1981 Malibu project

[vanrah]

Greetings Texas82 & all; Thank you for the kind words.

Those titles ('master mechanic', 'g body guru', etc.) are based on number of posts on this forum. However, if you read enough posts from Ol' Bob (vanrah), you will see that he clearly understands how to make one of these cars go fast.

Mostly I'm full of exhaust fumes & being that my eyes are brown a bunch of brown soft smelly stuff. And like so many here I have a severe case of the affliction, " I can't leave a car stock". Oh & it's contagious! The one advantage I have over many, is age-time as I was infected around 1960 & by 1962 I was wrenchin''. My grand dad Roy Van & older cousin Ron Sagen taught me a bunch, including how a distributor works. So I was one of the few that knew how to time a car at age 16. Thanks again Ole' Bob.

 

[Rodney Pickering]

It been a couple of months since i last posted. Have found a couple of donor monte's to get trans, posi rear, buckets, console, shifter, tilt steering. Thanks to LA for offer of parts, but found almost everything in one spot. Got bumpers back from chroming. One Monte has a good frame and thought i would use it to build and have it ready to roll under after painting body. Will this Monte frame work under my Malibu? Know i will need to cut front horns down. Will try to post some pic's later.
rrpmGb

 

[Rodney Pickering]

 

[Longroof79]

Welcome back Rodney.
The bumpers came out killer...it looks like you found the mother lode of Monte parts...good score. It's even better when you can find everything locally. Now let's see some progress.

 

[pagrunt]

The frame should fit with out cutting anthing. It would be the bumper shocks that would make the Monte frame seem longer. Keep it, sell the lesser condition frame to the racers.

 

[mikester]

I'd love to see photos of your interior. My 81 is the same color. Your car is the third Ive seen in 17 years.

 

[Rodney Pickering]

I'd love to see photos of your interior. My 81 is the same color. Your car is the third Ive seen in 17 years. View attachment 66808

Trying to send a pic of interior. You Malibu looking good! i am putting bucket seats and center console. Also going to try to put a tilt steering column in.

 

[Rodney Pickering]

 

[Rodney Pickering]

Send pic of your interior. Saw one other the same color about six months after we bought (owned since new) this one. It had bucket seats and center console (factory). Don't remember for sure but seems it was a 4 speed. i have been told 81 was the only year you could get factory 4 speed. Also my understanding 81 was last year for 2 door model.

 

[Rodney Pickering]

Here's pic of donor frame i am working on. Good and solid going to use it if it turns out it's better than my original. Also have body of 87 Monte it came from. Saling Monte, has good dog house, doors, rear fenders, trunk deck/spoiler, all metal from x bracing behind back seat back very good shape.