1981 Malibu project

[Rodney Pickering]

 

[pagrunt]

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.

The '80 was last year for the 4 speed (El Caminos was '81) & '81 was last year for the coupe.

 

[Ribbedroof]

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.

The Malibu frame is about 3" shorter than the Monte frame,all of it is ahead of the first body mount at core support

 

[mikester]

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.

I wish I could say my interior is stock. The guy in WV that owned the car before me had the interior redone in medium jadestone Olds and Pontiac cloths. It had a bench seat when I bought it but I switched to Monte buckets and had the rear seat and door panels done over to a different pattern. Similar to a Monte SS door.

 

[mikester]

The Olds cloth is the insert. I was able to buy the same GM fabrics from SMS Fabric in OR. I just placed an order for 86 Olds grey cloth and vinyl for the Malibu wagon Im building.

 

[Rodney Pickering]

I wish I could say my interior is stock. The guy in WV that owned the car before me had the interior redone in medium jadestone Olds and Pontiac cloths. It had a bench seat when I bought it but I switched to Monte buckets and had the rear seat and door panels done over to a different pattern. Similar to a Monte SS door. View attachment 67887 View attachment 67889 View attachment 67890

Really looks good! May have to do something similar if i can't find vinyl to match.

 

[mikester]

Finding the vinyl will be easy. SMS will have it. Look them up online. Only downside is theyre VERY expensive. I think most vinyl is $69 per yard. Cloth goes for a lot more depending on type. I have 12 yards of cloth and vinyl on order and the price with shipping was a little over $1K. I could have gotten away so much cheaper if I had a 2 door. I just would have picked up a complete car for the donor interior. LOL

 

[Rodney Pickering]

The Malibu frame is about 3" shorter than the Monte frame,all of it is ahead of the first body mount at core support

Thanks for the heads up. Got a couple of sticks and c- clamps and put a tape to it. Monte176 & 1/2 and Malibu 174 & 1/2. Best i could figure and with your info, just need to remove material between blue tape and re-weld. See pic

 

[Rodney Pickering]

Thanks for the heads up. Got a couple of sticks and c- clamps and put a tape to it. Monte176 & 1/2 and Malibu 174 & 1/2. Best i could figure and with your info, just need to remove material between blue tape and re-weld. See pic

 

[Rodney Pickering]

I wish I could say my interior is stock. The guy in WV that owned the car before me had the interior redone in medium jadestone Olds and Pontiac cloths. It had a bench seat when I bought it but I switched to Monte buckets and had the rear seat and door panels done over to a different pattern. Similar to a Monte SS door. View attachment 67887 View attachment 67889 View attachment 67890

Is console original. Do you have tilt steering?