Project Grocery Getter...1983 Chevy Malibu Wagon!

[BulldawgMusclecars]

I don't know how I missed your post, David, but it was great meeting you too! Give me a call if I can help with anything.



David has an awesome Macho T/A with a Butler-built engine and EFI...really makes me want to get back to my Pontiac-powered TT 87 Trans Am project!

[The Stickman]

What springs are in the rear and what's going in the front? Thanx. I need to start getting springs for the wife's car.

[BulldawgMusclecars]

Neil,
The front springs are from Hotchkiss, part # 1902F. They are going on the car now. The existing front springs were heated originals, which are being trashed. I'm not sure what brand the rear are, but I'll find out.

We got a lot done today. The whole front supension and steering has been removed, and all the components have been cleaned up and painted. Chris and I took off to the local Pull-A-Part after lunch, and got the spindles we will be using. They are from a 2002 S-10 Blazer 2WD, and are a direct bolt in replacement for the G-body (and earlier S10) spindles.





Going on the car:



The front crossmember after cleaning and painting:



One of the control arms after cleaning and painting:



A shot of the underside, before any cleaning was done. The 8.5 Buick GN rear (3.42 posi) with Edelbrock control arms and a Hotchkiss sway bar, and Air Lift bags, were installed by another shop right before delivery. The shocks are Bell Tech.







The gas tank's stock location, removed for cleaning and painting. The straps will come off for painting as well.



Another underside shot...the dirt daubers will have to go!



One of the original front springs, which appears to have been cut down severely, rather than heated as I initially thought.



Another shot of the front end going back together

[BulldawgMusclecars]

The front brakes are going to be a pretty cool, yet relatively inexpensive, setup. We could have just as easily snagged the 2 piston calipers and rotors that came on these spindles, and had a decent upgrade, but with over 500hp on tap we're going to need more than decent. I had originally expected to do some spindle cutting, and using an aftermarket bracket on the original spindles, but a talk with Tobin at Kore3 put me on the right track. He advised using the S10 Blazer spindles and hubs, since its already set up to accept a 2 piston style caliper, and he has a bracket kit that will allow the use of C5/C5Z06/or base C6/Z51 calipers. I'll be using the C6 Z51 style abutments (brackets), and the corresponding 13.3 inch rotors. Jeff Tate has ordered the abutments for me, and I'm still checking around on the rotors and calipers, but it looks like the total parts bill for the front discs will be about $7-750. Using F-body stuff for the rear, and a C5/C6 master cylinder, we'll have a serious 4 wheel disc braking system for less than a grand!

[BulldawgMusclecars]

What springs are in the rear and what's going in the front? Thanx. I need to start getting springs for the wife's car.

The rear springs are BellTech, with a 2" drop.

[The Stickman]

The rear springs are BellTech, with a 2" drop.

Thanx, loving the build.