1978 MALIBU "PROJECT TUMMY TUCK"

[80ELCAMINOFLAKE]

U need to get that speedo working now.....

Yes very true!! Once i get a new transmission and get them 3.08 gears and posi unit in i can calculate how many teeth i need for the transmission gears.. . Or just might have the transmission spot do the math... Thanks 🙂 amke in mad moves soon.. TT needs to hit them streets!!

 

[80ELCAMINOFLAKE]

Boy oh boy what a day!! A FUN DAY THO!! Went to the big bro elko warrens house with "Bronson" and we had a blast! Alot of gbody talk and alot of wrenching... Me, Kuruption, & Small Block got our wrench on and went at it removing the 200r4 transmission that was in warrens 87 elko.... Shot out to GM all stars (twin) for coming thru and hooking it up with the trans jack made it more easy...shot out to all the other guys that came through too, we were just one big family today at elko warrens house.. Thanks warren for the 200r4 god bless u...

Man im tired as hell!!! Never removed a trans and my bodys aching!! Lmao i was going to bring home the "Perfect wheel wells" but want to rebuild the gear box first before i install them.. Once the th350 out it going to wareen and then old malibu wells... Today was a beautiful day learning and chopping it up and wrenching with all the gbody family.. Posi and transmission next.. Stay tuned

Like glass!!

Warrens 7.5 build!! Tough Tough!! NICE!!

My interiors guy work on Bronsons buckets and back seat.. Simple!! What a day..

 

[1979ratrod]

looking mint as always man

 

[80ELCAMINOFLAKE]

Thanks 1979ratrod just pushing forward like always 🙂

So today i spent alot time under the malibu just taking measurements of the 200-4r transmission and the th350 transmission, so the drive shaft is about 10in short, the th350 i have in know has a long tail so the drive shaft i have know has been cut shorter so that it can fit.. Elko Warrens giving me his drive shaft that he had in the elko and crossmember.. It will be much better/easier to just have the transmission/crossmember/& drive shaft, so when i go to transmission to install they wont have any problems..

Only thing i need know is a 200-4r lock up kit since the malibu dosent have the computer any more to lock the toruqe converter, I also need an extention for the driver side so that my crossmember will bolt on like factory, getting that from summitracing, and yes got my grind on today and modified the 200-4r crossmember, i gave myself 2" more just to be safe, so its a total of 10inches, with the th350 crossmember i only went with 8" and gave me real good clearnce..

I was going to get a gforce xmember but with that money saved i can get me a Gridle for the rear end and go from there... Next is taking to my welder to weld the crossmember, install trans, the calling ace to install my posi with 3.08 gears with gridle, and glad thats done... Stay tuned..

 

[80ELCAMINOFLAKE]

Ok, so I stopped by my trans guys shop right know (Lozano's Transmissons) Mr. Delfino is going to charge me $200.00 to install, includes the transmission swamp, new front input seal, since it was leaking at the shaft, all fluids, and notching of the drive shaft it needed, and i guess they are going to bypass the torque converter without at kit/relay, i guess theres away to do something about a solenoid in the trans, blah blah blah, idk what he was saying (trans talk) but he was like WE GOT THIS!!! thats nothing to worry about...lol...

All i need to do know is order the driver side extention so that the crossmember will bolt and line up, and take the xmember to get welded, cleaned and painted...Ace is one call away from installing my posi rear end...stay tuned!! Tummy Tuck COME BACK!!

 

[80ELCAMINOFLAKE]

I ordered my 78-83 gbody frame extention to mount up my 200r4 crossmember from summit racing.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-770307

Also hitting the yard this weekend to get me a drive shaft since the shaft i have know is too short...i figure if i get one from a gbody cutlass/olds/lemans/malibu it should fit like a glove...then getting crossmember welded and off to transmisson shop..

 

[Lowproelco]

bro gotta remember if you go to the junk yard and pull one from a gbody that was also running a turbo350 its going to be the same size as the one you have now... you gonna have to find a gbody that was running a 200 as well so that it would be the correct length...

 

[80ELCAMINOFLAKE]

bro gotta remember if you go to the junk yard and pull one from a gbody that was also running a turbo350 its going to be the same size as the one you have now... you gonna have to find a gbody that was running a 200 as well so that it would be the correct length...

Yessir...thats what i was just thinking about too.. .....I think some olds/regal came with 200-4r trannys, i will def look once im under there since i know what a 200 trans pan looks like know...lol...But i was thinking I can grab one off a gbody with 350 as well with a short tail instead of a long tail...i think i need to be at 56-57in from yolk to yolk when i measured the other day, i measured the trans to the crossmember and 56-57in is about right..., when we measures warrens elko drive shaft it was at 67 1/2in from yolk to yolk, hummm i will take my measuring tap and make sure im with in the 56-57 inches mark...thanks 😀

 

[80ELCAMINOFLAKE]

Here i go here i go guys!!! Back at it again, day off and i was hitting them yards, i cant stay home and just chill!! I need to keep myself moving and pushing forward!!

Went to my welder and hes actually geting better, the th350 crossmember was ok, but this time his welds were way better, he gets all pumped up when i show up he did it for free this time, i guess peeps have been showing up to his muffler shop to get work done and mentioning my name!! SWEET!! So that was good. $20 saved :wink:

Then back at it!! Hitting them yards like krazy looking for a drive shaft and luckly i found it at one yard.. Came off a 87 chevy monte carlo with a 200-4r transmission and measured in at what i needed.. 56 1/2 inches.. I found a diagram of the transmission measurements and went from there, went under the malibu to take measurement, measured the 200-4r then the th350, then the drive shafts and all is good, should fit like stock i did notice all gbodys that had th350 with small tailshaft measured in at the the same length driveshaft i needed 😛

Hitting transmission shop soon!! Calling my man ace for the posi rear install, and back at it hitting corners.. Stay tuned 8)

 

[80ELCAMINOFLAKE]

Today i installed the extention i need to mount the 200r4 xmember.. And installed the crossmember for measurments.. The extention was difficult to install becuase of the th350 frame holes were smashed so i couldnt put the extention threw!! :evil:
Alot of muscle and cold floor but i did it.. Drilled holes for support and its ready to hit the transmission shop.. Trans on a jack at the moment but will have to put a wood block between the crossmember and transmission so the motor wont fall back :wink:

I also drained the 350 transmission to see what was on the pan and there was alot of metal shaving.. It was worse on the filter.. Stay tuned guys TT back in da streets soon!! Enjoy the pics..

Trans pan/ filter

Extention!! Mad at it!! Took me 3-4 hours!!

Heres the difference from the th350 and 200-4r transmission mount.. About 2-3 inches plus the extention: