BUILD THREAD 79 Malibu wagon not slow not fast

Malibu795

Greasemonkey
May 13, 2019
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332
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Probably should document this somewhere that I'm actually at semi regularly.
Had a build thread on MR and Pro touring.. meh.
Bought a 79 Malibu classic wagon in '97 had a 305/200 in it.
Big goal, C5/C6 below 150mph performance range with a stock hood line wagon and hopefully pull 20+mpg.
Engine should be 575-600HP with 6-650TQ 9:1CR on 87octane with a very flat wide curve, and I'm knowingly trading some top end HP/TQ for better 2000-4000rpm power band.
Few engines and trans later it's got a 482BBC MK6 based block. 4.25*4.25 bore stroke, LW SCAT crank 6.135 rod FT +3.00 cc hyper pistons with 113cc chambers puts CR right about 9:1
currently heads are L29 OEM heads with proflow valves. Heads I bought and failed to double check are TFS 280cc power port with 113cc chamber
Cam is Howard's 224/234° @ .050, 114 LSA, 595"/601" with 1.7:1 rockers (oem heads) .630"/636" with 1.8 on the TFS heads.
Edelbrock RPM intake.
HEI that's getting swap for MSD 6AL setup
currently a 650cfm AVS2 carb, need bigger but plan on building a MPFI intake based of the RPM intake with a 1000cfm throttle body.
IDK if I'm going to use 0411 ECM FAST or Holley yet. Leaning FAST.
Headers are hedman shorties 68610 to dual 3" with car chemistry 3" 3 disc inserts. Probably adding either vibrant ultra quiet, or borla xr1

Suspension is UMI upper/lower A-Arms stock BJs for now, front/rear bolt on frame braces
1-3/8 swap bar from long gone STI
Moog 5608 front 14*175" 2.5" springs out back
31*19 summit radiator, fan is either 19" mechanical non clutch or 11" HP spal fans
Viper spec T56 rated at 700TQ in 05
3" 1350 steel drive shaft,
Lakewood Bell housing
John Bzedl clutch pedal and adjustable clutch MC from tick performance
8.8/7.5 hybrid axle from JD race with 3.08 gears Eaton trac, 31 spline Moser axles
C5 12.80" brakes up front
4th gen F-body 12" brakes out back. Getting swapped to C5 rear brakes
1-5/16 brake MC with dual 8" vac booster, (getting swapped to hydro boost) 1/4" MC to prop lines
Tube rear F-body lower control arms
Iceman 8.8 DA uppers
Trick chassis upper/lower frame braces. (Upper need installed still)
Big one off air dam.
17*9 Cragar soft 8 on 5" BS with 275/40/17 on the corners

Things to do, floorpan, mini tub, rear frame notch, sub floor frame braces rear bumper frame brace tie in, box center section of the frame.
Coil overs
Hydroboost
MPFI
ARH headers
315 squared, possible 315/335 setup
Working AC,
Seals replaced
Tint
Paint, original color is Maroon, currently it's a very dark version of maroon that I have painted in 03/04 winter. Wanting to paint it GM forest green with a onyx black to break it up some how.
Big Picture dump later
Couple from Saturday
 

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Big expectations of the current parts. C5/C6 perf is a lofty goal.
Is it? Talking avg/common C5/C6 not top end all out optioned cars..

Mid 11s 1/4 mile
1g skid pad grip on street tires
60-0 under 100' for braking
~70mph slalom
Shooting for 1:9 HP:LB power to weight ratio
My wagon is roughly 4000lb with me
 
Last edited:
Is it? Talking avg/common C5/C6 not top end all out optioned cars..

Mid 11s 1/4 mile
1g skid pad grip on street tires
60-0 under 100' for braking
~70mph slalom
Shooting for 1:9 HP:LB power to weight ratio
My wagon is roughly 4000lb with me
In my humble opinion.... yes. I'm not trying to discourage you/anyone nor rain on the party, but even the C5/6 base model cars have a bunch to overcome:

* Ideal weight bias @ 50/50 (depending on model/yr)
* Less weight overall @ ~3300#
* Much better suspension/chassis design
* Lower C.O.G
* Slippery aerodynamics

I'm fully aware improvements can be made to the G-body (or any other) platform & not saying one can't achieve the goal, but it is still a lofty goal.

I definitely look forward to your updates to see how it goes/progresses 😎👍
 
Unless the track I'm running at has a multiple 100+mph sustained sections the aerodynamic advantages of the C5/C6 is almost mitigated to nothing
I really doubt if I was to run a hot lap in my wagon then run hot laps in a base C5 I'll be faster in the C5.
Weight split with the 468 iron head BBC, me full tank is 2100/1900 that's 51/49 split I haven't measured to see how high the COG is off the ground yet
While id love to have the almost 20" wider track width the vetts have ~75" vs ~57" I can work with what I have and RC/IC/COG can all be manipulated even though some points are not naturally advantageous.

I know the aluminum heads will pull close to 100lbs off the nose, plus moving battery to the rear to make room for dual CAI that have ram air characteristics.

The cool thing about this bench racing ...is I have a buddy and his dad run up to Road America track in Wisconsin couple times a year, my buddy has a base C5 and his dad has a modded C6.
Hopefully next year I'll have things sorted out enough to do it.

Ideally I'll have floorpan and coil overs done on the car along with fresh 200TW tires for it.
 
Unless the track I'm running at has a multiple 100+mph sustained sections the aerodynamic advantages of the C5/C6 is almost mitigated to nothing
I really doubt if I was to run a hot lap in my wagon then run hot laps in a base C5 I'll be faster in the C5.
Weight split with the 468 iron head BBC, me full tank is 2100/1900 that's 51/49 split I haven't measured to see how high the COG is off the ground yet
While id love to have the almost 20" wider track width the vetts have ~75" vs ~57" I can work with what I have and RC/IC/COG can all be manipulated even though some points are not naturally advantageous.

I know the aluminum heads will pull close to 100lbs off the nose, plus moving battery to the rear to make room for dual CAI that have ram air characteristics.

The cool thing about this bench racing ...is I have a buddy and his dad run up to Road America track in Wisconsin couple times a year, my buddy has a base C5 and his dad has a modded C6.
Hopefully next year I'll have things sorted out enough to do it.

Ideally I'll have floorpan and coil overs done on the car along with fresh 200TW tires for it.
Be sure & keep us updated. I'm def in to watch.
 

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