Has anyone seen a 1978 Monza wagon U/S(or u/say)

BigBlockBill · 04-11-2020, 12:54 AM

I was just looking at the numbers for the '78 Monza wagon w/ 231 v6.
Has anyone seen one or have thoughts on the combo?

Billy Nees · 04-11-2020, 07:26 AM

Cool car. Find one that the metalmites haven't found yet. It would be even cooler with a 305 and a 4 speed.

Billy Nees · 04-11-2020, 08:30 AM

According to Dwight's excellent site, in order to do the 305, the car would have to be a Sunbird wagon. Double cool.

Jeff Stout · 04-11-2020, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

According to Dwight's excellent site, in order to do the 305, the car would have to be a Sunbird wagon. Double cool.

Rick Utersah has a Sunbird wagon in his fleet waiting its turn. But I dont think it's a v8.

BigBlockBill · 04-11-2020, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

According to Dwight's excellent site, in order to do the 305, the car would have to be a Sunbird wagon. Double cool.

I'll have to look at that one 👍

Lew Silverman · 04-11-2020, 05:29 PM

Wasn't the '78 Pontiac Sunbird Safari Wagon based on the Vega/Astre body? Don' remember that one getting a V-8.

BigBlockBill · 04-11-2020, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Cool car. Find one that the metalmites haven't found yet. It would be even cooler with a 305 and a 4 speed.

Billy I couldn't fiind where the wagon came with a V8 of any size. The 231 v6 engine is listed as a Buick piece.

Dan Bennett · 04-11-2020, 06:31 PM

Pretty sure that none of the Vega body styles ever got a V8 - that was Monza only. If there were V6 cars, I never saw or heard of one. And though there were a couple of rooflines I don't think there was a Monza wagon.

Back then I was service manager at a shop and knew of what was going on with the aluminum 4 cylinders. My parents asked me to recommend for a small car for my mom. I specifically moved them up to the Monza V8 (which they didn't need or care about) simply because I wouldn't have to deal with the aluminum engine.

I couldn't wait to drive it. But like every smog motor of that time it was a shamefull dog.

57 Vette · 04-11-2020, 07:25 PM

Dan stands correct on the Vega never got the V-8,only got the OHC aluminum 4 cylinder engine. I also worked in a GM store as a line technician from 1975 to 1990. So i worked on lots of those OHC motors under the 5 year 50 K mile warranty burning oil.The Buick Sky Hawk is the car that got the odd/even fire 231 V-6. The V-8 Monza was a rare car that had a 262 ci V-8 engine.

Mark Yacavone · 04-11-2020, 07:27 PM

It would take a good one to run 1 sec. under in P/stock..It would be fun trying though.
A few hp off, and Q/stock would be better .
Those 305's that are still at 180, should be evened up to the one Nova that's low 170's.

C'mon NHRA tech. You think the Sunbird wagon is a worse body style than the Nova, same year?
Remember the wholesale 302 2v reduction? You even brought the 82 HO back to it's original 157...a completely different combo.

What do you think, guys?

04-11-2020, 12:54 AM	#1
BigBlockBill Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Posts: 86 Likes: 531 Liked 98 Times in 31 Posts	Has anyone seen a 1978 Monza wagon U/S(or u/say) I was just looking at the numbers for the '78 Monza wagon w/ 231 v6. Has anyone seen one or have thoughts on the combo?

04-11-2020, 07:26 AM	#2
Billy Nees VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: On a hilltop in Pa. Posts: 4,485 Likes: 3,587 Liked 7,682 Times in 1,730 Posts	Re: Has anyone seen a 1978 Monza wagon U/S(or u/say) Cool car. Find one that the metalmites haven't found yet. It would be even cooler with a 305 and a 4 speed. __________________ Billy Nees 1188 STK, SS I'm not spending 100K to win 2K

04-11-2020, 08:30 AM	#3
Billy Nees VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: On a hilltop in Pa. Posts: 4,485 Likes: 3,587 Liked 7,682 Times in 1,730 Posts	Re: Has anyone seen a 1978 Monza wagon U/S(or u/say) According to Dwight's excellent site, in order to do the 305, the car would have to be a Sunbird wagon. Double cool. __________________ Billy Nees 1188 STK, SS I'm not spending 100K to win 2K

04-11-2020, 05:29 PM	#6
Lew Silverman VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 1,435 Likes: 371 Liked 129 Times in 59 Posts	Re: Has anyone seen a 1978 Monza wagon U/S(or u/say) Wasn't the '78 Pontiac Sunbird Safari Wagon based on the Vega/Astre body? Don' remember that one getting a V-8. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Lew Silverman #2070 "The Wagon Master" N/SA

04-11-2020, 06:31 PM	#8
Dan Bennett Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 437 Likes: 839 Liked 591 Times in 134 Posts	Re: Has anyone seen a 1978 Monza wagon U/S(or u/say) Pretty sure that none of the Vega body styles ever got a V8 - that was Monza only. If there were V6 cars, I never saw or heard of one. And though there were a couple of rooflines I don't think there was a Monza wagon. Back then I was service manager at a shop and knew of what was going on with the aluminum 4 cylinders. My parents asked me to recommend for a small car for my mom. I specifically moved them up to the Monza V8 (which they didn't need or care about) simply because I wouldn't have to deal with the aluminum engine. I couldn't wait to drive it. But like every smog motor of that time it was a shamefull dog.

04-11-2020, 07:25 PM	#9
57 Vette Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 44 Likes: 386 Liked 38 Times in 14 Posts	Re: Has anyone seen a 1978 Monza wagon U/S(or u/say) Dan stands correct on the Vega never got the V-8,only got the OHC aluminum 4 cylinder engine. I also worked in a GM store as a line technician from 1975 to 1990. So i worked on lots of those OHC motors under the 5 year 50 K mile warranty burning oil.The Buick Sky Hawk is the car that got the odd/even fire 231 V-6. The V-8 Monza was a rare car that had a 262 ci V-8 engine.

04-11-2020, 07:27 PM	#10
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,808 Likes: 2,897 Liked 5,109 Times in 1,947 Posts	Re: Has anyone seen a 1978 Monza wagon U/S(or u/say) It would take a good one to run 1 sec. under in P/stock..It would be fun trying though. A few hp off, and Q/stock would be better . Those 305's that are still at 180, should be evened up to the one Nova that's low 170's. C'mon NHRA tech. You think the Sunbird wagon is a worse body style than the Nova, same year? Remember the wholesale 302 2v reduction? You even brought the 82 HO back to it's original 157...a completely different combo. What do you think, guys? __________________ "We are lucky we don't get as much Government as we pay for." Will Rogers