79 Malibu Turbo 5.3L "Turlibu"
#1
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: MT
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech10year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Figured I better post up some pics of my project. Its a 79 Malibu that I dropped a cammed 5.3L in then added a MP T70 turbo with a built TH400 behind it. Built everything myself. Hoping I get 500+rwhp out of it. I will get some better pics as soon as I get my 12 bolt rear narrowed and back in. Hoping my axles show up this weekend.
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/100_4222.jpg)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/100_4224.jpg)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/100_4245.jpg)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/100_4252.jpg)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/100_4258.jpg)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/100_4260.jpg)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/100_4261.jpg)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/100_4262.jpg)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/100_4263.jpg)
GOTTA LOVE GREEN!!!!![Grin](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_grin.gif)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/100_4222.jpg)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/100_4224.jpg)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/100_4245.jpg)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/100_4252.jpg)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/100_4258.jpg)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/100_4260.jpg)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/100_4261.jpg)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/100_4262.jpg)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/100_4263.jpg)
GOTTA LOVE GREEN!!!!
![Grin](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_grin.gif)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/100_4271.jpg)
#5
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: MT
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech10year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Thanks!! No worries the GREEN is definately there to stay. Thats the best part about the car, and its in pretty good shape too. Last weekend I pulled the headliner out and re-glued it. The seat cover was on the bottom part of the seat when I bought it, might take it off to see if I could repair the green cover, not sure how bad it is.
As far as the turbo goes. It's a truck mani on the driver side with a v-band welded to it. Then the x-over pipe runs down and around towards front side of trans by the torq converter. Log manifold on the passenger side. Just bought some bends and started cutting/welding. Its a 2.5" log and x-over and a 3.5" down pipe. Just have it dumped through a pypes muffler kicked out by passenger door. Pretty sure I'll change that, I think its going to be way to loud for a sleeper. Put dual walbros in the stock tank, one running off a hobbs switch.
I started working on this over thanskgiving weekend. Only got to drive it 5 miles so far(it was trying to snow), only hit 4-5 pounds of boost, now the weathers been nice so I'm kind of kicking myself for droping the stock rearend out. Still have a lot of tuning to do once I get my 12 bolt in.
Green on geen is what I was thinking too. When I do a paint job on it, it will be green. Probably run it like this for a while though.
As far as the turbo goes. It's a truck mani on the driver side with a v-band welded to it. Then the x-over pipe runs down and around towards front side of trans by the torq converter. Log manifold on the passenger side. Just bought some bends and started cutting/welding. Its a 2.5" log and x-over and a 3.5" down pipe. Just have it dumped through a pypes muffler kicked out by passenger door. Pretty sure I'll change that, I think its going to be way to loud for a sleeper. Put dual walbros in the stock tank, one running off a hobbs switch.
I started working on this over thanskgiving weekend. Only got to drive it 5 miles so far(it was trying to snow), only hit 4-5 pounds of boost, now the weathers been nice so I'm kind of kicking myself for droping the stock rearend out. Still have a lot of tuning to do once I get my 12 bolt in.
Green on geen is what I was thinking too. When I do a paint job on it, it will be green. Probably run it like this for a while though.
Trending Topics
#15
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: MT
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech10year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Heres a few more pics of the manifolds. Got my 12 bolt narrowed and back in, won't have wheels for 2 weeks so I ordered some wheel spacers should have it back on the ground and driving this weekend with the stock pizza cutters on it.
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/2011-09-24_13-06-53_161-1.jpg)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/2011-12-10_16-41-49_656-1.jpg)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/2011-12-11_14-46-35_703.jpg)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/2011-12-20_12-06-15_186-1.jpg)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/2011-12-20_12-06-27_151.jpg)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/2011-09-24_13-06-53_161-1.jpg)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/2011-12-10_16-41-49_656-1.jpg)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/2011-12-11_14-46-35_703.jpg)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/2011-12-20_12-06-15_186-1.jpg)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/2011-12-20_12-06-27_151.jpg)
![](http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz67/A62WAGON/malibu/2011-12-20_12-06-46_389.jpg)
#18
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: MT
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech10year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
sorry I missed your question.
I used the stock v8 malibu mounts. took the original mount off old v8 block, which is all metal, and cut some adapter plates for the LS (1" setback 3/16 plate) then welded the metal mount to the plate. The rubber mount on the crossmember was left in stock position. I initially tried bolting the mount to the plate but it just didn't sit right and I could'nt get both sides to line up. So I bolted them to the rubber mount on the crossmember first, set the LS in where I wanted it and tacked the mounts to the plate on the block. Still has the 1" setback and sits real close to the same place as when I tried bolting them to block.
Thanks for the compliments, hope to drive it a little this weekend and start working on my tune.
Thanks to LS1TECH and the people on here. I've been lurking on here for a while and there is tons of great info and people. I will post up some videos when I get it tuned to 12 PSI.
I used the stock v8 malibu mounts. took the original mount off old v8 block, which is all metal, and cut some adapter plates for the LS (1" setback 3/16 plate) then welded the metal mount to the plate. The rubber mount on the crossmember was left in stock position. I initially tried bolting the mount to the plate but it just didn't sit right and I could'nt get both sides to line up. So I bolted them to the rubber mount on the crossmember first, set the LS in where I wanted it and tacked the mounts to the plate on the block. Still has the 1" setback and sits real close to the same place as when I tried bolting them to block.
Thanks for the compliments, hope to drive it a little this weekend and start working on my tune.
Thanks to LS1TECH and the people on here. I've been lurking on here for a while and there is tons of great info and people. I will post up some videos when I get it tuned to 12 PSI.
#19
Launching!
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Cleveland Oh
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Hello, I like how you built your turbo setup. I wanted to know how much room do you have between the crossover and downpipe? Is there enuff space for a spark plug change on the passenger side without out removing the downpipe? I'm trying to find a motor and trans now(6.0/4l80) to do a swap in my 84 monte ss and your hot side looks like something I would want to duplicate. Do you think I could fit something like that on the passenger side wit a/c? Your downpipe looks like it will drop in the same area as a turbobuick. Im going to try and merge into 3.5 dump pipe and buy a good catback exhaust to go from there back. Also what radiator are you running?
Thanks
Pernell
Thanks
Pernell
#20
TECH Resident
iTrader: (21)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 947
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech10year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Nice build and always a fan of that turbo setup amd leaving front of engine bay open and clean. Couple questionsi have is what kind of radiator are you using and if you have pics of how you mounted you ic id appreciate the view