Chevy Monte Carlo

1971 Monte Carlo

Posted on 15. Oct, 2009 by admin in First Generation

1971 Chevy Monte Carlo SS 454

In 1971, there were slight changes made from the 1970 model. For example, on the cosmetic front, new European symbol knobs were found on the inside of the SS Monte Carlo. Also, it became an option to get a new four spoke steering wheel in 1971. The stand up hood ornament also saw its debut on the Monte Carlo in 1971, but that wasn’t all that Chevrolet had going for its still new coupe.

In the way of motors, the Turbo fire 400 two barrel from 1970 was dropped. On all of the other motors, the compression ratio was lowered due to a GM corporate edict that would allow the use of unleaded, low lead, or regular leaded gasoline. So, as a result, engine ratings fell a little bit in 1971. The base Turbo Fire 350 two barrel fell to 245 horsepower, the Turbo Fire 350 4V saw a new horsepower rating of 270 horsepower, and the Turbo Jet 400 would now run at 300 horsepower. But even though other engines saw a cut in the horsepower as a result of the edict, the SS 454 actually saw a minor increase, being raised to 365 gross horsepower… and that included the reduction in compression! The reason as to why the SS 454 could crank out a higher horsepower, even with a lowered compression ration, is because a more aggressive camshaft was used. This was actually the same camshaft that was used on the 454 in the Chevrolet Corvette in 1970.

1971 Monte Carlo

1971 marks the first year that Chevrolet would post horsepower ratings in SAE net terms, as well as in gross horsepower as they had in the past. 1972 would see a complete change in how the ratings were displayed, as net horsepower would become the main measurement used. In 1971, the engine ratings were displayed in net HP terms as followed… the Turbo Fire 350 V8 two barrel had 165 HP, the Turbo Jet 400 V8 four barrel had 260 HP, the Turbo Fire V8 Four barrel boasted 175 HP, and the Turbo Jet 454 V8 four barrel pumped out a whopping 285 HP.

It was at one time believed that the Monte Carlo SS in 1971 could have been shipped optionally with the 425 HP LS-6 version of the 454, a version of which was available in the 1970 Chevelle SS, though this is not specifically listed anywhere. Though the Turbo Hydramatic was officially the only clutch available on the SS, a heavy-duty clutch option did exist on the order-form. So, this makes it seem as though it might have actually been possible to order a special 454 LS-6 with a heavy duty four speed manual transmission attached. Factory records indicate that those motors only shipped in the corvette that year, though there is a slight possibility that some Chevrolet Monte Carlos may have been specially made this way through Chevrolet’s central office production order.

1971 Monte Carlo

1971 would mark the last year that the 454 would ship in the SS, even though 454 CID V8 would remain an option through the year 1975.

Tags: 1971 Monte Carlo, First Generation Monte Carlo