bobby5

Im in the market for a fast car to drag race every once in a while. I want a f-body because that was my first car. But on the other hand i have a mint 1981 malibu 4 speed with 60,000 original miles that my dad bought new sitting in the garage. Im debating on wether to just drop like a 502 crate motor and rearend in the malibu or buy me a ls1 f-body. What do you guys think would be better? Im not to crazy about the looks of the malibu but i guess throw a cowl hood and some welds on it and it wouldnt look to bad. I see alot of people using malibus for drag cars are they a good choice or just cheap to get
?

retardedpenguin

iTrader: (2)

I'd buy a CLEAN Fbody but if that means you getting rid of the malibu then don't do it.

A turbocharged 350 would be good.

m1a2d3

do you have to daily drive the car ?

blk/slvr02ss

iTrader: (21)

F-Body LS-1 car to easy to make fast but then i like that year Malibu w/a BBC.

NC01TA

I would NOT get rid of your dad's Malibu unless you are completely tired of it. It could be something you regret later. No, they are not much to look at but it has been in your family for almost 30 years!

bobby5

Nah it wouldn't be a daily driver of hardly drive it maybe on weekends or something
I'd just figure if I bought a clean fbody for 10k it would need a rearend cam heads headers and have to pay to put all that in and then tune it. I could buy a 502 crate motor and have 500 HP right off the bat.

StuntmanMike

iTrader: (2)

I'd do the Malibu. Personally, I think they look cool with a cowl hood and Monte SS style front end. Choo-Choo customs used to make a kit for that IIRC.

It has the sentimental value to you, and it'll be easier/cheaper to make it fast. Plus how many people do you know that still have a car in thier family after 30 years?? That's cool man, you can't sell that thing.

If you have to have an F-Body, just pick pne up for a DD eventually.

Oh and I think the Malibu's are relatively light, which is why you see them as drag car often.

PadenAlbin

I'd go with an F-Body.

tuske427

iTrader: (1)

It sounds like you're not too worried about keeping the malibu original. do you have space & money for an additional car? the money for additional registration, insurance, maintenance, etc could be put into the malibu.

For me- with my limited resources, I find that the fewer cars I have, the more I can do with them. Having more cars spreads my money to them thinner and as a result they get less. less $$, less time, etc. Also, as mentioned already, the fact that this car has been in your family the whole time makes for a rare story. Not too many people can say that. That's cool in itself. I hope this helps.

Bowtie Boy

For the price of everything to get Fbody on road, a decent fbody itself, then mods you could easily have a 10 second mali with change left over.

Starz T/A 17

iTrader: (6)

Me personally I would want to keep the Malibu stock or at least keep it a street car, especially if my dad had it for 30 years with 60 k original miles. But thats just me, if he only put 60k in 30 years it would at least have some "value" to him that I think deep down would kill him to see you swapping engines, etc. and I would feel bad hacking the car up. If you can afford it I would go with the F body, or you could always buy a used Malibu with higher miles for really cheap, and the miles should not really matter since its going to be a track car and your going to replace the engine, trans, etc.

lt1pwr1

iTrader: (1)

There is no doubt in my mind that building the old school cars is a much cheaper way to go....not to mention they are alot easier to work on. After you build the weak 4l60e (assuming you go auto), weak 10 bolt rear, plus the motor work you are talking alot of money.

I guess you can go TH400 or TH350 in these cars but that takes alot of money just to get it to fit. Like you said, put a crate 502 and back it with a TH400, 12 bolt rear and you have it made. No need to spend $500 on a tune either.

Empatho

iTrader: (16)

I was gonna say get an F-body but since the malibu has been in the family for that long I say keep it in the family.

ULTIMATEORANGESS

iTrader: (4)

those malibus make great drag cars. id hook that up.

jevonniespapi

It shouldnt be a question!

Keep the ride that was passed down to you. If now is not the time to fix her up... cover her, and put it on jacks whatever, just start taking care of it now. Make sure there isnt no grass growing through the cracks etc. If this car truely means something to you and your family... treat it with some love!

Get the LS1 car now, drive the **** outa it, and when you are ready, have the funds, have your own kid, or just reached that stage in your life... build the beast!

I hear about folks all the time talk about the car that was passed down to them and its sooo significant because it was their dads dads dads first car etc... but they dont take care of the car!

LTXBOI

iTrader: (2)

malibu with a ls in it now you have the best of both worlds!!!

bobby5

The good thing about the body style malibu is i can drop a big block in it and not cut nothing and my dad ordered it plain jane with no ac, radio etc so thats a plus. i want a decent 11 sec car i can drive on weekends and such. I have a idea what a f-body would have to have done to it to go 11's but not sure what this malibu would have to have done do it. if i threw a 500hp 502 and a bullet proof tranny and rear what would be a estimate what it would run in the 1/4?

30th6

iTrader: (6)

if all ya want is a 11 second car buy a stock ls f body and put a 150 shot,exaust,gears,and tires.they have cheap ls cars on here so you could do 11s for about 6k.

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

Too many variables to answer this with any certainty. Things to consider are raceweight (after all the work is done), trans type (assuming auto for drag racing....TH400 will be the heaviest and eat the most HP), stall, gearing, tires, suspension.

In other words, 500hp is plenty to run 11s depending on traction, trans/gearing/stall, and weight.

LCTA

iTrader: (17)

Gotta go with the Malibu and BBC power. Done right, those cars are sweet! You should be able to score a decent F-body in a couple years for a decent price anyway. You gotta go with that Malibu seeing that its been in the fam for so long.