78 MALIBU build

[malibu 79]

Well I was thinking it was time to represent the G body side of things, so here is my latest build, a 78 Malibu. As you may have noticed from my tag I used to have a 79 Malibu but sold it a few years ago. This one was started over winter in a one car garage. I stripped it right down and did some floor repair and replaced the body mounts, all the suspension, all the lines... The drive train consist of a 95 lt1 4l60e combo with a Street&Performance wiring harness and MSD billet optidrive. The brakes are C5 on Blazer spindles front and rear with matching booster/master and KORE3 stainless lines. The wheels are 17"EAGLE ALLOY 212. I am now in the process of exhaust and finishing the interior. https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/2008_1011Image0009-1.jpghttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/2003_0116Image0009-1.jpghttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/2003_0116Image0002-1.jpghttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/2008_0207Image0007-1.jpghttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/firewall4-1.jpghttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/2009_0610Image0004-1.jpghttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/ecmmount-1.jpghttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/2009_0516Image0025-1.jpghttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/maliburadmount-1.jpghttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/gaugesfront-1.jpghttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/newfloor-1.jpg

[FoxGranadaChuck]

This car brings back so many pleasant memories. My Dad had a light creme-colored '79 Malibu 4-door with a creme-colored interior. I wished that he had been able to keep it. Unfortunately, that car got involved in a mishap my sophomore year in high school. I wished that he had been able to keep it!

[CRCRFT78]

I love how clean the firewall is. Alot better than just bolting up a block-off plate.

[malihoochie]

That firewall sure looks good. It looks like you welded the end of the "shelf" to the end that stays there after the A/C box is removed - I would like to know what you did do to support it along the length of the "shelf"? Did you weld that also? or use the bolts off the supports for the wide stainless trim ?

[John Wright]

Too bad those factory rims/hubcaps won't clear the C5 brake stuff....that would be a real sleeper to pounce on the unsuspecting....LOL

[John Wright]

BTW, if you don't mind throw in a few returns behind each of those pic so that it doesn't stretch the screen out so far...just a suggestion.

[malihoochie]

:guilty: On second look I see that you welded it across the cowl. And looks like you'll be using a straight cowl to hood weater strip seal. Very nicely done.

[Samckitt]

Cool ride G body brother!

[malibu 79]

Thanks for the comps guys, ya the pics got screwy, need to address that if future posts. As for the firewall shelf I welded it across then welded a lip to give it a factory look, then cut holes in it to aid in venting engine heat.
firewall pic
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/firewallholes-1.jpg
interior almost complete
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/interiordash-1.jpg

[TPI Monte SS]

Looks great so far, I like what you did with the firewall too! Very nice!

[srh3trinity]

Nice build, are you keeping the paint? I like the color scheme.

[6spdmalibu]

Looks sick! Great attention to detail!

[T_Raven]

I like these cars. Can't wait to see what you do to it

[twfurst]

Looks really nice, glad to see someone else working on a Malibu. Been slow lately working on my '80.

[malibu 79]

The color will stay, not the best paint job but good for now. Taking my time on this one, gotta balance between the toy's and family. I installed the headers and rad today, would like to get it running before the snow flies and take it around the block.

[malibu 79]

got some work done over the long weekend.
power steering reservoir mounted
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/powersteering-1.jpg
trans cooler mounted, gotta flair up some lines
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/cooler-1.jpg
and the Camaro fans all mounted
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/10/fans-1.jpg

[DeltaT]

Very nice progress and build. The G-bodies are underrepresented here, IMO.

Jim

[502bu]

nice work...

[CruizinKev]

very nice!

[twosaturns]

nice! I had one of those, '80 I think, w/ a 3 speed stick and junkyard 350. slow as dirt but looked real good!

[malibu 79]

quick update, got it running and it sounds great. Had an issue with the MSD opti so put the stock one on and it fired right up, gonna send the MSD back to see what's up with it. Here's a small vid of the first fire with no exhaust.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/11/th_2001_0130Image0007-1.jpg (http://s789.photobucket.com/albums/yy178/1malibu1979/?action=view&current=2001_0130Image0007.flv)

[Malibu Jax]

Always nice to see a felow G body fan at work. Well done thus far I am interested in how your engine bay turns out. What do you want to do with the exterior?

[gearheads78]

Nice work. I have a soft spot for these things. My username is derived from the 78 bu' I had for almost 10 years.

Do us all a favor and edit your original post by hitting the space bar in between each picture. That will put them on top of each other.

[malibu 79]

Hi guys, been a while since my last post so here's a quick update.
Car is on the road now, need to install the radio and tailpipes other than that it's good to go. A few pic's
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/05/2010_0417Image0027-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/05/malibuengine-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/05/malibufilter-1.jpg

[brrymnvette]

Looks great. Any bigger side shots of the exterior? What blazer spindles did you use? They bolt into the factory arms?

[malibu 79]

the brakes are 98' ZQ8 Blazer and they bolt right up, as for pics I will try to post more up this week.

[ArtosDracon]

Just to expand on the spindle info, All S10s and S10 blazers use almost exact G-body suspension. All the S10's and blazers up to ~99 use a standard spindle with rebuildable bearing pack and hub integrated brake disk, but in ~99 the blazers switched to a new spindle that retains exact geometry but has a sealed bearing pack and separate brake hub. This allows any brake kits to bolt up to the spindle and not require a custom hub or a stock hub that's had the brake disk removed. Kore3 provides brake kits for these that depending on spacer used on the spindle will work with either the blazer set-up or the turned down stock hub. The difference in spacer is required because the blazer sealed hub was designed to have a brake disk mounted outboard of it and retain the stock track width.

To OP: Are you planning or have you done any suspension upgrades?

[malibu 79]

the suspension is stock with poly bushings and a hollow front sway bar off a late model Camaro.

[ProTouring79Malibu]

Great 2 c a fellow Canuk buildn one of these!! Tryn to get somethin done on my 79 every day but the budget is tight right now. Looking at this motivates me more! Just need another ten gran!! lol Check my progress so far. I'll prob contact you for some info on parts

Cheers