HJ Monaro Coupe Restoration Project Part 1
46We are speaking to Phil Davies about his 1974 HJ Monaro Coupe LS that was original Casino Blue in colour, like the King chrome Toolboxes. The Monaro LS is 1 on 300 of these vehicles built which make this a rare vehicle to have for any collector. Phil has the original 308 engine for the Monaro still for just in case he decides to sell it for the future.
Phil’s idea is to have a GTS Monaro like what you could ordered back at the dealership in 1974, with the GTS factory paint, interior and wheels. However, he has decided to have a 383 chevy engine instead of the factory 308 motor. So, the car will be running 383 chevy with Serpentine System, Turbo 400 Transmission and of course a 9” diff to finish the drive train. He will be putting in a Power Steering unit for comfortable and easy drive experience. On top of that, the Monaro will have upgraded brakes and suspension systems to handle the power of the 383 engine as it cruises down the road.
The 383 chevy engine came out of a well-known Holden Panel Van called “Vanpyre” that went to the Van Nationals at Bathurst and the van did a lap of the circuit at the event. Phil states he has a Bathurst engine in his Monaro now. LOL
Phil has owned the Monaro now for 7 years; however, this vehicle has been of the road longer than that due to accident in the rear quarter panel that stowed in the back of the car and bent the chassis. Due to this, others have brought the car with great intentions and then realised its not a job they want to tackle at all. However, Phil has already done the hard yards and unstowed the back, corrected the chassis and strengthen all areas again like new.
He was lucky that he brought the vehicle, all the parts and other project requirements before the prices of the vehicle went through the roof. So the budget is end up being around $75,000 all up, which is great for the vehicle they are bring back to life.
The are going to take the Monaro back to bare metal because the find surface rust underneath the body filler that was on the vehicle. Once they have achieved this it will be put in primer straight away.
The Monaro will be painted in Deville Blue or Jade green. He remembers being 12 years old going to Melville Motors after school and sitting in the new GTS Monaro’s in the Car yard and the salesperson giving them stickers to get them out of the cars and the yard. But he always made a bee line for a Jade Green GTS HJ Monaro with Slate Black interior and still remember the smell of the vehicles just thinking about it. All the images came flooding back from his childhood and he has always wanted to own one since. So now, its Phil’s chance. The Engine Bay will be paint Factory flat black to keep that factory look.
The have been several areas on the Monaro project car that make you ask” WTF is that” or “Why would you do that” from the previous owners before Phil. However, after each discovering Troy and Phil just laugh and go fix it.
Phil would like to give special thanks to Troy Thornton for helping him refabricate key areas of the car and helping with the overall restoration project on this HJ Monaro Coupe. They have been helping each other for years rebuilding cars in gravel driveways and painting in the open. So good old friends.
He would also like the thank William Mair from Corvettrics for all the Mechanical and Electrical works for this vehicle and several other vehicle Phil has owned over the years. They have been doing business for over 20 years together. Check them out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cor.vetrics.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of the HJ Monaro Coupe Restoration Project that will be coming soon and the changes from this time we saw it. We will also be showing more video of his HQ 1 tonner project as well over the next couple of days.
Please comment and share with us on what the worse thing you have found during a restoration, rebuild and custom build project. We love to hear your stories.
Show us your Bitching Ride!
----------------------------- CONTENT OF THIS VIDEO ------------------------------------------------------
00:00 Intro
01:12 Interview with Phil at HJ Monaro
16:25 Looking around the HJ Project
38:08 Working on the HJ and Discovered crap hidden under panel
44:09 Closing interview with Phil about his HJ Monaro
44:25 Outtro of Video