1964  Rear Engine Conversion

"Monzilla"

Marvin purchased this 1964 Monza Convertible from a wrecking yard in Tucson AZ in January of 2002 and began the restoration in 2005. Later in 2006, he decided to install a V8 in the rear so he removed the stock 110 engine and planned for the V8 transplant. He made all the adapters and custom brackets except for the crankshaft adapter which his machinist friend, Ron Early, made for him.

He purchased a used reverse rotation 327 engine that was originally in a 35 foot Chris Craft cabin cruiser, and rebuilt the engine to the following specs: bored .060" over,   Edelbrock aluminum Performer cylinder heads, stock Chris Craft hydraulic camshaft, 1965 Chevrolet 1/2 ton truck oil pan, custom made vibration dampener, coated block hugger headers, and a Edelbrock Streetmaster intake manifold with the carb flange machined parallel to the crankshaft. He used a stock Carter AFB 4 barrel carburetor and an Edelbrock air cleaner that was shortened for clearance.

He installed a Carter electric fuel pump in the front of the car, a high torque starter, a Chris Craft solid brass remote mount water pump and a Hitachi 37 amp alternator.

Magnaflow stainless steel mufflers, stock Corvair torque converter, flex plate, transmission and differential. He strengthened the differential with a 4 spider setup and 1/4" steel top cover. He drilled the transmission for a oil cooler to keep the fluid cool.

The aluminum radiator is mounted in the trunk and uses a Ford electric fan to move the air which enters the trunk via the two inner headlight positions and after passing through the radiator core, exits via the trunk floor which is partially cut out. The battery is installed in the trunk as well as the radiator overflow container.

Marvin  used all stock suspension and springs and says it handles and corners as good or better than a stock Corvair with outstanding straight line performance although no quarter mile drag passes have been made yet.

He replaced the Monza dash and glove box lid with Monza Spyder items and recalibrated the tachometer to 8 cylinder operation. All the interior is stock Corvair from Clarks. Rare for a convertible, the car was originally equipped with factory air conditioning and all the glass is tinted.

The aluminum wheels are 2004 Mustang 15" X 7 " with Goodyear Eagle tires. The front hubs and rear axles have been re-drilled to the Ford wheel pattern ...5 stud on 4 1/2 " bolt circle. Marvin made custom hubcaps for the wheels using the center section of the stock 1964 Monza wheel discs.

All the outside trim is NOS GM parts, Marvin did all the body work and a local professional body shop applied the Ford color which is Lime Gold.

If you have any comments or questions about the Marvin's "Monzilla" you may contact him at  mbookman1@sympatico.ca