78 Malibu's front clip compatibility

[Grannysboo]

Hey! I was wondering if some one can give me a list of all the front clips that would fit on my 78 Malibu coupe.

I'm going to hunt around some scrap yards and hopefully find an el camino ss front clip ( from what I've read boo's and mino's have identical front ends besides body lines ).

If I can't find a parts mino I'd like to know what my other options are.

I have searched around the web and there seems to be alot opinions and not so many facts.

Also please note if I would need to swap doors or hoods out with any of the front clips.

 

[L.A.X-RATED]

The only header panel that will swap right over to your 78 is the newer 82-87 elco/Malibu header panel(I do believe the 78 has some hood-2- header alignment issues,someone will clarify I'm sure)now you can basically swap ANY gbody frontend(Monte,cutlass,regal,go,lemans)but will need to also swap out your hood,fenders,and doors, and if you chose a Monte nose you have the body lines to deal with also.GOOD LUCK finding a "choo-choo"(Monte ss front end) in a salvage yard(quite rare)they sell aftermarket fiberglass "choo-choo" noses complete with everything to install on your bu for around 1500.00 through various vendors(honest charlies,Lauren engineering,etc)although a lol pricey in my opinion this is the best route to go if you want the "ss" nose with the most ease of installation.if interested in a newt header I have one in great shape I can let go for 200.00 shipped.pm me if interested.

 

[Grannysboo]

Thanks for the reply, I figured finding one in the scrap yard was a bit of a pipe dream but I can cross my fingers.

What I'm looking for is quad head lights and to get rid of the vertical side markers.

I figured a malibu station wagon would make an excellent donor car but they are proving to be more rare than grand nationals ( at least in the alberta ).

I will circulate the junk yards this weekend and hopefully something will catch my eye or I'll have to buck up and shell out cash for a new one.

 

[Ribbedroof]

Check the ads on here and Maliburacing...I'm sure somebody has one for sale, and there seem to be a lot of G bodies in Canada.

I have a loaded one from an 85 Elco, but I'm a LONG ways from you, and I'd be leery of shipping it across the border due to the potential for damage passing through so many hands.

Generally, "front clip" is presumed to be everything ahead of the firewall (fenders, hood, core support, header, bumper), so if you're calling yards, you might ask about header panels, unless I misunderstood what you were wanting.

 

[Grannysboo]

I will be browsing the ads for sure, thanks for the info.

I meant to say header, that word wasn't in my vocabulary until I read the first post

A month ago I stumbled upon a malibu wagon with 100,000km for $750, body was rusted but header was intact and engine was clean... sure regret not picking it up now

 

[kelly_w21]

ribbed roof, do you still have the header panel off the 85 elky? is it a choo choo nose or just a regular header panel?

 

[Ribbedroof]

ribbed roof, do you still have the header panel off the 85 elky? is it a choo choo nose or just a regular header panel?

Yes, not a choo choo and it needs to go.

 

[kelly_w21]

o ok man. thank you. im real interested in finding a choo choo nose for my car