time for a new project: 1978 malibu LS swap
06-11-2011, 02:53 PM
#1
time for a new project: 1978 malibu LS swap *back from the dead update on page 4* the car:
'78 Malibu Landau coupe, originally built by my friends father back in the late 80's it pretty much retained most of the factory appearance(aside from removing the landau vinyl top) - when the car was built, there wasn't much out there for these cars - so he got a ford 9 inch from a Versailles and made it fit with hotchkis upper and lower control arms, strange 3-way shocks, and the rest of the factory 6 cylinder Malibu suspension. it had many Small blocks and th350 for most of its life, and was bracket raced every saturday and sunday until he sold the car to a neighbor back in 1995. fast forward a few years my buddy buys the car back after it had been abused and neglected for 10 years. he put a steel headed 355 in it with a 'Glide and went bracket racing. then he had to put it away due to changing jobs, sold the motor and it sat in storage for 4 years. ive been trying to convince him the LS series engine was the way to go for an affordable motor with good power and finally he gave in. now its being resurrected and being taken from a race car back to a drivable street car.
i picked the car up about a month ago from storage and brought it back to my garage. i had been stockpiling parts for a while, he's on a budget and the car needs some updating(has an old STEEL 6pt. rollbar, plastic fuel cell in the trunk, among many other things that it needs so its going to the chassis shop in a few weeks to get a new 10pt cage) the plan is to get it running and driving for around $3500 and we're doing pretty good so far. picked up a stock LS1 from a 2000 camaro with 80k on it for $1500 complete with harness, accessories, and a bunch of other stuff which we turned around and sold for $650 since its getting a carb. the powerglide is gonna stay for now and the engine is gonna stay stock except for a edelbrock victor intake.
today i started mocking stuff up, using a set of transdapt 1inch set black plates i set the motor in and bolted up a set of pace setter headers for a 98-02 f-body - it all fits perfect! even the camaro oil pan clears the crossmember! i plan to use a BMR alternator bracket for the F-body alternator (the car has a manual steering box so and there's plenty of room)
ill keep updating as i make progress, but here's some pictures for now:
this was taken probably 6 or 7 years ago back in its bracket racing glory days
adapter plates bolted up
at first i tried the Moroso solid motor mounts that were on the old SBC
this side is good...
this side not so much...
yanked it back out
bolted up the transdapt mounts that come with the kit
fits like a glove
F-body oil pan even clears the stock crossmember, which is most likely gonna get cut out and have a tube installed to save some weight, but good to know it clears without modification
98-02 F-body pace setter headers
drivers side went in from underneath
passenger side went in from up top
the #2 header tube is REALLY close to the frame, its not touching but i think i might gently flatten it slightly to gain a little clearance just in case, also have to re-route the battery cable obviously.
looks like it belongs there, not bad for a days work.
***back from the dead update on page 3***
'78 Malibu Landau coupe, originally built by my friends father back in the late 80's it pretty much retained most of the factory appearance(aside from removing the landau vinyl top) - when the car was built, there wasn't much out there for these cars - so he got a ford 9 inch from a Versailles and made it fit with hotchkis upper and lower control arms, strange 3-way shocks, and the rest of the factory 6 cylinder Malibu suspension. it had many Small blocks and th350 for most of its life, and was bracket raced every saturday and sunday until he sold the car to a neighbor back in 1995. fast forward a few years my buddy buys the car back after it had been abused and neglected for 10 years. he put a steel headed 355 in it with a 'Glide and went bracket racing. then he had to put it away due to changing jobs, sold the motor and it sat in storage for 4 years. ive been trying to convince him the LS series engine was the way to go for an affordable motor with good power and finally he gave in. now its being resurrected and being taken from a race car back to a drivable street car.
i picked the car up about a month ago from storage and brought it back to my garage. i had been stockpiling parts for a while, he's on a budget and the car needs some updating(has an old STEEL 6pt. rollbar, plastic fuel cell in the trunk, among many other things that it needs so its going to the chassis shop in a few weeks to get a new 10pt cage) the plan is to get it running and driving for around $3500 and we're doing pretty good so far. picked up a stock LS1 from a 2000 camaro with 80k on it for $1500 complete with harness, accessories, and a bunch of other stuff which we turned around and sold for $650 since its getting a carb. the powerglide is gonna stay for now and the engine is gonna stay stock except for a edelbrock victor intake.
today i started mocking stuff up, using a set of transdapt 1inch set black plates i set the motor in and bolted up a set of pace setter headers for a 98-02 f-body - it all fits perfect! even the camaro oil pan clears the crossmember! i plan to use a BMR alternator bracket for the F-body alternator (the car has a manual steering box so and there's plenty of room)
ill keep updating as i make progress, but here's some pictures for now:
this was taken probably 6 or 7 years ago back in its bracket racing glory days
adapter plates bolted up
at first i tried the Moroso solid motor mounts that were on the old SBC
this side is good...
this side not so much...
yanked it back out
bolted up the transdapt mounts that come with the kit
fits like a glove
F-body oil pan even clears the stock crossmember, which is most likely gonna get cut out and have a tube installed to save some weight, but good to know it clears without modification
98-02 F-body pace setter headers
drivers side went in from underneath
passenger side went in from up top
the #2 header tube is REALLY close to the frame, its not touching but i think i might gently flatten it slightly to gain a little clearance just in case, also have to re-route the battery cable obviously.
looks like it belongs there, not bad for a days work.
***back from the dead update on page 3***
Last edited by lt4malibu; 04-26-2015 at 09:08 PM.
06-12-2011, 09:39 PM
#6
TECH Regular
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Celina, Texas
Posts: 456
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I love those cars. My first car was a 1978 Malibu, 305v8 Th200, it was fast! Well, when you are 16 and your car burns rubber you think its fast. I had 6 Malibus total with that body style.
Its good to know the headers worked. A little dimple here and there is ok.
Nice car.
Its good to know the headers worked. A little dimple here and there is ok.
Nice car.
Trending Topics
06-13-2011, 10:04 AM
#9
thanks for the compliments!
i should have the intake, waterpump, alternator bracket, flexplate/adapter, and converter this week. gotta go through the carb he has since its been sitting for 4 years but im gonna try to fire it up next weekend if possible
i should have the intake, waterpump, alternator bracket, flexplate/adapter, and converter this week. gotta go through the carb he has since its been sitting for 4 years but im gonna try to fire it up next weekend if possible
06-22-2011, 08:10 PM
#12
well the intake showed up today, along with the flexplate and MSD box. engine will come back out this weekend so i can bolt the flexplate up and put the converter in.
this is how the alternator fits with the BMR alternator bracket, its close but clears the steering shaft and box (might not clear a car with power steering though)
and the converter with the "adapter"
this is how the alternator fits with the BMR alternator bracket, its close but clears the steering shaft and box (might not clear a car with power steering though)
and the converter with the "adapter"
06-22-2011, 08:28 PM
#13
What t/c adapter is that? Looks like a pretty neat piece to have for those using the older style transmissions. The other option is to use a fleplate from a 6.0 truck engine.
07-02-2011, 05:03 PM
#15
made some progress today:
pulled the motor back out so i could put the converter in and bolt up the Hughes flexplate, set the motor back in and started putting parts back on. waiting for the carb, and i need to find some radiator hoses and it should be ready to run. im going to rewire the engine compartment after it comes back from the chassis shop so its all temporary for now.
pic's:
flexplate and spacer
converter bolted up with the spacer
took the car off jackstands so i could roll it out and clean up the garage a little
pulled the motor back out so i could put the converter in and bolt up the Hughes flexplate, set the motor back in and started putting parts back on. waiting for the carb, and i need to find some radiator hoses and it should be ready to run. im going to rewire the engine compartment after it comes back from the chassis shop so its all temporary for now.
pic's:
flexplate and spacer
converter bolted up with the spacer
took the car off jackstands so i could roll it out and clean up the garage a little
07-03-2011, 09:06 AM
#16
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I guess I should thank you for the info and pics about your troubles, but it's difficult to feel thankful now that I'm feeling worried. I ordered Morosos, and similar adapter plates, for the 5.3 swap into my third gen Camaro.
If you have trouble with those non-solid mounts, my idea is to grind the block's mounting bosses about 1/8" on each side. That's what I'll try if my Morosos don't fit.
If you have trouble with those non-solid mounts, my idea is to grind the block's mounting bosses about 1/8" on each side. That's what I'll try if my Morosos don't fit.
07-03-2011, 09:47 AM
#18
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I assume those Morosos worked perfectly with your last SBC, right? If you elongated the holes, then that would no longer be true. So you wouldn't be able to revert to SBC power if the need happens.
Anyway, I'm glad you got yours going. I'll be watching for a timeslip.
Anyway, I'm glad you got yours going. I'll be watching for a timeslip.
