81 Malibu project restarting

[08Malibu]

Took me like 3 hours to do the window motor. I had the regulator bolted back in when I heard something binding. Turned out the Chinese bracket was stamped wrong, imagine that. I had to take it back apart, grind the rivets holding the original bracket to the oem motor and bolt it to the new one. Now it’s nice and snooth.
I also finally made some brackets to bolt the f body console to the factory console brackets. Now I’m ready to cruise.

 

[64nailhead]

Took me like 3 hours to do the window motor. I had the regulator bolted back in when I heard something binding. Turned out the Chinese bracket was stamped wrong, imagine that. I had to take it back apart, grind the rivets holding the original bracket to the oem motor and bolt it to the new one. Now it’s nice and snooth.
I also finally made some brackets to bolt the f body console to the factory console brackets. Now I’m ready to cruise.

So it’s not just me that is the only person bitten by this haha.

I’ve come to the realization that almost every ‘bolt in’ replacement requires some form of massaging to fit. I was told that is the reason that many body guys prefer to get used panels from junkyards rather than new aftermarket panels. I’m sure you have about 10000 times more experience with this than I. And FWIW, I hate the term ‘junkyard’ - it’s somewhat of an oxymoron. If the parts were junk then no one would buy them.

I am interested in your opinion about used panels. I’m repeating what I’ve ‘heard’.

 

[08Malibu]

SoI spent pretty much the entire summer repairing the frame on my 05 Sierra. Luckily I have a company car for daily use and my Malibu is still running and driving.
I wound up replacing on frame crossmember, rebuilding another, plating a section, and replacing a shock mount. I made a quick fix on the left front fender rust, and painted a few areas on the truck. I still need to do the rockers, repair one body mount hole on the frame, and replace the bumpers. After I finished all the work it turned out that the rear u joint was shot and it took me about a week and a half to get the covered one. This left me only putting about 100 miles on the truck before we were heading on a trip to Myrtle beach. I’m happy to report that aside from burning 4 qts of oil on the 1400 mile trip it performed perfectly. I knew it was smoking every so often on startup, but it got worse as the trip went on. Of course a 5 minute band aid fix after we got home has it burning zero oil. I’ll have to pull the valve cover and fix it properly now.
The last pictures of the truck are right after we returned home from the trip. I was pretty happy.
I threw in a picture of my Malibu from the local cruise night the other day. It was the first time I actually had time to go to it.

 

[08Malibu]

The rest of the pictures that didn’t fit

 

[08Malibu]

A little go kart side project I picked up for the kids. I did a quick respray and pulled the engine off of a mulcher that I didn’t use. Just need to make a throttle linkage for the different engine and a few other little things. Then I can get my poor car back in the garage.

 

[melloelky]

That last picture made it all worthwhile

 

[08Malibu]

That last picture made it all worthwhile

He’s still a little short to reach the pedals yet but he’s driven my friends Polaris razr, and he’s ready.

 

[64nailhead]

He’s still a little short to reach the pedals yet but he’s driven my friends Polaris razr, and he’s ready.

Nothing a couch cushion placed on the seat back won’t resolve.

Strap him in with some duct tape and tell him to give r hell 😉


What’s on the agenda for the Malibu for the winter?

 

[08Malibu]

Nothing a couch cushion placed on the seat back won’t resolve.

Strap him in with some duct tape and tell him to give r hell 😉


What’s on the agenda for the Malibu for the winter?

I’m hoping to get the engine swapped, and take care of a bunch of small things I haven’t taken care of. I’m on the fence of shooting it hot rod black, so it’s at least painted, since it gets shoved outside a lot.
I may have a ford side job to work on, if the money is right. If I take that on it’ll cut into my personal projects.

 

[scoti]

I’m hoping to get the engine swapped, and take care of a bunch of small things I haven’t taken care of. I’m on the fence of shooting it hot rod black, so it’s at least painted, since it gets shoved outside a lot.
I may have a ford side job to work on, if the money is right. If I take that on it’ll cut into my personal projects.

IDK..... The white is a clean look.