hmm.

[project hotrod]

Just found out a guy I work with has a 79 malibu rolling chassis. All original.... no motor, no trans.... Was an original 4 speed car.

Said it's pretty solid and I can pick it up for $250.00

So.. The wheels start turning..... I have room in the garage.... I work at a chevy dealer.... Maybe a small budget, LSX based, nice handling cruiser for next summer might pacify me while I continue to work on the roadster. :hmm:

[jy211]

may as well buy it at that price..:dunno:

[Chevrolaine]

If you have to think about that deal, you need serious help!:hah:

[project hotrod]

Yeah, I'm thinking I'll buy it.

Inspired by 57Hemicuda's 5k mustang build maybe PT.com can have the 5k build off challenge. lol

It does feel good to think about something else considering I have a few years non stop on the roadster.

[Reckn8]

Pretty solid in MI means what? You can or cannot see the ground when you open the doors?

[project hotrod]

Pretty solid in MI means what? You can or cannot see the ground when you open the doors?

LOL, yeah pretty much...

From our discussion the quarters, floors, and doors are solid with a small rust issue at the top of the A-pillars. It's been sitting in a pole barn over 10 years.

The only thing I don't like is the power moon roof and half vinyl top.

[Twentyover]

Weld the roof close and strip the vynyl. Except that might bring some hidden rust issue out

[WILWAXU]

Easy choice for me. I like that body style.

LSx swap would be a allot of fun.

[CRCRFT78]

I'll give you $500 for it.:fingersx:

[69LT1Nova]

Just found out a guy I work with has a 79 malibu rolling chassis. All original.... no motor, no trans.... Was an original 4 speed car.

Said it's pretty solid and I can pick it up for $250.00

So.. The wheels start turning..... I have room in the garage.... I work at a chevy dealer.... Maybe a small budget, LSX based, nice handling cruiser for next summer might pacify me while I continue to work on the roadster. :hmm:

Original 4 speed car for $250? Dang, what's there to think about? Those are pretty hard to come by in the A/G body. :spank2: LS motor with a 6 speed. :naughty: If you work at a Chevy dealer, you probabaly fall over deals on engine/trans combos all the time.

$5K build, sell the car for $8-10K when you get bored with it. Done deal.

[project hotrod]

I'll give you $500 for it.:fingersx:

lol... It's been every bit of 7 years since I've had a toy to mess around with so if it's ok with you I'll have to pass.


Original 4 speed car for $250? Dang, what's there to think about? Those are pretty hard to come by in the A/G body. :spank2: LS motor with a 6 speed. :naughty: If you work at a Chevy dealer, you probabaly fall over deals on engine/trans combos all the time.

That's what I'm thinking. 400 hp n/a like the Speedvision world challenge motors but probably with a carb, and six speed.

If I can get a good deal on some C5 suspension stuff or if budget allows pick up some AFX spindles...

Or I can contact some old roundy round friends and score an old Wide 5 set up front and back. I've always been a fan of those.

Whatever it is, it will pure road race inspired for sure. The vision of the final product in my head is pretty neat and I'm almost hoping for a rotted frame so I can build a chassis for it.

[jpdeuce]

Seriously, those cars with sticks are kinda rare. Better jump on that one.

[CRCRFT78]

Seriously I wouldn't change a thing. 4 speed car with a sunroof. 4 speeds are hard enough to find but one with a sunroof will definately hold its value in my opinion. Keep it that way and don't weld up the roof. LSx with a 6 speed and you'll have one badass Malibu to play with.

[project hotrod]

Seriously I wouldn't change a thing. 4 speed car with a sunroof. 4 speeds are hard enough to find but one with a sunroof will definately hold its value in my opinion. Keep it that way and don't weld up the roof. LSx with a 6 speed and you'll have one badass Malibu to play with.

I wouldn't weld it up. It's a moon roof car so it's metal and it has power windows, and locks. I think I would get rid of the half vinyl top though. LSx and a six speed are in the equation for sure.

[Young Gun]

that would be pretty cool to have a budget build challenge...5k is pretty ridiculous but 10k all inclusive would be neat...if you could get all the builders to do it though...run all of them after a show and see who gets bragging rights...

but back to the topic...it would be a sick car and at a price like that go for it!

[BritishGreen68]

isnt the pedal cluster and clutch linkage worth that much? I would buy it, if you decide you dont want it you can part it and probably make money on it at the worst..

[project hotrod]

I plan on going to look it over this weekend. I gotta say, I'm a bit stoked.

[project hotrod]

Upon some futher discussion today and me being a bit anxious..... It's mine :)

It's been in his family since new and he is the second owner. Plus it's never been in a wreck. The interior is a little dirty which is no big deal. The only real bad spots on the body are the tops of the A-pillars as mentioned before. Come to find out the guy also has an original olds 442 hurst g-body he bought brand new with 13k miles!

So.... Work should start this month and come spring time I should be able to go out and play with....

Project Rogue Elephant
"A lone, violently agressive, wild elephant, separate from the herd"

LS2 / six speed combo (turbo if budget allows)
tubular arm front suspension with coil overs
C5 or C6 brakes
9 inch or 8.5 ten bolt
Watts link and coil overs
A whole bunch of bracing
Lots of coolers and ducting
My attention to detail, and a little bit different color scheme.


Just have to decide on wheels, gear combination, and if I want to keep the back seat or not...

Right now I'm thinking 305 in the back and 275's up front with a 3.42 gear. I think that should be enough for some top speed at 400 hp as well as give me some kick out of the corners.

[55chevyman]

this is going to be an awesome project!!!

[brownz]

what no pics LOL we need pics of this bad boy

[69LT1Nova]

:postpics:

Sounds like a great project. And yes, I said $5k. Do it. Put yourself on a budget and see what happens. Working at a stealership comes with advantages - like getting parts on the cheap!

[project hotrod]

LOL...

Pics won't be a problem. I've been a photographer for a little while and used to shoot W2W's builds for the website and a few magazines.

Right now I'm making room in the garage and have to set up transportation since I don't have a trailer. As soon as I start digging into it a build up thread with lots of pics will start;)

It will still be a budget build... I'm thinking 5k or 7500k depending on what I can scrounge up for a motor, trans, wheels, and tires.

[project hotrod]

Well, funds to purchase the car have been handed off and transportation is set up for next weekend.

Coming from a mostly drag racing background I have a big learning curve towards the suspension set up on this car. But, I think I'll be ok.

After a bit of research I've decided to go three link with watts in the back but haven't decided on the front.

I really like the adjustable SPC uppers with AFX spindles but I've been pondering the thought of moving location points up front and the benefits. Now that I'm getting into the math it's a bit overwhelming since I'm more of the build guy than the spec guy.

For perhaps a nominal fee would any of our in house suspension gurus be willing to provide some help on this project?

[Twentyover]

Think that you ca get 90% of the benefit for 10% of the effort w/ the AFX and an accomodating upper arm that gives you about 5-5 1/2 degrees caster.

Beyond that, you should probably read the Milliken's tome, extracting that last 10% is where the big work is. Look at jParsons Chevy II, where he had a suspension guy design a special front end. Beautiful work, but that's a maximum effort. Me, I'll take the 90% benefit for 10% dollar hit

[project hotrod]

Think that you ca get 90% of the benefit for 10% of the effort w/ the AFX and an accomodating upper arm that gives you about 5-5 1/2 degrees caster.

Beyond that, you should probably read the Milliken's tome, extracting that last 10% is where the big work is. Look at jParsons Chevy II, where he had a suspension guy design a special front end. Beautiful work, but that's a maximum effort. Me, I'll take the 90% benefit for 10% dollar hit

That has been a conflicting argument as I do more research (gain verse effort verse cubic dollars). The set up is simple, bolt on, and will net a huge gain in handling considering my goal for the car which is track days and autocross if it fits a class. Plus driving it on the street as much as I can.