81 Malibu project restarting

[Rktpwrd]

I got about half the roof done tonight with the 120 grit wheel. I think I need to step up to an 80 grit because the laquer doesn’t really want to come off without moving the tool slowly across the roof and that’s generating a little more heat than I would like. I’m hoping to strip the quarters and doors, then get them shot in dp before I do any bodywork to them.

Yep, 80 grit for the win. That’s been my experience anyways, using a DA instead of that tool.

 

[08Malibu]

Pulled the back glass tonight. I’ll continue stripping the quarters, then weld up the 1/4 seams. I’ll probably do the rough bodywork on the roof and quarters and shoot them in epoxy. Then I’ll paint the glass channel black and have the window reinstalled.

 

[64nailhead]

I haven’t been keeping up with your build - the L31 is a great plan with what you’ve done. It will handle all of the cam that you can stand to listen to.
If you have a sound core motor, which it sounds like you, then it the easiest and cheapest 300-400 hp out there imho.

I love the daily driven car that looks daily driven!!!!!

 

[08Malibu]

I woke up this morning with some bad back pain, so didn’t get much more done. I managed to strip a little of the quarter and I pulled the car outside to blow it off a bit. It was actually nice out today so I took it for a spin. I even got a thumbs up driving it. My wife thought I was nuts driving with no back glass. I liked it because I could hear the exhaust a lot better.

 

[08Malibu]

Making a little progress now. Leading up to Christmas I was wrapping gifts, for the kids, in the garage. Had the whole car filled with presents and covered with blankets.

 

[08Malibu]

While stripping the quarters I found a bunch of seam sealer in the corners. My car was a landau top car, so it was finished poorly. What do you guys think I should do with these areas?

 

[rydeordie]

Pulled the back glass tonight. I’ll continue stripping the quarters, then weld up the 1/4 seams. I’ll probably do the rough bodywork on the roof and quarters and shoot them in epoxy. Then I’ll paint the glass channel black and have the window reinstalled.

How bad is your rear package tray on the inside of your trunk? I can't seem to find one for my 81 Malibu. I see they have them for the F-Body Camaro, but not for Gbody's. Nice build BTW!

 

[08Malibu]

How bad is your rear package tray on the inside of your trunk? I can't seem to find one for my 81 Malibu. I see they have them for the F-Body Camaro, but not for Gbody's. Nice build BTW!

It’s perfect. The only rust in my car is on the bottom of the doors, 2 small spots in the floor, one spot on the a pillar,and under the wiper motor.

 

[08Malibu]

Back on the car after Christmas. Garage is a mess but I have to get the car in epoxy so i can do some renovations on my house.
I found that stripping the white off with a razor scraper then hitting it with my big DA and the Eastwood style tool works the best. I’ll be taking it to the shop to prime it so I’ll have to do the final sand over there right before I prime it. Hopefully I can borrow my neighbors trailer rather that drive it with no back glass and no heat. Hopefully over the summer I can mod my extra ac box to be heat only. Pulling out the ac box was pretty dumb.

 

[08Malibu]

Made a little more progress this evening. I was able to get the deck lid pretty well stripped. I left a little behind since I’m going to take the car to the shop to prime it.
I was talking to a friend of mine this evening, and he’ll tow it for me. Time to start pulling the lights, bumper fillers, door handles, windshield, and so on. It’s starting to get real now.