monte]

Re: Monte´s "Garage"

Strangely the TUV didn´t say much to the El Camino exhaust only something like that the pedestrians will "benefit" from the exhaust fumes....
I´ll figure something out for your flashers, but if you can drive your car as it is it would be nice so you don´t have to mess with anything. That would be cool. (maybe i should apply for a job in the US Army ) Thanks for the info about the tires. I´m still debating what to do...small or big... I´m also thinking about 18" or 20" wheels for the El Camino...("Iroc Z" wheels...) ...
Thanks for the pic of your car, it looks really clean. The original side exhaust looks better imho...but the other one is ok too




Hooked some cables to the seat to figure out why it don´t move, but quickly found the problem....



The motor --> transmission coupler was broken and the whole transmission housing was coming apart...



....so i got a new housing from Captain Cadillac:



...cleaned everything:



luckily it fits



Everything back in place...and it even works now



Added some tools to the arsenal:

Snappy 1/4" drive metric hex bits:



Blue Point upholstery/door panel pry tool set:

 

[Matt XYZ]

Monte,
Thanks and I agree the side exhaust is much better and I'm glad I don't need to modify the lights yet. I enjoy following your builds and work. You are doing a great job on all of the G Bodies.

 

[Monte]

Thanks Matt. Somebody has to take care of the G Bodies over here too ;-)


The weather was good so i cleaned the wheels



new chemicals/oil



some parts for the Olds + Elco



Pulley puller + installer



new steel toe work boots

 

[drivesitfar]

Since you like American cars and tools I’m wondering if you also celebrate Thanksgiving. Yes? In any case I wanted to give you my best wishes and hope all is well in your world.

 

[weatmaster]

Oh wow, its been a while.... Where are these new compressor and sand blasting unit pictures?

Btw. Do these long Snap Off bits run smooth - have lots of those long bits but none of them is really straight.

 

[Matt XYZ]

Monte,
Any updates on your G Body projects? It's been over a year since the last post.

 

[Monte]

Sorry for the late reply

Since you like American cars and tools I’m wondering if you also celebrate Thanksgiving. Yes? In any case I wanted to give you my best wishes and hope all is well in your world.

just the normal german style christmas on december 24th. No turkey either Thank you very much

Oh wow, its been a while.... Where are these new compressor and sand blasting unit pictures?

Btw. Do these long Snap Off bits run smooth - have lots of those long bits but none of them is really straight.

see below
What is a acceptable runout for you

Monte,
Any updates on your G Body projects? It's been over a year since the last post.

I will post more often again... the El Camino is a rolling project, the 442 project is halted and a new project started






meanwhile....
some additions to the shop....:

sandblast cabinet



added a larger compressor



new wheels for the Chevy

 

[drivesitfar]

Good to see you posting here again. Have you been watching Don Long’s el Camino thread? He took it down to bits and pieces and is just painting the stripped body and underneath on his rotisserie now. If you can’t find and need a link just ask.
“Making my 70 el Camino a show car is the title of his thread.

Take care!!

 

[CGarage]

Monte:

We all want to see how you organize your tool box, as one of our most valuable and influential members.

Let’s see that toolbox organization my friend and I am sure you have some unique ideas from the German point of view that would be valuable.

 

[Monte]

Good to see you posting here again. Have you been watching Don Long’s el Camino thread? He took it down to bits and pieces and is just painting the stripped body and underneath on his rotisserie now. If you can’t find and need a link just ask.
“Making my 70 el Camino a show car is the title of his thread.

Take care!!

Thank you for the info ! Yes i found it:

Making my 70 El Camino a show car

A little back history on the car I bought it back in 2000 for a daily driver while I was creating a new bodyshop in Van Nuys Ca. One day we needed a car to work on so I gave up my El Camino for a fresh paint job. we never finished the car. I brought it home and started working on it The body...

www.garagejournal.com

very nice project ! subscribed ! Thanks !

Monte:

We all want to see how you organize your tool box, as one of our most valuable and influential members.

Let’s see that toolbox organization my friend and I am sure you have some unique ideas from the German point of view that would be valuable.

i will post some pics in the future !








Some more tools i added to the made in USA collection






added a new tool box a while ago




recent pics of the camino with new shoes (20x9" Iroc)




and the new project and future daily driver:
1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass

 

[jon72vega]

The El Camino is a beauty!

 

[Monte]

The El Camino is a beauty!

Thanks !
btw. nice Chevy Vega !!!!



some more pics of the Olds:



drivers side


passenger side front end


passenger side front fender


passenger side rear fender


drivers side in front of rear axle


drivers side rear fender