pics of the $250.00 malibu

[project hotrod]

After a long trek out to the poll barn where it's been sitting since 1992, and a trip to the quarter car wash. It now sits at my home and construction will begin.

Some details.

The car was built as a special order for a GM white collar guy in 79.
After a year it was sold to the family of the last owner. So, I am the fourth owner.

The car is really solid
No real bad rust on the body
Doors are solid through out
Quarters are solid through out
All pillars and jams are solid
No holes, none, nada.
The drivers side rocker has a little rust and I saw one small hole in the floor after crawling underneath it for about an hour.

It was an original v8 4 speed car
Front and rear sway bars
Factory frame braces from the k-member to the bumper
And I believe it has a 7.5 inch rearend.
Steel rad support

Interior is pretty dirty but it has a new Monte Carlo SS dash
and steering wheel.

Other than that, it's all original and unmolested. :)

So here are the pics.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/pre1-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/pre2-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/pre3-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/08/pre4-1.jpg

I don't think it was a bad deal at all :naughty:

[79_GBody]

Nice...So much further ahead since it won't need lots of work and its a 4-speed car :6gears:

[Restomod]

I like the two tone brown/tan.......leave the paint alone.
NNNAAAHHH dont do that!!

[Tony_SS]

Looks like a fun project. I have a progress thread on mine buried somewhere around here. It'll pick up again one day.

What are your plans for it?

[project hotrod]

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of the colors so they will change.

Some type of silver on the body and black interior.

Actually it's a tad ironic. The fist G-body I owned was a 83 Monte which was the same tan but had dark brown interior.

Then, the dolly I borrowed to pick it up was painted exactly like the malibu with a tan frame and brown fenders.... And, at the end of my street sits a late 70's F-150 with the same colors as the malibu but flipped. It's kooky, I tell ya.

As for the plan.

A simple, no frills as close to balls out road race car inspired by early trans am and stock car racing as I can get it. But, I'll street drive it too.

Mostly if not all tube chassis
Three link with a watts
AFX spindles, adjustable uca's

At least 400 at the wheels with a LSx / 6 speed combo.

Lots of cage, lots of ducting, and a few body mods I have in mind.

Oh, and a budget of 5k or 7500k but I haven't chosen yet.

Just something to have fun with while I continue on the roadster build. :twothumbs

[WS6]

awesome find

[jpdeuce]

Wish I could've been the one to find this one.

[NOT A TA]

Nice! It looks like a great car to start with.

[moreHP]

Oh hell yes! You got your money's worth for sure!

[Z06killinSBF]

Sweet. Looks like fun. Keep us updated. What is the first step on the chopping block? Here is a local to me in tan.

[Black-Jacket]

wish i could find deals like that around here

[project hotrod]

Thanks guys.

I've been pretty stoked all week and even more so today. It's been about 8 years since I've been able to build something for myself. Well, besides the roadster but I haven't started full size construction yet.



Sweet. Looks like fun. Keep us updated. What is the first step on the chopping block? Here is a local to me in tan.

I thought about keeping it tan. It's not a bad color and a bit different. But, the vision I have in my head shows silver.

As for the chopping block.

First I'll strip everything I'm not going to use then get rid of it.

Then I'll cut room for the wheels. (At least 305 in back 265 up front) Cut what floor I won't use, mock up ride height and tire width, pull the body from the frame, and start on the chassis.

Oh, and some cardboard and foam mock up body stuff once the height, and tire width is done. Kind of like sketching on the car.

[BA.]

you definitely got your money's worth.....good find!

[TonyHuntimer]

Sweet find at a sweet price!

Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com

[Samckitt]

Cool. I would love to find one for that price. Great find. Heck a new G body clutch pedal costs almost that much.

[Chevrolaine]

Did you keep looking behind you for the cops? You stole that thing!
Sweeet!

[[email protected]]

wow post that up on www.maliburacing.com (http://www.maliburacing.com) and watch them **** kittens. you got a awesome deal on the car. i bet you can turn around and sell it as is and make enough money and buy another g-body

[GBodyGMachine]

Love the color

[GBodyGMachine]

Where are you located in MI?

[Doober]

I agree with RonJr... It'll get a lot of oohs and aahs at MalibuRacing.com... I'm on there regularly, you got a rare gem in itself a)being in MI (where I live btw ;)), having a gauge cluster in a Malibu, having a v8/4-speed AND having the F41 suspension. Best of luck on the car :D

[Code Red]

was there a fire around the shifter area? or is that just really really really dirty?

[796spdbu]

Nice find! Keep us posted with lots of pics!!

[project hotrod]

was there a fire around the shifter area? or is that just really really really dirty?

No fire... Just really, really dirty. Lol.

Thanks for the kind words guys.

Ya know, it's kind of funny. I just logged in to start my official build up thread and this thread was bumped to the first page.

So, I guess I'll just keep adding to this thread.

I've been collecting some new tools and had to buy a new compressor since mine took a dump so I've just been tearing it a part a little bit and planning.

Specs and thoughts for now.

Budget- $7500.00
Time goal- June of 09 debuting at the PT event in Michigan


Engine-
-LS based with a carb.
-HP goal 400 rwp.

Transmission.
-T56

Front suspension.
-ATS spindles
-SPC arms
-Tubular lowers
-Straight sway bar
-Coilovers

Rear suspension
-Custom 3-Link with Watts linkage
-Straight sway bar
-Coilovers

Brakes & Wheels
-I would like to run C6 Z06 brakes but I think the wheels will wreck the budget unless I can find something cheap.

If that is the case I'll go C5 stuff with a 17" wheel - 315 rear wheel, and I hope to fit a 295 up front.

Chassis
I decided to back half the car and modify the front rails a bit instead of going full tube chassis. I will build quite a bit of cage in it.

Saftey.
Did I say a lot of cage? lol... I will also add,
-Fire system
-Window net
-Right side net

Body
On the outside it will be mostly stock appearing. The factory bumpers are going away since I don't like them and I also want to do a little aero work on the car. I plan to build tubular bumpers which whill be covered with sheetmetal facias.

This idea came about once I started mapping out a way to seal the front of the vehicle for air flow and to also provide high sheed stability. The front of the Malibu has quite a bit of gaps around the bumper and header panel. The modifications I have planned seem to be the logical choice.

The rear will be treated with a fabricated foil on the deck lid and a possible diffuser on the bottom to avoid air packing in the rear bumper.

Once the vehicle is done I'll start building another motor with higher horsepower in efforts to get as close to 200 mph as I can safely.

So, here is a sketch of my goal in as realistic fashion as I could get it. The lower dam will cool the front brakes and will be made of sheet metal.

I left a few things out of the sketch since you gotta keep a few things in the bag;)

Hope you guys dig it. I gotta say it feels good to be wrenching on something again.



https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/11/preren-1.jpg

[srh3trinity]

I like it. Keep us posted with the progress. I like the budget builds. These cars have a lot of potential and you are definitely on the right track to bringing out all of the best features of the car.

[project hotrod]

I like it. Keep us posted with the progress. I like the budget builds. These cars have a lot of potential and you are definitely on the right track to bringing out all of the best features of the car.

Thank you.

I agree with the g-body platform having a high potential verse investment ratio.

[mone]

Sweet. Looks like fun. Keep us updated. What is the first step on the chopping block? Here is a local to me in tan.I saw that car in Jacksonville before..Where that car at?Im right up road from you in Brunswick.

[project hotrod]

I agree with RonJr... It'll get a lot of oohs and aahs at MalibuRacing.com... I'm on there regularly, you got a rare gem in itself a)being in MI (where I live btw ;)), having a gauge cluster in a Malibu, having a v8/4-speed AND having the F41 suspension. Best of luck on the car :D

I thought about posting a thread over there but it seems it's mostly a drag racing site.

[twosaturns]

great find, not many people outside of G body fans even know they could be had w/ a stick. I had a original V6/3 speed manual car back in the day, confused a lot of people.
I must comment though, w/ the amount/extent of the changes you have planned, you could have started w/ any malibu; the rareness of your car doesn't really hep you out at all.
I'll be watching, I love these cars!

[project hotrod]

great find, not many people outside of G body fans even know they could be had w/ a stick. I had a original V6/3 speed manual car back in the day, confused a lot of people.
I must comment though, w/ the amount/extent of the changes you have planned, you could have started w/ any malibu; the rareness of your car doesn't really hep you out at all.
I'll be watching, I love these cars!

Thanks.

My uncle had a late 70's Monte Carlo with a 3-speed.

I hear you on the mods planned. Honestly I wasn't concerned with keeping the options the car was built with. Had it been something older and possibly worth more money I would consider a restoration.

This is really just a low budget street fighter build to have some fun while I work on the roadster. :)

[Malibu Jax]

I wish my body was that solid when I started mine. Have you checked the rear frame rails for condition? Also, it looks as though you are not keeping the landau top if your rendering is correct. If you are going to paint over the Landau pillar embelems pleeeassseee let me trade you for a set of peeling ones and some cash. Those are soooo fn hard to find in good condition. I have been looking for a nice set for years.

[project hotrod]

I wish my body was that solid when I started mine. Have you checked the rear frame rails for condition? Also, it looks as though you are not keeping the landau top if your rendering is correct. If you are going to paint over the Landau pillar embelems pleeeassseee let me trade you for a set of peeling ones and some cash. Those are soooo fn hard to find in good condition. I have been looking for a nice set for years.

Tell ya what.
When I get them off I'll take some pics of them and contact you.
I actually plan to build a sheet metal trim piece instead of using the factory stuff.

Are you looking for the whole panel?

[Malibu Jax]

The two plastic crome and black pieces that cover each of the pillars in between the door glass and the corner glass. They have the little bowtie at the bottom of the black section.

[project hotrod]

The two plastic crome and black pieces that cover each of the pillars in between the door glass and the corner glass. They have the little bowtie at the bottom of the black section.

Cool.

I'll get you the pics and check the condition of them closer. I believe the passenger side is peeling a bit.

[Norm Peterson]

After a long trek out to the poll barn where it's been sitting since 1992, and a trip to the quarter car wash. It now sits at my home and construction will begin.

Some details.

The car was built as a special order for a GM white collar guy in 79.

It was an original v8 4 speed car
Front and rear sway bars
Factory frame braces from the k-member to the bumper
And I believe it has a 7.5 inch rearend.
Steel rad support
Anybody's special order could have got them that - except for the "steel radiator support (?)" that doesn't ring any bells, I thought you were reading off my own new car order from almost 30 years ago.

But it is a rather rare find. I saw some build information once that IIRC put the number of 4-speed cars at 1800-ish that year, and 4 or 5 thousand F41 Sport Suspension package cars (the only way you got a rear bar). Since the 4-speed did not require the F41, the number of cars with both as OE is less than 1800. Mine is black over silver with two thin red stripes in between.

https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=25652&d=1220034257


Norm

[project hotrod]

Anybody's special order could have got them that - except for the "steel radiator support (?)" that doesn't ring any bells, I thought you were reading off my own new car order from almost 30 years ago.

But it is a rather rare find. I saw some build information once that IIRC put the number of 4-speed cars at 1800-ish that year, and 4 or 5 thousand F41 Sport Suspension package cars (the only way you got a rear bar). Since the 4-speed did not require the F41, the number of cars with both as OE is less than 1800. Mine is black over silver with two thin red stripes in between.

https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=25652&d=1220034257


Norm

Thanks for the info Norm.

I mentioned the steel rad support since GM offered an aluminum version on some vehicles.

Also. I dig your car and have read a little bit about when it pops up here and there.

[Norm Peterson]

Now that I can see your pictures (corporate internet filters are spoil-sports about access to picture-hosting sites) I can also tell you that your instrument panel is pure Malibu. In 1979 there were 3 options - the straight ribbon speedometer style, a four small and two large round, with a large clock instead of the tach, and the 2 small/4 large with the tach (and tiny clock inset in the tach face). Your steering wheel is different, though. One of the equipment options required the "Classic" trim level, but I've forgotten which that was, other than it couldn't have been A/C or radio/tape player.

I also ordered and eventually got the tach version of the IP, though I had to make the dealer fix the build screw-up that originally shipped me the big clock version. Didn't ever expect to hear of another '79 functionally-optioned quite as closely to mine as that, and it's been interesting to find out who else ordered one up that way. Thanks.

On edit - the axle should be the corporate 7.5". But the 7.625" F-body diff & gearsets WILL fit (BTDT).


Norm

[project hotrod]

Now that I can see your pictures (corporate internet filters are spoil-sports about access to picture-hosting sites) I can also tell you that your instrument panel is pure Malibu. In 1979 there were 3 options - the straight ribbon speedometer style, a four small and two large round, with a large clock instead of the tach, and the 2 small/4 large with the tach (and tiny clock inset in the tach face). Your steering wheel is different, though. One of the equipment options required the "Classic" trim level, but I've forgotten which that was, other than it couldn't have been A/C or radio/tape player.

I also ordered and eventually got the tach version of the IP, though I had to make the dealer fix the build screw-up that originally shipped me the big clock version. Didn't ever expect to hear of another '79 functionally-optioned quite as closely to mine as that, and it's been interesting to find out who else ordered one up that way. Thanks.

On edit - the axle should be the corporate 7.5". But the 7.625" F-body diff & gearsets WILL fit (BTDT).


Norm

Those damn work filters... lol

At first I thought the IP was a Monte Carlo SS piece considering the previous owner replaced the dash and steering wheel with new SS pieces. If anyone is looking for an IP I might sell this one since I won't be using it.

As for the 7.5 inch I plan on upgrading to a 9" considering they are much easy to come across than the 8.5 ten bolt.

Ya know... When I started planning out the car as I was sitting in the garage I had a small urge to leave the factory tunnel and use a road race type 4-speed using the factory hole... I thought it would be cool to still have a 4-speed and stick with the somewhat NASCAR theme I have in mind but, you can't beat the T-56 for overdrive and ease of mounting to the LS engine.

On another note I hope to read your posts if you happen to chime in once I start mapping out the rear suspension. I always enjoy reading your tech stuff. ;)

[wblanton]

what a great car to pro-tour. dont see those everyday, i can remember driving my grandpas think it was a 81 four door to school when my 78 Blazer was broke down. That thing will look killer.

[Norm Peterson]

Ya know... When I started planning out the car as I was sitting in the garage I had a small urge to leave the factory tunnel and use a road race type 4-speed using the factory hole... I thought it would be cool to still have a 4-speed and stick with the somewhat NASCAR theme I have in mind but, you can't beat the T-56 for overdrive and ease of mounting to the LS engine.If you were to replace the body bushings with thinner and stiffer stuff to tie the frame and body more tightly together - and drop the CG a bit at the same time, you'd almost certainly have to do some tunnel work anyway.

You can always cut down an old Hurst or whatever 4-speed shift lever and adapt it to the overdrive tranny shift stub to maintain the appearance. Nobody needs to know what the old-school shift handle is connected to until you put it into a gear that the shift knob doesn't seem to know anything about . . . :evil:


Norm

[twosaturns]

Ya know... When I started planning out the car as I was sitting in the garage I had a small urge to leave the factory tunnel and use a road race type 4-speed using the factory hole... I thought it would be cool to still have a 4-speed and stick with the somewhat NASCAR theme I have in mind...

M-22 w/ a gear vendors overdrive.

[BossaNova]

V. V. Cool.
Love your project!

[project hotrod]

If you were to replace the body bushings with thinner and stiffer stuff to tie the frame and body more tightly together - and drop the CG a bit at the same time, you'd almost certainly have to do some tunnel work anyway.

You can always cut down an old Hurst or whatever 4-speed shift lever and adapt it to the overdrive tranny shift stub to maintain the appearance. Nobody needs to know what the old-school shift handle is connected to until you put it into a gear that the shift knob doesn't seem to know anything about . . . :evil:


Norm

Good idea for the shifter. Maybe I'll use a three speed knob.. lol

I think a Richmond 4-speed with a Gear vendors would be cool but it would kill the budget.

While planning anything I could do to lower the CG machining some shorter aluminum mounts sounds like a good idea but I was thinking about keeping the moon roof.

The moon roof cuts about two inches of head room out of the vehicle. That coupled with the cage would make for some packaging nightmares with seat height which stinks. If I can run a shorter bushing and not suffer too much with a helmet on I'll do it.

Right now I'm thinking I'll cut solid body bushings and also run plates from the body to the a-pillar bars along with the main hoop to body ties.

As far as CG I'll try to keep everything else as low as possible.


Thanks for the kind words guys.

[dusterbd13]

any progres on this one?

its pretty close in concept to what im thinking about doing to a coworkers field car.

michael

[CRCRFT78]

I think he sold it for another project.