1980 Malibu Wagon resurrection

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Boglog

Apprentice
Mar 19, 2020
62
91
18
WA
Just carefully trim out the molded in block in the bottom of the switch opening & the fan can be turned off.
This confuses me a bit... so the fan normally just is on with the ignition? I don’t recall that from when I had the car back in the day.
 

Boglog

Apprentice
Mar 19, 2020
62
91
18
WA
Which bolts (Behind the Bumper) are the ones that remove the bumper? Going to be painting my Malibu up here soon, and I am trying to figure out which remove the Front and Rear Bumper. Awesome job! :love:

The wires sticking out of your radio looked similar to what I have going on with the Malibu. Which radio did you purchase for the Wagon? I may want to get something similar. Thanks, Loving the work you have done here thus far.:cool:(y):love:.
I can’t speak to the bolts specifically, but believe there’s 3per side and they connect to the frame.
The radio is kinda a joke to myself cause it has built in speakers, like a portable Bluetooth speaker and i think was $20-30 on Amazon so no running extra speaker wires etc. I must have made a mistake though cause it won’t turn on but there’s power to the red (switched) but the other wire I used (the yellow) isn’t a constant on although that’s the way it was hooked up before.

Also the cig lighter I converted to a dual USB port but it’s always on and has a dumb blue light on it so it’ll drain my battery slowly which is annoying.
 

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1evilregal

Comic Book Super Hero
Apr 23, 2009
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This confuses me a bit... so the fan normally just is on with the ignition? I don’t recall that from when I had the car back in the day.

if the fan is running at a really low speed, it's made like that to help push any exhaust fumes away from the inside. if it's running at a higher speed, you may have a short in the blower resistor pack.

good looking wagon, and love the story behind it. I've had a couple cars in my past (they may not have been desirable ones) that I would've loved to have had back, so always cool to read about some of you have been able to get yours back and improve upon it. looking forward to watching this one progress, as I hope to get started soon on the "Gypsy wagon".
 
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pagrunt

Geezer
Sep 14, 2014
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Elderton, Pa
This confuses me a bit... so the fan normally just is on with the ignition? I don’t recall that from when I had the car back in the day.
When our generation came out there was no "OFF" on the fan switch but later (not sure when) did start having a "OFF" position. I have packed in my parts totes both types of contol panels. I might even have one that was opened up in the bottom to allow the switch to go into the "OFF" position. Funny thing is I have never owned a non-A/C GM to know if & when all GM cars had the always running fan. I picked up a complete non-A/C set up about 10 years ago & been trying to collect better parts for it as I find them.
 
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Boglog

Apprentice
Mar 19, 2020
62
91
18
WA
if the fan is running at a really low speed, it's made like that to help push any exhaust fumes away from the inside. if it's running at a higher speed, you may have a short in the blower resistor pack.

good looking wagon, and love the story behind it. I've had a couple cars in my past (they may not have been desirable ones) that I would've loved to have had back, so always cool to read about some of you have been able to get yours back and improve upon it. looking forward to watching this one progress, as I hope to get started soon on the "Gypsy wagon".
Either way it seemed pretty loud and I was trying to listen to the motor. I had this kid helping me turn the key etc. and I was like “Shut off the damn fan!” He told me he did but when it didn’t quit I disconnected the wire and thought of how it’d be physically possible for me to mess that up, turn out I didn’t 😆
 

Boglog

Apprentice
Mar 19, 2020
62
91
18
WA
Radio actually looks pretty cool, to me. :)
Thanks, the price was right and it’s all Bluetooth/usb and self contained. Think it only weighs about 1-2lbs so you know race FTW 😜 but just the simplicity because this car didn’t really have factory speakers. I could use the rca outs for a sub/additional amps but it’s not that kind of build.
 

83StreetMachine

Master Mechanic
Dec 16, 2011
395
819
93
Central NJ
When our generation came out there was no "OFF" on the fan switch but later (not sure when) did start having a "OFF" position. I have packed in my parts totes both types of contol panels. I might even have one that was opened up in the bottom to allow the switch to go into the "OFF" position. Funny thing is I have never owned a non-A/C GM to know if & when all GM cars had the always running fan. I picked up a complete non-A/C set up about 10 years ago & been trying to collect better parts for it as I find them.


I have owned both versions with and without "OFF"

The earlier generations had no OFF. The later years did. The switch is the same.

Pagrunt is right, just take out the heater control, remove the switch and grind off the tab.

IMG_20200628_200722~2.jpg
IMG_20200628_200746~2.jpg
IMG_20200628_200812.jpg
 
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