Pro Touring G- body 81 Malibu

[MR. PACO]

Has anyone seen a Pro Touring G- body 81 Malibu. Found a 81 Malibu, one owner mint with bad engine for 700 bucks. How hard is it to build a great Pro touring car out of this particular style car. Looking to build for next project after the Fox body is done.Any help will be greatly appreciated. Tire width looks to be a problem up front, with say 255 to 265 / 35 18in tire. Looking at the DSE front suspension.

[RadLS67]

I almost bought a 79' malibu to do the same thing. Whatever you decide to do good luck!

[MR. PACO]

I'm going to call DSE and get their thoughts on what is possible with G-body Malibu. I also stay in Houston and I, get parts pretty cheap from vendors here 4l80 trans $250 bucks from junked truck, TCI trans controller $650, 6.0 block $300, Eagle 4.00 crank $750, Eagle rods $570 bucks,6l90 trans $1700. I've read about you getting paint and body work.I'll have my car painted at Paint shop on Airline and 45 N. right across from Fiesta, they paint all of the Dough Boy's cars on the North Side, candy paint, bowling ball you name it and they are pretty reasonable. My partner paid $5000 grand for body work and custom candy blue paint on OLDS DELTA 88.I have most of the hard parts for build.

[MR. PACO]

I just talked to Stacy the owner at DSE don't forget Kyle. She said that 255/40 18 would work and rolling fender lip would help but that it would rub a little on tight turns.Does anyone think this car is worth looking at.

[jy211]

fun little cars

[RadLS67]

Kind of a bummer a 255 is all that you can fit up front, but it all depends on what you wanna do with the car. Yea ive driven by that place on airline a few times but ended up having a guy in crosby do all of the work at a pretty reasonable price. I wanted to make a nice sleeper out of the 79' that i was looking at, all original paint, low budget big block and just a fast street car but I'd love to see that body style for a pro touring car!

[howehot]

I think any g-body is a great pro-touring platform. Many vendors are stepping up. Ridetech has new front suspension and coilover kits. You can step up to a Schwartz Perfomance bolt in chassis for the ultimate if budget allows. Checkout Monte Carlo, Regal, or Cutlass builds, the Malibu is on the same chassis and will accept the same parts. I say do it.

[SicMonte]

I agree with Dan. There are lots of options out there now for the G Body when it comes to suspension components.

Check out my build thread...everything I have done to my car is in there in detail.

Feel free to ask any questions about the set up...I get them every day pretty much.

https://www.pro-touring.com/showthread.php?67083-Project-SicMonte&highlight=sicmonte

[SRD art]

My g-body Cutlass wagon is dropped 2" and I've run 275-40s up front on 17x9.5" wheels with 5.5" of back space. I have 10mm spacers and 98-02 F-body rotors on factory rotors cut down to act as hubs, all on stock spindles. I'm planning on going with 315-35-17s on 17x10s up front next but it will require a slight frame notch for clearance. You should probably pick up a book called "How to Make Your Muscle Car Handle" by Mark Savitske. Then give him a call, he runs SC&C and is the guru of g-body handling. http://scandc.com/new/

Check out my build thread link in my signature for more info on my set up. With my suspension the car corners flat and is very responsive. I also drive it daily.

[daveybtv]

Mine is a 79, and im on 17's but I think that its a deal @ 700.00 bucks eather way you go the parts are out there and more comming every day!

[MR. PACO]

????

[MR. PACO]

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[Zspoiler]

There are all sort of G -body Pro-touring cars out there. Monte Carlos , Buick GNs ,ETC I have even pro-toured my 1981 El Camino SS. It sort-a p*ss people off when they get out handled by a "truck".

[SparkyRnD]

we also make bolt-in conversion radiators, so if you choose to run an LS, we have you covered