79 malibu "g-force" nearing completion...

[deuce_454]

Ok ive not posted updates for ever it seems, simply for lack of progress... ill just recapitulate what ive done, post a before picture and some during... finishing with the recent ones of the leather being fitted...

the car was a prety sad 79 malibu, 305, 350 tranny... the previous owner had a halfhearted attempt at pro touring by adding 17 inch bmw rims (very cheap ones at that) and some koni shocks...

some of you might remember my first post "help malibu handles like a canoe"... somone here pointed in the direction of ATS and SC&C and with their help it has progressed a far ways from what it was...

first a pair of before pics:
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/P9220071.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/P9220078.jpg

[deuce_454]

The next step was to find a goal to aim for... this was acomplished by asking many.. many questions here, reading every thread in the suspension forum and buying digital paint booth...

this is what i came up with:
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/malibu-1.jpg

the suspension was ordered thru ATS... i considdered SC&C but there was no way in hell i could have my car pass DOT inspection with adjustable controll arms (and i didnt like the look of the spoohn arms.. ) and since ATS are a global west dealer i figured id get the whole deal there.. great people btw, Tyler was a super help in the phone... and we came up with a package for the bu

Hotchkiss 1-5/8 inch front anti roll bar
Global west Del-Alum front upper and lower controll arms (the upper is the negative roll upgrade which is shorter and moves the ball joint rearward for more caster)
Curectrac rear upper and lower controll arms
global west 1 inch rear anti roll bar (it doesnt fit the curectrac arms without modifying btw... but dont tell tyler :-) )
global west springs, matched to the negative roll kit
and ofcourse: tall ATS spindles with ARP bolts

also in the box from ats was a 12:1 steering box, and a set of touring classics 13 inch brakes... and some bilsetin shocks

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/stuff.jpg

[deuce_454]

next came the work... a frame off deal, where i after conferring with marcus decided to box the frame and make aluminum bodymounts.. here are some pics of the frame and bodywork:
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/during2.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/Bagerstesiderudevenstre.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/HPIM2229.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/HPIM1923.jpg

[deuce_454]

and a bit further in the progress:

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/S7000493.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/S7000497.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/S7000861.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/DSCN2644.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/DSCN2645.jpg

[deuce_454]

next was ofcourse the body...
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/S7001040.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/S7001096.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/HPIM2577.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/HPIM2580.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/PICT3648.jpg

[deuce_454]

some callong arround procured a nice set of bumpersm new header-panel trim and aome dual HID headlights.. (nothing wromg with alittle bling right?)

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/DSCN4646.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/DSCN4648.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/DSCN4652.jpg

the bumpers were simply to nice to cut... so ill have to find some crap ones to cut and tuck some day... but for now its stock

[deuce_454]

and the last of the update os that the stereo is in, the leather is getting finished up... in matching colors .. the recaros have even gotten a malibu like stitch in the seat to malke them fit in better...
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/DSCN4866.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/DSCN4864.jpg
yes thats leather on the dash and pillars :-)
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/DSCN4863.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/DSCN4861.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/DSCN4862.jpg

[deuce_454]

and what does the future hold?

i have recieved my chassis brace from SC&C (believe it! they are shipping) allong with some edelbrock braces fro the rear suspension... marcus also supplied me with the hydraboost, and as soon as its shipping (which is soon he tells me) the newly developed SC&C watts link for the g-bodys...

and as a teaser ill post a pic of the engine that will find its way into the bu this comming spring....
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/IMG_0551.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/IMG_0451.jpg

i know its not a 1.gen... but i think its a prety good stab at a pro touring car... what does the audience think??

[CRCRFT78]

Wow I'm jealous. This just means I need to get off my toosh and start moving on my Malibu. I just want to have it drivable this summer if nothing more. Keep us updated.

[deuce_454]

ill certainly do just that... and same to you... if you mean to get your bu on the road this summer you best get a move on.. :unibrow:

[Tom.A]

Nice ride. Looks like your making good progress.

[JayR]

Dude! You've been busy! That's a huge effort and it's going to reward you very soon. It's come SO FAR and looks so good. Enjoy the hell out of ripping that through the countryside and having the only one like it in Denmark.

Good on Ya!!! Keep the progress going and the pics coming!

[olds87]

That is sick man. :wow:

[brrymnvette]

Love it. I've had about 6 78-80 Malibu's and want to do a frame off on one. Only thing I didn't see was a frame notch at the rear. Any reason you didn't do one?

[deuce_454]

The reason i didnt go with the notch is that in order for it to really matter it seemed like i was weakening the frame too much... in retrospect i would have liked to have notched it to the seam... but then on the other hand, now that im adding a watts link behind the axle it was propably a good thing i didnt compromise the lateral rigidity by narrowing the frame ...

one thing that i would have done differently was to ass a cross brace behind the rear seat before it went to uppolstery (the GNX'es have it from the factory)

and thanks for the kind words everyone by the way... feels nice that somone compliments ones work and choices even here on Lateral-1Gen.com :D

[GBodyGMachine]

Looking good man.

[deuce_454]

thanx.. Gbody.. recognize the manifold??? have you painted yours yet btw??

[GBodyGMachine]

thanx.. Gbody.. recognize the manifold??? have you painted yours yet btw??

No, I have not. I am working on making it a little better driver first. Power Steering, new Carb, Bigger master cylinder.
I wand a go fast car, not a look pretty car and right now its hard to have both.

Jeff

[deuce_454]

here are a few pics i recieved from the interior shop.. everything is leather clad (ill have to do somthing with that shifter.. but i have fallen in love with a shrifter paddle shifter so if that goes in when the ls1&4l60e i really wont need a race shifter.. just a pretty knob)

enjoy

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/DSCN4918.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/DSCN4920.jpg
http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/deuce_454/DSCN4917.jpg

[79cutlass]

Any new updates??

[el-camino]

congrats to denmark !
this is the work i like !:thumbsup:
homemade !
this is real pro-touring !