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Jay's Aerocoupe Page

Welcome to my website! This site is dedicated to the fourth generation monte carlo super sports. Especially, the aerocoupes. I hope I have supplied enough information for fellow enthusiasts. I hope you enjoy!
Sincerely,
Jay

History of the Fourth Generation MCSS

The Monte Carlo SS came into production as a direct result of Chevrolet's desire to win in NASCAR. After much testing and wind tunnel work the new Monte Carlo SS was born.

It was first outfitted with a base 305 V8 in 1983, which only produced a meager 165 horsepower. Realizing that it needed more, in 1984 Chevy outfitted the car with a Pidgins designed 305, which wore the nameplate L69. The new engine, with its aluminum intake manifold, 795cfm Quadra jet carburetor, Cross-fire Camaro heads and Corvette L-81camshaft, was able to produce 180 horsepower. Furthermore, the steering box on the SS is a desirable 16/12.7:1 variable ratio recirculating-ball GM unit. The F-41Suspension is from the Camaro Z-28. The transmission was the TH350c with a rear gearing of 3.42:1.

Only subtle changes took place over the life of the Monte Carlo SS. The SS logo on the headrest was only offered in 1983-1984 on the SS's with the bench seat option.

In 1984 the car displayed large gaudy graphics on top of a white or blue paint scheme. Color options were limited to white on blue and dark blue on blue paint schemes.

In the 1985 model year the graphics were toned down and included new multi-color pin striping to set off the paint scheme. The car displayed 15 inch steel rims mated to Goodyear Eagle GT tires. The car was equipped with the TH200-4R 4-speed overdrive transmission, which allowed the car to cruise comfortably at highway speeds with the new 3.73:1 performance gearing.

By 1986 the car displayed aluminum rims borrowed from the 1981 Camaro Z/28 as well as bucket seats and a third brake light. In the late 1986 a small amount of Monte Carlo's began to emerge sporting a new rear window. GM had designed a more aerodynamic Monte Carlo SS for the racing scene, and the rare aero coupe was born.

By 1987 the car underwent a few changes. A more colors options were added, as well as a new SS decal design, which carried over into the 1988 model year. Gone was the 85mph speedometer, replaced by the much deserved 120mph speedo. Also, the rear taillights and bumper cover changed to a more rounded design which added smoothness to the rear end and improved the overall appearance.

The Arlington, TX. Plant produced the SS from 1983-1988, while the Pontiac, Mi. plant also built the SS in 1987 and 1988. Canadian SS's were built in the Oshawa, ONT Plant from 1985-1987.

The 1983 model year brought big news for Monte Carlo buyers: the return of the Super Sport Package. The RPO code Z65 SS package included a "new high output" 305 V-8 rated at 165 horsepower, new front-end styling, suspension upgrades, twin exhaust outlets, and a rear spoiler. "The front end treatment consisted of a new angular, molded plastic nose piece with integral grille." Bucket seats were not available in the Monte Carlo for 1983 and the SS package included a bench seat in blue with white trim only. The white head rests had "SS" embroidered into them, and the steering wheel was a standard Monte Carlo Wheel. Special 15 x 7 Rally Wheels and P215/65-15 GT white letter Goodyear Tires also distinguished a SS above the rest. The 83 and 84 Super Sports had a plastic wood grain dash trim while later Super Sports had a black dash trim. In addition the 83 and 84 Super Sports had the same "Race Blue" cloth interior with vinyl door panels.

The only cosmetic changes between the 83 and 84 Super Sports was the option of ordering blue cloth bucket seats, a center console, and a new "sport" steering wheel. The blue and white bench seat was still available but minus the embroidered lettering. The 305 got a horsepower-rating boost to 180 horsepower. The only exterior colors available in 83 and 84 were white with 2 tone blue striping, or dark blue with 2 tone blue striping. The darker tone of the stripes was similar to the blue color of the car so that the impression was given of only one stripe. The TH200-4R transmission was listed as a dealer option in 84, but production problems and delays prevented all but three 84 SS's from receiving one. Additionally the ashtray was moved to the center console ahead of the shifter in 84 SS's with the Bucket seat option. New in 1985 was the 4-speed automatic transmission (THM 200-4R) in which 4th gear was a 0.67:1 overdrive. The rear axle was changed to a 7-5/8 inch ring-gear, with a new ratio of 3.73:1 from a 7.5 inch, 3.42:1 gear. A limited-slip option became available with this new rear-end. Gone was the Dark Blue color and new hues available were Silver Metallic, Black, and Dark Maroon Metallic. The color white was still an option. The striping package was changed by the addition of CHEVROLET lettering in a striping break on the front fascia, the outline of a bowtie above the trunk lock cylinder, and an additional stripe along the top-rear of the spoiler. Monte Carlo SS lettering changed size and type font on the doors and trunk lid. The coloring of the stripes and lettering now matched the color of the interior; Charcoal and Black with a Gray interior, Orange and Red with the Maroon interior, and two Golden color shades to accent the Tan interior. The dash trim changed from the "wood grain" trim to a black plastic trim with red piping accents. The cloth seats also changed material to a "velour" type from the earlier cloth style, but still had the earlier vinyl door panels. 1986 brought about a few cosmetic changes to the exterior. The rear-view mirrors styling changed from an oval shaped "pod" attached to the door by a pedestal, to a "Aero styled" model that flowed from the front of the door to where the window met with it. The mirror itself bore a "D" shape. It was mounted similarly, but the pedestal was short and hidden by the mirror housing. In addition, in 1986 a new aluminum alloy wheel became standard on the Super Sports. This five-spoke design borrowed from the 1981 Camaro is what most people think of when you say a Monte Carlo Super Sport rim. The door panels changed material from vinyl to a "velour" similar to the cloth seats.

Also new to the Monte Carlo Family in 1986 was the Aero Coupe. This Aero Coupe included a "drastically sloped rear window, and short trunk lid." Only 200 Aero Coupes were produced for retail consumers in 1986. This was the minimum amount necessary to allow NASCAR racing teams to use the aero coupe rear window legally on their racecars. The rounded rear window improved the aerodynamic performance of the car at the high speeds attained on the NASCAR tracks.

1987 brought about a change in rear styling. A "smoothed" rear bumper eliminated the notch that existed below the trunk line, on top of the bumper. This new bumper was complimented with a new taillight housing where the lens extended approximately 1/4 inch around the corners of the car. In addition, the lower profile wing from the aero coupe became available some time in mid-87. Tracking VIN production numbers has left me with no clear answers as to when or where the new style began. From 83 to 87 the Super Sports were assembled in Arlington, Texas (as evidenced from a R just before the production number on VIN's). In 1987, and into 88, Super Sports were also assembled in Pontiac, Michigan. Aero coupes found the end of their production run in 87.

The 87 model year colors did not change, however the Monte Carlo Super Sport logo on the door did. It went from a format of having the MONTE CARLO placed linearly before the slightly larger SS, to a large SS logo placed above a MONTE CARLO. The striping changed to a tri-color format, once again accenting the interior colors.

"The 1988 model year marked the end of an era." After producing the Monte Carlo for approximately 3 months, Chevrolet decided to cancel the Monte Carlo Super Sport model. On Friday, December 11, 1987, at 5:29 pm, the last fourth-generation, Monte Carlo rolled off the production line at the Pontiac, Michigan plant. It is believed that the 88 model year was just an extension of the 87 year to allow production of any Monte Carlos that were ordered late in the 87 year. In so, there were no changes to color or stripe options from 87 to 88. (On an interesting note 88 was the only year that there were more Super Sport models made than standard models {13,970})

Telling the Years Apart

1983
1983 was the first year for 4th generation Monte Carlo SS. This year only the bench seat was available for the SS. It had SS embroidered on the headrest. It had the 305 high output (H.O) 180h.p. V-8 engine. The transmission it came with was the TH350C, which was a 3-speed automatic. The exterior color options for this year were white and metallic blue. The only interior color was blue with white trim.
1984
1984 was the first year the SS was in full production. This year the SS got a new "sport" steering wheel. It also came with the option of bucket seats and a center console. It still came with the 305H.O. 180h.p. V-8 engine. There were two transmissions available this year. There was the TH-350C 3-speed auto and the TH-2004R 4-speed transmissions. Only 3 1984 SS's got this tranny though. So it would be almost impossible to get a stock 84 SS with this tranny. The exterior colors available for the 1984 SS were white and metallic blue. The interior colors available were dark blue and dark blue/white, which was only available with the 60/40 split bench.
1985
There were many small changes made to the SS in 1985. A new pinstripe design package was added. Special instruments were also added in the dash. They were the tachometer, functioning oil, volt, water temperature, and choke lights. The available options this years were bucket seats, a center console, positraction, and T-tops were also available late in the year. The engine was still the 305H.O. 180h.p. V-8. The transmission for this year was the TH-2004R 4-speed automatic with overdrive. The TH-2004R improved gas mileage. The exterior colors available of this year were silver, maroon, white, and black. The interior colors available were gray and maroon.
1986
The biggest addition for the SS 1986 was the aero coupe. The Aero coupe was an SS with a curved back windshield. The Aero coupe also came with the lay-down spoiler in the rear. The regular SS did get some changes too. This year they added the third brake light, the oval shaped mirrors were changed to D-shaped mirrors, and new Aluminum Alloy wheels became standard on the SS. The 1986 SS and Aero coupe SS got the 305H.O. 180h.p. V-8 engine. The transmission was still the TH-2004R. The exterior colors available were silver, maroon, white, and black. The interior colors that were available were gray, maroon, and saddle, which was very rare. The fabric this year was changed to velour too.
1987
Like the year before the 1987 SS's had the aero coupe package. The most obvious changes in the SS this year were in the rear-end. The gap between the bottom of the trunk and the bumper was eliminated. Just extending the trunk lid did this. The taillights also extended around the edges of the body around a 1/4". The logo was also changed. Before "Monte Carlo" was in small letters followed by a huge "SS". In 87 the "Monte Carlo" size was kept the same and it had a huge "SS" above it. The pin striping was changed from 2 lines to 3 lines. The rear spoiler was also was also changed. Halfway through the year the spoiler was changed form the stand-up spoiler to the lay-down spoiler. A 120mph. speedometer was added too. The available engine was still the 305H.O 180h.p. V-8. The transmission was the TH-2004R. The exterior colors for 1987 were silver; white, maroon, black, and they added light metallic brown. It is a very rare color to find on an SS. The interior colors were grey, maroon, and saddle, which was still rare.
1988
1988 was the last production year for the Monte Carlo. All 1988 Montes were really built in 1987. The last Monte was made on December 11th, 1987 at 5:29 P.M. at the Pontiac Michigan plant. The reason that the last of the 1987's were sold as 88's is because the Lumina, which were the replacement model, weren�t ready yet. This also gave NASCAR drivers one more year to use the SS. So, because of this the 1987 SS was basically the same car as the 1988 SS. The available engine was still the 305H.O. 180h.p. V-8. The exterior colors were silver, white, maroon, and black. The interior colors were grey, maroon, and saddle, which was still very rare.

Production Numbers

Year & Model	Curb Weight	Base Price	Production Run
1983 Super Sport	3,449	$10,474	4,714
1984 Super Sport	3,434	$10,700	24,050
1985 Super Sport	3,385	$11,380	35,484
1986 Super Sport	3,387	$12,466	41,164
Aerocoupe	3,440	$14,193	200
1987 Super Sport	3,473	$13,463	33,199
Aerocoupe	3,526	$14,838	6,052
1988 Super Sport	3,239	$14,320	16,204

Aerocoupes

The Aero coupes (RPO B5T) were produced in 1986 and 1987 and featured a large rear window designed to improve the car's overall aerodynamics. There were only 200 aero coupes built in 1986 and only 6052 were built in 1987 although Chevy had plans to build 20,000 at the time. The Aero coupe suffered from meager sales and a general lack of public interest so this may be why Chevy only built 6052 of them in 1987.

The glass provided a 2.7 percent reduction in drag coefficient. They figure that's worth about 5 mph on the track.

Supposedly they didn't put the gas strut supports for the trunk on until '87 for the aeros. I don't know what the 86's did.

"Chevy's 75th Super Savers Option packages include: Package C4A power door locks, power windows, twin remote sport mirrors, ETR AM-FM stereo radio w/seek/scan, stereo cassette tape and clock, power trunk opener, halogen head lamps. PACKAGE CB4 adds a six- way power driver's seat to the above package - requires 55/45 seat."

Stock Specs

L69 305 H.O. 1985-88
Type:	90-deg. V-8 Front Longitudinal
Displacement:	305 cubic inches (5.0L)
Horsepower:	180@4800 RPM
Torque:	225@@3200 RPM
Max RPM:	5500
Idle RPM:	650
Compression ratio:	9.5:1
Block:	Cast Alloy Iron
Deck Height:	9.025"
Deck Clearance:	0.25" below
Bore:	3.740"
Stroke:	3.480"
Bore Spacing:	4.400"
Crankshaft:	Nodular Cast Iron
Pistons:	Cast Aluminum Alloy, flat top
Rods:	1037 or 1038 Cast Steel
Camshaft:	Hydraulic flat tappet
Cam lift:	.404"/.415"
Cam duration @.050:	202/206-deg.
Advertised duration:	320/320-deg.
Lobe Separation:	115-deg.
Heads:	Cast Alloy Iron, 58cc
Valve size:	1.84"/1.5"
Intake:	Cast Aluminum Alloy