project 1980 malibu: as if i dont have enough to do... *updated*
10-01-2011, 06:55 PM
#1
project 1980 malibu: as if i dont have enough to do... *updated* So im currently working on 2 other LS swaps for people. iv'e been wanting another car for a while that would be my own personal project so i picked up this 1980 malibu about a month ago. completely original with 60k, it has been sitting in an old lady's basement since 2003. the car is very clean, and aside from the paint being faded on the hood, roof and trunk it looks good. the interior is mint aside from the typical falling headliner and some faded plastics. i brought the car home, cleaned it up a little and threw on a set of rally wheels i had. not bad for $1200 id say 
goals/plans:
This car (as with all my personal cars) needs to be reliable enough to drive daily, get decent gas mileage (id say 18-22 is attainable), perform pretty well(as well as a box on wheels car perform i suppose) and also be fun to drive. it also needs to look as factory as possible and retain a factory appearance.
Every march i go to NC with my brother for a little vacation so my goal is to have the car finished to make the trip this year - 20 hours round trip and some cruising around.
i picked up a 2000 Z28 with a Ls1 and T56 today, hopefully within the next month or so ill have it torn down to take what i need and sell the rest to re-coup the expense of the car and maybe have some extra to put a small cam in the LS1, an LS6 intake and some tuning. im not sure if im going to use the T56 yet, ive done a few installs before and since ill only have time between other stuff to work on this it might get a 4L60e for now(which i already have). so heres a few pictures, and progress will be slow but i will update as much as possible.
the malibu(aka: holy roller2.0)
the donor:
im also looking to actually get a shop at some point, and maybe start doing this more as a little side buisness since i get call all the time asking if i can put together a car (mostly wiring) for a LS swap
goals/plans:
This car (as with all my personal cars) needs to be reliable enough to drive daily, get decent gas mileage (id say 18-22 is attainable), perform pretty well(as well as a box on wheels car perform i suppose) and also be fun to drive. it also needs to look as factory as possible and retain a factory appearance.
Every march i go to NC with my brother for a little vacation so my goal is to have the car finished to make the trip this year - 20 hours round trip and some cruising around.
i picked up a 2000 Z28 with a Ls1 and T56 today, hopefully within the next month or so ill have it torn down to take what i need and sell the rest to re-coup the expense of the car and maybe have some extra to put a small cam in the LS1, an LS6 intake and some tuning. im not sure if im going to use the T56 yet, ive done a few installs before and since ill only have time between other stuff to work on this it might get a 4L60e for now(which i already have). so heres a few pictures, and progress will be slow but i will update as much as possible.
the malibu(aka: holy roller2.0)
the donor:
im also looking to actually get a shop at some point, and maybe start doing this more as a little side buisness since i get call all the time asking if i can put together a car (mostly wiring) for a LS swap
Last edited by lt4malibu; 03-05-2012 at 08:57 AM.
10-03-2011, 12:00 AM
#6
Looks like its in very nice shape
. Only thing I saw that looked broken was the little piece of chrome trim in the horn cover thats impossible to find a replacement for......but if you grab a piece of aluminum welding rod, bend it into shape and put a couple dabs of superglue to hold it in no one will notice the difference.
. Only thing I saw that looked broken was the little piece of chrome trim in the horn cover thats impossible to find a replacement for......but if you grab a piece of aluminum welding rod, bend it into shape and put a couple dabs of superglue to hold it in no one will notice the difference. 
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10-03-2011, 08:15 PM
#12
I don't even like Malibu styling or wide-sweep speedos but that navy interior really appeals to me for some reason. Maybe because it's anything but all-too-overused black. You did well on that car. 
Just saw those on eBay a week ago.
Only thing I saw that looked broken was the little piece of chrome trim in the horn cover thats impossible to find a replacement for......but if you grab a piece of aluminum welding rod, bend it into shape and put a couple dabs of superglue to hold it in no one will notice the difference.
10-03-2011, 08:36 PM
#13
before:
after:
unfortunately i had to sell it 2 years ago when i lost my job otherwise i would have done this to it. i tried to buy it back but they guy who bought it lives in kentucky, he sold it to someone else so this one will have to do.
10-04-2011, 02:13 AM
#14
Wish i could find a Mali as clean as any of them.. I drove 3 hours to see a reasonably priced 79 but of course it looked waaay better in the pics then it actually was...
Oh and the_merv i am specifically wanting to know what motor mounts and trans crossmember to use. I want to put install it without alot of cutting or buying the expensive BRP kit....PM me please, Sorry for thread hijacking lt4malibu!
Oh and the_merv i am specifically wanting to know what motor mounts and trans crossmember to use. I want to put install it without alot of cutting or buying the expensive BRP kit....PM me please, Sorry for thread hijacking lt4malibu!
10-04-2011, 07:26 AM
#15
Wish i could find a Mali as clean as any of them.. I drove 3 hours to see a reasonably priced 79 but of course it looked waaay better in the pics then it actually was...
Oh and the_merv i am specifically wanting to know what motor mounts and trans crossmember to use. I want to put install it without alot of cutting or buying the expensive BRP kit....PM me please, Sorry for thread hijacking lt4malibu!
Oh and the_merv i am specifically wanting to know what motor mounts and trans crossmember to use. I want to put install it without alot of cutting or buying the expensive BRP kit....PM me please, Sorry for thread hijacking lt4malibu!
i plan to use the 1inch setback mounts and pace setter headers, ive done 2 swaps like this and both turned out great i had to modify the header tube on the passenger side because it just touches the frame. the BRP kit is expensive but also fits well.
this is a g-body i just did - i tried to take some pictures of what fits and where > https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversio...u-ls-swap.html
10-06-2011, 03:11 AM
#19
no problem, thats what this forum is for - to ask questions.
i plan to use the 1inch setback mounts and pace setter headers, ive done 2 swaps like this and both turned out great i had to modify the header tube on the passenger side because it just touches the frame. the BRP kit is expensive but also fits well.
this is a g-body i just did - i tried to take some pictures of what fits and where > https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversio...u-ls-swap.html
i plan to use the 1inch setback mounts and pace setter headers, ive done 2 swaps like this and both turned out great i had to modify the header tube on the passenger side because it just touches the frame. the BRP kit is expensive but also fits well.
this is a g-body i just did - i tried to take some pictures of what fits and where > https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversio...u-ls-swap.html
10-09-2011, 07:59 PM
#20
made some progress today on stripping down the camaro. ive already sold a bunch of parts thanks to this site and craigslist - somebody left me a deposit for the shell when im done so i really cant complain. i hope to pull the motor and trans out next weekend, ive also decided to go with a 4L60e instead of the T56 so that will be for sale as well.
