2005 GTO/Monaro VZ compared to Ute question

[ken1939]

G'day all!

I have a basic question and I know it will sound dumb to most of you on the forum. I never paid much attention to the Pontiac GTO/Monaro when it came to the US. I was not sure if the doors on the GTO/Monaro were the same as the Ute? I hate to assume, but I would think by looking at pictures, the Ute doors would be closer to the sedan than the coupe.

G8 Pontiacs make this much easier, as well, they are the proper door for a Ute Conversion with a Commodore roller. I can take a rear end damaged G8 here in the USA with a Salvage Title, and use a roller Commodore Ute to produce one legal street Ute. Change at the firewall is the best way to make the change. As long as I retain all the USA Glass, doors, nose, emissions equipment, its 100% legal.

I have the opportunity to get a 2005 GTO Body shell, minus the driveline and suspension, for around 2K. Frankly cheaper than trying to get a decent enough G8 to use. Even with damage they are still well over 8K, which makes the project top heavy in cost.

I will appreciate and listen to any input.

 

[mpower]

Utes doors = sedan, Coupe doors are longer.

Screen is also different, coupe is actually a fair bit different body wise.

 

[Risky]

The doors were special on the Monaro/GTO. I'm unsure if the mechanicals would be the same. The ute is longer than the sedan.

There's a company in Colorado that specialises in converting Holden Utes to left hand drive so it might be worth picking their brains.
Left Hand Utes USA

 

[figjam]

I may have missed your point here...are you trying to make a ute from a Monaro, or making a Monaro from a G8 ? Either way it would not work.
A Monaro/GTO is based on the VT - VZ Commodore, that includes utes in the same series, but wheelbases are different.
The G8 / Chevy SS is VE - VF based, including ute of that series, but again the ute wheelbase is different.
They are very different vehicles, apart from engines and gearboxes..

 

[ken1939]

The doors were special on the Monaro/GTO. I'm unsure if the mechanicals would be the same. The ute is longer than the sedan.

There's a company in Colorado that specialises in converting Holden Utes to left hand drive so it might be worth picking their brains.
Left Hand Utes USA

Yes I spoke with the bloke from Colorado about 2 years ago. Firewall replacement is the best method, keeps the donor Ute body in tact more and you still bring all the proper bits along with the change. I am not fond of cutting the body in half like a magician and welding them back together. It can be done, but I would not want to do it that way. Factory spot weld areas to factory spot weld areas make the most sense.

 

[ken1939]

I may have missed your point here...are you trying to make a ute from a Monaro, or making a Monaro from a G8 ? Either way it would not work.
A Monaro/GTO is based on the VT - VZ Commodore, that includes utes in the same series, but wheelbases are different.
The G8 / Chevy SS is VE - VF based, including ute of that series, but again the ute wheelbase is different.
They are very different vehicles, apart from engines and gearboxes..

Sorry to confuse you mate! No the G8 Pontiac with a Commodore of the same year is a separate project. I came across the GTO Shell and got to thinking what could I use it with to make a Ute with. I figured the doors were longer, it only makes sense. Then again, if this is a giant custom fab anyway, I could stretch the cabin a bit on the donor.

 

[ken1939]

Utes doors = sedan, Coupe doors are longer.

Screen is also different, coupe is actually a fair bit different body wise.

I figured that was the case. As I mentioned in another reply it only makes sense.

 

[ken1939]

Well to bad, hate to let that GTO body go to waste, but I recon I will just stick with the G8 conversion, and find a decent G8 wrecked here. I have had a good few leads on the Ute Roller from a few auto recyclers in Oz.

 

[ken1939]

I went and looked over the GTO today. First one I actually looked over. It was rust free, some front damage but nothing serious. What struck me as odd was the door sticker was the one from Holden. I expected something that was closer to the US DOT sticker. The glass was also Pinkerton, and had a DOT number associated with it. I didn't write it down though. I wonder if the Monaro's glass has a special number on it as well? The Vin plate was on the left side, for the LHD, and the body tag was on the core support. Looked to be 100% Holden. Really had me scratching my head. I was expecting different glass and documentation on the car.

I would love to hear about the markings on the Monaro.

Its a good buy, but I have way to much to buy to put it back on the road, even as a conversion.

Now I have to go look at a few G8's and see what their markings are like.

 

[Risky]

If you get the VIN & contact Holden, they can provide you with a history.

I found out with my ute that it came with standard suspension & not FE2, and the original wheels were the 16" steel which again is odd as it should have had alloy rims.